Richard Sherman figuring out how to defend 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo

Through his first seasons in the league, All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman has established himself as one of the premier players at his position. A bulk of his effectiveness on the field has been largely due to his mental preparation of the game studying opposing quarterbacks.

The opportunity to practice and see how Jimmy Garoppolo has given him the chance to assess better the tendencies that he has on the field. According to Patrick Holloway of Niners Nation, Sherman has voiced that he already knows how to best defend Garoppolo.

“You just need to read him—hand off ball; he’s letting it go,” Sherman said. “You have to be decisive when you make those decisions. If he takes his hand off the ball and doesn’t throw it, I think he’ll throw guys off, but when he takes his hand off the ball, you’ve got to be ready to break.”

Want $250 to bet on NFL futures?

These public comments from Sherman may be viewed as giving opposing teams extra insight on how to defend against Garoppolo; it has also provided to the opportunity for the 49ers quarterback to adjust and alter his playing style accordingly. It certainly comes to the 26-year-old’s benefit to get that type of perspective from one of the game’s top defensive backs.

Read: NFL To Suspend Jameis Winston for 3 Games

The 49ers are hoping that Garoppolo can continue to build off his success last season to help bring the franchise back to relevancy in the league. The organization has made their confidence in his ability quite clear after committing to a five-year, $137.5 million deal earlier this offseason that at the time made him the highest-paid player in the league.

Sherman may have been able to point out Garoppolo’s tendencies, but these adjustments will be necessary for him to take that next step toward being able to find sustained success from this point on in his NFL career.