San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo spoke with reporters after Sunday's Week 3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here is everything he had to say.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
What were the emotions as you guys were moving the ball and turning it over and moving the ball and turning it over, what were the emotions? Anger, frustration, what was going through your mind?
"Not really frustration. We knew we were moving it, so at halftime we came in, we didn't want to press or anything, we weren't going to get all the points at once, so we just knew to take it one play at a time and just keep executing. I think we had the right mindset for it."
Are turnovers contagious? I mean, it was kind of happening a lot.
"You never want it to. It's just some of them, unfortunate, some of them, bad decisions or whatever it may be. When you have five of them, though, when your defense plays like that, it's incredible to come out with a win."
What were you seeing there on that last play, that last throw to WR Dante Pettis?
"Dante ran a great route, came out of the huddle with some speed. I think they were a little confused with their adjustments and Dante made a great step back to the ball, caught it, got into the end zone. It was awesome."
Is it better to be swallowed up by your own offensive line as opposed to the other guy's defensive line?
"Absolutely. Yeah, always is. Those guys battled up front though. We knew it was going to be a dogfight, they had a good D front and everything and I thought they played phenomenal. [T] Justin [Skule] stepping in the way he did, I couldn't ask for anymore."
You had only taken two hits the previous two games combined before today. How much different was today and does it give you, I don't know, a little bit of confidence given all the time you missed last year to know you still have that in your back pocket?
"You never want to, but yeah, it's part of the game. I think we were getting the ball out on time, the receivers had great run after catch, backs battled their ass off and, like I said before, the O-line played phenomenal."
CB Richard Sherman said that he thinks you like getting hit because it wakes you up a little bit. Would you say that's accurate?
"I've been told that before. I don't know. I'm a football player. It's part of the game. You just take it as you go, I guess."
How are you feeling afterwards? You did take a few hits.
"I'm feeling awesome. We had a win, man. Whenever you get the win, you always feel good."
What do you think it says about this team that you kind of found different ways to win in each of the first three weeks?
"It's a mindset that we have in that locker room. It's a great group of guys, great coaches, and I think it starts from the top down. We know what we have, and we just have to go prove it on the field now."
Is it hard to stop playing and have a bye at 3-0?
"Yeah, it's weird. I've never had a bye this early. It is what it is type thing. Got to go back, have a good week of assessing ourselves and get ready for the Monday night game."
Having two plays where I think you escaped three sacks per, just spinning out, spinning out. How much confidence does that give you if you didn't have it already in your leg given that you were able to break out of those?
"Leg's felt good. I haven't really had any issues with it this whole time. Wasn't like it proved anything to me, but it's a good confidence booster, I guess. I don't know"
Some of the other offensive guys said late in the game they have a different type of confidence in the defense because of some of the new additions. Can you elaborate on that and what that feeling is when the defense is out there?
"I think the crowd felt it, especially on that last, whatever, one-minute drive. Those guys up front that we've got, they're some dogs and they get after the quarterback and they make it hard for them back there. When we got that lead, we felt pretty good about it."
Those guys picked you up a few times, obviously, with the turnovers in the first half. After they gave up the 76-yard touchdown, you guys put together a drive and scored. What was the mindset going into that drive of "hey, it's our turn to pick them up?"
"That's what I was kind of saying before, just the mindset of the locker room. It's complimentary football, especially when we turn the ball over early and they only got six points out of it, and then [CB] K'Waun [Williams] gets the huge interception at the beginning of the second half, we go down and score. All that stuff, it's how you create a good football team. We're getting there."
What's changed with Dante Pettis over the last few weeks? Obviously limited playing time weeks 1 and 2 and today, he comes out and scores the game winning touchdown. What's changed with him in your eyes?
"Nothing, honestly. Dante's phenomenal in practice. I know you guys aren't seeing all that and everything, but he battles his ass off in practice. Great mindset of when his number's called, he's ready. You've got to appreciate a guy like that. Having all that competitiveness, you love to see it as a quarterback, because you can trust that then."
I'm sure you guys don't necessarily maybe want this kind of attention, but you guys are 3-0. How special is that? This team hasn't had that success in a very long time.
"It's a good start. There's a lot of football left. Three wins isn't going to get you anything in this league. Like I said, it's a good start. I think going into this bye week, assess ourselves and what we can do better. Obviously, five turnovers, we've got plenty of room for improvement."
Do you think the Steelers were trying to get to you, almost trying to get in your head with the pressure today?
"I think that's just kind of their defense, bringing safety blitzes. The edge rushers did a good job and everything. But, I think we held up pretty well."
When a blitzers coming untouched at you and in a split second you have to decide throw it away, try to get around him, or hit a slightly open receiver, is that just completely instinctual on your part?
"That's being a quarterback. I don't know, that's part of the game I guess. It's just quick decisions. Things happen quickly and the week of preparation makes those decisions easier for you."
Has the injury from last year changed that equation at all for you?
"No, I think back in OTAs and everything, it was affecting me. But, now I haven't had any issues with it."
What were the tips that Kyle was telling you on the sideline before you went out for the second half touchdown drive and the tone of it?
"It was just little different things here and there. We put in some new plays at halftime. I thought the coaches did a phenomenal job, whatever the Steelers were doing, they complimented it and came up with something new. I thought our guys didn't flinch on the sideline when we were putting in some new stuff which is always good to see."
Was that touchdown play a new one?
"The last one?"
To Dante, yeah.
"No, that wasn't."
That was old hat?
"Yeah, old faithful."
Was the receiver supposed to clear you before the snap on that motion or is it supposed to be in front of you?
"That was just a little bit of miscommunication. That's on me though. I just have to be cleaner as the quarterback."
Put him into motion earlier maybe?
"Just be cleaner with it overall."
After that final turnover you were talking about, you were not amused. That could have been, obviously, the game right there. What was going through your mind and how did you reset?
"Like you said, I was upset and everything. But the defense, when they're playing like that, it gives you such confidence on the sideline. So, it was just more about getting our guys ready for the next series. They make huge plays like that on defense, it sets us up for success."
You touched on how well the offensive line played today. What did you think of OL Justin Skule in his first career start at left tackle?
"I thought Justin stepped in. He was fearless from the minute I saw him this morning. He just had the right mindset and everything. And then, even [OL] Dan [Brunskill] got in for a snap and blocked his ass off and he was fired up. He almost broke my hand when he high fived me, but it was awesome. For guys those to come in like that, I've been a rookie, I know how it is, so it's impressive."
