49ers training camp: Trey Lance stays hot with what Jimmy Garoppolo calls ‘a different style’

SANTA CLARA — Jimmy Garoppolo’s post-practice analysis of rookie Trey Lance was spot on Tuesday, and it didn’t reek of jealousy or intimidation.

“Trey, he’s been making some plays,” Garoppolo said.

Uh, yes, yes he has.

“You know, we all have a long way to go,” Garoppolo added. “We’re just getting started here in camp and we’ll keep this thing rolling.”

Lance, if you’re just tuning in, is on a roll.

On Tuesday, he uncorked the best pass of his debut training camp — and one of the longest completions on the 49ers’ practice field in ages — when a spiral soared 50 yards in the air and into Trent Sherfield’s arms down the left sideline for a touchdown.

It highlighted Lance’s best passing day as a 49er, in which he completed his first 14 attempts in team drills before overthrowing a deep shot to Richie James Jr. to end practice. (One pass came after a play appeared to be whistled dead by a penalty but Lance was encouraged to throw, which he did and completed.)

Got the deep ball on speed dial #49ersCamp pic.twitter.com/KXTjL2YOgv

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 3, 2021

Lance is bringing more than that to his budding competition with Garoppolo.

Lance’s legs are on the move. For the third straight day, the 49ers’ offensive installation called for Lance to run on zone reads and designed keepers. He did so nine times Tuesday, including his (landmark?) first-team rep in which he ran up the middle behind an offensive tackle.

“It’s not a play you’re doing with all the quarterbacks,” said coach Kyle Shanahan, who a day earlier said Lance wouldn’t be cutting into Garoppolo’s first-team role.

None of this is alarming. It’s why the 49ers drafted Lance No. 3 overall, after studying his dual-threat dominance for North Dakota State.

“The athleticism he brings – me, Josh (Rosen) and Nate (Sudfeld) – we were kind of joking about it: It pushes us to be better athletes, in a way,” Garoppolo said.

“It’s a different style. It’s ‘pick your flavor that you want.'”

Shanahan is not about to choose one quarterback over the other a week into camp, or, better said, he’s not about to bench a proven starter in Garoppolo for a young phenom who just made his debut in full pads and has yet to play any of the upcoming three exhibitions.

Shanahan said he will only make that change “when I think he gives us the best chance to win.”

Lance exploited a coverage mismatch on the bomb to Sherfield, who was covered by backup linebacker Jonas Griffith with veteran safety Tony Jefferson trailing over late.

Aside from a couple false starts and cadence issues, how much does a day like Tuesday — after impressive outings Lance’s previous two practices — go toward expediting his starting candidacy?

“I don’t really look at it like that. I thought he had a decent day,” Shanahan said. “I thought he did good with his reps, not perfect. But we’re just evaluating everybody right now. I’m not putting it like that.”

Garoppolo completed 8-of-12 passes Tuesday, including a miss to Brandon Aiyuk on a deep shot that Jason Verrett had covered 40 yards downfield.

Through six practices, the unofficial stats show Garoppolo 47-for-74 (56.8 percent) and Lance 50-for-71 (70.4 percent) in full-team drills.

Garoppolo isn’t worried about any competition with Lance so much as how the offense is matching up with the 49ers’ defense. On that point he’s noticed a change from recent years, with more back-and-forth taking place on a play-to-play basis than a day-to-day volley.

“Here, it’s been one play them, one play us. I’ve been on some good teams and that’s an early mark of a good team,” Garoppolo said.

NOTES:

— Defensive end Dee Ford joined the 49ers’ pass rush in another encouraging sign in his comeback from last year’s back issue.

“It’s exciting to get him back out there. The energy he brings, the speed he brings, you have to be aware of where’s he’s at,” Garoppolo said. “It’s always a pleasure to have him out there.”

Added Shanahan: “He looked like the Dee Ford I remember. Hopefully he can keep it up and we’ll be smart with him.”

Ford also showed speed in coverage, pursuing Lance around the edge and out of bounds. Most often lining up with the starters this camp at defensive end have been Arden Key, Samson Ebukam and Arik Armstead.

“We’re waiting for Bosa to be back,” Garoppolo added. “I can’t wait for those two to be together again.” Bosa remains limited to defensive-line drills and Shanahan does hope to have him in full-team action at some point before the Sept. 12 opener.

— Wide receiver Jalen Hurd took part in team drills for the first time since his 2019 rookie season, which was eventually wiped out by a back injury and followed up with a 2020 knee injury. Hurd jumped offside on his first snap and saw no passes come his way, but he looked fast off the line.

— Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair will miss a couple weeks with a knee sprain after an injury Monday. Fortunately, it was not an anterior cruciate ligament tear like the one in 2018 that ended his college career.

— Wide receiver Deebo Samuel did not practice because of groin tightness. He’d been an everyday participant, so when it comes to rest, even 18-wheelers need to hit the truck stop for a break.

— Cornerback Tim Harris Jr., who saw first-team snaps the initial practices of camp, is out for a couple weeks with a groin injury. Fellow cornerback Dontae Johnson (foot) and tight end MyCole Pruitt (calf) did not practice.

— Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw saw his most action in team drills, and after jawing with offensive lineman Tom Compton on an early rep, Kinlaw powered past Laken Tomlinson and made his presence felt repeatedly.

— The unmistakable sound of 300-pound players colliding is akin to church bells signaling the start of training camp. The 49ers donned pads and full uniforms Tuesday morning for the first time this camp. Among the standouts were defensive linemen Anthony Zettel (vs. Trent Williams, if only on rep), D.J. Jones, Kentavius Street and Arden Key.

— Regardless of how right tackle Mike McGlinchey is benefitting from the addition of 25 pounds, Shanahan noted: “I like how his technique is right now.”

— Sherfield has had an outstanding camp in his 49ers’ debut, after four seasons in Arizona. He said he was “a bit heartbroken” when the Cardinals did not retain him but jumped at the chance to join the 49ers.

Sherfield’s take on the quarterback race: “Trey Lance, he’s a baller, he can play. Him and Jimmy are both doing phenomenally well. Jimmy’s a great guy; Trey’s a great guy. Both are leaders and command the huddle. I’ll be down a dark alley with either of them any day of the week.”