3 things Trey Lance must improve upon entering 2022
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Trey Lance must fully grasp Kyle Shanahan’s offense
Head coach Kyle Shanahan operates one of the most complex offenses in the NFL. It’s not so much the play-calling or the sheer number of options available, rather the intricate nature of terminology and vast array of variations associated with it.
Shanahan had Trey Lance operate only a fraction of the entire playbook. And the general consensus is it takes a full year to fully grasp it, even for veteran quarterbacks.
Lance told The Rich Eisen Show (h/t Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Bay Area) just how he’s trying to get an edge on learning Shanahan’s offense:
"For us, it’s just continuing to build that relationship. Him understanding how I see the game and vice-versa. I’m trying to get to that point. Every time he talks football, I’m trying to write everything down. I want to record it. He’s just that type of brain. Same with [former 49ers OC] Mike McDaniel. I haven’t been around too many people that every time they talk about something it really means a lot. I want to write it down because if I don’t, I feel like I’m missing out on something. For me, watching tape with Kyle is a big thing. Whether it’s tape from my games, tape from Jimmy’s games, any of the games from this season. Understanding how he sees the game and making sure we are on the same page throughout the year."
Words for now. But those words will have to translate over to familiarity, and that familiarity will have to turn into repetition, repetition to the point where it becomes second nature.
The only way that’s achieved is with time, and Lance will have to use his time wisely between now and Week 1, and then the subsequent weeks thereafter.