QB Jimmy Garoppolo

QB Jimmy Garoppolo

Press Conference – August 7, 2019

San Francisco 49ers

You threw four straight touchdowns there in the red zone period. Is that one of your career highlights?

“Jeez, is that a shot? I’m just kidding. It was a good red zone period for sure, got some good work in against the D, some competitive work for sure.”

Do you trust WR Trent Taylor the most out of all the receivers because it seems like that’s a guy you really lean on?

“I trust all of them. Each guy, I think this time of year is good for earning that trust and them the same with me. They’ve got to trust me the same I’ve got to trust them. Those guys have been doing a good job with that.”

Head coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned the other day the receivers needed to start making some plays. How much do you feel responsible for that to let them get an opportunity to make plays?

“Yeah, it’s a one doesn’t come without the other type thing. I have to give them the chance. I have to make the proper read, get them in the right position, and like I said, give them a chance to make a play on the ball.”

How much have you felt DL Nick Bosa just being out there on the practice field?

“A decent amount. He’s made some good plays. He’s just a savvy rookie. To be able to play the run and pass the way he does, it’s impressive.”

Kind of going back to Trent, obviously the last few games of 2017 you guys had a pretty strong connection. Considering his injuries in 2018, what’s it got to take to get that rapport back on the field?

“I think just time out on the field together. We stay after practice and we talk through some stuff every day, run a couple extra routes and I think those little things like that, just talking the same language and seeing the defense the same way. He has a unique ability of seeing the defense like a quarterback and not many receivers can do that. It’s a nice luxury to have.”

Kyle said yesterday the plan is to play games two and three, not one and four. Anything different in terms of your desire to play in the preseason coming back? Do you want to do more, do less, about the same?

“Whatever they’re willing to let me play. I always want to be out there with the guys. Whatever the coaches and the training staff come up with, I’ve trusted their plan this far, so they haven’t done me wrong yet.”

Today was a little bit challenging with a few drops. Did you talk to your receivers after practice about it?

“I talk to them every day, yeah. We’re here for a lot of hours, so yeah, it’s one of those things, it’s training camp. There are going to be mistakes, you just want to minimize them as much as you can, move on the next day and correct those things and not make the same mistake twice. That’s the big part right now, so I think we’re learning that and there’s some growing pains that come with that.”

How do you pick the guys after practice which ones you’re going to work with, because it seems like after each practice, there might be a different guy?

“Yeah, it’s just kind of something, I don’t know, the day before, the night before I kind of go through my notes and find out what I’m trying to work on with certain guys and what needs urgency and what doesn’t type thing, I guess.”

How much do those sessions help? Because you’re out there at least about a half hour, right?

“I think they’re tremendous. It’s an opportunity when the coaches aren’t there for us to talk the same language, and like I said, see the defense the same way. It’s good so that they know what I’m thinking and I know what they’re thinking, really.”

It was an unusual day at practice with all the Dwight Clark stuff and obviously you’re too young to remember the catch, but what kind of impact do you feel that he made on this organization that a guy your age could still feel?

“He sounded like a very charismatic guy. I never got to meet him, unfortunately, but just the energy he brought, it sounded like it was contagious. Would have loved to have a chance to meet him, but it sounded like he made some real impact on this organization.”

How about the play of the catch? What do you, now that you’ve seen it, what do you think of that play?

“It’s incredible. I mean, to keep it alive, for [former 49ers QB] Joe [Montana] to keep it alive first and then to give Dwight the chance in the back of the end zone and really put it in the only spot he could put it, it’s a once in a lifetime play right there.”

Before you were a 49er, was that kind of the iconic thing that you thought of about this organization?

“Yeah, no doubt. Really, yeah. That would be the number one thing, for sure.”

You’ve never done any film work with Joe or former 49ers QB Steve Young have you?

“No, unfortunately. I would love to. Maybe down the road. Put in a good word for me.”

General manager John Lynch recently described you as a feel player. Do you know what he means by that? Is that fair characterization? He meant like you’re almost better in an 11-on-11 setting than you are in seven-on-seven.

“Yeah, I mean, I would agree with that for sure. I don’t know, it’s kind of when the bullets start flying type of thing. I don’t know, your juices get flowing. I don’t really know how to describe it, it’s just kind of something that happens.”

You don’t really have to think, you just react?

“I mean, you’re thinking. In this offense, you’re always thinking. Yeah, the reactions kind of just happen. You see someone flash in front of you and you just kind of react and play football.”

What are the challenges for a quarterback when you’re rotating at receivers as often as you guys do during training camp?

“I think just getting the timing down with each guy. When you’re in the huddle, you have to see who you’re with. If you’re calling an individual route, you’ve got to see who’s on that individual route. Things can get jumbled and mixed up a little bit, but that’s what training camp is for. Injuries are going to happen throughout the season, so you’ve got to be able to react to that stuff.”

How eager are you to see some of those guys distinguish themselves so you have sort of a better idea of who you are going to be working with during the regular season?

“I mean, it’s a battle. There’s a lot of competition and that’s going to lead to better football and a better football team in us and so I love it. Quarterback room’s competitive, every room is, that’s the nature of the beast right now.

How would you describe WR Kendrick Bourne’s personality?

“He’s very energetic. I’ve never seen him down before. I mean, honestly, the energy he brings every day it’s good for us as an offense too. These long days, I mean, they’ll wear on you, but he always brings it. Whether its practice, walk-through, whatever it is, it’s nice to have a guy like that.”

Can you dance like he can?

“Yeah, I just don’t like to do it out there.”

Can you talk about the jump he’s made from year two to year three?

“Yeah, KB’s one of those guys that he doesn’t tire out, which as quarterback you love that because he could run routes for days, just his speed never changes and he never changes as a person. If you can get someone who’s consistent like that, as quarterback you love that.”

Speaking of energy, T Mike McGlinchey and T Joe Staley, seemed like they hit it off right from the moment they got here and they seem to balance kind of when it’s time to be serious and when it’s time to have fun. What kind of impact and influence does that have in the locker room with the team?

“They have a very unique relationship. The age difference is so different, but they’re so similar in their personality. It’s fun to be around those guys. They always keep it light. And like you said, when you get out there between the lines they’re different people in the huddle and I love that. I don’t know, you’ve got to have guys like that who can know when to turn it on and know when to turn it off.”

Do you see them kind of sniping and challenging each other during practice?

“Oh yeah. I mean, I want to call it trash talking but it’s really not trash talking because they’re on the same side, but it leaves a good competition.”

You talked about the competitive quarterback room. Can you talk a little about the battle between QB C.J. Beathard and QB Nick Mullens and what you’re seeing out there?

“I think it’s good for all of us to have competition like that. I mean, it’s going to push us all and make us all better. I think you’ll see who rises to the top type of thing.”

You’re going to be in Denver next week practicing. Thinking back to last summer in Houston, do you get more out of practicing against a team for two days than cameos and exhibitions?

“Yeah, I prefer it. Especially, I mean you see different looks, new defense. You get to this point in camp and the defense knows our calls, we know their calls type of thing and it kind of becomes repetitive. But, whenever you get that chance, you know, juices kick up, the competition kicks up, it’s exciting.”

Back to Dwight Clark Day, after speaking to some of the patients out there today and they talk about how much the game of football helps them cope with their diagnosis. What does that mean just to know that something as simple as going out and doing your job, playing the game, is helping these people out?

“Yeah, I mean it’s incredible, anything we can do to help like that. At the end of the day we’re just playing a game, but it means so much to so many people. That’s why we put so much into it though. That’s why we come in here every day and go to work. That’s what makes it great.”

You talk about not making the same mistake twice. Can you talk about your rookies and how they’ve progressed, WR Deebo Samuel and WR Jalen Hurd in particular?

“Yeah, I think learning this offense is not an easy offense to learn in general. I went through the whole process of it so those guys are right in that right now and there are going to be ups and downs. But, I think for the most part they’ve been very consistent and they’re getting better. They both have skillsets that are very unique to each one of them and they’re using it. It’s nice to have that as a quarterback.”

You guys had some success in the red zone today. What’s been some of the points of emphasis heading into this season?

“In the red zone?”

Yes, specifically in the red zone?

“I think just honing in on the details. The red zone’s a tight area, there’s no room for mistakes and when you do make a mistake the defense is going to expose you on that. I think guys just locking in and focusing on the little details, it’s going to help us.”

By details do you mean just route running, reading the defense before the snap?

“Yeah, there’s a million, I mean all that stuff. Even up front, they’ve got to block first in order for us to make the completion. So, it’s all tied together.”