Drew Brees dissects 49ers’ QB dynamic
Garoppolo, Lance talk with retired QB great
COSTA MESA >> Drew Brees spoke with Jimmy Garoppolo for about 15 minutes after 49ers practice Friday before it was another 49ers quarterback’s turn: rookie Trey Lance.
“A good dude to learn from,” Lance said with a smile after his one-on-one with Brees on the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice field.
Brees retired last season from a record-setting career with the New Orleans Saints, where he went after his then-San Diego Chargers’ tenure was shorted with the arrival of Philip Rivers, a first-round draft pick who came in a trade for top pick Eli Manning.
Brees, obviously, can relate to what Garoppolo is facing — and what Lance can accomplish.
Said Brees: “It’s funny, because go back to 2004, when I was with the Chargers going into my fourth year, we struggled in ‘03 and I was basically told, ‘Hey, we’re going to draft somebody, we’re going to bring somebody in to try to take your job.’ They drafted Eli, then that whole debacle led to Philip.
“What I chuckle about is everybody tries to make that an adversarial dynamic, when really it’s not. Because, for Philip and I, we both recognized the situation. We also recognized that the competition was going to bring out the best in us.”
That, indeed, appears how Garoppolo and Lance are approaching their coexistence. They get along from all accounts, complement each other and, essentially, have spent all camp mixing in flashy plays with others that aren’t so great.
Lance, in Friday’s joint practice with the Chargers, took his most extensive first-team reps since being drafted No. 3 overall. It was an eight-snap cameo behind the first-string offensive line, although left tackle Trent Williams was out with a knee issue. Lance completed 1-of-3 passes, ran twice, got sacked once and handed off twice.
Once the practice ended abruptly after 90 minutes, with Lance completing a touchdown pass to JaMycal Hasty, Garoppolo soon mingled with Brees, and tight end George Kittle joined on the conversation.
Once they were done, Lance met up with Brees, who’ll be at Sunday’s preseason game as a practice run in calling the
game for NBC Sports, his new gig.
As for that 2004 dynamic as the veteran vs. the rookie, Brees added: “We had our to focus on our own development to be the best players we could be. We also knew every rep counted and we had to maximize every opportunity, because we were fighting for the same position.
“But it’s not unlike any other battle that exists at every other position on the field. It’s just the most high profile. It doesn’t mean you can’t support each other or that you’re not there to get the best out of each other.”
When the 49ers traded up to No. 3 in March for a quarterback (to be named Lance), word from inside the building was that although they wanted to keep Garoppolo, they wanted him to respond the way Brees did with the 2004 Chargers. That team went 11-4 before losing its playoff opener to the Jets. After going 9-7 the next year and exiting with a shoulder injury, Brees hit free agency, signed with the Saints and became the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards and completions while bringing that franchise not only back to life but its first Super Bowl championship.
“What those situations do, if done correctly,” Brees said of quarterback duels, “it really does bring the team together. Because when the decision is made as to who’s the starter, I think it’s going to be recognized by the team, that, ‘You know what, this is best for us and that guy frickin’ earned it.’ “
Garoppolo is known for his quick release, and Brees said they talked about that step-and-throw motion after practice.
Brees also noted that his 2004 situation with the Chargers isn’t exactly parallel to Garoppolo’s.
“He probably has some more skins on the wall than I did at the time: he’s taken his team to the Super Bowl and has played well,” Brees said.
Any advice?
“Stay in the moment. Play your butt off. It’s here,” said Brees, who lost to Garoppolo and the 49ers in a December 2019 showdown which the 49ers won 48-46 despite Brees’ five passing touchdowns and one rushing score.
Tips for Lance?
“I’ve met Jimmy a few times, so there was more of a relationship there. Meeting Lance, I was trying to learn more about him and what his mindset’s been coming into camp.
“For (Lance), it’s nothing to lose, everything to gain. It’s his first time stepping into camp. Yes, there’s high expectations with that stuff, but every day for him is going to be a learning experience, and probably be that for a while, for a guy who played at North Dakota State and played only 17 games in college.
“There’s still so much to be experienced for a guy like him. Different for Jimmy who’s an eight-year veteran.
“At the end of the day, it has to be the quarterback who is a best fit for this offense, that can execute this offense best. Listen, the Niners are a topfive team and are going to be one of the favorites. A lot at stake.”