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Kyle Shanahan didn’t have much to say about Trey Lance’s debut after Saturday night’s game, but he offered some interesting nuggets on a conference call yesterday.
The thing I found most interesting was a line Kyle mentioned about Lance getting excited and reverting to his old mechanics in the heat of the moment:
“I think he started well, got a little excited at times, which he does. And you’re a little excited, some of your technique and stuff you lose will be fun to watch with him. Trey is a guy who is hard on himself and likes to correct things and since we have him he is very good at correcting mistakes.
This idea in itself is not new. However, many quarterbacks have been asked to adjust their mechanics only to immediately mis-adjust them the second they step into real play, with a veritable pass rush.
Will Lance watch the tape and dig deep into the changes, or will he adapt in practice only to rely on the muscle memory he has built up at this point in his career?
It’s also possible that the 49ers think Lance would be better able to change his throwing style exactly due to the fact that he’s had far fewer passing attempts in his college career than either Justin Fields or Mac Jones. Only time will tell.
Beyond the physical corrections, Kyle also said he wanted to see how Lance reacts to the struggles he had on Saturday night:
“We all know Trey has the ability to play well and do special things… but that’s not playing quarterback in the NFL. I mean you have to have the ability to get into the club, but it’s how you react to adversity, how you can play in a game, when you make a mistake, can you come back and make it another big game? It’s not just about going out there and keeping both teams in the game. You have to go out there and find a way to win for a team. ”
This, I think, is far more important than any footwork or pitching modification the 49ers may have implemented. There have always been shifts with wobbly deliveries that have had long and productive careers. What we haven’t seen is that the guys stay like elite players who aren’t mentally strong.
What will ultimately determine whether Lance is a temporary stopgap or a franchise quarterback is how well he can learn from his mistakes, maintain confidence and continue to make big plays, which whatever the adversity that preceded it.
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