A lot is riding on the health of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this season. He is still rehabbing the torn ACL he suffered in September and reporters will get their first look at him throwing today during a potentially rainy afternoon practice in Santa Clara.
Despite backup Nick Mullens filling in nicely as a then-second year quarterback, the 49ers are seen very differently with and without Garoppolo. With the franchise quarterback, San Francisco is seen as a team which can finish above .500 for the first time since 2013, possibly even make a push for a Wild Card spot. Without him, the 49ers might once again become an afterthought in the minds of the national media.
The "Good Morning Football" hosts discussed the pressure of various quarterbacks in the NFC West and all agreed that the 49ers' time to win is now and most felt that Garoppolo is under a great deal of pressure to help them do that.
Peter Schrager makes note of Garoppolo's salary. He is the sixth-highest paid quarterback in the NFL, so the expectations of winning reflect that expense.
"Last year, he got injured in Week 3 and Nick Mullens, an undrafted [second-year] free agent, came in and won games, and looked good," Schrager said. "George Kittle broke records with Nick Mullens as his quarterback. So if Nick Mullens was really good last year, you better be better if you are making $127 million.
"Niners fans are fed up with losing every year and having an excuse about injuries and all this. Jimmy Garoppolo, finally healthy, you have the full two years in this system, and you have the confidence of your coach. Go win some games. Nothing short of a good season is going to be acceptable for the Niners."
Kyle Brandt believes there is more pressure on head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch than Garoppolo. With a healthy quarterback and running backs, there are no more excuses for the team's head decision-makers.
"This is 'triple quotes' the year for San Francisco and Kyle Shanahan," Brandt says. "You've got to win this year, and we've got to get to the playoffs. We've got to win nine, ten games."
Nate Burleson believes there is significant pressure on Garoppolo, who now has the weapons around him to succeed.
"He has [Jerick] McKinnon coming back," Burleson said. "He also has Tevin Coleman. So you have two capable running backs who can catch out of the backfield.
"Wide receiver might be a question but when you have George Kittle, who could be the best young tight end in the league, what are your excuses now? Let's go and show everybody why you earned that money."
Burleson believes that a quarterback like Garoppolo making as much money as he is should be able to elevate the play of everyone around him.
