Young has theory, and it’s not about injuries
Former 49ers QB says lack of trust is one cause for losing streak
The 49ers are in unfamiliar territory.
How can a team that came up a few plays short of a Super Bowl title come back with a 2-3 record that includes unexpected losses to the middling Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins?
Former 49ers great Steve Young pointed to a few issues holding San Francisco back in an interview on KNBR earlier this week. After pointing out that the team lost its “ferociousness” when it lost edge rusher Nick Bosa to an ACL tear in Week 2, the Hall of Fame quarterback provided his assessment of struggling quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Young said Garoppolo is moving through his reads too fast, not letting the play calling come to him. It’s caused a lack of trust, Young said, between the 28-yearold quarterback and his play caller, head coach Kyle Shanahan.
“Look, we’ve all been there, it’s OK, but now fix it,” Young said in the radio interview. “We’ve got to now slow everything down, because Kyle is going to call plays, and he can’t wonder if you’re going to be too quick and not catch the guy he knows is going to be open. So they need to get on the same page.”
Garoppolo missed two games after sustaining a high ankle sprain and leaving at halftime of the 49ers’ Week 2 win over the New York Jets. He was benched for backup C.J. Beathard midway through last week’s game against the Miami Dolphins after throwing two interceptions and completing just 7 of 17 pass attempts to earn a dismal 15.7 quarterback rating.
“I’m sure Kyle at the half — Jimmy was hurt, I get that — but Kyle was also frustrated with Jimmy,” Young said. “I’m sure Kyle is like, ‘Guys are coming open, you’re rushing through it, slow it down.’ I think that’s what’s got to happen quickly.”
Young added that, behind health, the 49ers’ biggest priority should be for Shanahan to find the confidence in Garoppolo so that he can make aggressive play calls — both on the ground and through the air. He posits that, if the 49ers want to get back on track, they’ll need to set a goal to score at least five touchdowns per game.
“If we’re going to do this, if we’re going to go back to the Super Bowl,” Young said, “it’s going to be because the offense and Jimmy are going to be able to match up with everyone in our division, and all the big teams that are coming in the next seven, eight weeks, that we’re going to be able to score five touchdowns, minimum.”
Another concern is the rate at which Garoppolo is getting sacked: Opponents have collected 18 sacks against San Francisco. With a porous offensive line making more vulnerable Garoppolo’s fragile ankle, Young says the quarterback can start to gain confidence by speaking up.
“You have to carry that extra water and figure out, ‘My protection is a little weird’ — which we didn’t expect, let’s be honest,” Young said.
“Jimmy has to be like, ‘Crap, I have enough to deal with.’ My point is, if you’re going to be that elite quarterback, and there are always a handful — you’re going to have to show that you can find your way through it, and that’s the challenge.”