Jimmy Garoppolo ranks in the top five among NFL quarterbacks in one ignominious statistic.
The 49ers QB entered Week 12 tied for third with 10 interceptions, turning the ball over on 3.2 percent of his passes this season. San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan wants Garoppolo to limit the picks, but he doesn't want Garoppolo to change who he is.
"[There's] a fine line with that, which we try to control better, depending on how the defense is playing [and] what type of game it is," Shanahan told 49ers play-by-play broadcaster Greg Papa on "49ers Game Plan." "But sometimes, you gotta play, and you gotta let it rip and you can't worry about the consequences. Jimmy's done that, and I think the more he plays, the less mistakes he'll have."
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Garoppolo's start Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium will be the 21st of his career, and his 19th under Shanahan. In 10 starts this season, Shanahan said Garoppolo's response to his own mistakes has been encouraging.
Shanahan told Papa that he saw a "very impressive" stat -- first found by the Associated Press' Josh Dubow -- that shows just how good Garoppolo has been after throwing interceptions.
"A lot of guys throw a pick, and they won't throw it the rest of the game. They'll just sit there and take sacks, and everyone will complain about the O-line. Jimmy, after he throws a pick, [I'll] usually get on him pretty hard, which sometimes guys will not do anything after that. But Jimmy, he just locks in."
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The 49ers need a locked-in Garoppolo as they embark on their most difficult stretch of the season. Beginning Sunday, the 49ers will play three division leaders with Super Bowl aspirations: Green Bay, plus the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints.
Garoppolo probably will throw an interception -- or two -- over the next three games, but how he responds matters just as much to his coach.
