Photo courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers
George Kittle says 49ers will rely on ‘smash-mouth football’ vs. Patriots, not Jimmy Garoppolo’s inside knowledge
Oct 22, 2020 at 4:03 PM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Jimmy Garoppolo spent three-and-a-half seasons with the New England Patriots before a mid-season trade in 2017 sent the quarterback to the San Francisco 49ers. Garoppolo not only learned the ins and outs of the Patriots defense from future Hall of Famer
Tom Brady and practices against it, but he studied under the tutelage of defensive mastermind Bill Belichick.
None of that may help the 49ers this weekend when they travel to Gillette Stadium to face the Patriots. Tight end
George Kittle was asked on Thursday if he has sought any information from Garoppolo on what to expect on Sunday.
"Insider trading information?" Kittle asked. "A little bit. I mean, they've changed up a lot. They've got different personnel there. Other than the fact that there are probably going to be a lot of double teams, there's going to be a lot of different coverages. They're going to mix in a whole bunch of things, confuse us maybe. I think they're going to do a whole lot of things. You can (only) game plan so much, but honestly, I think it's going to be more of a reactionary thing out there.
"Jimmy was in the system for a long time, so I feel like he has the ins and outs. But like I said, I feel like they've changed, and they're not going to just plan to what Jimmy knows. I think we're just going to go out there and play Niner football. We're going to react to it, game plan accordingly, and just go play some smash-mouth football."
Is Garoppolo worried about how well Belichick knows him and facing the coach's respected defense?
"As far as the scheme, they come from the same tree, but that type of defensive scheme is so -- you've just got to be ready for anything," Garoppolo told reporters. "They could do what they're showing on film, they could not, so it's kind of just a game-plan defense, and you've just got to be ready for in-game adjustments."
Garoppolo believes one advantage he has over recent weeks is that his ankle is feeling better. He suffered a high-ankle sprain during Week 2, which forced the quarterback to miss two games.
"Well, my ankle is feeling a lot better than it was in the Miami week, so I think that will definitely help out a little bit," Garoppolo said.
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
George Kittle hopes 49ers offense can 'take another step forward'
George Kittle recently spoke with ESPN during the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, where he joined other NFL stars for the golfing event. Of course, the conversation shifted toward football, with Laura Rutledge asking Kittle to reflect on the team's 2023 season, its Super Bowl defeat, and the motivation it provides for the upcoming season.
The tight end believes San Francisco maintained a competitive roster this offseason and is gearing up for another run at a championship. He emphasized the importance of maintaining good health and continual improvement for a successful upcoming season.
"Brock Purdy is a fantastic quarterback, and he's only going to get better because he's young," Kittle said. "And we were fortunate enough to be able to keep our entire
Former 49ers teammate campaigns for reunion with Brandon Aiyuk on Patriots
The San Francisco 49ers are optimistic they can negotiate a contract extension with star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Recognizing the impending significant investment, the team has been strategically planning for the day when Aiyuk's contract demands must be accommodated.
Despite the team's assurance that signing Aiyuk remains a priority, speculation continues to circulate within NFL circles, often involving Aiyuk's name in trade rumors. In March, general manager John Lynch addressed these rumors, stating that the 49ers are actively engaged in discussions with Aiyuk and his representatives while
Tom Brady 'not opposed' to NFL return with a playoff-bound team like the 49ers
Just when you thought the San Francisco 49ers and Tom Brady storylines had concluded, the future Hall of Fame quarterback drops another tidbit that sparks discussion. During an episode of "DeepCut with VicBlends," the host asked Brady what he would do if the NFL came calling once again.
VicBlends inquired if Brady would consider returning to the football field if a playoff-bound team like the 49ers needed him.
"I'm not opposed to it," Brady said, per Jordan Mendoza of USA Today. "I don't know if they're gonna let me if I become an owner an NFL team. I don't know, I'm always gonna be in good shape, always be able to
49ers insider believes team may prefer WR Brandon Aiyuk play on fifth-year option
The San Francisco 49ers don't always do things like other NFL teams do. But they are consistent, for the most part. Seemingly every offseason, especially in recent years, a star player has wanted a new contract. From TE George Kittle and LB Fred Warner to WR Deebo Samuel and Edge Nick Bosa, the 49ers have given new contracts, but they have waited until late July-early August (and in Bosa's case—September) to do so, much to the chagrin of those players, who wanted their new deal sooner rather than later.
It may not have happened as soon as the players wanted it to, but it has happened. Kittle's contract talks reportedly weren't as smooth as he might have hoped, Samuel famously scrubbed his social media accounts of all things 49ers, and Bosa didn't sign until a few days
