On Tuesday, former All-Pro wide receiver turned NFL Network analyst, Reggie Wayne, took a look at three potential on-field weapons for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in 2018. Wayne first told Shaun O'Hara that Garoppolo's biggest asset is not someone within the huddle. It is head coach Kyle Shanahan.
"Kyle Shanahan, he's a mastermind in this league with the way that he creates mismatches," Wayne said. "He finds the weak link on defenses, and he goes out and he attacks it."
Outside of the emerging Garoppolo, Wayne points out that the 49ers don't have a lot of household names on offense. The 49ers often look for versatile weapons for their roster. That versatility will allow Shanahan to utilize players in different ways depending on the defense the team is facing.
"There's no guy that he has to really focus in on (within the offense), so Jimmy G can go in and do what Tom Brady has always taught him," Wayne continued. "Just go out and find the open guy and throw it."
As for the on-the-field weapons, Wayne pointed out wide receivers Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin along with running back Jerick McKinnon.
"[Garçon is] the veteran here," Wayne said. "He's the guy that's going to lead this group. He's familiar with Kyle Shanahan. Marquise Goodwin, we just saw what he did. He's highly motivated. And there's also Jerick McKinnon. He can go out; he can run between the tackles. He can catch out of the backfield. That's Kyle Shanahan's M-O. He finds a great running back that can do it all."
What can NFL fans expect out of the 49ers in 2018?
"The 49ers play right here in L.A., they play the Rams in Week 17," O'Hara said. "I think that game might be just for the NFC West division title."
