Is Jimmy Garoppolo Ready To Take On The Role Of An Elite QB?
Jimmy Garoppolo will silence the critics in 2019. The San Francisco 49ers QB will become one of the NFL’s elite. After the season you’ll put him in the same tier as Drew Brees, Patrick Mahomes, and Tom Brady. With a young and hungry WR/TE core, and full health, this is his time.
Garoppolo was injured for most of the 2018 season. He started only 3 games for the 49ers. Despite putting up pedestrian numbers (239 yards per game, 5 TD’s, 3 interceptions), Jimmy G. still controlled the team’s offense. The 49ers went 1-2 in those games. It was his 2017 season that really showcased the talents of the 27-year old.
During the 2017 season, Garoppolo was traded mid-season to the 49ers from the New England Patriots. He proceeded to start 5 games for the 49ers, winning all 5. It was then San Francisco fans felt they had found their QB of the future. Unfortunately, injuries derailed the hype train in 2018. Now, fully healthy, Garoppolo looks to turn the corner and become elite like he was in 2017.
It all starts with the talent surrounding Jimmy G. There’s All-Pro TE, George Kittle, and promising young WR’s, Dante Pettis, Jalen Hurd, Deebo Samuel, and Trent Taylor. While this young WR core still has a lot to prove, Kittle is one of the best in the league at his position. He’s the perfect security blanket for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Obviously a big factor in Garoppolo’s case to be and elite QB will be health. He tore his ACL during week 3 of the 2018 season. Week 2 of the preseason was his first game action in nearly 11 months. He didn’t look at all like an elite QB. Garoppolo went 1/6 for 0 yards with 1 interception.
Luckily, he bounced back in week 3 of the preseason going 14/20 for 188 yards and 1 TD. That’s the Jimmy G. 49ers fans want to see more of. If he’s indeed recovered from the injury, we’ll see a lot more of the 5-0 as a starter Garoppolo than the 1-2 player we saw last year.
Garoppolo will need to have a career year to be considered one of the NFL’s best. He’s fully capable of doing just that. There’s a lot of talent oozing from his veins. It’s hard to envision him not succeeding if he’s at 100 percent health.
For the San Francisco 49ers to be a playoff team, Jimmy Garoppolo will need to be on his game. Above all else, he’ll need to be healthy. If we see elite Garoppolo, the league better watch out because the 49ers will be a team to be reckoned with.
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Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
