Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports


Relying on Jimmy Garoppolo now will benefit the 49ers

Nov 22, 2019 at 12:25 PM


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
In recent weeks it's evident that the focus of opposing defenses has been to stop the 49ers' running attack, which is currently second in the league. The 49ers are averaging 149 yards rushing per game, but were only able to generate 34 yards on the ground against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11.

That performance followed a mere 87 yards rushing in Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks, far below the teams' season average. The dip in production could have something to do with the offensive line still suffering from injuries, with Joe Staley being out and Mike McGlinchey just coming back from injury. Tight End, George Kittle, has also been out the last two weeks, and he has a big impact not only with the passing game but in the running game, too.

Either way, teams are daring the 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo to throw the ball. And for the most part, Jimmy and the passing offense has come through. Garoppolo has averaged nearly 330 yards passing in the last three weeks to go along with 9 total touchdowns, half of his total touchdown output for the entire season.

The 49ers were winning with their ground game and defense for the first half of the season. But just as the ground game has taken a step back, the defense has also slightly regressed. That's no knock on the defense as it is still ranked Top 2 in the league, but the unit has not been as dominant as it was in previous weeks.

With that being said, the trends suggest that Garoppolo and the 49ers' passing game will need to continue to increase their overall production. The schedule gets a lot tougher for the 49ers over the next few weeks with a historic stretch against the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints, who have a combined 24-6 record. It would not surprise to see upcoming defenses continue to force the 49ers to open up the passing game.

Garoppolo will need to continue to step up, while minimizing his mistakes at the same time. The 49ers can continue to lean on their running game and defense, but Garoppolo will be a key factor in how successful the 49ers are for the rest of the season.

With six games remaining in the regular season and a 9-1 record, it is looking like the 49ers are on their way to making the playoffs for the first time since 2013. The fact that they are having to rely on Jimmy Garoppolo now to lead them to victories will only help their chances to win big games in the future.
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.


0 Comments

  • No Comments

Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News



Peter King: 49ers QB Brock Purdy would be my vote for MVP right now

By Site Staff
Dec 6

This article was first published by Audacy, written by Ryan Gilbert, and syndicated with permission. Brock Purdy introduced himself to the NFL late last season, and the San Francisco 49ers quarterback is breaking out in a big way this year. He has the Niners at 9-3 through 12 games after an impressive win over the Eagles in Philadelphia. Purdy racked up 314 yards and four touchdowns on Sunday in the 42-19 blowout win against the reigning NFC Champions. He's rocketed up



49ers praise Ji'Ayir Brown's journey from draft to starting lineup

By David Bonilla
Dec 1

The San Francisco 49ers are still exploring their safety options due to injuries to Talanoa Hufanga and George Odum. Tayler Hawkins is on the practice squad, and the team has added veteran Erik Harris. General manager John Lynch admits that there aren't many outside options at this point in the season. The silver lining is the depth added through the draft, with Ji'Ayir Brown selected from Penn State in the third round. Brown made a notable debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, stepping in for Hufanga, and made his first start against the Seattle Seahawks last week. The rookie's impressive performance has not gone unnoticed, earning a 76.8 overall Pro Football Focus grade against the Buccaneers and a 73.9 grade on Thanksgiving night. The 49ers are optimistic



How John Lynch's input shaped 49ers' defensive strategy against DK Metcalf

By David Bonilla
Dec 1

The San Francisco 49ers faced a tight schedule leading up to their Thursday night NFC West clash with the Seattle Seahawks. Despite the challenges, the defense successfully contained Seattle's main offensive threat, wide receiver DK Metcalf, limiting him to three catches for 32 yards on nine targets while primarily covered by cornerback Charvarius Ward. Ward's impressive performance held the 6-foot-4 wideout in check, allowing only one catch for 14 yards when matched against him. After the 31-13 victory, Ward revealed that the initial game plan didn't have him concentrating so heavily on Metcalf. This adjustment came late, but Ward embraced the



49ers vs. Eagles Injury Report: Arik Armstead among questionable players for Sunday

By David Bonilla
Dec 1

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their Week 13 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Arik Armstead returned to practice after sitting out this week's earlier sessions with a foot injury. While he is listed as "questionable," the defensive tackle insists he will be suited up on Sunday in Philadelphia. "I'll be out there," Armstead responded this week when asked about his game status. Running back Jordan Mason and wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud also practiced for the first time this week. Mason has been dealing with a hamstring injury, while McCloud has been sidelined with a rib injury. Both are listed as "questionable" for this weekend. Below are the official


Latest

More by Chaz Inouye

More Articles

Share 49ersWebzone