3 reasons why San Francisco 49ers will struggle in 2020

No. 1: Jimmy Garoppolo Doesn’t Seize the Opportunity

What happened to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl seemed to set the tone about what most league-wide pundits felt about San Francisco’s signal-caller: He was nothing more than a system quarterback, and there was no way he was capable of leading a team to a championship.

They must have failed to realize Garoppolo’s 3,978 passing yards were a franchise fourth-best for single-season passers, and Jimmy G’s four fourth-quarter comebacks during the regular season were tied for the league lead.

But what if the critics are right?

There’s always the chance Garoppolo regresses this season. And while merely suggesting the chance is a bit too speculative, as one needs evidence to prompt it more, there are those who feel it’ll happen.

Particularly ESPN’s Mike Clay:

Granted, the stats aren’t wholly regressive to the tune of Garoppolo being a bust. But when combined with the ever-present possibilities of injuries or regressions elsewhere on either side of the ball, the hopeful thought would be Jimmy G reacting in a way where he’s carrying the team more than he did last season. Especially late and into the playoffs.

Again, guessing stats is no easy science. Clay’s projection is just that, a projection.

Still, there’s going to be a lot of pressure on Garoppolo and the 49ers to prove 2019 was a stepping stone in the right direction.

If Garoppolo fails to reach an expected level in 2020, it could spell a lot of problems for San Francisco this upcoming season.