The San Francisco 49ers look like a force to be reckoned with this season, although their 4-4 record doesn't quite reflect their performances so far.
Jimmy Garoppolo looks like he's having a brilliant time being a 49er, even though the quarterback was heavily linked with a summer trade, and the camp has been lifted by the arrival of running-back Christian McCaffrey. After suffering a brutal loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV, and then losing out after going so close in the NFC Championship game last season, it wouldn't be uncommon to expect a slight dip in form - just ask the Green Bay Packers.
However, that's not on their radar this season in anyway, and new 49ers tight end Tyler Kroft thinks that they have what it takes to go all the way this time around. Kroft arrived from the New York Jets on a one-year deal, and exclusively told Mirror Sport that he's joined a camp that is extremely wired and focused on the big job in hand.
Kroft has switched the east coast for the west coast in the NFL after joining the 49ers ahead of the current season. After successful years in Cincinnati, Buffalo and New York, San Francisco is now Kroft's new home, and he's full of confidence after claiming that Garoppolo is already one of the best quarterback's he's ever played with.
And with Garoppolo firing lasers, Kroft thinks that they have what it takes to go for it this season, as he said: "I think we have everything in front of us that we want. We are 3-0 in the division right now so obviously that's a great spot to be in.
"Everyone knows there's been certain games where we wanted to finish a little better. But it is a long season, and no one is panicking or losing their mind record wise.
"We know the players we have in the building and everyone is wired the right way. As a group we are just taking it one week at a time and we are excited even with having our work cut out."
At certain points this summer, it looked like Kroft wouldn't get the chance to play with Garoppolo as the quarterback was tipped to move away from the 49ers. However, he remained in San Francisco, and after a horror injury to Trey Lance it's put him right back in the starting spot.
Garoppolo looks like he's enjoying every minute, and Kroft opened up about the possibility of the quarterback committing long-term once again, and detailed just what he adds to the offensive line. "I mean, as far as the future I know they're doing contracts above my pay grade but I love how Jimmy carries himself, he's consistent and he goes through his reads, progressions," Kroft said.
"I don't want to say he doesn't do too much but he knows his role. He knows what he's trying to do, he has a great grasp of the offence, he's a heck of a player. One of the best quarterback's I've ever been around, that's for sure."
And Garoppolo's role has just been made a lot easier, as McCaffrey joined the 49ers from the Carolina Panthers back in October, and has already demonstrated his versatility with a triple crown. Kroft may be a recent addition, but McCaffrey is now the new kid on the block, and his impact has not gone unnoticed.
"Well, he's a hell of a player," Kroft said. "There hasn't been a triple crown for, I dunno. Second week here and he gets one like rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown, throwing touchdown it just shows how versatile of a player he is.
"Then immediately on the practice field, how he presents himself and how professional he is day in and day out, you can just tell he's wired the right way. You can tell he's just perfect here."
The 49ers may be 4-4 for the season, but they're crushing their division as they've won all three of their match-ups so far. There is still a long way to go in the NFL, but the 49ers are expected to give everything they've got to ensure they're right up there.
Follow the San Francisco 49ers season @49ers on Instagram and TikTok. This week's NFL game vs the LA Chargers is live on Sky Sports in the early hours of Monday morning.
