San Francisco 49ers: Reasons to stay excited after Jimmy Garoppolo injury

Much of the intrigue around the San Francisco 49ers has gone following Jimmy Garoppolo’s ACL tear, but there are still numerous reasons to be excited about this team.

With Jimmy Garoppolo confirmed out for the remainder of the campaign with a torn ACL, much of the excitement surrounding the San Francisco 49ers going into the 2018 season has disappeared.

A schedule that soon softens after a daunting start now appears much more daunting with C.J. Beathard under center, and fans would be forgiven there is little to look forward to for the remaining 13 games of what could develop into a frustrating 2018 campaign.

Yet, even as all in terms of their playoff aspirations seems lost, there are still numerous reasons to be excited about the 49ers in 2018.

The run game

The loss of Jerick McKinnon to a torn ACL before a regular-season ball had even been snapped has not prevented the 49ers from boasting one of the best run games in the NFL through three games. San Francisco is averaging 152.7 yards on the ground and has the NFL’s leading rusher — tied with Ezekiel Elliott on 274 yards — in Matt Breida.

Breida’s burst, speed and elusiveness have played a huge role in the Niners success on the ground, while Alfred Morris had the best game of his fledgling San Francisco career in Week 3, but it is the improved play of the offensive line that has had the biggest impact on the fortunes of the running game.

Indeed, the additions of Weston Richburg and Mike McGlinchey have significantly upgraded the O-line as a run-blocking unit, their ability to get to the second level, as evidenced by the 4.9 yards 49ers backs are averaging before first contact, springing Breida for substantial yardage on a regular basis.

Taking away the run is sure to be a focal point of the defensive gameplan of 49ers opponents now Garoppolo is gone. Yet if Breida, Morris and the O-line can maintain this early form in spite of the increased opposition they are likely to face, the 49ers offense will still have a dynamic element to it.

George Kittle

Kittle was one of the best rookie tight ends in the NFL last year and despite some issues with drops, looks primed for a similarly successful sophomore campaign. He already has 191 receiving yards on just 12 catches, the athleticism he brings to the position and his ability after the catch continuing to cause defenses huge issues, while he also appears to have made strides as a blocker.

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Having played together at Iowa, Beathard should continue to look to Kittle early and often as Garoppolo did and, providing he can do a better job of hanging on to the ball, the former Hawkeye could be in for a big statistical year as he further cements himself as one of the most important offensive pieces on the team.

Defensive development

It has been a rough start to the year for the 49ers defense, which is giving up 384.7 yards per game and has already been hamstrung by injuries.

However, when everyone is healthy, there is the makings of a strong defensive spine in place. The defensive line may not have gotten to the quarterback as much as the Niners will have wanted but, with seven sacks in three games — half of them coming from the continually excellent DeForest Buckner — San Francisco is on pace to easily beat the meagre number of 30 sacks it finished 2018 with.

Reuben Foster’s first time playing alongside fast-starting rookie Fred Warner did not go as planned against Kansas City’s high-powered offense. On paper, though, they have the talent to grow into one of the NFL’s best linebacking duos. The secondary is the weak spot of the defense but Richard Sherman, though dealing with a calf injury that will keep him out a couple of weeks, has been every bit the player he was for the most part in Seattle.

In Sherman and safeties Adrian Colbert and Jaquiski Tartt, the 49ers have a good base to build from in the secondary and, if the former Seahawk’s leadership can bring along some of the younger corners, there will be little to stop the defense from making strides down the stretch as it did last year.

Beathard blossoming

These 13 games are an audition for Beathard, who will be hoping to show much better than the four touchdown, six-interception effort he produced in five games as a rookie. The 49ers, for their part, are highly confident he can do so in his second year in Kyle Shanahan’s system.

“He’s going to shock a lot of people,” said Breida, per Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group. “A lot of people probably expect him to go in there and not do that great, but if you paid close attention last year, he’s going to be great.”

Shanahan has expressed similar faith in Beathard and it would be a source of great excitement for 49ers fans if the team is proven right to have put its faith in him. Beathard excelling would mean the 49ers remaining competitive in what for many at this stage looks a lost season. It would also increase the chances of a team giving up draft capital to trade for him.

Even without Garoppolo, there is plenty to intrigue on the 49ers roster, yet nothing should be more exciting for fans than the prospect of Beathard proving the doubters wrong given what it could mean for the franchise in both the short and the long term.