There is no basis for any of us to “evaluate “ Lance. He hasn’t played enough. Period. Perhaps we can look to a comparison in terms of his physical attributes. To me, it’s Josh Allen. Similar in size, arm strength and running ability. Maybe not quite as dynamic across those traits as Allen. But he’s probably the best comparison.
Early in his career, there were a lot of GMs that felt Allen would not be a top tier QB. Accuracy being the key issue. He worked and improved significantly on that score.
Lance has a higher learning curve cause he played so little in College. I hate to say this, but one question is if he’s the football version of Wiseman. Another gifted athlete with painfully limited experience pre-NBA and then a slew of injuries hampering his development.
2023 will be, I believe, the defining season for Lance as a 49er. If he doesn’t take the reins and show significant improvement, I doubt he ever will be the Niners answer.
Even before Purdy’s injury I felt that if Lance developed, he’d win the job. If not at the beginning of the season, then in season. There is simply too large a gap in their physical ability. And while I get the position involves more “intangibles” than perhaps any other position in team sports, in most instances when there is a large gap in physical ability, the better athlete wins.
Obviously the best thing that could happen is Lance improves, Purdy is healthy by July and they have a true competition. Shanahan might go crazy (if you heard his press conference you got a hint of how tired, upset and disappointed he was). But in the end, I suspect a heated competition between two young QB’s is exactly what he wants. I also bet he wants Lance to show he’s ready to take the bull by the horns and be the guy. They didn’t trade 3 first rounders for Purdy.
As an aside, I wonder what NFL folks are thinking about the long term viability of “dual threat” QB’s. Her is a list is srarting NFL QBs that I consider “Dual threat “. (I leave out quarterbacks like Mahomes, and to a lesser extent Lawrence, who are guys that can and do run. But generally look to pass first and run only if they have to. And even then, Mahomes got hurt. They use their legs more to extend plays. Feel free to add if I leave anyone out:
Jackson, Murray. Lance, Allen, Hurts, Daniel Jones, Fields, Everyone except Jones got hurt. Allen played through his injury. The other side of the equation is how dynamic these guys are. And given the way, the college game is now played, more and more dual threat quarterbacks are gonna come to the NFL. Keeping them healthy over a 17 game season and playoffs is, to put it mildly, a challenge.
Early in his career, there were a lot of GMs that felt Allen would not be a top tier QB. Accuracy being the key issue. He worked and improved significantly on that score.
Lance has a higher learning curve cause he played so little in College. I hate to say this, but one question is if he’s the football version of Wiseman. Another gifted athlete with painfully limited experience pre-NBA and then a slew of injuries hampering his development.
2023 will be, I believe, the defining season for Lance as a 49er. If he doesn’t take the reins and show significant improvement, I doubt he ever will be the Niners answer.
Even before Purdy’s injury I felt that if Lance developed, he’d win the job. If not at the beginning of the season, then in season. There is simply too large a gap in their physical ability. And while I get the position involves more “intangibles” than perhaps any other position in team sports, in most instances when there is a large gap in physical ability, the better athlete wins.
Obviously the best thing that could happen is Lance improves, Purdy is healthy by July and they have a true competition. Shanahan might go crazy (if you heard his press conference you got a hint of how tired, upset and disappointed he was). But in the end, I suspect a heated competition between two young QB’s is exactly what he wants. I also bet he wants Lance to show he’s ready to take the bull by the horns and be the guy. They didn’t trade 3 first rounders for Purdy.
As an aside, I wonder what NFL folks are thinking about the long term viability of “dual threat” QB’s. Her is a list is srarting NFL QBs that I consider “Dual threat “. (I leave out quarterbacks like Mahomes, and to a lesser extent Lawrence, who are guys that can and do run. But generally look to pass first and run only if they have to. And even then, Mahomes got hurt. They use their legs more to extend plays. Feel free to add if I leave anyone out:
Jackson, Murray. Lance, Allen, Hurts, Daniel Jones, Fields, Everyone except Jones got hurt. Allen played through his injury. The other side of the equation is how dynamic these guys are. And given the way, the college game is now played, more and more dual threat quarterbacks are gonna come to the NFL. Keeping them healthy over a 17 game season and playoffs is, to put it mildly, a challenge.