Jimmy Garoppolo: 4-week progress report for 49ers quarterback
By Peter Panacy
Jimmy Garoppolo performance metrics progress report
ALEX helps give us an idea of how effective Jimmy Garoppolo can be on key third-down situations, and there’s a lot more that can be derived from some other notable measurables.
Granted, the hand-in-glove nature of football can make things complicated, as can the overwhelming number of metrics from which to choose, essentially making “cherry-picking” some numbers a necessity.
One of those metrics, however, is Garoppolo’s ability to throw the deep ball, which has never been a strength. According to Next Gen Stats, Garoppolo’s average intended air yards this season is a lowly 6.7, which is tied with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his dwindling arm for fourth lowest.
Pro Football Focus’ metrics back this up, too, suggesting Garoppolo’s average depth of target is 6.9 yards, a 10th of a point below Roethlisberger.
On throws 20-plus yards down the field, Garoppolo is 2-of-7 with two touchdowns against one interception, yet this accounts for less than six percent of all his pass attempts. A whopping 43.2 percent of his passes are between 0 and 9 yards from the line of scrimmage.
What this has done, including a general challenge of throwing outside the numbers, has convinced opposing defenses to both cheat towards the middle of the field and up against the line of scrimmage, knowing fully well Garoppolo can’t go deep.
He might not be able to anyway at this point of his career.