Shanahan ‘really happy’ with a more-confident Garoppolo
HOUSTON » Jimmy Garoppolo dabbed sweat from his forehead, his upper lip, his eyebrows, his cheeks’ stubble and, all the while, kept smiling at reporters’ questions Thursday.
Never let ’emsee you sweat, right Jimmy? Garoppolo’s first training camp with the 49ers was relatively carefree, their final practices held on back-to-back days in stifling heat against the host Texans ahead of Saturday night’s exhibition here.
The 49ers’ vibe remains as upbeat and optimistic as it did when camp opened July 25. Sure, injuries have increased, but none too serious and none to Garoppolo, the franchise quarterback who’s instilled so much hope for coach Kyle Shanahan’s second season.
So, is Garoppolo ready, with two exhibition-game cameos and three more weeks of non-camp practices to go?
“Imean, you want everyone to be perfect,
so my answer will never be yes,” Shanahan said. “But yeah, he’s been working his tail off.
“He’s been going through this process. We’ve been through the install completely. Now, we’re starting to isolate a little bit on coverages we’re going against. But, I’ve been really happy with him.”
Texans coach Bill O’Brien can see why. For back-toback days, Garoppolo has showcased his quick release, accuracy and leadership against the Texans, who’ve offered a different defense than the 49ers’ Cover-Three scheme.
“It got our guys thinking and I think we handled it very well,” Garoppolo said.
“Really good guy, good person,” O’Brien said. “It’s what you’re looking for at that position, just guys that are easy to coach, that want to be coached, that are obviously good players.”
Garoppolo had waymore good than bad throws in the joint practices, and he wasn’t distraught about Thursday’s two-minute drill featuring only one completion in five attempts. That included an interception on his first attempt, but that 40-yard throw went off line because his arm was hit in the pocket, “otherwise we had a touchdown,” Garoppolo said.
Garoppolo credits Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello for schooling him in the system since his arrival last Halloween.
“Having Kyle and Rich being able to describe how everything is tied together, it makes my job easier,” Garoppolo said.
Left tackle Joe Staley noted that Garoppolo’s “complete understanding” of the offense now is reflected in the huddle, whether it’s through communicating demands of receivers and blockers or simply relaying the play call.
“He’s very confident,” Staley said. “He doesn’t sit there, try to memorize the play call and then say, ‘ OK, let’s see what happens.’ He understands what he’s saying.”
Here are other 49ers notes from Thursday: PROGRESS REPORT » Right guard Joshua Garnett was rewarded for Wednesday’s positive practice by getting first-string snaps Thursday.
“He looked good on tape yesterday. He definitely looked healthy yesterday,” Shanahan said of Garnett. “The test will be after fatigue sets in. Today was his second day in a row. We upped his reps.”
Garnett, who missed two weeks with a knee issue, is battling for the starting job with Mike Person and Jonathan Cooper. All three figure to get extensive looks Saturday night. SAFETY DEPTH » Terrell Williams, an undrafted rookie, was carted off early with an apparent knee injury. Fellow rookie safety Marcell Harris injured a hamstring Wednesday.
Look for the 49ers to sign a strong safety, considering their only healthy ones are Jaquiski Tartt and Chanceller James. The 49ers also could be down a linebacker after Mark Nzeocha was carted off, also, with an apparent leg strain. NEW FAN » Dante Pettis made Wednesday’s top catch with a 40-yard, overthe-shoulder reception on a Garoppolo pass. After practice, Pettis was talking with his father, Astros third base coach Gary Pettis, when Texans star receiver DeAndre Hopkins stopped en route to the locker room and told the 49ers rookie: “I like your game, man.” RUNNING BACK ROULETTE » Jeremy McNichols took a lot of first-team reps against the Texans. Jerick McKinnon (calf) and Matt Breida (shoulder) are sidelined.
So why McNichols ahead of Raheem Mostert and Joe Williams, as well as newly signed Alfred Morris?
“We want to give Jeremy a little more this week to find out exactly what he is,” Shanahan said. “... It’s nothing against either of those guys. We’re trying to evaluate everyone and there’s only a certain amount of plays and reps to give us a chance to make a hard decision.”
NICE COMEBACK »
Wide receiver Trent Taylor, who had offseason back surgery, is rounding into form as a popular target. Garoppolo praised Taylor’s routes as “more decisive and efficient.”
NICE CORNERBACK »
: Greg Mabin made the defensive play of the day when he jumped to intercept Brandon Weeden’s pass in a twominute drill, not long after Ahkello Witherspoon defended a 20-yard pass Deshaun Watson intended for Hopkins. Mabin benefited from extra reps as Richard Sherman sat out team drills for a second straight practice. WHAT FIGHT » No fight broke out Thursday, and Hopkins downplayed his scuff le Wednesday with Jimmie Ward by describing it as “basically a little game of tic-tac-toe. It’s football. That’s my friend.” So apparently is Sherman, who worked one- on- one with Hopkins after practice. TEXAS-SIZED KICK » Robbie Gould made what appeared to be a 60-yard field goal in a two-minute drill. Gould’s career long in a game was from58 yards in 2013 with the Chicago Bears.