49ers’ need to put their money where their mouth is with QB Trey Lance
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan needs to hit the game show buzzer NOW and trade Jimmy Garoppolo and prove to the world what a stud rookie quarterback (QB) Trey Lance really is.
It is time for Shanahan to part ways with his unappreciated security blanket and show the world the supposed wonder he and general manager John Lynch mortgaged the franchise’s future for.
Now is the time – – not down the road. Give the classy Jimmy G. the opportunity to go somewhere he and his 24-8 record as a starter would be truly appreciated. Do not humiliate him any further as Lance’s babysitter.
After all, that dazzling 80-yard-bomb in the preseason opener (along with the four sacks, one fumble and two near picks in his otherwise 4-13 for 58 yards performance) should be enough for everyone to see right?
You did not make a mistake…right?
In preseason week #2 against the Chargers Lance came out firing, and for the second straight week he hit a real flat line throwing the football, this time starting the game 1/5 for a 0.0 QB rating. His receivers had trouble handling his passes on a good number of attempts as he showed the touch of a bazooka. One pass was high and off the receivers’ hands and resulted in an interception. Another hit a Chargers’ linebacker so hard, it hurt his hand and he could not hold on for a pick. In the third quarter, another pass went off a Chargers’ defensive backs hands that was also nearly picked. To top it off, he sacked twice and on one of the sacks, Lance held the ball so haphazardly, he could have easily fumbled. Even the announcer was surprised he was able to hold onto it.
Granted, to keep this fair and balanced Lance did throw three or four really nice looking passes against the Chargers, as it is not all bad. When he has been good, he has been good, but when he has been bad, he was been downright awful.
Through two weeks, there are some grave commonalities Lance is showing that nobody is focusing on:
1. He could have easily thrown five interceptions (two vs. Kansas City and three against Los Angeles) in these two games. One was actually picked off, but the other four have hit defenders in the hands.
2. Lance has taken a lot of sacks for losses. He has taken six sacks, fumbled once (could have easily been twice).
3. He has been extremely hot and cold and very streaky.
4. San Francisco receivers are consistently having a hard time handling his passes with a lot of drops.
Let’s not do this thing where we talk up this “generational talent,” during the off-season and training camp (where you are in control of the scripting of practice). Let’s also not do this thing where he will be sprinkled in here and there to protect this poor-man’s Donovan McNabb from being exposed. Let’s get him out there now and show the world how great he is and how smart you guys are.
After all, this must be a once in a blue-moon talent…right? I mean who else is worth three number ones (outside of Deshaun Watson) and trust me, Lance is no Watson.
Start Lance and prove me wrong. I’m the guy who said before the draft that anyone even considering drafting Lance should be fired on the spot.
Let’s not delay the inevitable and fiddle around with Garoppolo for a season. Let’s just let him go somewhere the team and their fans will not just look at him like this “lame-duck” QB who is just keeping the pocket warm for some rookie. That is just too humiliating to treat a guy like Garoppolo like that. Most top five picks maybe do need to sit and wait for a little bit, but not one who’s supposedly worth three ones. I put an undraftable free agent grade on Lance and Shanahan said he was “getting obsessed” with him.
Start Lance. I dare you.
Daniel Kelly is a former NFL scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated Detroit Lions and he is a contributing evaluator for Draft Diamonds. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @danielkellybook and his Facebook page is WHATEVER IT TAKES NFL TALK.
