Garoppolo's time with the Niners has come to an end. While the veteran remains on the roster, the offense now belongs to Garoppolo's successor, second-year quarterback Trey Lance.
Kyle Brandt doesn't believe the offense will be better in 2022 than the version that reached the NFC Championship Game last season, noting Lance's inexperience as a primary reason why.
"He's just still so raw and so inexperienced," Brandt said. "And I also think Jimmy Garoppolo is really good, and he's gone. And I don't think they'll be better than last year. I think it's a work in progress still."
Jamie Erdahl feels differently.
"I am in," she said. "The offense, I think, takes a huge step, and I think they will be better than last year."
Jason McCourty agreed, knowing that head coach Kyle Shanahan will not ask Lance to carry the team. The young quarterback has a lot of talent around him, enough to carry him through any growing pains. However, he also adds a new dynamic to the offense—one Shanahan has lacked during his 49ers tenure.
"Trey Lance is going to add another dimension to this offense that they didn't have," McCourty explained. "His ability to run. His ability to scramble and make throws outside of the pocket, which we saw a little bit in the preseason."
McCourty noted that Kansas City was able to take its offense to another level by transitioning from Alex Smith to Patrick Mahomes but making it clear that he's not comparing Lance to the Chiefs quarterback.
"Could this possibly be Trey Lance entering the San Francisco offense, and they take a whole other step that they weren't able to take with Jimmy Garoppolo?"
Peter Schrager asked if Lance has the potential to take the NFL by storm in 2022.
"I think so," McCourty answered. "And I think, because of the inexperience, we don't have a huge test sample, so we don't really know [what he will be]. And I think, when you look at quarterbacks, when they sometimes come on the scene, when Cam Newton first came on the scene his rookie year, [he] took off. You hadn't really seen it. You don't know how to prepare for it.
"Then you give these defensive coordinators 17 games to study a guy in the entire offseason, you're able to really figure out what they do. … Trey Lance, 389 throws since high school, unless they're putting Pop Warner film on, there's not a lot of tape to figure him out."
You can listen to the entire conversation below.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Week 14 predictions: Can the 49ers hold off the Bears?
The San Francisco 49ers will host the Chicago Bears at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, December 8, with kickoff set for 1:25 p.m. PT. The 49ers are currently 3.5-point favorites heading into the matchup. Each week, 49ers Webzone staff participates in the... -
49ers' Ricky Pearsall shrugs off lack of targets, focuses on opportunities ahead
Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall seemed poised for a breakout after his Week 10 performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he hauled in four passes for 73 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown on six targets. However, since that game, his opportunities have... -
Why Tuesday is crucial for Dre Greenlaw's long-awaited 49ers return
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw is inching closer to his long-awaited return to the football field after suffering a torn Achilles in February. The San Francisco 49ers have targeted Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams for his potential 2024 season debut. However, that is... -
Why Ron Rivera would be wary of paying 49ers QB Brock Purdy top-market money
The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to face a pivotal decision in a few weeks. That's when they can start negotiating a contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy. Despite some lackluster performances this season, the organization remains committed to keeping Purdy for...