49ers' preseason opener illustrated why Trey Lance is behind Brock Purdy
The 49ers drafted Trey Lance in 2021 believing he could develop into a dual-threat capable of taking their offense to another level. Entering his third year in the NFL, it's questionable whether he can even operate Kyle Shanahan's attack. Following Lance's at best indifferent performance in the 49ers' preseason loss to the Raiders, ESPN's Dan […]
The 49ers drafted Trey Lance in 2021 believing he could develop into a dual-threat capable of taking their offense to another level. Entering his third year in the NFL, it's questionable whether he can even operate Kyle Shanahan's attack.
Following Lance's at best indifferent performance in the 49ers' preseason loss to the Raiders, ESPN's Dan Orlovsky does not believe the former third overall pick has what it takes to excel in the Shanahan system.
Speaking on 'Get Up!', Orlovsky was asked about Lance's display, which saw him sacked four times with an average time to throw of 3.42 seconds. His response was emphatic.
Orlovksy said:
"I don't think Trey Lance can play in Kyle Shanahan's offense. I've seen enough. One, he doesn't have enough reps playing football, that's a reality. The ball doesn't come out quick enough for Trey right now and I think that, after watching yesterday, he's so much more comfortable as an under center quarterback than a shotgun quarterback, but Kyle's offense has really become a shotgun offense. It's become ball distribution, it's become play point guard, it's become 'get it out quickly' and that's just not where Trey is right now."
Orlovsky did acknowledge that, after he was sacked three times on his opening three drives, all of which went three and out, Lance did improve. He went four of four on his lone scoring drive, though that was capped by a would-be interception turned touchdown.
But, for Orlovsky, there is no getting past the slow processing Lance demonstrated in his first game back from the ankle injury that ended his 2022 season in Week 2. He added:
I want to be fair to Trey, he got better as the game went on, and that's why those reps matter. I just don't think he can play in Kyle Shanahan's offense. He should have thrown two interceptions, the ball gets held so long for him right now, and it hasn't gotten better in the three years that he's been in the NFL.
Orlovsky's point about the shotgun usage in Shanahan's offense is perhaps a little overblown. The 49ers had 467 shotgun dropbacks in 2022, per Sports Info Solutions, a total that put them 22nd in the NFL.
But there is little disputing his assessment about the speed of Lance's processing and delivery. Shanahan demands decisiveness from his quarterbacks and, for the most part, he got it last season. Jimmy Garoppolo had an average time to throw of 2.66 seconds that was the ninth-quickest in the NFL. Brock Purdy took a little longer, but was still well under three seconds from snap to release with an average of 2.84.
Lance's lack of game action over the first two seasons can partially justify the indecision he has displayed. Yet that explanation looks less credible when you consider the success Purdy had getting rid of the ball in a relatively expedient manner having come into the starting role cold off the bench after Garoppolo's injury.
The playmaking ability Lance has at his disposal is an asset, as is an arm that makes all three levels of the field open to him. Yet those positive traits are not enough to cancel out the flaws that have to this point hindered his hopes of succeeding in Shanahan's scheme.
Beyond the wins Purdy accrued last year, there's a reason why there was no competition between him and Lance in training camp, and it was laid bare in the preseason opener.
Trey Lance takes the blame for struggles in 49ers’ preseason loss
The final stat line did not reflect his display.
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