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Jimmy Garoppolo has the right attitude to lead the 49ers

By Rucker Haringey

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31:Jimmy Garoppolo (10) of the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL game between the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams on December 31, 2017 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA.(Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31:Jimmy Garoppolo (10) of the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL game between the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams on December 31, 2017 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA.(Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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When the San Francisco 49ers made the trade for Jimmy Garoppolo last season, they acquired their quarterback and leader of the future.

It would be really easy for Jimmy Garoppolo to get caught up in all of the hype surrounding the San Francisco 49ers at the moment. Fortunately, that’s not his style. Instead of making Super Bowl plans, the talented quarterback is only focused on getting better on the field.

His even-keeled nature is going to give the 49ers a legitimate chance to contend this season. He refers to all of the talk about a playoff run as “outside noise.” What’s more important, is that he’s leading his teammates to think the same way. Garoppolo wants everyone on his team to take things “day by day.”

The real key, of course, will be whether or not Garoppolo can keep his teammates on the same page when the season really begins. If the 49ers get off to a hot start then those playoff expectations will start to get real serious real fast. That’s going to be new ground for Garoppolo and most of his teammates.

The team will naturally look to their quarterback for leadership. He, at least, has been a member of a Super Bowl team. He wasn’t an important cog for the Patriots, but he’s at least seen success up close. There’s no doubt he learned a thing or two from Tom Brady about how to tune out the media and focus on football.

No matter what, the 49ers will need Garoppolo to be great on the field to snap their playoff drought. The offensive talent surrounding the young signal caller isn’t overwhelming. The team invested big money in the offensive line and backfield this offseason, but there’s still no guarantee it will be enough to fix the run game.

That means Garoppolo and the receivers will still be depended on to carry the offense. He’ll need to continue to build additional chemistry with Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin to keep the chains moving. They aren’t the most talented receivers in the league, but Garoppolo has the natural ability to throw them open against most defenses.

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The San Francisco 49ers will only be able to go as far as Garoppolo can take them this season. Luckily for Niner fans, he’s got the mental acumen and physical talent to help them make a serious playoff run. If the team fails, it won’t be because Garoppolo doesn’t hold up his end of the bargain.