49ers, Garoppolo look to bounce back vs. Lions
SANTA CLARA (TNS) – No, Jimmy Garoppolo can’t win ’em all. Nor can he fake an angry-man demeanor.
As the 49ers starting quarterback comes off his first career loss, he hasn’t morphed into a rowdy cheerleader to rile up his teammates for a rebound performance in Sunday’s home opener against the Detroit Lions.
“It’s been the exact same, and I’d be disappointed if it was any different,” coach Kyle Shanahan said of Garoppolo’s persona. “He didn’t have his best game last week but he doesn’t need to come in here and make stuff up.”
Added nose tackle Earl Mitchell: “That’s the biggest thing: I believe guys who bark the loudest have the weakest bite. He’s been calm, doesn’t seem fazed and that’s what you want.”
Garoppolo borrowed a page from his former Patriots life as it pertains to this week’s approach: “We’re on to Detroit.”
OK, but at least one thing is still worth revisiting from his three-interception fiasco in the 24-16 opening loss. What did he think about Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter’s postgame comment, claiming the key to defeating Garoppolo is to pressure him and that makes him “get scared.”
Garoppolo shrugged it off, knowing that defenders wouldn’t be boasting that had they had lost.
“I’ve never heard that before but it’s the way (Hunter) thinks,” Garoppolo responded. “Pressure is always a good thing in a quarterback’s eyes. It opens windows, and they have less guys in coverage.”
Here are other impressions from Wednesday’s media access:
LINEBACKER MOVES: As bright as the future looks with an eventual lineup of Fred Warner with Reuben Foster (and possibly Malcolm Smith), the 49ers are moving forward without Brock Coyle, who went on injured reserve Wednesday with not only a concussion but also a T4 compression fracture in his back that would keep him out of contact at least six weeks.
The 49ers addressed their linebacker depth by signing Terence Garvin, who played last year for the Seattle Seahawks and can play both strong-side and weak-side linebacker spots.
Lee or Mark Nzeocha would likely start next to Warner as the 49ers inside linebackers if Smith can’t.
Smith did not play Sunday nor did he practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury he initially sustained Aug. 9 in the exhibition opener.
RECEIVER NEWS: Marquise Goodwin’s bruised quadriceps kept him out of practice Wednesday, and if he can’t rally for the home opener, look for rookie Dante Pettis to seize those snaps, as he did upon Goodwin’s first-half exit at Minnesota.
Pettis produced the 49ers’ only touchdown when he improvised and caught a 22-yard pass from Garoppolo in the back of the end zone. “I ran to the open area of the field,” Pettis said. “I have a pretty good feel for when a quarterback starts scrambling on where to go, so I ran to the open spot.”