While I don't agree with the entirety of Barnwell's analysis, his point about having players open is telling. I really think the Niners are gonna move on from Garoppolo. They can get out of his deal relatively painlessly this year, he's 28 already, and last night he got exposed badly while they won when they didn't allow him to throw. They can save 22.5 million on the cap if they move on from him, and I think they have to seriously consider it.
I don't really understand the "exposed" comments. Yes he's 28, but he spent 3 years backing up Brady (obviously he wasn't going to take the starting role from him), then dealt with injuries for two years in SF before playing a full season this year.
His career record is 21-5 (regular season). 100.0 career passer rating. I think he's too turnover-prone, but it's not like he hasn't won games with his arm before. This year he's put up these games:
17-25, 296 yds, 3 td, 1 int, putting up 41 points in a win vs Cin
28-37, 317 yds, 4 td, 0 int, putting up 28 points in a 28-25 win over Arizona on the road
34-45, 424 yds, 4 td, 2 int, putting up 36 points in a 36-26 win over Arizona
26-35, 349 yds, 4 td, 1 int, putting up 48 points in a 48-46 win over New Orleans on the road
18-22, 285 yds, 0 td, 0 int, putting up 26 points in a 26-21 win over Seattle
So in 4 of those 5 games, the vaunted SF defense really didn't play great, requiring SF's offense to put up a lot of points. And JG performed wonderfully in those games. Total stat line for these four games (not counting the Cincy game):
106-139 (76.3%), 1,671 yds, 12 td, 3 int, 135.5 rating
He's not reached his peak yet, I don't think. He's only played in 42 total NFL games (that's a little over two full seasons), just 26 as a starter. He is not, and will not, be Tom Brady. But there are a LOT worse starting QBs in the NFL than JG. Put it this way: if he was released by SF and Brady left NE, I'd be thrilled if the Pats picked JG up.
Did he end up having a great SB? No, because of the disastrous finish. But there have been not just a few Super Bowl *winning* QBs have had worse games than JG did last night.