Is it better to play a rookie QB or sit him on the bench?

Originally posted by mayo49:

Originally posted by krizay:

Originally posted by evil:
It's best to understand that every QB coming out needs to be evaluated individually as to whether it is better to sit them or to play them early. Every single prospect has a different level of readiness coming into the league.

This

Yeah, evil hits it right on the money on this one.

Evil nailed down one side of it. The other side is the overall team situation. Teams drafting a qb high, tend to lack o line and/or weapons. That is always a terrible situation to put a rookie qb into.

Originally posted by btthepunk:
If there's another QB who has shown he's at least capable of winning games in the roster and you think the talent is there to at least get to the playoffs then sit that QB.

I don't think Rodgers would have had the career he's had if he started as a rookie (or been drafted by the Niners). I think Carson Palmer probably would have had the same career if he started as a rookie but maybe not quite as good.

I think Mahomes would have been Mahomes if he played yr 1. Rogers had to totally change his throwing motion.

Originally posted by frenchtoast:

Originally posted by TheWooLick:

Bill Walsh says sit.

BS. Jerry Rice didn't sit. Bill would not have cancelled camp. He would have spent that time mentoring Trey and developing the skills he knew would be necessary. Shanahan raved about him and told of all the plays he designed for him. WHERE ARE THEY? Shanahan is afraid because he has no skillset that would enable him to know how to develop a rookie QB with Trey's talent. Throwing a football across the street into a pizza oven doesn't quality..You learn much more by DOING, than watching...

We are talking about QBs. He sat Joe and Steve.

Shanahan should have a better game plan for Lance.

Originally posted by YACBros85:
Evil nailed down one side of it. The other side is the overall team situation. Teams drafting a qb high, tend to lack o line and/or weapons. That is always a terrible situation to put a rookie qb into.

This is the more important aspect IMO.

Coaching staff and roster around the rookie matter more IMO than if he sits or plays for a yr. When you're a rookie that doesn't have to make chicken salad our of chicken s**t every play, you can develop a little more smoothly. Good D and running game can go a long way for a young QB. The proper play calling and understanding what a QB can/can't do, plus using his skill set properly matter.

I don't think every situation is the same.

My opinion is we should be playing Trey. I wasn't down on Jimmy but long term I felt it would be better for us to have Trey be the starter come week 1.

I think some guys come into the league who don't have much experience with NFL concepts who need to sit and learn them. You can learn those things watching film and working the fundamentals in practice. You don't need starting reps to drill those things.

Lance to me is a different situation. I think he needs live reps. 313 or whatever it was pass attempts is simply not enough to grow as a passer and IMO the things he needs cannot be replicated in practice where you know the defense can't touch you.

I think Lance needs the live reps and I think the offense needs reps with him. OL needs to better account for how to pass protect with a guy who can run like Lance. WRs need to grow chemistry with him and learn what to do when Trey has to scramble.

If it doesn't happen this year this feeling out process will have to happen next year.

Originally posted by TheWooLick:
We are talking about QBs. He sat Joe and Steve.

Shanahan should have a better game plan for Lance.

He sat Steve because he had Joe....Joe was a 3rd rd pick not a top 3 pick. Those are not apples to apples situations.

Comparing the NFL from 30 yrs ago is irrelevant when talking about the league now. Different rules, different play calling, different team building/cap. College football is vastly different which has affected the NFL as well. You don't get 4 yr starters that are playing in the pocket passing anymore. Skill set of QBs overall are different as well.

Is what it is, at this point just let Jimmy play, Lance should have had all the reps for the past 5 months but we're in November and the team is running the offense like Jimmy is the starter.

Ok, here's your answer:

It depends on the natural talent/throwing motion skill/defense reading skill they have coming into the NFL.

And to some extent also depends on the rest of the team.

Russell Wilson is a good example of how to start a rookie. You have a strong running game and defense, and put the guy on a pitch count. Wilson was lucky not just to land in Seattle, but his biggest strengths could be exercised (deep throw ability , and scrambling) with such limited amount of attempts.

Robert Griffin III is another good example of how to start a rookie (but maybe not how to end one? lol). Take his college offense and slowly build the NFL concepts on top of that. That was more lightning in a bottle given how new the college game in the NFL was compared to now. My Redskins fan friend said people were open all the time that year, so wasn't hard for Griffin to execute the offense (plus he had good deep ball skills when needed). Alfred Morris rushed for 1600+ yards also, punching way above his talent level due to outside zone and RG3.

So tying this to the 49ers, there is the possibility to do the same here. 49ers have a good RB and defense (but not quite as good as 2019).

I just think the old school way is the best way. Get him acclimated slowly in practice, film room. If Garoppolo is on the way out like everyone says he is, this will officially be his team come February. He's had significantly more snaps than Mahomes did his rookie season (and this season isn't over yet either), and by the time he's starter in September 2022, he will have had much more NFL experience than Fields, Wilson, Jones had coming into September of this year.

Now from a pure reps standpoint, he has a bit more catching up to do than the typical 2021 rookie QB, but if you believe in the talent that much it should work itself out.

And as others have noted, the game isn't played in a vacuum -- bad reps, bad games, tough times can wear on people like anyone. Alex Smith 2005-2008 versus Aaron Rodgers 2005-2008 is quite a different story based on where each QB played football. Swap those destinations and it's very likely Smith is still in the league and Aaron is not part of the GOAT debates.

Lastly, if Jimmy's salary comes off the books next year, combined with what we've learned this season about our team (depth issues at RB /CB), just imagine what could be NEXT year with more money to spend on skill position players, another draft, etc.

I actually didn't have huge expectations for the 49ers this year, meaning I didn't put my heart on the line for getting frustrated like I did last season early on. I knew they would be a very good team that could be a tough out on Sundays (has been true all season), but knew this QB scenario would be strange. And of course the injury bug has dampened even the biggest Niner fan optimist .....and none have been proven wrong sadly.

Next OTAs, training camp -- ALL Trey Lance. Kyle will undoubtedly have a great game plan going forward for this team, I'm positive of it.

If anyone has the definitive answer to this question then they should be a GM. There's no right of wrong answer is there? Depends on the teams situation . Ar ehtey winning with the current QB? Is the current one tradable? How ready is the rookie?

Originally posted by frenchtoast:
BS. Jerry Rice didn't sit. Bill would not have cancelled camp. He would have spent that time mentoring Trey and developing the skills he knew would be necessary. Shanahan raved about him and told of all the plays he designed for him. WHERE ARE THEY? Shanahan is afraid because he has no skillset that would enable him to know how to develop a rookie QB with Trey's talent. Throwing a football across the street into a pizza oven doesn't quality..You learn much more by DOING, than watching...

One has to learn how to walk before they can run.

Originally posted by evil:

Originally posted by frenchtoast:
BS. Jerry Rice didn't sit. Bill would not have cancelled camp. He would have spent that time mentoring Trey and developing the skills he knew would be necessary. Shanahan raved about him and told of all the plays he designed for him. WHERE ARE THEY? Shanahan is afraid because he has no skillset that would enable him to know how to develop a rookie QB with Trey's talent. Throwing a football across the street into a pizza oven doesn't quality..You learn much more by DOING, than watching...

One has to learn how to walk before they can run.

Can't believe we drafted a QB who still crawls.

Originally posted by Hysterikal:

Originally posted by evil:

Originally posted by frenchtoast:
BS. Jerry Rice didn't sit. Bill would not have cancelled camp. He would have spent that time mentoring Trey and developing the skills he knew would be necessary. Shanahan raved about him and told of all the plays he designed for him. WHERE ARE THEY? Shanahan is afraid because he has no skillset that would enable him to know how to develop a rookie QB with Trey's talent. Throwing a football across the street into a pizza oven doesn't quality..You learn much more by DOING, than watching...

One has to learn how to walk before they can run.

Can't believe we drafted a QB who still crawls.

I think he showed up and disappointed them pretty quick. It went from them being excited to work him in and even they said they may run a two qb system……to get Jimmy on the field no matter what, even after sub par performances from JG. When he was forced to start, it's like Kyle thought he had to use him like Tim Tebow to move the ball

Originally posted by BamaNiner:

Originally posted by Hysterikal:

Originally posted by evil:

Originally posted by frenchtoast:
BS. Jerry Rice didn't sit. Bill would not have cancelled camp. He would have spent that time mentoring Trey and developing the skills he knew would be necessary. Shanahan raved about him and told of all the plays he designed for him. WHERE ARE THEY? Shanahan is afraid because he has no skillset that would enable him to know how to develop a rookie QB with Trey's talent. Throwing a football across the street into a pizza oven doesn't quality..You learn much more by DOING, than watching...

One has to learn how to walk before they can run.

Can't believe we drafted a QB who still crawls.

I think he showed up and disappointed them pretty quick. It went from them being excited to work him in and even they said they may run a two qb system……to get Jimmy on the field no matter what, even after sub par performances from JG. When he was forced to start, it's like Kyle thought he had to use him like Tim Tebow to move the ball

Yes. There is only one way to learn. But the coaches have to ease them in with more simple game plans.

If the QB has mental fortitude, he will take his lumps, learn, and improve.

It depends on how ready they are and how good your team is.

I think whenever its possible its better to sit them.

There's a lot that goes into being a qb off the field that I think studying and observing everything for a year is beneficial. Its no guarantee but I just don't see the point of putting a bunch of pressure on a rookie if you can avoid it.