Jimmy Garoppolo has been pretty flawless since joining the San Francisco 49ers last October.

The former New England Patriots backup was traded for a second-round pick in the 2018 draft, and he started the last five weeks of the 2017 season.

In those games, the 49ers finished strongly with a record of 5-0 as Garoppolo led the troubled franchise to a 6-10 finish.

And following his strong cameo last season, San Francisco fans are confident that they’re finally building a team that can challenge for the playoffs once again.

OFFSEASON MOVES

Along with trading for a new QB, the Niners have also been strengthening their defense, most notably picking up cornerback Richard Sherman.

Just a day after being released by the Seattle Seahawks, the 30-year-old was snapped up on a three-year, $39 million contract.

A number of other free agents, including Weston Richburg, Korey Toomer and Jerick McKinnon, have also joined the team already in the offseason.   

After making some serious upgrades and increasing the depth of their roster, the 49ers are expecting to challenge next year.

In fact, it appears that a number of these new players have been taking their early training sessions very seriously too, showing that they have the right attitude to succeed in California. 

SHERMAN AND GAROPPOLO

One of those players is Sherman, who's apparently been paying so much attention in OTAs, that he's picked up on a little flaw in his new quarterback's game.

And that's a pretty impressive spot, considering how good the former Patriot has been since swapping the east coast for the west. 

The cornerback has noticed that Garoppolo has a tell that might allow defensive backs to get a jump on his throws.

WHAT HE'S NOTICED 

“When he takes his hand off the ball, you got to be ready to break,” Sherman said, per Niners Wire.  

In simple terms, that means that Garoppolo doesn't ever change up the timings of his delivery. He'll secure the ball with two hands in the pocket, but when he's ready to throw, his left hand comes off. 

“If he takes his hand of the ball, and doesn’t throw it, I think he’ll throw guys off,” Sherman continued. 

Although it may sound like the ex-Seahawk has highlighted a flaw that other defenses could exploit, he's done it to help Garoppolo, who's already well aware of his tell.

HOW GAROPPOLO REACTED

“Yeah, the defense has told me that,” the 26-year-old QB said.

“But at the same time, I use that against them because they’re thinking that. It’s a game of cat-and-mouse. It always is.

"They’re reading you, you’re reading them at the same time. It’s a ‘who flinches first’ type of thing. We’ve had some good battles and it’s been a good camp.”