Home 2015 Off-Season Jimmy Garoppolo Exactly the Type of Quarterback that Beats the Steelers

Jimmy Garoppolo Exactly the Type of Quarterback that Beats the Steelers

by Steelbydesign

Like most of you reading this, I was ecstatic to learn this week that the Patriots will be without Tom Brady for the week 1 Steelers Patriots matchup in Foxborough.

Tom Brady has killed the Steelers throughout his career, and I thought that Brady covers a lot of deficiencies in the Patriots roster, and gives the Steelers a great chance to steal and early season AFC victory.

I started looking into the week 1 starter, second year man Jimmy Garoppolo, and I’m starting to think this game won’t be the cake walk that I once thought.

Over the years, Bill Belichick has exposed the Steelers’ defenses more than anyone; and that was when the defenses were good.

After digging into Garoppolo’s game in college, and in limited NFL action I don’t believe the Patriots gameplan will change a whole lot from Brady to Jimmy, and I think the young QB could have a lot of success against the Steelers defense.

In college, Garoppolo had everything you look for in an NFL signal caller but he just didn’t face great competition in school.

I’ve seen comparisons to Sam Bradford and Tony Romo at the NFL level, but the QB I was most reminded of was Drew Brees, with not quite the athleticism or arm strength that Drew has.

Jimmy, like Brees, finds success mostly using his very quick release and good accuracy in his throws. Brady has used the dreaded dink and dunk strategy to best the Steelers multiple times, and I’d expect the second year QB to do the same on September 10th.

In mop up duty last season Garoppolo completed over 70% of his passes (19 of 27) for 182 yards with 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions. He also had 10 rush attempts for 9 yards.

Jimmy completes a lot of his passes, but isn’t throwing it down the field. That meshes well with what I saw from his college tape. He has a decent arm but not a cannon. He also isn’t going to scare you with his legs.

Here’s where he does have a big dropoff from Brady… poise in the pocket when things break down. Jimmy’s tape shows he struggles when a defender is bearing down on him and he’ll stop going through his progressions when he doesn’t have a clean pocket. With small hands, he also is prone to fumbles.

You can bet Bill Belichick is going to try to cover that up by utilizing a 3 step drop, and fire, strategy throughout most of the game. I think Keith Butler would be wise to employ and aggressive defensive approach.

By that, I mean I would try to jam the Patriots receivers at the line to make the QB hold the ball longer and not get into rhythm throws. Cortez Allen once locked down Rob Gronkowski early on in his career and I think a combination of him and Ryan Shazier on Gronk would be wise.

While playing bump and run, and blitzing a lot may put more pressure on the back end of the defense, I’m taking my chances with that happening given the lack of arm from Garoppolo and really the lack of deep threats in the Pats receiving core.

We’ve got a long way to go, and the story likely isn’t over, but early on I’m not penciling in a W in week 1 already.

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