FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer called San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy a “very quick processor” on Wednesday and said Dallas will have to tackle well against tight end George Kittle, running back Christian McCaffrey, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
San Francisco comes to AT&T Stadium at 7-1 after beating the Las Vegas Raiders coming out of its bye. The 49ers have won the last four meetings with Dallas, including playoff wins after the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
McCaffrey did not practice Wednesday, listed as a rest day. Samuel was limited with a hamstring injury, and wide receiver Mike Evans did not practice with an Achilles injury.
Schottenheimer met with reporters before practice Wednesday at The Star.
“Guy’s got incredible awareness, very quick processor,” Schottenheimer said. “His athleticism’s real. I think Kyle and that staff do a great job of stretching the field horizontally, giving him windows to throw.”
“When you talk about this team, you talk about Kittle and McCaffrey,” Schottenheimer continued. “They’re not tight ends and running backs; they’re weapons. Then you get guys like Deebo Samuel, but guy’s a very fast processor. They probably get the ball out as quick as anybody. That’s why they’re number one in the league in sacks, giving up, not giving up many sacks. It’s hard to get home on him, but just really impressed by him as a passer, but also an athlete.”
Kyle Shanahan’s Horizontal Passing Game
Schottenheimer saw San Francisco twice a year as the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2020. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has run the offense in San Francisco since 2017.
Shanahan’s play calling came up later at the same availability.
“Again, the biggest thing jumps out, how they live and really getting five guys out, the quick rhythm passing game, how they spread the field horizontally,” Schottenheimer explained. “I think they do as good a job as anybody of looking for underneath throws where the ball can get out quick. They’re all elite run-after-catch guys, whether it’s Kittle, Deebo, McCaffrey. We’re gonna have to tackle really, really well in this game.”
“But Kyle’s been doing [it] at a high level for a long time, and he and Brock seem like they’re very much in step right now with what they’re doing, and he’s playing great,” Schottenheimer continued.
The two families go back further. Schottenheimer’s father, Marty Schottenheimer, coached the Kansas City Chiefs through the 1990s, when Kyle’s father, Mike Shanahan, coached the division-rival Denver Broncos. That history came up near the end of the availability.
“I think there’s definitely a good rivalry from the Denver-Kansas City days,” Schottenheimer said. “But man, just Mike and Kyle, spend a lot of time together with them at different functions and things like that. But again, like I said, I have a ton of respect for their entire family, and I think they had some great battles.”
Caleb Downs On Purdy’s Processing
Rookie safety Caleb Downs had a sack and his first career interception in Sunday’s 27-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Dallas held the Colts to 271 total yards.
Downs spoke at his locker Wednesday, where Shanahan’s system came up first.
“Competition is what I live for,” Downs said. “So that’s another challenge, and they have a great system, and just looking forward to playing against them.”
Purdy was the last subject of Downs’ session.
“Great processor, trust his ability, and then he’s in a really good system to do his job,” Downs explained. “So he’s played at a really high level, and nobody can argue with that. That’s what it is.”
The Cowboys (4-5) host the 49ers on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. CT on Fox.
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