Deshawn Purdie’s first start at quarterback for Liberty was not spectacular, but it was certainly something the Flames can build on.

Purdie finished the game showing some of the qualities Liberty hoped it was getting when the coaching staff ultimately settled on him as the starter entering the season opener. He protected the football for the most part, showed good pocket presence and, perhaps most importantly, demonstrated an ability to make some throws that were missing from Liberty’s offense a year ago.

There were also reasons to wonder whether Purdie is the ideal quarterback for what Jamey Chadwell wants his offense to become.

That could be the biggest question coming out of his debut.

Chadwell emphasized in the Saturday postgame after the Flames lost to JMU, 20-13, that Liberty wanted a quarterback who could make plays when the initial design of a play broke down. Purdie was ultimately chosen over Jaylen Henderson and the other quarterbacks in the competition because the coaching staff believed he could provide that element.

“We wanted somebody that if it broke down, maybe could do something with their legs,” Chadwell said. “That’s what we ultimately made the decision for. He’s still growing in the position. It was a good battle all the way through camp.”

Purdie did show some ability to extend plays Saturday, but his running ability does not appear to be the type that immediately jumps off the screen. Still, for a quarterback that didn’t learn he was going to be the starter until Thursday about 48 hours before kickoff, it was a promising first start.

The pocket presence stood out

Perhaps the most encouraging part of Purdie’s debut was how comfortable he looked operating from the pocket.

For a quarterback making his first start with the Flames, Purdie generally did a good job of keeping his eyes downfield, working through pressure and avoiding negative plays. He did not appear overly eager to abandon the pocket, and he avoided taking sacks that could have put Liberty behind the chains.

That is particularly noteworthy considering Liberty’s quarterback situation last season.

The Flames struggled to consistently get the type of quarterback play they needed, particularly when it came to creating explosive plays through the passing game. Purdie showed flashes of being able to deliver throws that Liberty simply wasn’t making consistently enough a year ago.

That doesn’t mean the passing game suddenly became a strength overnight. But there were enough positive signs to suggest Purdie could give the Flames a different dimension through the air.

And perhaps more importantly, he generally didn’t put the football in harm’s way.

Chadwell’s biggest takeaway from the performance was that there was enough there to build upon.

“First game for him you’re trying to simplify as much as you can, hopefully the different looks and different things they’re doing, try to calm him down so he can see the things he need to see,” Chadwell said. “I thought our quarterback played solid. We can build off that.”

That is probably the fairest assessment of Purdie’s performance. It wasn’t a performance that answered every question about the quarterback position. But it also wasn’t one that created a bunch of new ones.

The biggest concern: Can he be the quarterback Chadwell wants?

The intriguing question is whether Purdie’s skill set ultimately meshes with Chadwell’s vision for the offense.

Chadwell’s offense is built around creating conflict for the defense with the quarterback run game. The modern triple option isn’t simply about handing the ball to the running back and occasionally throwing it. The quarterback is an integral part of the run game, whether that means keeping the football, reading an unblocked defender, pulling the ball on an option or turning a broken play into a big gain.

And that is where Purdie’s athleticism could become a question. Purdie is a capable runner. He can pick up yards with his legs, and Chadwell specifically pointed to his ability to make something happen when a play breaks down. But he isn’t an especially quick or explosive runner.

There’s a difference between being a quarterback who can run and being a quarterback who fundamentally changes the math of the defense because of his ability to run. That’s the type of quarterback Chadwell has had tremendous success with throughout his career. When the quarterback is a legitimate threat to take off and create an explosive play, defenses have to account for him on virtually every snap. That can open running lanes for the running backs and create easier opportunities in the passing game.

Purdie may not provide quite that same level of threat. That doesn’t mean he can’t be successful in Chadwell’s system. It simply means the offense may need to be tailored somewhat around what Purdie does best rather than asking him to be something he isn’t.

Protecting the football will be critical

Purdie’s one major blemish came when he put the ball on the ground, although Liberty was fortunate to recover the fumble. That play served as a reminder that even a relatively clean quarterback performance can quickly turn when the ball is on the ground. Chadwell acknowledged it afterward.

“We can’t put the ball on the ground, obviously he did that. We were fortunate to get it back,” Chadwell said.

That will be an area to watch moving forward. Purdie’s ability to avoid interceptions and sacks was encouraging, but the next step is turning that into consistently clean football. If he can protect the football while continuing to make the throws Liberty needs him to make, the Flames will have a chance to build an offense around him.

A solid starting point, but not a finished product

The temptation after a quarterback’s first start is to decide immediately whether he is “the guy.”

It’s too early for that with Purdie. What we saw Saturday was a quarterback who looked comfortable enough in the pocket, showed better passing ability than Liberty had consistently displayed a year ago and generally avoided putting the offense in difficult situations. Those are meaningful positives.

The questions are more about what Purdie can become within Chadwell’s system. Can he become a consistent explosive threat with his legs? Can he turn broken plays into big plays? Can he make defenses pay when they sell out to stop Liberty’s running game? Those questions weren’t necessarily answered in his first start.

But neither did Purdie do anything to suggest that Liberty made the wrong decision by choosing him. Chadwell believes there is plenty to build on.

“I thought he did a lot of stuff we can build off of,” Chadwell said.

For now, that’s probably the best way to view Purdie’s debut. He wasn’t perfect. He wasn’t dynamic enough as a runner to completely transform the offense. But he showed enough in the pocket and through the air to give Liberty something it can work with. The next step will be seeing how much Chadwell can expand the offense around him.

“Chapter one is closed, on to chapter two,” Purdie said following the game. “Only thing we can focus on is chapter two and that’s Gardner-Webb.”