WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V. — Jimmy Garoppolo did not go skeet shooting, fly fishing, or racing off-road vehicles in the picturesque Appalachian Mountains the way some 49ers teammates did earlier this week at The Greenbrier Resort.
Sure, he dabbled at the Greenbrier’s casino “for a little bit,” but it’s not like Garoppolo needs to try new adventures to make new friends in what’s become an annual team-bonding layover between East Coast games.
He is acting like a proud 49er, again.
As he approaches a once-unlikely fifth anniversary with the franchise — Oct. 31, 2017 is when his trade from the New England Patriots became official — Garoppolo spoke this week with conviction about what it means to be a Niner, for not just him but anyone.
“When you’re made of the right stuff and you’re built like one of us, you’ll fit in just right,” Garoppolo said, in answering a question about cornerback Charvarius Ward, this past offseason’s free agency prize.
Those who don’t fit in, Garoppolo added, are quickly jettisoned. Reminder: He’s still here.
As Garoppolo spoke after Thursday’s practice, each sound bite came with an unabashed “we” or “us.”
Two months ago, Garoppolo was on an island, restricted to throwing on a side field to a 22-year-old former staff intern while awaiting a trade or release from the franchise he quarterbacked to two of the past three NFC Championship Games.
After striking a deal to stick around, he came in handy on the 49ers’ roster when his replacement, Trey Lance, sustained a season-ending ankle fracture in the Sept. 18 home opener.
With the 49ers (3-2) riding a two-game win streak into Sunday’s game at the Atlanta Falcons (2-3), Garoppolo is speaking like an entrenched leader. He isn’t coming across as a short-timer, despite his contract expiring at season’s end to set up the first free agency opportunity of his nine-year career.
On Jeff Wilson Jr.: “He’s been in the fire with us. … He’s a warrior you want in your corner.”
On Brandon Aiyuk: “Everyone says he doesn’t get the targets, but there’s so much more to our offense than that.”
On skill-position players: “It’s exciting that we have a good group, where it’s not all about, ‘Hey, I need this catch, I need that catch,’ or, ‘It was supposed to go to me here.’ It’s cool to have guys like that all on the same page.”
On his rebuilt offensive line: “It’s like all of us, they’ve got ways to go, but they’ve been playing great. . … I don’t think they get enough credit for it. Those guys are awesome. I love them.”
On the offense overall: “It’s moving in the right direction. We have a ways to go, offensively. We left some points out there on Sunday (in a 37-15 rout at Carolina). The way our defense and special teams are playing right now, we have to keep up with them.”
That’s as close as Garoppolo comes to chastising teammates in public. Same goes for in private, apparently.
“There aren’t a lot of players that call out other players on offense. Maybe on defense it’s different,” run-game coordinator Chris Foerster said. “I was on a team where Peyton Manning was the quarterback and he called out everybody, including the owner and the general manager. We all got called out.
“Our team is much more coach-driven, with Kyle and the coaches pointing out what needs to be worked on.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan said after Sunday’s win in Carolina was “real happy with Jimmy,” in particular because he committed no turnovers, which was “a real big emphasis coming into this game.”
Garoppolo is seeking his third straight start with no interceptions and a 100-plus passer rating. He is 163 yards, two touchdowns and 50 completions shy of surpassing Colin Kaepernick for the No. 7 spot among the 49ers’ franchise passing records.
Garoppolo, in 50 games, has 12,109 yards, 71 touchdowns and 962 completions; Kaepernick’s totals came in 69 games, from 2011-16. (The 49ers’ records are held by Joe Montana, with 35,124 yards, 244 touchdowns and 2,929 completions in 167 games).
March’s shoulder surgery not only scuttled Garoppolo’s trade value — Washington, Indianapolis and Carolina were potential suitors — it also allowed Garoppolo to work on his lower body with more weights, more running, more drop-back simulations.
“It was kind of a blessing in disguise: Beef up a little bit in some areas and make the best of it,” he said.
That sure sounds like what the 49ers are trying to do this season, too, with him at the helm.
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