Being the Patriots, they will and have said all the right things about former teammate Jimmy Garoppolo.
"I think we all know Jimmy’s a quality player and can do all the things that a good quarterback needs to do," said Bill Belichick. "I don’t think there’s any question about his skill level and what he’s been able to accomplish and what their team’s been able to accomplish. We’ll be ready for his best. I’m sure we’ll get it. He does a lot of things well."
Said Devin McCourty:
“We know he can play football at a high level. ... I’m sure he’ll come in here Sunday ready to go against a team I would say he knows pretty well, just from his time sitting in meetings and on the practice field, when it comes to scheme and everything else.”
But the flip side of the coin is the Patriots know Garoppolo very well. So did the Dolphins, with coaches Brian Flores and Josh Boyer, and players Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts and Eric Rowe. And guess what? The Dolphins stuffed Garoppolo in a locker by forcing him into a 15.7 passer rating, and forcing Kyle Shanahan to bench Garoppolo — and it had nothing to do with Garoppolo's ankle, which is the right one and not his plant foot.
How did they do it? By hitting on a few of Garoppolo's glaring weaknesses, which I also expect the Patriots to target on Sunday.
What are they?
1. You have to stop the run.
It doesn't really matter if you do anything of the factors below if you don't force the 49ers to have to throw the ball. This a ground-based offense that will run the ball in a variety of ways to limit Garoppolo's exposure as a dropback passer. They do not want to get into a high-scoring shootout. They want to control the ball, throw off run-action, and play their game.
It will help the Patriots that running back Raheem Mostert is hurt, and that the 49ers are now on their third center and likely won't have LT Trent Williams.
2. The Patriots don't believe Garoppolo is all that tough.
When he's running with the ball in his hand, Garoppolo often goes back to his mentality as a high school linebacker — he throws caution to the wind and will (stupidly) sacrifice his body, like on this carry against the Rams when he left with his throwing should.
You can’t Tell me Nothing. Jimmy “Superman” Garoppolo #fttp pic.twitter.com/nVGATNYQ6g
— WayneBreezie (@WayneBreezie) October 21, 2020
And even on this prayer of a touchdown to George Kittle last week where the only reason this pass wasn't picked off was because the Rams were in a zero blitz. That will not happen against the Patriots, who will have at least a deep safety, if not a robber looking to jump this exact pass (which I expect on Sunday).
This is Jimmy Garoppolo at his finest.
• Motions Aiyuk, watches Rapp (24) slide over (sees man coverage).
• Watches pre-snap as Johnson (43) looks to blitz.
Knows it's a zero blitz and has Kittle on the slant. Waits till the last second and the ball is perfectly placed. pic.twitter.com/jySCpe4mx3
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) October 20, 2020