CrimsonCrew wrote:I've been thinking about it recently, and I'm cooling on Garoppolo. I know that's been a hotly debated topic here lately, with some people calling to get rid of him. I think he gets another season, but in thinking about this team, he's the weak link. The D is playing exceptionally well. Shanahan is doing a great job scheming the offense. Guys are stepping up left and right due to the relatively high (but fortunately few season-ending) injury rate. And Garoppolo has had his moments, but it's pretty clear from Shanahan's conservative play calling in crucial moments that he doesn't really trust Garoppolo. Granted Shanahan called a pass on the crucial fourth-down play on Sunday, but I just don't get the sense that he has total faith in Garoppolo, and I can't say I blame him. And that can't happen with a $25-million player.
I have to wonder if we wouldn't be better with an inexpensive QB and good-to-great talent elsewhere. That's a formula that has worked for a number of teams in the recent past. Garoppolo has better physical tools than Mullens, for instance, but it's not like he's killing teams deep. He's generally making the sort of throws that Mullens - a well below average NFL QB in terms of raw skills - can also make. If the deep ball isn't there, and it never has been for Garoppolo, I think there's something to be said for bringing in a Chad Pennington type who will make the right reads, throw the ball well in the short and intermediate area, and then have a killer supporting cast.
As said, I think you've got to give Garoppolo one more year. There's a fair chance he's still suffering ill effects from the injury, and his deep ball has improved this year - though it's still below average. Anyway, just thinking out loud.
Jimmy surely has some things he needs to clean up, but he hasn't been operating with a full deck for most of the season. His top 2 OT's have missed chunks of time, and the WR corps is mediocre at best. Sure he has a great TE, but even Kittle has missed some time.
Regarding Shanny not trusting him, you mentioned calling for a pass on 4th and 1 but are forgetting that was actually the 2nd time Shanny did that. He also called a pass play on 4th and 1 the previous possession, the one where Sanders drew the PI for a 1st down.
When you start hunting for cheaper QB's, you risk going down into a wormhole that you may not come out of for several years. You don't get rid of a solid/good QB and go on the hunt for another one, especially if your team is a contending one. Even solid QB play is hard to come by. Its very possible you never find a decent QB that can pull his weight, while the team in in their window. When that starts to happen, a sense of urgency starts to be a factor and you see guys like Mike Glennon, Case Kennum, Brock Osweiler, Nick Foles, Joe Flacco getting HUGE contracts only to predictably suck with their new teams.
Also we still can't forget that Jimmy has only started 22 NFL games, with an 18-4 record in those games. Jimmy might not ever be a MVP candidate but give the guy a little more experience, a consistent OL group, and a decent supply of weapons and he certainly could be one of the better QB's in the league. Its not like he's all that far off that currently.