What to expect for the San Francisco 49ers as Jimmy Garoppolo once again takes control of the offense.
For better or worse, the Trey Lance experiment is over in 2022. Just like old times it's the Jimmy Garoppolo show for the San Francisco 49ers the rest of the way.
In a single moment,
Lance's ankle injury flipped the script for the 49ers.
Instead of riding with the uber-talented, albeit completely unproven youngster, whose arm strength and legs gave the offense dimensions it never had before, Kyle Shanahan and Co. are back to square one with a quarterback they know all too well.
As the initial shock of the sudden reversal of fortunes wear off, my thoughts turn toward what fans should expect going forward. And honestly, there's a lot to be excited about in the short term.
The 49ers, quite simply, can now settle back into a rhythm they know all too well. A rhythm that's served them well for the past few years with a quarterback in Garoppolo who has his limits, but who also possesses strengths that have set the 49ers up for success since his arrival.
Shanahan and Co. basically went from the great unknown (Lance) to the model of efficiency and stability. WIthout a doubt, things just got a heck of a lot simpler. This was immediately evident in Week 2 when Garoppolo entered the game and started dealing like he never left.
After subbing in for Lance in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, Garoppolo went 13-of-21 passing for 154 yards with one touchdown, no interceptions, and he added a touchdown on the ground.
The model of efficiency, Jimmy did what he's always done well: He got rid of the ball quickly and let his playmakers do their work after the catch. He also let it rip a couple of times and nearly had Brandon Aiyuk down the left sideline for a big play in the second half -- a ball Aiyuk wishes he could have back.
Now, there's obviously some significant reasons why the 49ers decided to move on from Garoppolo a couple years ago. He has struggled to stay healthy throughout his tenure in San Francisco. He has also had some brutal games that were highlighted by inexcusable self-inflicted wounds (aka turnovers) that doomed the team to a loss.
That being said, there's no doubt that Garoppolo gives the 49ers an excellent chance to win a lot during the regular season, which will set them up once more for a Super Bowl run.
Much has been made of Garoppolo's weaknesses. He doesn't have the arm strength to throw darts deep downfield and take the top off the defense. Most of his deep throws tend to be off-target. He aslo has a penchant for throwing dangerous passes into the middle of the field, which can easily get tipped and picked off.
But for every fault JImmy has, he makes up for it in efficient play. There are few quarterbacks who get the ball out quicker than Garoppolo, who makes lightning-fast decisions and has one of the quickest releases in the game.
Jimmy G also possesses intangibles that cannot be measured on the stat sheet. His teammates love him. They love his calm presence in the huddle, and that fact that he's one of the most positive dudes you'll ever be around. This was immediately evident on Sunday in Week 2 when he scored a touchdown on a quarterback sneak.
In no way am I implying that the 49ers are better off with Jimmy Garoppolo compared to Trey Lance. All I'm saying is that this offense is going to be just fine with the savvy veteran under center.
Kyle Shanahan and Co. went from having to learn a new quarterback and devising a new way of attacking defenses to a familiar groove. Quite honestly, things just got a heck of a lot simpler for the coaches, and the offense as a whole. The learning curve is gone. In its place is a comfort level and an offensive attack everyone knows like the back of their hands.
This doesn't necessarily mean things will be any easier for the 49ers in 2022. But it sure takes a lot of the guessing out of the equation. They went from the great unknown to the familiar. That could translate to some big success for the offense in the short term.
And that's the golden lining to a brutal injury that changed the course of the season for these 49ers.
