SANTA CLARA – Players, coaches and fans alike are marveling at how well new quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is picking up the sophisticated Kyle Shanahan offense. However, it’s Garoppolo ability to improvise, particularly with tight end Garrett Celek, that’s helping the 49ers’ three-game win streak.
During the 49ers’ 25-23 win over the Titans Sunday at Levi’s, Garoppolo found Celek for a 5-yard touchdown pass on route Garoppolo wasn’t supposed to run. The Titans’ dropped coverage on Celek in the end zone and he found himself wide open,
Garoppolo squirmed in the pocket and then spun to his right, that’s when he motioned to Celek to move. But Celek knew he would move into coverage.
“I know he saw me, and he was telling me to move a little bit, but I felt the defender,” Celek said. “I was kind of like, ‘I’m staying right here.’ He squeezed it in there and it was perfect. I’m glad he found me.”
Celek’s 41-yard reception in the second half was also improvised. Celek was supposed to run a different route, but again he found himself wide open, and again, Garoppolo found him.
“That play, it was designed for something else that was supposed to happen,” Celek said. “I went to the sidelines, (I said) ‘Did you think I was going to do this,’ He was like, ‘yeah.’ I can felt real open so I just took it.”