The Los Angeles Rams will have a difficult matchup on the road against the San Francisco 49ers in primetime on Monday night, and head coach Sean McVay knows what he is up against in the Week 4 tilt. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he intimated that Jimmy Garoppolo’s presence as the 49ers starting quarterback would make for a taxing week of game planning, and that he is not taking his opposition lightly.
Asked how San Francisco’s quarterback situation would effect the Rams’ preparation, and how he might be able to mitigate the historical success Garoppolo has had against the Rams, McVay started his comments by wishing injured 49ers quarterback Trey Lance well, and saying that Garoppolo is a consummate competitor.
“Number one, you never wish injuries on players,” He explained. “You hope Trey Lance makes a full recovery. But you also know that man, when he [Garoppolo] stayed on the roster, he’s such a really good football player that has definitely been outstanding for them. They’ve won a lot of games behind his guidance and leadership, and I think he’s a really good player. I don’t think it’s like he’s only played good against the Rams and he is never played good against anybody else.
“I mean, just look at his career record when he’s started for the 49ers since he and [San Francisco 49ers FB] Kyle have been together in ’17. It’s a pretty good movie for those guys. So he’s a really good football player. I don’t know if you ever really get too far ahead of yourself, but if you would say that, ‘I’m shocked that Jimmy’s in this position.’ No, I’m not shocked. I feel terrible that Trey ended up hurting his ankle, but that is a part of football and fortunately for them, they had two big time starting caliber quarterbacks on their roster. Now that’s where Jimmy’s in a position to be able to lead their team. I know they have a lot of confidence in in swagger with him at the switch.”
A win on Monday night would keep Los Angeles in the NFC West lead, and could set the table for divisional dominance as the season wears on. The Rams should have an advantage on paper, despite their many injuries, and as new contributors continue stepping forward to fill holes across the depth chart, this Week 4 matchup will be a good opportunity for some lesser known talent to show what they can do against a top-tier opponent.
Despite their quarterback change in 2022, San Francisco remains one of the tougher teams on Los Angeles’ schedule, and the challenge of playing them at Levi’s Stadium will be met with a creative strategy and full-bore effort. McVay isn’t taking anything for granted against the 49ers, and should have his squad in tip-top shape ahead of the primetime scrum.
