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San Francisco 49ers: 5 simple reasons Jimmy Garoppolo gets even better in 2018

By Peter Panacy

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after the 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14 at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after the 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14 at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 03: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings runs the ball during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 03: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings runs the ball during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

No. 4: The 49ers’ Running Game Opens Up

Rare are the quarterbacks who don’t need much of a running game to be effective under center.

Jimmy Garoppolo could be solid enough without a good ground game, but the Niners having one would only serve to make him more potent this season.

And San Francisco made hefty investments there.

Grabbing running back Jerick McKinnon in free agency is a key move. As Niner Noise pointed out earlier in this film-review piece, McKinnon is tailor made for the position in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. He excels at outside-zone runs and contributes just as readily in the passing game.

Yet another key note to understand here is the switch from Trent Brown to Mike McGlinchey at right tackle.

Being able to run to the right side was something Shanahan couldn’t do well last season. And the head coach wasn’t happy about it, according to former KNBR 680 insider Kevin Jones:

McGlinchey is already a run-blocking upgrade over Brown. So that should allow Shanahan to employ runs to both sides of the offensive line.

In turn, that’ll open up things for Garoppolo and the passing game. Particularly in play action, where Garoppolo posted a passer rating of 94.5 — 10th best in the NFL among qualifiers — per Pro Football Focus.