In quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's first start with the San Francisco 49ers last year, the offense failed to get into the end zone during five trips inside the 20-yard line. Things improved over the next two weeks, but not by much. Against the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans, the 49ers offense converted just three of its eight red-zone trips. Those statistics alone would lead you to believe that San Francisco lost those games, which it did not. The 49ers won each of their final five games of the season, including the matchups against the Bears, Texans, and Titans, with Garoppolo at the helm.
Even though the 49ers' red-zone efforts improved drastically during the team's final two games of last season, Garoppolo and the 49ers still want to improve in that aspect of the offense.
"I think a big part for us, as a whole offensively, is just finishing in the end zone," Garoppolo told reporters before Wednesday's practice. "Last year, we got stopped short a couple of times, more than we'd like to, and I think we've done a good job this OTAs and minicamp of finishing in the end zone, for the most part, finishing drives and stuff like that."
The 49ers defense held the offense out of the end zone during red-zone drills on Wednesday. The work to improve the unit's efficiency inside the 20-yard line will have to wait until training camp in late July, which will be the next time the players practice together.
"We've got the weapons for it," Garoppolo said. "The coaches put us in a good situation. We need to come through and complete the play."
Garoppolo feels more comfortable with the playbook after each offseason practice. He is also working to improve the chemistry between himself and his teammates on the offensive side of the ball.
"I think I've come a long way, especially from last season when I was just kind of cramming everything in," Garoppolo said. "But it's still a long way to go, developing that chemistry between me and the skill positions, the O-line, everything. I mean, it's a work in progress every time."