[jwplayer RBM9SWQx-ThvAeFxT]
The 49ers will have starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo back for their Week 5 showdown with the Miami Dolphins. He’s missed the last two games with a high ankle sprain, but he steps back into the starting lineup at a time where he needs to play the best football of his career. The 49ers will need him to be the best version of himself over the final 12 games if they’re going to have any shot at regaining dominance in the NFC.
San Francisco will always be a team that relies on big plays in the run game, but their defense-driven formula is likely going to have to change where more of the onus falls on the quarterback.
That formula was always going to be tweaked some when star defensive end Nick Bosa went down with a torn ACL in Week 2. Then defensive end Dee Ford went on Injured Reserve with a back injury. Injuries have also ripped through the secondary to the point San Francisco will start their fourth and sixth cornerbacks against the Dolphins.
That unit has held up so far, with late-game hiccups against the Cardinals and Eagles working as the only things marring a start that has the 49ers ranked No. 3 in the NFL in scoring defense and No. 3 in yards allowed.
It figures to get harder though when they enter a second quarter of the season that features a home game vs. the Rams and back-to-back road games at New England and at Seattle.
That’s where Garoppolo comes in. His two performances against Arizona last season, as well as his stellar showing at the Superdome against the Saints come to mind when considering what the 49ers may need from their quarterback.
When he returns to the field Sunday he figures to have a full stable of weapons at his disposal. Tight end George Kittle is back from a knee injury. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is questionable with an illness, though head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated he should be good to go. Rookie receiver Brandon Aiyuk has come on strong early in his first season, and running back Jerick McKinnon has been a good dual-threat back who’s scored touchdowns in all four games. The 49ers figure to have an excellent, explosive group of playmakers once running back Raheem Mostert returns from a knee injury.
There aren’t a lot of reasons Garoppolo shouldn’t be able to produce at a higher level in the event San Francisco has to lean on their passing attack. While that sounds like a quarterback’s dream scenario, it’s one that puts a lot of pressure on the 49ers’ signal caller.
We’ve seen him come through in those situations before, but he’s never been in a spot where it’s needed on a week-in, week-out basis. Garoppolo last season finished 19th in attempts, and his seven games with 30-plus pass attempts ranked 26th in the league. San Francisco was dominant enough that they rarely needed more than their defense and No. 2-ranked rushing attack to win. Injuries on defense and in the backfield, plus an inconsistent offensive line make it difficult to envision a lot of wins following that same blueprint.
Perhaps the formula for victory stays the same where the defense is still stingy and they’re able to lean on the run game to take the air out of the ball and wear down defenses. Signs are pointing to a shift though, and the direction it’s heading will mean asking more of a quarterback who’s yet to post big numbers on a weekly basis.
If he can pull it off, it may be enough to get San Francisco back into the thick of the Super Bowl hunt.
[lawrence-related id=661698]