49ers start New York trip
They should open road trip with win vs. Jets if Garoppolo rebounds, Sherman’s void filled
SANTA CLARA » Wanna get away? Enjoy a 10-day, complimentary stay in five-star hotels? Leave behind all your worries, as much as possible amid COVID-19 safety protocols?
This is not a robocall to your phone.
This is the San Francisco 49ers’ immediate itinerary.
They’re escaping smoky California for a trip to New York … and West Virginia … and then back to New York.
Actually, they’ll be playing in New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium, the next two Sundays to face New York’s Jets and Giants. In between is a layover at West Virginia’s Greenbrier Resort, previously a training-camp home for the New Orleans Saints (2014-16) and Houston Texans (2017-18).
The NFL’s coronavirus precautions limit the size of the 49ers’ traveling party to just 70, including coaches, trainers
and video/communications staff. Radio broadcasters Greg Papa and Tim Ryan will stay behind to call the games from their crow’s nest in an otherwise empty Levi’s Stadium. No beat reporters are traveling to cover the game.
And the 49ers’ roster is far from full strength.
In last Sunday’s season-opening loss, 24-20 to the Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers added to their month-long casualty toll when two captains got hurt, tight end George Kittle (knee) and cornerback Richard Sherman (calf). Rather than dwell in their injuries and fourth-quarter relapses, the 49ers forge on to New York/New York.
“We’re on to the Jets and excited about the challenge they present,” linebacker Fred Warner said.
Here are some ways for the 49ers to succeed Sunday:
1. GAROPPOLO ON THE REBOUND » Jimmy Garoppolo historically rebounds well from his hiccups, whether it’s an in-game inter
ception or a defeat. He’s never lost back-to-back starts, unless you want to count his past two, including the Super Bowl, which his mounting critics surely do count.
Garoppolo had a 103.0 passer rating, 259 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers in the opener. So why must he rebound? Skewing his debut were late throws on the final series to Kendrick Bourne (open in the end zone) and Trent Taylor (open on fourth down).
Garoppolo said he must be more decisive and improve his timing.
Perhaps more concerning is Garoppolo’s pocket comfort. Heck, he spun himself into a pirouette on one sack. You can bet Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams saw that and will be blitzing extra defenders up the middle, and every which way, to disrupt him.
Left tackle Trent Williams praised Garoppolo’s poise, energy and control, especially after a contactfree offseason. “Jimmy and a lot of quarterbacks in the league, particularly pocket passers, without having a preseason and a real live period where guys are actually coming to hit him, that timing will take a little minute to link up,” Williams said. “… That’s one thing that gets overlooked, especially the cohesiveness they need between the quarterbacks and receivers.”
2. OBK: OPTIONS BEYOND KITTLE » George Kittle’s knee sprain in the opener further illustrated how vital it is that Garoppolo finds other trustworthy targets.
That could mean for a huge debut by Brandon Aiyuk, a first-round draft pick whose Aug. 23 hamstring injury kept him out Week 1. Aiyuk and Garoppolo hit it off with a high volume of plays before a deep route sidelined the rookie, so now that he looks healed, Aiyuk could unleash his yards-after-thecatch proficiency against the Jets’ Jamal Adams-less secondary.
Mohamed Sanu is such a late entrant to the 49ers’ rotation that he is no lock to suit up with Kendrick Bourne, Dante Pettis, Trent Taylor and Aiyuk. Jordan Reed figures to see more action than his 10-snap cameo, but don’t forget about Ross Dwelley, and especially each and every running back.
3. REPLACING SHERMAN » The 49ers need both a new starting cornerback and another strong leader in the wake of Richard Sherman’s surprise move to injured reserve, where he’ll ideally need only a threeweek stay for a calf strain.