49ers studs, duds from Week 5 loss vs. Cardinals
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers lost their third consecutive game in a row, falling to the Cardinals in Week 5, and Niner Noise breaks down the studs and duds from the game.
The San Francisco 49ers can either use their Week 5 road loss to the Arizona Cardinals, their third loss in a row after starting off the year 2-0, as motivation to get back into the playoff discussion.
Or they can fall victim to the disjointed and inconsistent efforts the team has showcased over the bulk of the season so far.
The 17-10 loss at State Farm Stadium says a lot about where this team is at now. Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad isn’t playing anywhere close to its best, yet there are efforts that suggest it’s not all a disaster.
At least not yet.
There were positives mixed in with plenty of negatives, so let’s take a look at the game’s studs and duds from the Week 5 loss.
49ers Stud: Quarterback Trey Lance
Let’s get this out there right now: Rookie quarterback Trey Lance‘s first-ever NFL start wasn’t a disaster, and there were plenty of things he did that suggest he’ll be just fine as a full-time starter down the road.
Lance completing just over 50 percent of his passes wasn’t necessarily good, and neither was his overthown interception on the Niners’ opening drive in the first quarter. He also showed signs why he’s a rookie, and that’s something both he and San Francisco will have to work on over the course of the upcoming weeks.
Yet Lance still showed the intangible traits needed to be a high-quality playmaker, particularly trying to score by lowering the shoulder on a goal-line attempted touchdown rush that ultimately fell just short. And on another play, when Lance’s helmet came off, the quarterback was still trying to move forward.
Maybe the business decisions will come in time. But at least Lance is doing whatever he can to endear himself to his teammates.
On top of that, Lance carrying 83 percent of the offense on his shoulders is a definite plus.
Not a perfect stud, but pretty darn good considering the circumstances.