The Dallas Cowboys are doing everything they can to prepare for a top-flight matchup with the 49ers on Sunday Night Football at Levi’s Stadium.
Including advice from third-string quarterback and former 49ers signal-caller Trey Lance.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said the team will rely on Lance because of his knowledge of San Francisco’s offense and defense.
After four days of practice, Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott finds Lance’s insights about the 49ers valuable.
“He’s been very helpful, honestly,” Prescott told reporters Thursday. “Just the way their defense can move, certain decisions they may have to make when we put them in certain positions. Things you kind of see in the film, but getting some definitive answers from him about how they did things, he was very helpful.”
Lance knows he can offer valuable insight, but understands that the two teams are already familiar with each other.
“I’m doing everything I can to help,” Lance said. “But at the same time, these guys have done a lot of preparation for the Niners over the last two years with these big games, so they know a lot about the offense. But I mean, I’m here now, therefore I am.” I’m doing everything I can to help. Any time I can play a bigger role to help the team and help Dak, it’s definitely exciting.”
“I’m doing my best to help these guys,” he said. “They’ve had a great week of preparation so far and obviously these guys are locked in. They know it’s a big game.”
When asked about the insight Lance can give the Cowboys, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan downplayed his former quarterback’s role in Dallas’ game planning.
“As much as most coaches can do,” Shanahan told reporters Wednesday. “You can look at the plays on tape, you can explain what we’re seeing and stuff like that, which you can usually do when you’ve accumulated a lot of tape over the years and we’ve been here for a while. Hopefully it’s him. I talk to them all the time and make sure they’re fully focused on what they’re doing instead of just watching the tape.”
Whether or not Lance’s insights will contribute to a Cowboys victory remains to be seen, but both teams will do everything in their power to prepare for one of the best games of the entire season.
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