The San Francisco 49ers’ season now falls on the shoulders of Jimmy Garoppolo.
However, the decisions he made during Sunday night’s loss to the Denver Broncos are problematic.
There were more problems than just his decision-making, as Garoppolo didn’t look good at all.
So, what are all the difficulties that the veteran QB is having this 2022 NFL season?
Garoppolo Missed Several Wide Open Throws
The Broncos gave the 49ers veteran QB plenty of opportunities to make big plays.
However, he missed most of these wide-open receivers, which cost them the game.
When Garoppolo had Deebo Samuel wide open, he threw into coverage instead.
Deebo Samuel was legit wide open 😳pic.twitter.com/3SqUEOtdUm
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) September 26, 2022
But that wasn’t the only time he made the mistake of looking elsewhere.
With him failing to execute, the 49ers missed out on scoring opportunities.
The problem is that Garoppolo's mistakes don't outweigh or even just cancel out his good plays. A nice pass for a 20 yard gain doesn't come close to making up for missing a wide open Deebo Samuel. Twice.
— Rob “Stats” Guerrera (@StatsOnFire) September 26, 2022
So, despite some of his good plays, it will be those missed touchdowns that everyone will remember.
However, missing wide-open receivers wasn’t the only issue for the 49ers QB.
Garoppolo’s Footwork In The Pocket Was Problematic
Another major trouble with the veteran QB was his footwork in the pocket.
It was clearly seen when the QB stepped out of bounds in the end zone, resulting in a safety.
In a game where Jimmy Garoppolo took a safety, the 49ers ended up losing by one. That has to sting. pic.twitter.com/ZedYuvAfwQ
— John Breech (@johnbreech) September 26, 2022
Those two points were enough to shift the final score in the Broncos’ favor.
However, had he not stepped out of bounds, the pass was a clear pick-six for the Broncos.
While the safety was better in that situation, his footwork is still concerning.
The “happy feet” that Garoppolo showcased on Sunday night aren’t new coming from him.
Garoppolo got some very happy feet in the pocket there despite having all day to throw, somehow got a jump pass (a jump dump?) off to Wilson Jr. for 6
— Jake Hutchinson (@hutchdiesel) December 19, 2021
With these footwork issues, we aren’t seeing the veteran QB having any confidence or power when throwing down the field.
If he continues to have issues that aren’t new then the season might be a wash for the 49ers.
Can Garoppolo Correct His Mistakes This Season?
With Garoppolo on a one-year deal in San Francisco, he needs to make some adjustments fast.
While there’s time to fix his issues, he needs to do it as soon as possible.
However, it might be too late for him to correct some of these mistakes.
While he can make some adjustments like spotting his open receivers, other problems might be too late to fix.
His footwork is his worst problem in games: it prevents him from unleashing big-time plays downfield.
With Samuel on offense, he needs to take deep shots to him.
However, he’s completely missing these important openings.
With his footwork handicapping him, there’s no improving on his end until he sets his feet.
If Jimmy Garoppolo ever would set his feet and transfer his weight, he might throw fastballs instead of sinkers.
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) September 26, 2022
But reprogramming himself into a QB that does this won’t be easy.
It could take the entire season for him to break his habits.
That’s something the 49ers don’t have time for.
Therefore, he will continue to struggle in games until all his problems are addressed.
All of this means his struggles won’t be fixed this year, which might lead the 49ers to a disappointing record.
NEXT: 49ers’ Season May Be In Jeopardy After Latest Injury
