The San Francisco 49ers offense as a whole didn't look overly impressive in the team's 31-17 Week 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice believes it remains a work in progress and fans shouldn't be quick to worry.
Sunday's game was the first regular-season action for Jimmy Garoppolo since the quarterback suffered an ACL injury nearly a year ago. He finished the game 18-of-27 for 166 yards with a touchdown, an interception, and a passer rating of 80.2. It was Garoppolo's second-lowest passer rating as a starter (lowest was 45.1 against the Minnesota Vikings last year).
Should fans be worried about Garoppolo?
"When I tore my ACL, my MCL, it took me over two years to really feel comfortable back out on the football field," Rice said Monday morning on 95.7 The Game, "and I'm sure with Jimmy G, he's just happy to be on the field right now, out there fighting with his teammates. He's going to get better. His confidence is going to grow.
"I think also, just like what Kyle Shanahan said, there were so many mistakes on offense, and we have to go back, we have to iron that out and become a better football team. And once they do that, the offense is going to be able to put up more points."
Luckily for Garoppolo and the 49ers offense, the defense's debut was as impressive as hoped. The unit forced four takeaways, including three interceptions — two of which were returned for touchdowns. That is impressive considering the defense managed just seven total takeaways last year and just two interceptions. Both were NFL records for the fewest in a single season.
"Defense, they did a great job yesterday," Rice continued. "They fought hard, and to see (Richard) Sherman make an interception, also Witherspoon, that shows that this defense, they've got great potential. We just have to wait and see how they continue to develop."
The penalties in the game didn't help the offense. The 49ers fell victim to 11 yellow flags for 87 yards. Penalties negated two potential touchdowns by tight end George Kittle.
"My thing is the mistakes," Rice added. "You might be able to get away with those mistakes early during the season, but the middle of the season, the latter part of the season, you're not going to be able to make those mistakes and win football games, and also try to get to the playoffs. You've got time to make those corrections.
"When we started the season — and I like to reference this — we were always chasing the defense. Offensive-wise, we were not as good, but we knew towards the end, we would be working on all cylinders. And I think it's the same way with the San Francisco 49ers. This offense is going to have to get better during the latter part of the season to make the playoffs."
The 49ers remain on the East Coast and are spending the week in Youngstown, Ohio, as the team prepares for its Week 2 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Rice below.
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