Weston Richburg eager to create bond with Jimmy Garoppolo

By David Bonilla Mar 16, 2018 at 8:49 AM •





The 49ers and Kilgore did work something out. The center signed a three-year extension in February to remain in San Francisco and help build upon the team's strong finish last season. A month later, Kilgore was traded to the Miami Dolphins.



The 49ers saw an opportunity in free agency to improve the position, and they did not hesitate to take it. The signing of



Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch briefly considered ways to utilize both players on the roster. On Thursday, Shanahan told reporters he didn't think it would be fair to move Kilgore to guard.



"Just mainly because we see Dan as a center," Shanahan explained. "I think he does also."



Richburg played guard during his rookie season. However, that was due to injuries along the New York Giants' offensive line. The next year, he moved to center and was graded as the second-best player at the position for that season by Pro Football Focus.



"There was a time that we thought, 'Let's give it some time with Weston at guard, he has played guard, and keep Danny at center,'" Lynch told reporters. "But, ultimately his best position is center. Both those guys' best position is center."







"I think the bond between a center and a quarterback is crucial, and I'm excited," Richburg said. "I think it's great that we're the same age, and we've met maybe in the senior bowl, I think. I'm looking forward to working with him and getting something going."



Garoppolo led the 49ers on an impressive run to end last season. The team went undefeated in December while winning their final five games of the season. Garoppolo rejuvenated San Francisco once he became the starting quarterback. Richburg is excited to be part of a 49ers team on the rise.



"Watching them from a distance last year, you could see there was excitement," he said. "Even when things weren't going well, there was still excitement. Surrounded by some guys I talked to today, talked about how it didn't feel like they were losing games. And then when Jimmy comes in, and they go on that run, it just looked like there was a lot of great things ahead, and that's how I feel being here today.



"Excited about what's in store for us, what we can do as an offense, and then as a team together." "I think there's a special relationship between center and quarterback," San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said on the Monday following the team's last game of the season. "[Dianiel Kilgore and I] spend so much time together. Me and him got on the same page almost instantly when I first got here. He made my job a lot easier, helping me with the run game and all that stuff. I think we complement each other very well, so hopefully, we'll work something out."The 49ers and Kilgore did work something out. The center signed a three-year extension in February to remain in San Francisco and help build upon the team's strong finish last season. A month later, Kilgore was traded to the Miami Dolphins.The 49ers saw an opportunity in free agency to improve the position, and they did not hesitate to take it. The signing of Weston Richburg to a five-year deal left the 49ers with two centers with starting experience. The obvious decision would be to move one of them to another position – like guard – where the 49ers are in dire need of an upgrade. The only problem for the coaching staff was that they had two players who were natural centers.Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch briefly considered ways to utilize both players on the roster. On Thursday, Shanahan told reporters he didn't think it would be fair to move Kilgore to guard."Just mainly because we see Dan as a center," Shanahan explained. "I think he does also."Richburg played guard during his rookie season. However, that was due to injuries along the New York Giants' offensive line. The next year, he moved to center and was graded as the second-best player at the position for that season by Pro Football Focus."There was a time that we thought, 'Let's give it some time with Weston at guard, he has played guard, and keep Danny at center,'" Lynch told reporters. "But, ultimately his best position is center. Both those guys' best position is center."The 49ers made the tough decision, and now Garoppolo will have to create a "special relationship" with a new center. Richburg, who hasn't had an opportunity to meet his new quarterback yet, is looking forward to it."I think the bond between a center and a quarterback is crucial, and I'm excited," Richburg said. "I think it's great that we're the same age, and we've met maybe in the senior bowl, I think. I'm looking forward to working with him and getting something going."Garoppolo led the 49ers on an impressive run to end last season. The team went undefeated in December while winning their final five games of the season. Garoppolo rejuvenated San Francisco once he became the starting quarterback. Richburg is excited to be part of a 49ers team on the rise."Watching them from a distance last year, you could see there was excitement," he said. "Even when things weren't going well, there was still excitement. Surrounded by some guys I talked to today, talked about how it didn't feel like they were losing games. And then when Jimmy comes in, and they go on that run, it just looked like there was a lot of great things ahead, and that's how I feel being here today."Excited about what's in store for us, what we can do as an offense, and then as a team together."

More San Francisco 49ers News

49ers eager to get back to work after loss to Cardinals, says Mike McGlinchey

By David Bonilla Sep 16, 2020

The San Francisco 49ers entered the offseason motivated by February's Super Bowl defeat. Maybe that wasn't enough because the team gained some extra motivation the hard way on Sunday after the Arizona Cardinals pulled off the upset 24-20 win at Levi's Stadium. The loss forces San Francisco to play catchup with the rest of the division. It is the only NFC West squad that suffered a defeat during Week 1. The 49ers are back to work this week and beginning preparations for their two-game road trip to the East Coast, where they will face the New York Jets and New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in back-to-back weekends. The team's focus remains on the opponent

49ers: Can Jimmy Garoppolo Continue His Success Against Arizona?

By Allan McBride Sep 10, 2020

In 2019, the San Francisco 49ers beat their divisional rival, the Arizona Cardinals, twice during the regular season by a combined 13 points, as both games went down to the wire. The Cardinals offense was able to move the ball against the 49ers top ranked defensive unit. The Cardinals averaged 311.5 total yards of offense, and 133 rushing yards per game, both well above what the 49ers defense allowed on average. Defensively, the Cardinals shut down the 49ers rushing attack, allowing only 135 total rushing yards in the two match ups. It was evident that the Cardinals' game plan was to take away the 49ers' strengths, and force them to throw the ball. Their strategy was effective, but the 49ers were up to the task, as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo led his team to two crucial

Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury praises Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle, 49ers offense, defense

By David Bonilla Sep 9, 2020

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing to open the 2020 season on Sunday by hosting the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury jumped on a conference call with reporters on Wednesday morning and discussed the upcoming matchup between the two division opponents. Below are some key 49ers-related topics the Cardinals coach hit during the discussion. On the idea that the Cardinals drafted Isaiah Simmons to stop George Kittle Kliff Kingsbury: "Yeah, I don't know if there is a George Kittle stopper, from what I've seen. I mean, he's pretty much dominated over the last couple of years, no matter what people have thrown at him, whether it's doubling him or trying to put their best cover guy (on him), whether