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Many have questioned Trey Lance's readiness as the second-year quarterback prepares to enter his first season as a starter. The San Francisco 49ers are transitioning from Jimmy Garoppolo to Lance, yet both remain on the roster despite the team's efforts to trade the former.
The 49ers have maintained that they are confident in their 22-year-old quarterback to step into the starting role. However, others have questioned that confidence, speculating that there may be some doubt in Lance's progress from year one. Garoppolo remaining with the team this far into the offseason has fueled much of that.
The truth is, Garoppolo probably wouldn't be on the roster had he been healthy. Instead, the quarterback is recovering from his March 8 shoulder surgery.
Hall of Fame quarterback and ESPN analyst Steve Young joined The Rich Eisen Show on Monday and shared his thoughts on the narrative surrounding Lance.
"One thing about Trey that everyone has to understand is that he has not played a lot of football—in general," Young told Eisen. "And a lot of things that you figure out in college over the years is just marking receivers and understanding what your arm can do. Just things that you figure out [from] reps and doing it over and over.
"When they say he's not ready, it because there's not that body of work of him being on the field. They see what's on the field—like amazing talent, an amazing arm, and all the things, but there's so much more to quarterbacking. So when someone says he's not ready, it's easy to say because he hasn't done it."
Young, like 49ers fans, is eager to see if Lance has developed enough to anticipate his targets running along their routes, finding open receivers, and getting the football out of his hands on time. Young believes Lance is capable of all that. However, there is one concern in the analyst's mind.
"Now, what I do worry about—but it's still early, so I don't know—is his sense of accuracy," Young continued. "The sense of, 'My brain knows where to go with the ball, but my arm's not necessarily cooperating.' And that's the biggest ... as we get into the Trey Lance issues, that's the issue that I really want to focus on this summer and as he gets into the fall, playing. ... Because I do believe that he has the ability to kind of find the open guy, and the processing power you worry about. He has that."
As Lance figures all that out, he is without one of his best offensive weapons. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is unlikely to join his teammates before the mandatory minicamp in mid-June. There is a chance he won't even be there at that time. News broke in April that Samuel requested a trade. Aside from the receiver re-following the team on Instagram, nothing indicates that the relationship has improved.
"For the 49ers, I can't think of a more valuable player in the league," Young said. "If you had to choose somebody to come play for the 49ers, I think the number one most valuable player that you could choose is Deebo, if he's focused and in shape. If Deebo is not focused and not in shape, then that's another story.
"But to me, getting Deebo in shape and focused on the 49ers with Trey Lance is vital, to say the least."
Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young is among those impressed by the San Francisco 49ers' dominant performance against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Everyone expected a more competitive game, especially given the pre-game banter between the two teams and the bad blood built since last season's NFC Championship Game.
The Eagles seemed the superior team in the first quarter of the much-hyped Week 13 clash, moving the ball up and down the field at will while the 49ers stumbled. However, a turnaround occurred in the final three quarters, revealing the 49ers to be the team on a different level.
The victory was particularly satisfying for fans seeking redemption for last season's playoff loss to the Eagles. The 49ers not only delivered the victory but
Brock Purdy, Steve Wilks, Chris Foerster preview 49ers-Seahawks Week 14 matchup
By Site Staff
Dec 7
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Foerster spoke with reporters after Thursday's practice, as the team prepares for its Week 14 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Here is everything they had to say.
Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
QB Brock Purdy
Has anything changed since now you're considered an NFL MVP favorite?
"Nothing's changed. Yeah, I'm about my process and my week this week against the Seahawks and that's it."
How cool does it feel to run off the field in Philly last week, having all those Niner fans there chanting your name? That had to be
Brock Purdy, Steve Wilks, Chris Foerster preview 49ers-Eagles Week 13 matchup
By Site Staff
Nov 30
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Foerster spoke with reporters before Thursday's practice, as the team prepares for its Week 13 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Here is everything they had to say.
Transcripts provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
QB Brock Purdy
Going back to Philadelphia, the place where you got injured last year, is there anything in your mind about just going back to that location?
"I mean, yeah I got hurt there and everything, but for me it's Week 13, we're going on the road in a hostile environment. We're late in the season, so every game is obviously big for
Nick Bosa praises Chase Young's early impact on 49ers
By David Bonilla
Nov 30
On Tuesday, Nick Bosa expressed his surprise at how rapidly pass rusher Chase Young has impacted the San Francisco 49ers' defense since the team traded for him last month. The 49ers' pressure rate has surged, and the defensive front has reached the opposing quarterback more regularly.
Since Young's arrival, Bosa has recorded five sacks, a considerable improvement from the three he had before the trade. Bosa believes his former Ohio State teammate is developing into one of the league's most dominant pass rushers.
"Just watching him on tape, I think he could be like one of the top elite pass rushers in the league. And he's starting to get the hang of the scheme," Bosa