In 3 NFL starts, Garoppolo has been Jimmy Cool in the clutch
This story is about Jimmy Garoppolo and clutch quarterback play, but let’s begin with Brian Hoyer and his second start with the 49ers this season.
On Sept. 17, the 49ers trailed Seattle 12-9 in the fourth quarter, and had a chance to win: They had a first down at their 20-yard line with 7:01 left.
However, after three snaps, the final one of which was a 6-yard completion by Hoyer on 3rd and-9, they punted, did not get the ball back and left head coach Kyle Shanahan subtly slamming Hoyer.
“We got ourselves in a position to win that game,” Shanahan said afterward. “And in the moment of truth, we didn’t get it done in the passing game.”
The failures with the game in the balance were a theme in Hoyer’s winless six-start tenure, which included an NFLrecord five straight losses by three points or fewer. Hoyer’s big-moment hiccups highlighted the 49ers’ weakness at the NFL’s most important position and evoked the Bill Walsh quote about quarterback Steve DeBerg: “He plays just good enough to get you beat.”
This leads us to Garoppolo, who appears to have the clutch gene possessed by all top quarterbacks, including the man who replaced DeBerg.
OK, so it’s far too soon to start lumping Garoppolo with Joe Montana, but Garoppolo has been Jimmy Cool in the most pressure-packed moments of his three-start career: Garoppolo has directed long game-winning drives, on the road, in the two career starts he has completed.
On Sunday, in his first start with the 49ers, he was masterful on an 86-yard march capped by Robbie Gould’s 24-yard field goal with four seconds left in a 15-14 win at Chicago. Garoppolo completed 5 of 6 passes for 54 yards and converted three first downs.
The big play: On 3rd-and-9, he tossed a 33-yard strike to Trent Taylor.
Last year, in Garoppolo’s first NFL start, he led the Patriots to a season-opening 23-21 win at Arizona by headlining a 61-yard drive capped by a 32yard field goal with 3:48 left. Garoppolo completed 5 of 7 passes for 62 yards and converted two third downs.
The big play: On 3rd-and-15, he had a 32-yard completion to Danny Amendola.
Despite Garoppolo’s inexperience — he has thrown 133 career passes — his poise, command and certain undefinable intangibles were what his teammates referenced after Sunday’s win.
“It’s just a special feeling with him,” guard Brandon Fusco said.
Offered wide receiver Marquise Goodwin: “Some people are just winners. And he’s a winner.”
Garoppolo’s first start has created excitement for 2018 in the midst of a 2-10 season. How big of a jump could the 49ers make next year? To get an idea, it’s worth wondering what record they’d currently have if they began this season with Garoppolo instead of Hoyer.
Consider: In Week 3, in a 41-39 loss to the Rams, the 49ers had a first down at midfield with 2:10 left. The result: Hoyer completed 1 of 3 passes for no yards before he was dropped for a game-sealing sack.
In Week 4, an 18-15 overtime loss to the Cardinals, the 49ers had first down at their 43-yard line in a tie game with 50 seconds left in regulation. The result: Hoyer completed 1 of 3 passes for 3 yards and the 49ers punted.
In Week 5, in a 26-23 loss to the Colts, the 49ers had first down at midfield and were tied in overtime. The result: Hoyer completed 1 of 3 passes for 5 yards and the 49ers punted.
Of course, the string began at Seattle in Week 2. It was a game in which the 49ers led 9-6 in the fourth quarter before Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson summoned the game’s only touchdown drive. On an 82-yard march, Wilson completed 3 of 5 passes for 23 yards, had four carries for 27 yards and finished it with a highlight-reel scoring pass.
The decisive fourth quarter highlighted a mismatch: Wilson has won a Super Bowl. Hoyer threw four interceptions and had a career-worst passer rating in his only playoff start.
Looking ahead to 2018, the 49ers can take heart in what appears to be a certainty: Garoppolo will be better in the moment of truth.