Jimmy Garoppolo: Analyzing 49ers QB’s training camp performances

With 49ers training camp now complete, let’s look back at how Jimmy Garoppolo fared and what it all could mean when the regular season kicks off.

The 2020 NFL season is fast approaching, and with that means the end of training camp for teams as they gear up for their respective Week 1 matchups.

The San Francisco 49ers wrapped up training camp last week, then finalized the decisions necessary for their 53-man roster and practice squad. With COVID-19 affecting NFL activities, it was imperative players, including Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, had an excellent training camp. Especially without minicamps, OTAs and preseason warmups.

There has been a lot of excellent coverage from the team since training camp began. Likewise, there are tremendous expectations on the 49ers since their phenomenal Super Bowl run last season.

And there is a lot of pressure on Jimmy Garoppolo since the Super Bowl loss last February.

Let’s take a look at how training camp went for the quarterback and what it could mean when the regular season kicks off.

Jimmy Garoppolo: How training camp will affect regular-season efforts

Garoppolo is one of the most scrutinized quarterbacks in the NFL. A lot of the media has put pressure on him since he has been the starter at San Francisco for one reason or another. While there is a lot of pressure, he has never let that get to him. This year’s training camp was exceptionally good for Garoppolo. He received a lot of compliments for his impressive camp this year, including these remarks from head coach Kyle Shanahan:

"The more you’re in a system, the more you go against the same defense over and over, the more things become second nature. So, you expect that from [Jimmy Garoppolo]. You expect that from a lot of guys who are going through camp and going versus some of the same players, the same coverages for a couple of years here."

It’s well known Shanahan has a very complex offense to run. When Shanahan was with the Atlanta Falcons as their offensive coordinator, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan took two years to truly get the hang of the system, eventually working his way up to league MVP in the Falcons’ own Super Bowl year in 2016.

Garoppolo now has one full season under his belt to get the hang of Shanahan’s system. This has shown up in his training camp.

The 49ers quarterback has also had his down practices. He did throw five interceptions in a practice. He has also thrown five touchdowns in a practice, too. Regardless, a number of people on the 49ers staff have said Garoppolo is improving in the offensive system.

Including Shanahan.

The question now is whether or not Garoppolo’s familiarity with the offense and added chemistry with his receiving targets, namely tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Deebo Samuel, will carry over from what was seen last year: a season in which Jimmy G nearly reached 4,000 yards passing.

And if 2019 training camp was about getting fully immersed in the offense after his 2018 ACL injury, 2020 should be about expanding on the success he already had last season despite the criticisms.

Garoppolo has a lot of talent and is obviously getting more comfortable and used to the offense. He has a very important season coming up to prove he is a franchise-caliber quarterback the 49ers traded for in 2017.