GMFB explains why 49ers’ Trey Lance could take off in 2022

What will the San Francisco 49ers offense be like in 2022? Will it be better or worse than the version helmed by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo? That was the question asked on Good Morning Football this week.

Garoppolo's time with the Niners has come to an end. While the veteran remains on the roster, the offense now belongs to Garoppolo's successor, second-year quarterback Trey Lance.

Kyle Brandt doesn't believe the offense will be better in 2022 than the version that reached the NFC Championship Game last season, noting Lance's inexperience as a primary reason why.

"He's just still so raw and so inexperienced," Brandt said. "And I also think Jimmy Garoppolo is really good, and he's gone. And I don't think they'll be better than last year. I think it's a work in progress still."

Jamie Erdahl feels differently.

"I am in," she said. "The offense, I think, takes a huge step, and I think they will be better than last year."

Jason McCourty agreed, knowing that head coach Kyle Shanahan will not ask Lance to carry the team. The young quarterback has a lot of talent around him, enough to carry him through any growing pains. However, he also adds a new dynamic to the offense—one Shanahan has lacked during his 49ers tenure.

"Trey Lance is going to add another dimension to this offense that they didn't have," McCourty explained. "His ability to run. His ability to scramble and make throws outside of the pocket, which we saw a little bit in the preseason."

McCourty noted that Kansas City was able to take its offense to another level by transitioning from Alex Smith to Patrick Mahomes but making it clear that he's not comparing Lance to the Chiefs quarterback.

"Could this possibly be Trey Lance entering the San Francisco offense, and they take a whole other step that they weren't able to take with Jimmy Garoppolo?"

Peter Schrager asked if Lance has the potential to take the NFL by storm in 2022.

"I think so," McCourty answered. "And I think, because of the inexperience, we don't have a huge test sample, so we don't really know [what he will be]. And I think, when you look at quarterbacks, when they sometimes come on the scene, when Cam Newton first came on the scene his rookie year, [he] took off. You hadn't really seen it. You don't know how to prepare for it.

"Then you give these defensive coordinators 17 games to study a guy in the entire offseason, you're able to really figure out what they do. … Trey Lance, 389 throws since high school, unless they're putting Pop Warner film on, there's not a lot of tape to figure him out."

You can listen to the entire conversation below.