San Francisco 49ers: 5 simple reasons Jimmy Garoppolo gets even better in 2018
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Return of Veteran Wideout Pierre Garçon
Pierre Garçon was already on pace to reach 1,000 yards before suffering a season-ending neck injury exactly halfway through last season.
As such, Garçon never got to work with Jimmy Garoppolo. His numbers came from the ineffective quarterbacking from pre-Jimmy G QBs Brian Hoyer and C.J. Beathard.
Before getting injured Pierre Garçon was on pace for a 1,000 yard season with Beathard/Hoyer at QB. Imagine the numbers he can put up in a full season with Garoppolo at the helm. #49ers
— Jeff Deeney (@PFF_Jeff) January 3, 2018
Even though Garçon will turn 32 years old before the regular season starts, there’s little reason to expect him not to have another solid season. And, hopefully, over its entire duration.
What Garçon offers to the offense is a bit different than the other crop of wideouts on the roster. Garçon has the physicality element — a trait regularly displayed in the first half of 2017 and one that should help Garoppolo’s confidence throwing the ball in tight confines and within the red zone.
Speaking of the red zone — the area where Kyle Shanahan’s offense finished 27th in touchdown scoring efficiency last year — 21 of Garçon’s 37 end-zone grabs have come in this area.
Yeah, that’s a boost.