Here are the things said about Jimmy Garoppolo, Kyle Shanahan, the San Francisco 49ers and the NFC West in general by opposing coaches Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks, Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams and Steve Wilks of the Arizona Cardinals as well as opposing general manager Steve Keim of the Cardinals during the NFL Combine press conferences.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll on Garoppolo
“Yeah, he certainly did some good things. They had a great finish to the season. He obviously added a spark to them, even in our game. Unfortunately, he had to throw a touchdown pass the last play of the game or whatever it was, so he got some juice. But I think it’s a great get for them. It’s going to be good for the division, for sure. It’s going to make it more challenging. They certainly had a feel for what he can do late in the year. So good for them.”
Rams head coach Sean McVay on Garoppolo
“You saw a lot of good things. I think when you look at it, huge amount of respect for Kyle and the way that he’s able to put his players in good spots. And I think with Jimmy you talk about some of the traits that you’re looking for: Natural thrower of the football, he can move around and buy time with his legs, change the launch point, showed a great feel for the play-action game, so you see what they’re excited about him. I always joke with Kyle, ‘You know, I wish you were in another division,’ but it will be fun competing against those guys and Jimmy did a great job for them.”
McVay on Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan
Q: Do you subscribe to the fun rivalry of Sean McVay and Jared Goff against Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan?
“You know, I think it’s fun to go against guys like that but then you also realize, you look at the consistency of Coach Carroll and what Russell Wilson’s done leading them. I think a lot of people forget that with two games left we’re really playing them almost for the division, so Seattle’s still a force to be reckoned with and they’re an excellent team well-coached by Coach Carroll and, really, impressed with Coach [Steve] Wilks and what he’ll bring to that [Arizona Cardinals] organization. So I think for our division as a whole, you’re excited about the competitiveness. I don’t know that I really can say I’m excited, but it’s going to be a great challenge for us going against those three teams again next year.”
Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks on the NFC West
“Very competitive. I just left a division that I thought was very competitive, probably the most competitive division in the National Football League, the NFC South. And now I’m embarking on the NFC West, it’s the same thing. You look at the 49ers, the shirt that you have on right there. Signing Jimmy I thought was a plus for those guys. You look at what the Rams are doing, this past year, the playoffs, trading for Peters. Everybody is evolving, everybody is getting better. I feel like we’re right there in the mix as well. Again, I’ve said from day one. I don’t think is a rebuild, it’s a retool. The one thing we’ve got to fill, and everybody knows it, it’s the quarterback position.”
Cardinals general manager Steve Keim on the NFC West
“Everyone has addressed the quarterback situation, but I’m excited for our process moving forward. And it’s exciting from the fact, San Francisco is getting better, L.A. had a great year and coach McVay has done a great job. Seattle is going to be a very good football team. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I enjoy the challenge. To be able to have a division so competitive.”