QB Trey Lance Press Conference

QB Trey Lance

Press Conference – August 17, 2022

San Francisco 49ers

How does it feel to be back in Minnesota?

“Oh, it’s good to be back. It’s good to see you. It’s fun, obviously, going to get a couple good days of work, great days of work here. Practice, it’s fun practicing against someone else, see another defense. And then traveling and getting in the hotel and spend a lot of time with the guys.”

The first time I saw you play, it was against children, just down the road. Did you ever think that one day you’d be here doing this?

“I mean that was always the dream, but man, it happened fast. But I’m excited to be here. Kind of settled in now, year two. Yeah, just excited for this year.

How did practice go for you today?

“Some ups and downs, excited to watch it for sure. Again, it’s just good to go against another defense, one-on-ones, seven-on-seven, red zone, everything against another team. And the new stuff they’re doing this year, it’s fun to practice against. They give a lot of good looks, obviously a real talented defense with a lot of guys who have played a lot.”

You’re targeting WR Deebo Samuel, WR Brandon Aiyuk, and TE George Kittle a lot. Obviously, they’re pretty big, productive players for this team. Do you now feel like you’re getting that rhythm with those guys?

“Playing football, it’s kind of throwing where the defense tells me where to throw the ball more than, I don’t just go back and pick a guy. But yeah, absolutely I’m finding rhythm. I missed a big one with George and a big one with Deebo today. But yeah, I think those are great things to go back and watch on tape and just talk through with those guys.”

These practices with the Vikings, do you circle them on your calendar? I know this is preseason, but what were your thoughts when you first saw that?

“I was excited for sure. I get to see my family, see some friends, but it’s work at this point. I come out here, these two days of practice should be awesome for us and Saturday as well.”

Trey, is there a good amount of family and friends here today?

“Yeah, today and tomorrow for sure. My high school team, the Vikings, I appreciate them they actually got some buses for my high school team to come out tomorrow, so I can say what’s up to some high school coaches and some teammates as well.”

Do you go into these hoping that the Vikings show you certain looks that you don’t get from your own defense in camp?

“Not really hoping for anything specific, but definitely excited to see the looks, like I said, they got a lot of guys who have, especially in the secondary, have played a lot of football. So just picking those guys brains and watching how they play, it helps me out a lot.”

Can you walk me through the fourth down play to Deebo during the two-minute drill?

“Yeah, it was a three-man rush, fourth-and-long, I just scrambled out to my right, Deebo did a great job on two of them, had a keeper as well that he came off schedule with, and then that play as well. He’s done a great job of schedule for us, along with [WR] Jauan [Jennings] and B.A., but Deebo showed up today.”

Do you feel like you and him are starting to figure it out and connect a bit more?

“Yeah, I mean I felt like we were always hot but no, he’s done a great job these last few days. Just again, the more reps we get together, the more stuff we get to watch together the better we’re going to be.”

In the preseason opener, you led the team after a timeout, you broke the huddle down as a team. Is that something that happens organically?

“Yeah, it’s totally organic.”

How’s it been seeing your interior offensive line go against another defensive line?

“Yeah, like I said, going against another defense again, real talented D-line, some big guys up there, but I thought they’ve been doing a great job. Hopefully we get [OL Daniel Brunskill] Dan back soon as well. But man, [OL] Spencer Burford, [OL] Aaron Banks, [OL] Jake [Brendel], those guys have done a great job and I’m expecting them to continue to do so.”

So which players do you like on this defensive?

“It’s more positions than players specifically. I know [Minnesota Vikings S] Harrison [Smith] is going to mix up the looks, [Minnesota Vikings CB Patrick Peterson] Pat P is also really good. I mean those guys, their whole secondary, they do a great job of holding their looks pre-snap and then waiting post snap to move. But yeah, not really one specific guy.”

Do you kind of pick the brains of those guys?

“Yeah, I haven’t talked to them, but just watching them play, watching the way they move in seven-on-seven in the red zone especially. Their pre-snap looks specifically, they do a great job and like I said, man, those guys have seen a lot of football.”

You’re healthy right now versus this time last year, do you feel like you’re processing everything better?

“Yeah, things have slowed down a lot, I’d say mentally and physically. I feel like I’m in a much better spot on both ends and yeah, obviously I’m in a different position.”

Trey, what are you working on the most right now? You saw things are slowing down, what’s–?

“Man, for me just trying to come out here every day and trying to get better, taking it one step at a time, especially with these practices. One step at a time, one day at a time, and just continuing to groove with these guys.”

What kind of prep do you before a practice this against the Vikings just to get prepared for what looks you might see?

“A little bit, not a ton. A little bit of personnel. A little bit of Denver’s defense last year and a little bit of Minnesota’s defense last year. But yeah, they mix it up a lot. A little bit of their preseason game against the Raiders. But it’s preseason, so we don’t see everything. But like I said, these two days will be super important. Hopefully I’ll get to see a lot of different looks.”