What is it going to take to get new San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo up to speed on Kyle Shanahan's offense? "Time and work," he told reporters following Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Garoppolo, who was acquired from the New England Patriots a week ago, has been taking a crash course in his new offensive system. It's not as much the plays that are being called as it is the terminology being used.
On Sunday, Garoppolo watched from the sidelines as starting rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard got battered for 60 in-game minutes by the Arizona defense. Garoppolo may have been the backup to Beathard on Sunday, but he is the future of the franchise. His time to lead the offense will come.
"It's hard to be a quarterback in this league," Garoppolo said when asked about Beathard's outing against the Cardinals. "You're going to take hits like that, and you've just got to bounce back."
Beathard was sacked five times in the game and under consistent pressure thanks to a makeshift offensive line that was patched together due to injuries. While guard Brandon Fusco had a good day blocking, the rest of the interior of the offensive line did not perform well. Guard Laken Tomlinson allowed three of Beathard's five sacks, a hit, and two hurries. Center Daniel Kilgore gave up another sack, two hits, and a hurry.
"They brought a lot of pressures," Shanahan said following the loss. "We had to throw away too much and a lot of times it had to do with the pressures. A lot of times it had to do with a couple missed blocks and sometimes there wasn't anybody open downfield."
As Garoppolo watched Beathard taking hit after hit, he likely knew there was a real possibility he might have to play. For a moment, late in the game, Beathard grabbed his hand in pain, and it briefly appeared as though he might have been done. The rookie quarterback stayed in the game and Garoppolo remained on the sideline, watching and learning.
"You never know what's going to happen, so you just have to be ready," Garoppolo said.
Garoppolo was in communication with Shanahan and Beathard during the game. His headset was in sync with theirs, so he was able to hear what plays were going in for the quarterback, which helps him in the learning process.
"I hear every call," Garoppolo said, "so I'm trying to run through it in my head as much as possible and read the defense as if I was out there. Those are the mental reps that you've got to get."
"Some of the calls I know, some I don't right now," Garoppolo continued. "I'm just trying to get as much as I can as fast as I can, but it's a process. So, I'm just working every day to get better."
Garoppolo was asked about that process.
"I'll hear a play and know exactly what to do and hear another play and have an idea of what to do but it's just not all crystal clear right now," Garoppolo said. "So, it's a work in progress and we're getting there."
For now, the temporary backup quarterback is doing everything he can to help Beathard, who was asked what the communication with Garoppolo was like during the game.
"It was good," Beathard said. "He was real supportive, helping me out, and talking with the quarterbacks coach. Whenever I wanted to warm-up, throw, he was there and ready to throw. He was helpful."
The 49ers' next game will come on November 5 at Levi's Stadium against the one-win New York Giants.