placeholder image

D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports


49ers insider offers analysis from glimpse of Trey Lance and Sam Darnold

May 25, 2023 at 10:05 AM--


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
It's premature to draw conclusions about a quarterback based on practices in May. That is especially true when you do so based on one practice. The San Francisco 49ers started organized team activities (OTAs) this week, and all eyes were on Trey Lance and Sam Darnold.

The two players are battling for that QB2 job behind last season's rookie sensation, Brock Purdy. One could even start Week 1 if Purdy is not healthy enough to do so himself.

Lance is coming off a season-ending ankle injury but looks completely healthy now. Darnold is trying to turn his career around after never living up to his high draft status.

Matt Barrows of The Athletic was on hand for Tuesday's practice, the only one open to reporters so far, and one that Barrows describes as a "glorified walk-through." What insights did the 49ers insider gather from his brief glimpses of the two quarterbacks?

"The big thing that everybody was scrutinizing was Trey Lance and Trey Lance's throwing motion," Barrows shared on 95.7 The Game's The Morning Roast. "And to me, and I don't want to come off as someone who thinks that he's an expert on this, but it did appear as if it was more fluid. I thought the ball was coming out of his hand faster.

"He wasn't overly aggressive with his throws, downfield throws. There was a lot of checkdown stuff. But even those types of throws—certainly in the Chicago game (last season), and I realized that was sort of uncommon circumstances—but a lot of times, the easier the throw, the more difficult it looked.

"And so he was hitting that short stuff, short passes to the tight ends and the running backs, really well. So I would say that very early, very [much] just a glimpse of the Tray Lance of the 2023 offseason, but it was a good start."

The reporter had a similar analysis of Darnold, who joined the 49ers in March via free agency. With 55 starts on his resume, Darnold is the most experienced of the 49ers quarterbacks but is still only 25 years old.

"I mean, they literally had the same stats," Barrows shared. "This is how pathetic I've become. I chart quarterback stats in May when they're just working on seven-on-seven stuff. Paying attention to the numbers, they were both 11 of 15 on those, so identical.

"I thought Darnold was actually a little bit more aggressive through some more downfield stuff. His receivers bailed him out of a couple of tough throws. There were a couple of really nice catches on his passes, but he looked fine. Extremely strong arm with Sam Darnold."

You can listen to the entire conversation with Barrows below.




Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

Vikings signing 49ers QB Sam Darnold to a 1-yr, $10 million deal

By David Bonilla
Mar 11

The San Francisco 49ers' 2024 quarterback room won't include veteran Sam Darnold. NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reports that the Minnesota Vikings are signing Darnold to a one-year deal worth $10 million, a move that has been predicted for a while now. The contract can become official on Wednesday, at the start of the new league year. Darnold will try to help fill the void left by Kirk Cousins' departure. The veteran quarterback signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. A new QB in Minnesota: The #Vikings


placeholder image

49ers LB Fred Warner and wife Sydney welcome first baby

By David Bonilla
Mar 11

According to PEOPLE, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner and his wife, Sydney, have welcomed their first baby, son Beau Anthony, into the world. Beau was born on Thursday, March 7, in San Jose, California. San Francisco 49ers' Fred Warner and Wife Sydney Welcome First Baby: 'Over the Moon' (Exclusive) https://t.co/wrEEOTCeKJ— People (@people) March 11,


placeholder image

49ers to host Marshawn Kneeland and Jamal Hill on pre-draft visits

By David Bonilla
Mar 13

The San Francisco 49ers' evaluation of draft prospects is underway. As part of their assessment, the team will welcome two players for visits: former Western Michigan edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland and former Oregon safety Jamal Hill. San Francisco recently agreed to terms on two-year deals with defensive ends Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos, bolstering its pass rush. However, after losing Clelin Ferrell in free agency and facing the likelihood of Chase Young playing elsewhere in 2024, the team appears keen on adding more explosiveness along the edges through the draft. Kneeland registered 57 tackles, including 7.5 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 10 game appearances with Western Michigan as a senior in 2023, per


placeholder image

49ers forfeit 2025 5th-round draft pick and have 2024 4th-round pick moved

By David Bonilla
7 hrs

The NFL has reportedly penalized the San Francisco 49ers for payroll accounting errors. The team is losing a fifth-round draft pick in 2025 and having its fourth-round pick in 2024 moved to the end of the round as punishment. Just in: The #49ers are losing a 2025 5th-round pick and will have their 2024 4th-round pick (#131) move to the end of the fourth round because of payroll accounting errors. pic.twitter.com/X8D33mY94A— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate)


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone