Los Angeles Chargers QB Trey Lance Thread

I'm somebody who really hopes that Lance comes through for us. Having two young killer QB's would be fantastic (until it comes time that they both require top dollars of course).

My big concern for the 49ers with regard to Lance is the 5th year option.

If I understand correctly, the (expensive) 5th year option needs to be triggered at the end of year 3 - this coming season.

This puts a lot of pressure on the decision-making system, and makes it quite unlikely that Lance will be retained.

Lets say that, best-case scenario, Lance is able to complete his development and become a top-level QB. He would have to -

• Do it in a hurry (now basically)
• Win first team reps ahead of Darnold and / or a recovering Purdy
• Impress during those reps

I'm concerned that, even if he's legit, we might not be able to make a proper determination by the end of this season. I think the odds are stacked quite heavily against further contracting him right now, regardless of how good he ends up being.

Originally posted by joeknows:
I'm somebody who really hopes that Lance comes through for us. Having two young killer QB's would be fantastic (until it comes time that they both require top dollars of course).

My big concern for the 49ers with regard to Lance is the 5th year option.

If I understand correctly, the (expensive) 5th year option needs to be triggered at the end of year 3 - this coming season.

This puts a lot of pressure on the decision-making system, and makes it quite unlikely that Lance will be retained.

Lets say that, best-case scenario, Lance is able to complete his development and become a top-level QB. He would have to -

• Do it in a hurry (now basically)
• Win first team reps ahead of Darnold and / or a recovering Purdy
• Impress during those reps

I'm concerned that, even if he's legit, we might not be able to make a proper determination by the end of this season. I think the odds are stacked quite heavily against further contracting him right now, regardless of how good he ends up being.

This is why myself and others thought this offseason was the highest his value will ever be with us.

The talk on here is he needs reps to get better. Take our lumps as he develops. While also saying Brock's 7 game sample size isn't enough to evaluate.

So if Trey does get to play this year we are already resigned to the fact he's going to take his lumps. While also acknowledging that 7 games isn't enough to know what he is or isn't.

So how can he improve his value if he's "taking his lumps" in a year his 5th year option needs to be exercised?

Any team wanting him would have wanted him for the full offseason and regular season for their own evaluation.

He would have to do what even his biggest supporters don't think he can do. Which is come out and ball with no lumps taken. Even then, I find it hard to believe that Trey can get our offense clicking the way Brock had it clicking. He is a dead man walking as it relates to his time here.

I suppose it's possible to decline his 5th year option and roll with him as a backup in '24 as well. Though I'd expect him to request a trade by then.

Originally posted by joeknows:
I'm somebody who really hopes that Lance comes through for us. Having two young killer QB's would be fantastic (until it comes time that they both require top dollars of course).

My big concern for the 49ers with regard to Lance is the 5th year option.

If I understand correctly, the (expensive) 5th year option needs to be triggered at the end of year 3 - this coming season.

This puts a lot of pressure on the decision-making system, and makes it quite unlikely that Lance will be retained.

Lets say that, best-case scenario, Lance is able to complete his development and become a top-level QB. He would have to -

• Do it in a hurry (now basically)
• Win first team reps ahead of Darnold and / or a recovering Purdy
• Impress during those reps

I'm concerned that, even if he's legit, we might not be able to make a proper determination by the end of this season. I think the odds are stacked quite heavily against further contracting him right now, regardless of how good he ends up being.

Agreed. While some have their doubts about Lance, all niner fans are hoping he comes through for the team in a big way. The biggest problem is what you've stated, the 5th year option and looming end of his rookie contract.

Originally posted by genus49:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

If it comes down to just running the offense and not doing anything stupid, give me Trey over Darnold 100/100 times.

Exactly. All the Darnold takes are crazy to me. More experience doesn't automatically make Darnold better when he's shown to put some awful games out there - games that can doom a great team.

Lance's mistakes haven't been of that variety. He also knows the offense better. What good is experience when the guy who has it, has it in another offense and still makes bonehead errors with all that experience?

I am curious to see how training camp unfolds though. Darnold definitely does better when he knows he can't get hit though so that is a plus for him. We'll see how Trey looks with the work he's put through.

Should be an interesting camp to follow for sure. Can't wait...

At the end of the day, Sam has made too many horrendous mistakes while under no pressure for me to be on his hype train. Not saying he's peaked, but just because he's been in the NFL longer doesn't mean he'd be better.

If anything, Lance has seen first hand from Purdy how all you need to do is trust the system and then let your athletic instincts do the rest if things break down. In the small action he had, he never looked panicked to me. The issues we saw were more being off the mark on some throws and being late sometimes due to his inexperience -- something even Brock did at times.

Darnold's habit of forcing things that aren't there, or holding it too long and getting stripped I think would drive Shanahan insane.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by genus49:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
If it comes down to just running the offense and not doing anything stupid, give me Trey over Darnold 100/100 times.

Exactly. All the Darnold takes are crazy to me. More experience doesn't automatically make Darnold better when he's shown to put some awful games out there - games that can doom a great team.

Lance's mistakes haven't been of that variety. He also knows the offense better. What good is experience when the guy who has it, has it in another offense and still makes bonehead errors with all that experience?

I am curious to see how training camp unfolds though. Darnold definitely does better when he knows he can't get hit though so that is a plus for him. We'll see how Trey looks with the work he's put through.

Should be an interesting camp to follow for sure. Can't wait...

At the end of the day, Sam has made too many horrendous mistakes while under no pressure for me to be on his hype train. Not saying he's peaked, but just because he's been in the NFL longer doesn't mean he'd be better.

If anything, Lance has seen first hand from Purdy how all you need to do is trust the system and then let your athletic instincts do the rest if things break down. In the small action he had, he never looked panicked to me. The issues we saw were more being off the mark on some throws and being late sometimes due to his inexperience -- something even Brock did at times.

Darnold's habit of forcing things that aren't there, or holding it too long and getting stripped I think would drive Shanahan insane.

Both Lance and Darnold have been disappointing for different reasons. Lance because injuries have kept him from getting the reps he needs to get better. Darnold because he's played for 2 teams with poor talent around him and bad coaches. Lack of a supporting cast and poor coaching has destroyed more than one promising QB. Some are able to improve if they move on and get in the right situation but some never do. Once they lose that confidence and get beat up a little they never recover.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
At the end of the day, Sam has made too many horrendous mistakes while under no pressure for me to be on his hype train. Not saying he's peaked, but just because he's been in the NFL longer doesn't mean he'd be better.

If anything, Lance has seen first hand from Purdy how all you need to do is trust the system and then let your athletic instincts do the rest if things break down. In the small action he had, he never looked panicked to me. The issues we saw were more being off the mark on some throws and being late sometimes due to his inexperience -- something even Brock did at times.

Darnold's habit of forcing things that aren't there, or holding it too long and getting stripped I think would drive Shanahan insane.

Shanny addressed this. He said the TOs are a consequence of being on bad squads, bad protection, chasing the game late, so needing to force things. We also see this all over the NFL. Geno had a worse INT % with NYJ, than Sam. It's fixed in SEA. So these things aren't baked into the player, they change with the supporting cast.

The idea of KS being driven insane, what's been driving him insane, is his desire to land Darnold on his team. You think KS doesn't know the TO history with Sam? Trust me, he is well aware, and addressed it publicly, said it won't happen here, it will get fixed.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
At the end of the day, Sam has made too many horrendous mistakes while under no pressure for me to be on his hype train. Not saying he's peaked, but just because he's been in the NFL longer doesn't mean he'd be better.

If anything, Lance has seen first hand from Purdy how all you need to do is trust the system and then let your athletic instincts do the rest if things break down. In the small action he had, he never looked panicked to me. The issues we saw were more being off the mark on some throws and being late sometimes due to his inexperience -- something even Brock did at times.

Darnold's habit of forcing things that aren't there, or holding it too long and getting stripped I think would drive Shanahan insane.

Exactly how I feel too. Yet there's a whole circle jerk of people on this board who think he played terribly.

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
Shanny addressed this. He said the TOs are a consequence of being on bad squads, bad protection, chasing the game late, so needing to force things. We also see this all over the NFL. Geno had a worse INT % with NYJ, than Sam. It's fixed in SEA. So these things aren't baked into the player, they change with the supporting cast.

The idea of KS being driven insane, what's been driving him insane, is his desire to land Darnold on his team. You think KS doesn't know the TO history with Sam? Trust me, he is well aware, and addressed it publicly, said it won't happen here, it will get fixed.

Like Nick Mullens issues got fixed?

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
Shanny addressed this. He said the TOs are a consequence of being on bad squads, bad protection, chasing the game late, so needing to force things. We also see this all over the NFL. Geno had a worse INT % with NYJ, than Sam. It's fixed in SEA. So these things aren't baked into the player, they change with the supporting cast.

The idea of KS being driven insane, what's been driving him insane, is his desire to land Darnold on his team. You think KS doesn't know the TO history with Sam? Trust me, he is well aware, and addressed it publicly, said it won't happen here, it will get fixed.

Like Nick Mullens issues got fixed?

The cause of the fix is Sam joining with KS, and having much better talent around. How does that apply to Mullens? Mullens was having the issues, while with KS. Not an apt comparison.

another data point

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
The cause of the fix is Sam joining with KS, and having much better talent around. How does that apply to Mullens? Mullens was having the issues, while with KS. Not an apt comparison.

So whether it be USC or any of his pro teams every coach he had was terrible and just needs Kyle to magically fix his bad decisions making tendencies.

Awfully convenient

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
Shanny addressed this. He said the TOs are a consequence of being on bad squads, bad protection, chasing the game late, so needing to force things. We also see this all over the NFL. Geno had a worse INT % with NYJ, than Sam. It's fixed in SEA. So these things aren't baked into the player, they change with the supporting cast.

The idea of KS being driven insane, what's been driving him insane, is his desire to land Darnold on his team. You think KS doesn't know the TO history with Sam? Trust me, he is well aware, and addressed it publicly, said it won't happen here, it will get fixed.

Like Nick Mullens issues got fixed?

The cause of the fix is Sam joining with KS, and having much better talent around. How does that apply to Mullens? Mullens was having the issues, while with KS. Not an apt comparison.

I feel like darnold can have an Alex smith like turnaround, for sure. I still wouldn't want him to be the starter for a season, i but a great back up, you know?

i don't think darnold is going to hit this corner and become a stud:l. I don't think Lance will get much better until he plays a season or two. So when I think about the backup position - it's who is better for the team if we need one of em for 1-4 games? Aka the short term. To me, it has nothing to do with long term potential of either. It's who can be the most reliable backup this next season, if need be.

Originally posted by riverrunzthruit:

Kyle Juszczyk telling everybody why Brock Purdy is the guy … and why Trey Lance isn't .. in one answer on @richeisen

Trey Stan's don't want to accept this. #truthhurts

It will take years for Trey Lance to get to the point where he is just reacting out there, as opposed to… pic.twitter.com/1Zs6fHhczy

— Flave (@MyOwnFlave) July 4, 2023

another data point

yeah TL looks robotic out there. I think the cure, he needs to do a lot of 7 on 7. That hones your ability to pick things up quick pre and post snap. No reason why he can't be doing that all summer. It's about, putting in the work.

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:

Originally posted by riverrunzthruit:

Kyle Juszczyk telling everybody why Brock Purdy is the guy … and why Trey Lance isn't .. in one answer on @richeisen

Trey Stan's don't want to accept this. #truthhurts

It will take years for Trey Lance to get to the point where he is just reacting out there, as opposed to… pic.twitter.com/1Zs6fHhczy

— Flave (@MyOwnFlave) July 4, 2023

another data point

yeah TL looks robotic out there. I think the cure, he needs to do a lot of 7 on 7. That hones your ability to pick things up quick pre and post snap. No reason why he can't be doing that all summer. It's about, putting in the work.

Idk the answer but I've always wondered - do these guys do that kind of work in the off season? All I seem to hear about are independent workouts with coaches and film study. If a group of guys gets together to play 7-7, it becomes huge news. Lol

it can't be that hard to find aspiring guys/teammates to do that stuff with. Especially if you workout in the Miami/LA/Houston etc areas.

i never understood why they do so much 1-1 drills with throwing to wide open guys. If you can't do that greatly, then that's sad. You should be able to hit them perfectly - but things aren't perfect in a game, people are in the way. You have to adjust in the moment and make it work. No idea why they aren't being covered

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
Both Lance and Darnold have been disappointing for different reasons. Lance because injuries have kept him from getting the reps he needs to get better. Darnold because he's played for 2 teams with poor talent around him and bad coaches. Lack of a supporting cast and poor coaching has destroyed more than one promising QB. Some are able to improve if they move on and get in the right situation but some never do. Once they lose that confidence and get beat up a little they never recover.

I'd say Alex Smith did just fine going from Singletary to Harbaugh. And then after that from Harbaugh to Reid. Drew Brees from his time in San Diego to Sean Payton. Not saying this QB lost his confidence but Trevor Lawrence going from Urban Meyer to Doug Peterson has done him wonders.