It's been reported that Trey Lance has already learned the playbook. I've heard through certain channels that he scored a 42 on his Wonderlic test. That would have been the highest score in the entire 2021 draft class. For perspective, Alex Smith, one of the smartest in the league scored a 40. The highest score I'm aware of was from the Harvard grad, Ryan Fitzpatrick with a score of 48. Pat Mahomes? 24. Peter Schrager back in April, "[H]ere's the thing that I'm hearing a lot about Trey Lance: the smartest quarterback in this draft," Schrager said on Good Morning Football. "Not only the one with the most upside athletically. This kid is apparently a savant, not only on the board but just in general in life. Like, 4.0-student type stuff."
Ok, learning the playbook and being able to operate it flawlessly under fire are two separate evaluations. All we've heard about Shanny's offense is it takes 2 years to master. Are we to believe this 21 year old man child with only a year of division 1 college football actually has a shot to beat Jimmy Garoppolo out in training camp? That's a tough pill to swallow even for a diehard fan such as myself.
According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, Lance stated that he is still working out in Southern California. He has been throwing to teammates, including wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Mohamed Sanu, during those sessions. We saw in Lance's second Pro Day improved mechanics, so his relentless work ethic puts him on a higher trajectory than most. This relentlessness for improvement is striking to me, and could be the catalyst for a real chance at defeating Jimmy Garoppolo in training camp. Should Jimmy be concerned?
"Jimmy is not concerned. Jimmy knows the playbook. Give Jimmy the ball!"
ReplyDeleteRazor,
Great topic. I was beginning to put together a piece "When will Trey start?!" but you beat me to it. I may still submit it for future use since this topic is going to be with us till Spetember.
Meanwhile for the football-hungry, here's a 3-hour matinee show on every play by Trey Lance at NDSU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi9JU1wwlhU
I see the not-so-compact throwing motion that we are told that Scangs worked on during the OTA, and which Lance apparently is also working on during this break.
Thanks, Mood. Go ahead and submit it and I'll post it. We'll need all the material we can get our hands on until July 27th.
DeleteDefinitely still submit Mood. It will be a great topic for debate right through the offseason.
DeleteYes, great topic. Thanks Razor.
ReplyDeleteWho knows how much of this is hype or "sports journalists" on the click-baiting treadmill? When you look at him throwing the ball, though, you wonder whether he actually needs to have mastered the whole playbook in order to start the season. Who would be better -- a Jimmy who knows the whole playbook or a Trey who knows half of it?
And then there's this: If they think he can start and want him to, who's his backup? Doubt it would be Jimmy without a pay cut. If not him, Rosen? I haven't read or heard anything about his development. Certainly not Sudfeld. Maybe Minshew in a trade?
Assume we'll know before the end of Pre-season.
DeleteHey, you're welcome George. I think the one training camp battle that could be very interesting is the one no one is talking about. The Scangarello favorite, Sudfeld vs. The fan favorite, Josh Rosen.
DeleteGood point calling Sudfeld the Scarangello favorite. I see a lot of potential in Rosen working in this offense. Hope he's had his "come-to-Jesus" moment.
DeleteJG most definitely needs to consider Lance a true challenger for the starting QB spot right now, not the eventual replacement. Trey will be working his behind off to win that job, and he has the smarts, character, talent and work ethic to get himself ready to start from day 1.
ReplyDeleteAnd the great thing is that if he does, it will be earned not handed to him.
It's the only way to do it imho.
DeleteRazor:
ReplyDelete"You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise." I agree!
Some good information on Trey you've posted Razor, lets hope it is all true.
I happen to belong to the old school of don't tell me, show me! And let the best man (QB) win!
Book smart is an absolutely essential requirement, but street wise is also something I want to see from the 9er
QB that wins the starter job.
Alex Rollins has a great video on the face of the Niners' D who is about to get paid
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vnio6vTn-s
I think Lance's best shot is to be ready by the trade deadline. If he can get there it and they can recoup some draft capital for Jimmy; it will be the cherry on Sunday's.
ReplyDeleteSI article today by Jessie Naylor, one of their new writers:
ReplyDeleteJimmy Garoppolo Is Not a Good Starting QB
He makes these points:
1-In 2019 without the two Arizona games, JG's record was mediocre.
"He averaged 231 yards passing per game, had 20 total touchdowns and 16 total turnovers."
2-It wasn't due to poor oline play.
"In 2019 Jimmy had 2.4 seconds pocket time on average. He took 36 total sacks that year. Compare this with Ben Roethlisberger in 2021. Ben had just 2.1 seconds pocket time while taking only 13 sacks."
3-The 2019 offense needed YAC to be effective.
"A statistic that backs this is the average intended air yards per pass. Garoppolo ranked second lowest of all quarterbacks who played at least 10 games in 2019. Only Drew Brees ranked behind Jimmy. Despite this, Jimmy had the fourth highest adjusted interception rate in the league of quarterbacks who played at least 10 games in 2019."
https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/49ers-qb-jimmy-garoppolo-is-not-a-good-starting-quarterback
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He can site all the stats he wants, but at the end of the play; Jimmy was good enough to lead them to a Super Bowl.
Delete"3-The 2019 offense needed YAC to be effective."
DeleteI would argue that all iterations of Shanahan's offense in SF over the last 4 seasons have required substantive YAC production to be effective...
That's why I hold out hope that the '21 version of the OL will get better at 3rd. down conversions by Inside Zone and Power runs...
Fix the short yardage run game AND improve pass pro, and Jimmy will be just fine...less pressure, more time to throw, and keeping opposing offenses on the sidelines as much as possible...
David Lombardi YouTube commentary (38 minutes) on the QB situation:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnqw4sTS2zQ&t=27s
"He might be the only person since I've been covering the team, which is about a quarter of a decade, that from one week of OTAs to the next week, you could actually see the improvement," Maiocco said. "The first week we went out there and he just kind of seemed to be a little bit unsure of himself, a tick slow. The ball was sailing high. You could tell there was just a lot going on in his head. And in the next week, he went out there and you could tell -- he was directing traffic, moving guys from spot A to spot B, and he threw the ball a little bit more accurately. It's not often that you see a dramatic change that you can see with your naked eye."
ReplyDeleteAnother way to look at it:
DeleteAfter not having a played a football game in a year and a half, Lance took a week to shed some rust and "he threw the ball a little bit more accurately" while playing against air.
These are the big questions to be answered for certain.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that he knows the offense sounds great and is encouraging in that he sounds like a savant. That said now we must add the grain of salt, as Razor said knowing a play and what to do is very different from knowing it at an instinctual level in that he makes the right play when the bullets are flying. So I think some of this can be put in the same category as the annual best shape of his life comments.
It's still encouraging to hear and a major +, especially when considering his athletic ability. I really look forward to seeing him in the preseason and hearing reports from any joint practices if they have them (haven't checked).
Sounds to me like the kid possesses Steve Young/John Elway potential in this offense.
DeleteWe won’t know the full impact of Lance’ trajectory until he plays under fire. I’ve always looked at OTA as a company mixer when people meet each other and hear their employers talk. Of course, there’s more physical exercises involved, but no contact.
ReplyDeleteIt’s good to know that Lance is a quick learner
on the playbook and correcting some throwing mechanics. But, TC will give me a more clear measurement.
July 27th can't get here soon enough.
DeletePlayers get paid to practice and stay in shape, as well as free food and short days/week. Particularly helpful for many of the lower-paid players, I'd guess.
DeleteThis conversation reminds me of something Scooter said. How
ReplyDeletesports writers can determine the fans opinion of a player.
Sports writers earn a living by selling THEIR opinions! Some
of it turns out to be true and some turns out to be BS. The sports writer may be selling hype, to get paid. In this case I hope it's true, but until he earns the trust of the coaches and KS, or JG gets hurt, he going to set and learn!
While I do expect to see Lance play in preseason, I expect to see JG start against the Lions and start the rest of the season, including the playoffs.
The best of Jimmy Garoppolo has yet to come!
DeleteI’m pulling for Jimmy G to have a pro-bowl year. He has a great opportunity to prove his mettle on the field this season by way of performance and character.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a foregone conclusion that Lance will be our QBOTF, but I also believe that the FO is expecting JG to have an outstanding season as well because this would bode for all parties (Jimmy, Lance and 49er) involved.
"Great opportunity". If not now, Jimmy; when?
Deletebode “well”
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th to everyone!
ReplyDeleteAnyone still hating on Wishnowsky after he's developed into a top 10 punter?
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th of July!
ReplyDeleteGod bless America
Condolences go out to Terry Donahue's family.
ReplyDelete