While vague reports over the offseason have indicated the 49ers aren’t happy with what they’ve seen from quarterback Trey Lance, San Francisco’s defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and second-year safety Talanoa Hufanga had effusive praise for the team’s signal caller after Wednesday’s practice.
Ryans talked to reporters about Lance’s physical talent, but he also offered some insight into the QB’s growth as a leader in practice.
“I think Trey has done a great job,” Ryans said. “Yeah, it is good to see him with his command and him running the offense and he’s zipping it past us a lot. He’s making it tough on us. Trey has done a great job. It’s good to see him just coming into his own role as a leader and being able to take control of the team. We’re fired up for Trey and what he can do for us.”
That last bit is perhaps the most crucial. While it’s impossible to take much away from the offseason program, Lance’s practice habits and where he stands with his teammates will play a bigger role for him this year than his physical talents.
Size, speed and a big arm aren’t necessarily unique. How teammates respond to Lance and how he’s able to establish himself in the wake of a well-liked QB like Jimmy Garoppolo will be paramount to his individual success and the team’s return to Super Bowl contention.
Hufanga, a fifth-round pick last year, also added some insight into the young QB’s on-field exploits.
“Man, that dude can sling the rock, I’ll tell you that,” Hufanga said via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan. “Trey has been tremendous. Being a rookie with him was awesome. Getting to see his insight as a quarterback, And what he can do on the field is outstanding. Love to go against that competition.”
It’s still very early in the offseason, and we can’t draw any conclusions about Lance’s performance at this point. However, the praise from the defensive side of the ball is at the very least a good sign for Lance’s growth and maturity.
If Ryans is correct and Lance is truly taking command of the offense and growing as a leader, that will check off a pretty significant box for the 22-year-old. He’ll still need to continue playing well in camp once the pads come on, and then translate that to the regular season. At this point of the year though these are all good signs for Lance and the 49ers as it looks more and more certain that he’ll start in 2022.
