Despite being sacked six times by the Detroit Lions defense, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was under pressure during just nine of his 33 dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus. He threw three interceptions during the regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings and was nearly credited with a costly game-changing one late against Detroit if not for a defensive penalty.
Expectations for Garoppolo were high heading into the 2018 season. The quarterback started the final five games of last season and dominated on his way to a career record of 7-0. He is 1-1 this year and isn't putting up the numbers expected from the media or the fans.
While Garoppolo's 45.5 passer rating against the Vikings was the lowest of his career, his 118.4 rating against the Lions on Sunday was his highest as a 49ers starter and the second highest of his career (not counting his two-pass performance last year against the Seattle Seahawks during Week 12).
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger doesn't care about the stats. He spends a lot of time looking at the film and sees the same quarterback who impressed him last season.
Baldinger points out that Garoppolo is without his number one receiver, Marquise Goodwin, and he lost two guards against the Vikings.
.@49ers @JimmyG_10 and the "JimmyG skip" The play action is classic Kyle Shanahan and completely left the @lions flat footed. #BaldyBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/0YfTOrYhsX
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 18, 2018
"They put up 30 points against the Lions," Baldinger said this week on KNBR. "They'll take 30 every Sunday. So, I think he's playing really well. I don't care about the stats. The guy sees the field. He delivers the ball on time for the most part.
"Guys are going to get sacked in this league, especially when your linemen have been re-shuffled around. They did get (Mike) Person back last week, but those things are going to happen.
"They were in the game against the Vikings the whole game. The pick-six was probably a miscommunication between the quarterback and the receiver. That was the difference in the game. They fumbled at the one-yard line. Otherwise, they're right in that game until the end against a really good football team.
"So, I don't see anything different. I see a guy that sees the field really well. He's got a great touch and great anticipation. I think, when you look up at the end of the year, he's going to be one of the top 10 quarterbacks for sure."
You can listen to the entire interview with Baldinger, in which he also discusses rookie linebacker Fred Warner, below.
