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49ers’ QB Trey Lance pre-season play tendency charting (100 plays)

Many were impressed with Trey Lance's bomb but was Lance shaky in his first NFL action?
Many were impressed with Trey Lance’s bomb but was Lance shaky in his first NFL action?

Trey Lance vs. Kansas City Chiefs (8/14/21)

(UC) = under center

(SG) = shotgun

1-10 (UC) play-action throw right intermediate range – incomplete

2-10 (UC) run hand off left side  

3-8  (SG) sacked (held ball too long)

1-10 (UC) play action deep right touchdown 

1-10 (UC) run hand off right side

2-5   (UC) run hand off right side 

3-1   (UC) run hand off hand off right/center 

1-10  (UC) wide receiver screen pass left

1-10 (UC) run hand off middle 

2-7  (SG) sack (held ball too long)

3-14 (SG) short pass play left complete 

1-10 (UC) intermediate pass right complete big play

1-10 (UC) run hand off middle 

2-8   (UC) play-action bootleg left short pass attempt dropped

3-8   (SG) short pass play left complete 

1-10 (UC) run toss run right 

2-9  (UC) run middle

3-8  (SG) short pass play completed pass

1-10 (UC) run right

2-9  (UC) run middle

3-8  (SG) intermediate pass play right dropped

Two minute drill – first half 

1-10 (UC) intermediate pass play middle incomplete

2-10 (UC) wide receiver screen pass right 

1-10 (SG) intermediate pass play right – ball tipped – incomplete

2-10 (SG) intermediate pass play middle – incomplete (held ball too long)

3-10 (SG) sacked (held ball too long)

1-10 (SG) sacked and fumble in the pocket :33 left 2Q

2-18 (SG) short pass play left complete

3-15 (SG) intermediate pass play middle almost intercepted 

1-10 (UC) play-action pass play intermediate left incomplete

2-10 (UC) run toss left 

3-5   (SG) short pass play left incomplete 

Preseason game one vs. Kansas City game film analysis for Trey Lance

Total snaps = 32 (9 drives)

(UC) = 19 (56%) passes (8) runs (11)(SG) = 13 (44%) passes (13) runs (0) 

1st down = 13 (tends to pass 62% of the time and tends to pass 75% of the time when he is lined up directly under center). 11/13 snaps on first down, Lance lined up under center pre-snap. 

Run = 5 Pass = 8 (3/7) 43% completion percentage 

Notes = 5/8 pass attempts were at the intermediate route level. 4/8 of intermediate pass attempts were to the right side. 

Conclusion = On 1st downs, look for Lance to line up under center 85% of the time pre-snap and throw the ball 75% of the time in those situations. Likes to work the right intermediate side of the field when passing the ball 50% of the time and throw to the intermediate route levels 63% of the time. 

1st Down Game Plan = Coverage needs to lean towards Lance’s right side of the field and heavily focus on covering the intermediate portion of the field. What is interesting is the two times Lance lined up in shotgun pre-snap once the ball was nearly intercepted and once he fumbled, mistake prone out of shot-gun on 1st down (2/2 100%). 

2nd down = 10 (tends to pass 50% of the time and tends to pass )

Run = 5 Pass = 5 (2/5) 40% completion percentage

Notes = 3/5 pass attempts were short range and 3/5 were short left, 60% tendency to throw short and to the left side of the field 

Conclusion = on 2nd downs, look for Lance to line up under center 70 percent of the time and throw the ball 50% of the time. What is interesting is Lance held the ball too long 2/3 times out of the shotgun (67%) of the time and got sacked.

2nd Down Game Plan = Lance showed a tendency to become more conservative on 2nd downs when throwing the ball going short left 60% of the time. Lance also becomes more hesitant to pull the trigger and got sacked twice. Blitz and apply pressure. 

3rd down = 9 Run = 1 Pass = 3/8 (38% completion percentage) Notes = Passes 89% of the time and lines up when he passes in the shotgun 100% of the time. 50% of the time tends to throw short. 

Conclusion = Lance likes to throw on this down. Lance tends to throw short. Greatly struggled on anything more, sacked three times and almost intercepted once. One drop. In 3rd down pressure situations, Lance is awful. 

3rd Down Game Plan = Coverage, coverage, coverage. Loves to throw on 3rd downs. However, throws short half the time, anything more than that tends to become hesitant, get sacked or throw possible interception. Does not do well in pressure of 3rd down. 

Overall thoughts of Lance against Kansas City = San Francisco 11 runs and 22 passes when he was in the game. Lance’s most productive down is 1st down (completed 43% of his passes). He is also the most bold throwing the ball on first downs –  and it goes down from there to 40% comp. on 2nd downs and 38% comp. on third downs. Tendency to do worse and worse as the pressure of the down situations increases from 1st to 2nd to 3rd downs.Gets worse each down and chances are less for completions. Chances for sacks and potential interceptions grows on 2nd and 3rd downs as Lance tends to become more hesitant. Lance is mostly only effective in the short range of the field – – and only 13% effective intermediate. If Lance is going to work the intermediate to the deep levels of the field he is most comfortable working the middle to the right side. 

Worked short route level = 8 times

Worked intermediate route level = 8 times

Worked deep route level = 1 time (right)

Lance was 6/8 (75%) short level

Lance was 1/8 (13%) intermediate level 

Lance was 1/1 (100%) deep level (1st down) Lance was 1/9 (11%) converting on 3rd downs. 

Game Plan = (pre-snap read) 100% of the time he was in the shotgun Lance threw the ball. 

Aggressive short route and run game support and go man coverage against Lance. On short passes Lance likes to go to his left. On intermediate to deep passes likes to go to his right. Weak intermediate level. He becomes less effective as the downs progress. Apply more and more pressure on 2nd and 3rd downs.

Trey Lance vs. Los Angeles Chargers (8/22/21)

(UC) = under center

(SG) = shotgun

1-10 (SG) run middle

2-5  (SG) pass short middle complete

1-10 (UC) pass out of bounds threw it away rolled right (hesitated) intermediate

2-10 (SG) run left

3-8  (SG) pass intermediate middle incomplete

1-10 (SG) run middle

2-4  (UC) run left

3-4  (SG) pass intermediate middle intercepted

1-10 (SG) pass right incomplete short hesitated 

2-10 (UC) run middle

3-5  (SG) rolled left pass play almost fumbled sacked 

1-10 (SG) pass right short dropped incomplete

2-10 (SG) pass left short complete

3-1  (SG) run middle

1-10 (SG) pass right deep complete big play wide open

1-10 (SG) pass middle short complete

2-2  (SG) pass middle short touchdown

1-10 (UC) run middle illegal use of hands defense 1st down

1-10 (SG) play-action (hesitant) sacked 

2-16 (SG) pass left short incomplete

3-16 (SG) run delayed handoff 

1-10 (SG) run middle

2-10 (SG) play action pass play hesitated Lance ran 

1-10 (SG) run middle

2-5  (UC) run middle

3-4  (SG) pass short left complete

1-10 (UC) pass intermediate incomplete almost intercepted right

1-20 (SG) penalty – run middle

2-13 (UC) pass play action roll left complete short 

3-2  (SG) run right

1-10 (UC) run middle 

2-5  (SG) run middle

3-4  (SG) pass short middle touchdown  

Preseason game two game film analysis vs. Chargers for Trey Lance

Total snaps = 33 (6 drives)

(UC) = 8 (24%) passes (3) runs (5)(SG) = 25 (76%) passes (15) runs (10)

1st down = 14 (tends to pass 50% of the time and ends to pass 29% of the time when he is lined up under center). 4/14 snaps on first down, Lance lined up under center pre-snap. 

Run = 7 Pass = 7 (50% completion percentage)Notes = 2/7 pass attempts were to the intermediate route level. Both were to Lance’s right. 

Conclusion = On 1st downs, look for Lance to line up under center 29% of the time pre-snap and throw the ball 50% of the time in those situations. Likes to work the right intermediate side of the field when passing the ball 100% of the time and throw to the intermediate route levels 29% of the time. His longest completion of the night was right deeper. 

1st Down Game Plan = Clamp down short to Lance’s right side of the field intermediate. 

2nd down = 11 (tends to pass 45% of the time)

Run = 6 Pass = 5 (4/5) 80% completion rate

Notes = (4/5) of his passes on 2nd down were short

Conclusion = on 2nd down, look for Lance to line up under center 29% of the time and throw the ball 45% of the time. 


2nd Down game plan = coverage heavy short route level and guard against the run. 

3rd down = 8 Run = 3 Pass = 5 (2/5 40% completion rate)

Notes = Passes 38% of the time and lines up when he passes in the shotgun 100% of the time. 2/5 short (40% of the time) 

Conclusion = Lance likes to throw on this down. He did not complete anything intermediate. Intercepted once on 3rd down. Fumbled once on third down. 

3rd Down Game Plan = overage, coverage, coverage. Loves to throw on 3rd downs. However, throws short all the time. Again, tends to be more mistake prone on this down. 

Overall thoughts of Lance against Los Angeles = San Francisco 16 runs and 17 passes when he was in the game. Lance’s most productive down in this game was 2nd down (80% completion rate). He was bad again on 3rd down (40% completion rate). Tends to be more mistake prone 2nd and 3rd down as downs progress. Once again he was ineffective in the intermediate range (0/4 – – 0%). Once again Lance threw two intermediate routes right and one in the middle and avoided intermediate left again. 

Worked short route level = 10 times

Worked intermediate route level = 3 times 

Worked deep route level = 1 time (right) 

Lance was 7/10 (70%) short level

Lance was 0/4 (0%) intermediate level

Lance was 1/1 (100% deep) (1st down) 

Lance was (50%) 4/8 converting on 3rd downs. 

Game Plan (pre-snap read) 60% of the time he was in the shotgun Lance threw the ball. On short passes, Lance spread the ball around left, middle and right, but 50%of his short throws (4/8 were in the middle of the field). Weak intermediate level. 

Trey Lance (and Trey Package) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (8/29/21)

(UC) = under center

(SG) = shotgun

In this game Lance was injected into the line-up on the first series and kept out of 3rd down situations “Trey Package.”

2-10 (SG) run right

1-10 (SG) run middle

2-6  (SG) run right

1-goal (SG) run middle

2-goal (SG) run middle

Lance was injected again into the line-up for the second series and only put in the game for one 3rd and short (running play). “Trey Package.”

1-10 (SG) pass intermediate middle hesitated incomplete

2-10 (SG) run middle1-10 (SG) run middle

3-2 (SG) run middle 

2-goal (SG) Lance TD run short 

Normal series with Lance in there at QB

1-10 (SG) running play mishap and got sacked

2-15 (SG) pass play right complete short

3-5 (SG) pass play short middle complete but short of sticks 

1-10 (SG) pass play intermediate left WR dropped it incomplete

2-10 (SG) run left3-2 (SG) run middle

1-10 (SG) pass play play action roll left intermediate complete

1-10 (SG) run middle

2-8 (SG) (after false start) run middle

1-10 (SG) run middle (personal foul Raiders)

1-G (SG) fumbled bobbled snap but recovered

2-G (SG) pass short right complete

3-G (SG) pass middle incomplete 

2nd Q 1:06 til halftime

1-10 (SG) pass left intermediate complete

1-10 (SG) pass left intermediate incomplete but pass interference

1-10 (SG) pass short wide receiver screen 

2-9 (SG) run Lance scrambled after hesitating

3-7 (SG) run Lance scrambled after hesitating

4-3 (SG) run Lance picked up a few yards short run picked up first down

1-10 (SG) pass right side deep incomplete nobody close – – nobody there

2-10 (SG) pass deep left incomplete but pass interference

1-G (SG) pass left short but incomplete in end zone (time about to expire)

3Q

1-10 (UC) pass playaction intermediate middle incomplete

2-10 (SG) run middle

3-6 (SG) pass left short incomplete

Preseason game three vs. Las Vegas game film analysis for Trey Lance

Total snaps = 35 (6 drives) 

(UC) = 1 (less than 1%) passes (1) runs (0)

(SG) = 34 (99%) passes (14) runs (19)

1st down = 16 (tends to pass 9/16 times 56% of the time and tends to pass less than 1% of the time when he is lined up under center). 

Run = 6 Pass = 9 (2/9 22% completion percentage)

Notes= 6 pass attempts to intermediate route level. Five to the left (2 complete) and two in the middle (both incomplete) 

Conclusion = On 1st downs Lance lined up under center less than 1 percent of the time pre-snap and threw the ball (100% of the time) in that situation. Switched it up in this game and worked the left to middle part of the field with limited success on 1st down 2/5 left intermediate and 0/2 middle. 

1st Down Game Plan = Clamp down short and to Lance’s left and middle portion of the field for coverage. 

2nd down = 12 (tends to pass 25% of the time)

Run = 9Pass = 3 (2/3) 67% completion rate

Notes = (2/3) of his passes on 2nd down were short. 

Conclusion = on 2nd down Lance lined up in shotgun 100% of the time and threw the ball 33 percent of the time) 

2nd Down game plan = coverage heavy short route level and guard against the run. 

3rd down = 6Run = 3Pass = 3 (2/3 completion rate 67%)

Notes = Passes 50% of the time and lines up when he passes in the shotgun 100% of the time. All three pass attempts were short). 

Conclusion = He did not complete anything intermediate. Threw once short of first down sticks and looked hesitant at times. 

3rd Down Game Plan = overage, coverage, coverage. Lance throws short all the time. Again, tends to be more mistake prone on this down. 

Overall thoughts of Lance against Los Angeles = San Francisco 16 runs and 17 passes when he was in the game. Lance’s most productive down in this game was 2nd down (80% completion rate). He was bad again on 3rd down (40% completion rate). Tends to be more mistake prone 2nd and 3rd down as downs progress. Once again he was ineffective in the intermediate range (0/4 – – 0%). Once again Lance threw two intermediate routes right and one in the middle and avoided intermediate left again. 

Worked short route level = 8 times

Worked intermediate route level = 6 times 

Worked deep route level = 2 times (one right one left)

Lance was 3/8 (38%) short level

Lance was 2/6 (33%) intermediate level

Lance was 0/2 (0% deep) route level (1st and 2nd down)

Lance was (33%) 2/6 converting on 3rd downs 

Game Plan (pre-snap read) 100% of the time he was in the shotgun Lance threw the ball. On short passes, Lance spread the ball around evenly left, middle and right, Weak intermediate level. 

Preseason notes 

3/4 shots deep 1st down 

Most aggressive passing down – 1st down tends to go intermediate to deep. Heavy focus coverage intermediate to deep. If you can stop him on 1st down there is a strong chance your defense can get off the field quickly. 

If he passes on 2nd down, high chance going short or running play. Bring 8 into the box. 

3rd down mistakes increase with each passing down. Hesitates at times.  Only 7/23 converting third downs. Double check that. Short to intermediate, nothing deep. Keep everything in front and blitz. Good chance he will hesitate and not complete 3rd down intermediate. Cover short focus. 

With each passing down becomes less aggressive with the ball. Confidence decreases with each down. Chances for mistakes go up with each down 2nd – 3rd as pressure increases. Most Mistakes 3rd down. Becomes more hesitant. 

In 3rd preseason game mixed in Trey in 1st and 2nd downs, primarily it was a running play and they tried to keep  him out of 3rd down situations. They were trying to cover how bad he is converting 3rd downs. 

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. 

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