The San Francisco 49ers have grabbed plenty of offseason headlines because of their amicable quarterback controversy.
Ever since the 49ers drafted Trey Lance with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, there has been a controversy.
The main reason it is amicable is because veteran Jimmy Garoppolo has handled it with a lot of grace.
A reporter asked Jimmy Garoppolo about how happy he looked on Trey Lance’s TD pass to Sherfield.
Garoppolo, laughing: “Our team scored a touchdown. Why wouldn’t I be (happy)?” pic.twitter.com/agZfgI1uGI
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 19, 2021
Coach Kyle Shanahan has not yet named a starting quarterback for the 2021 season.
It could be either one of these players.
Jimmy G is a good quarterback when he can stay healthy, and Lance is making a case for himself as he continues to improve daily.
How is Lance doing this?
By Being Steady Under Pressure
Even when things are not going ideal for him, he possesses a poise that is beyond his age.
He does not appear to get down on himself or demonstrate any negative body language.
Lance keeps pushing ahead with an eerily calm demeanor, and he makes plays look easy that definitely are not.
Trey Lance makes it look EASY with his second touchdown pass of the night 🔥@brgridiron
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/WpTm5u8TzJ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 23, 2021
By Being Coachable
Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel talked about how coachable Lance is.
“We’re all very excited and fired up about where Trey is in terms of being coachable, wanting to be coached, his expectation for himself.”
Lance has worked tirelessly since the draft with very few days off.
He spent time with famed quarterback development coach Sean McEvoy back in June.
Lance wants to get better and puts in the time to do so.
For the people 🙌🙌 https://t.co/2j50moU0lG pic.twitter.com/GHGc2MWnHj
— Sean McEvoy (@QBCoachMcEvoy) June 18, 2021
By Taking Risks In Practice
49ers tight end George Kittle talked about Lance’s approach on the practice field.
It is a mixture of risk and reward.
“I think really one of my favorite things about him right now as a rookie is that he takes risks. Like he doesn’t complete all the passes that he throws, but he’s trying to fit it into those small windows and he’s just trying to throw it as hard as he can and get it to that wide receiver going through that second window and I think that is really fun just to see a guy take risks, especially when he just turned 21 years old and now he can buy me some Bud Light finally…I’m just excited to see his progress throughout training camp, and he is an eager guy that wants to learn, and I know that when you are in a room with coach [Kyle] Shanahan, the mastermind, he’s going to learn a lot, so I think he is in the right spot.”
Conclusion
He is still a rookie so mistakes and growth are part of the process of becoming an NFL quarterback.
.@ShannonSharpe on whether Trey Lance should start Week 1:
"I don't think he's quite ready yet. Jimmy G gives them the best opportunity because the Niners are a team that think they can contend. I'll say after 2-3 games, you'll see Lance under center." pic.twitter.com/Ok4VHlRARX
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) August 23, 2021
Some argue he holds the ball too long or throws the ball too hard.
Others argue NFL wide receivers should be catching his passes.
My guy Trey Lance had a couple of shaky throws but was victimized by 2 that should've been caught. Redeemed himself w lightning bolt of TD drive in final :29 at Bolts. Scrambled for tying 2-pter negated by hold. Big/strong/fast w big arm. Quick release/mind. Start him, Kyle!
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) August 23, 2021
Most dropped passes this preseason:
Trey Lance – 7 pic.twitter.com/fw7knmlupC
— PFF (@PFF) August 23, 2021
Coach Shanahan is playing it very close to the cuff; no one knows who the Week 1 starting quarterback will be.
The 49ers are paying Jimmy G a lot of money to stand on the sidelines on game days.
Lance is coming into his own, but the 49ers are fortunate that they don’t have to start him immediately to win games.
This is a situation unique to them as the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets who selected ahead of the 49ers in the draft do not have that luxury.
It will be interesting to watch the 49ers quarterback situation evolve during the season; anything and everything should be expected.
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