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Jimmy Garoppolo: Don’t worry about 49ers quarterback’s early struggles

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to their game against the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to their game against the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 09: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers is sacked by Everson Griffen #97 of the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 09: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers is sacked by Everson Griffen #97 of the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo hasn’t looked his best over the first two games of 2018, but that doesn’t mean Niners fans should panic just yet.

Let’s tackle this head on — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo hasn’t looked good his first two games of 2018.

Time to panic for the quarterback, who signed what was then a record-breaking five-year, $137.5 million deal during the offseason?

Well, no. Not yet at least. Not even close.

OK, Garoppolo hasn’t looked sharp. He tossed a three-interception game in Week 1 during the Niners’ 24-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. One, possibly one-and-a-half of those throws were on his shoulders. But still, the end result is still Garoppolo’s responsibility.

On paper, Garoppolo looked better in the 49ers’ 30-27 Week 2 win over the Detroit Lions, going 18-of-26 for over 200 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 118.4. Without context, that looks like a good game. But for those who watched it, they’ll know the majority of the six sacks Garoppolo took were the direct result of him holding onto the ball for too long.

Like this sack by the Lions’ Jarrad Davis:

And Garoppolo’s would-be interception late in the fourth quarter that was almost a pick-six, only to be negated by a defensive-holding call on the opposite side of the field?

Whew, for Jimmy G and Niners fans everywhere!

Yes, there are plenty of reasons to be worried about Garoppolo. And ESPN’s NFL Matchup didn’t make things better with this listing of quarterbacks’ passer ratings on third down two games into 2018:

Yeah, Jimmy G is getting outplayed on third downs by the Buffalo Bills’ rookie, Josh Allen.

Of course, no one is saying the 49ers should trade Garoppolo for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Ryan Fitzpatrick (he’s looked awesome over two weeks, by the way). But for those worried a bit about Garoppolo’s efforts should take a proverbial step back from the cliff. He’ll be just fine.

Let’s break down specifically why.