SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers destroyed the Chicago Bears 32-7 Monday night. Here are the grades for Colin Kaepernick.
Colin Kaepernick: A+. Jeff Garcia said Kaepernick should check it down all game. Steve Young said Kaepernick should use his legs.
Kaepernick said to heck with that. He came out winging it. He saw that the Bears were loading the box and daring him to pass, and he accepted the challenge, burning them with deep play-action passes.
It took Kaepernick 1 quarter against a great defense to prove he’s the right quarterback for the 49ers, to declare the job is mine. The moment he completed the perfect 57-yard pass to Kyle Williams, Kaepernick erased all doubt. He’s the 49ers present and future.
He completed 16 of 23 passes. Two were dropped and two were thrown away. He only threw two or three bad passes all night.
He was terrific before the snap, too. After the game, Jim Harbaugh said Kaepernick was nearly flawless with his pre-snap reads.
49ers RSS feed
Loading ...
Let me be the first to say…wow. This kid is dynamite. #QB1
He had a good night, last night.
Did you see him struggle against the RAMS?!?
I saw him come in off the bench and struggle at the end of the first half, then I saw him lead the team from behind by completing 7 of 8 in the 2nd and OT and put the team in a position to win with a field goal… that Akers missed.
While I agree he played a great game, declaring CK7 their present and future is premature and fickle. Does he deserve to start next week? Sure. But I’ll remain cautiously optimistic at this point.
This feels like a Tom Brady / Drew Bledsoe moment. Too bad for AS that he got concussed. I wish him well, but CK’s time is now. Why delay the inevitable?
If Kaep plays next week and has a poor performance, then we have a problem. The staff has a tough decision to make going forward.
Although no matter how you look at it, it’s a good problem to have. I’m confident in either guy.
He was very impressive, against one of the league’s top defenses. The thing that stood out to me was the command he had of the offense. He definitely opens up the field for the offense.
He also looked comfortable and poised. Alex Boone – in a post game interview – said CK was surprisingly calm in the huddle.
Now we have to add Alex Boone to the list of haters? That list is getting long.
MSC
Boone was asked flat out if there is a QB controversy. He gave the PC answer, but his expressions and body language were interesting. What a hater !
I was very impressed with his command, especially for a raw QB making his first start. He looked like a completely different player than a week ago. I figured he would play well tonight, but he definitely exceeded my expectations. Fantastic game for CK7.
See ya in clevland Alex wait they don’t want you either lmao
Let me second Mr. Automatics’ declaration. A+
Primetime said earlier today: “And when Kaepernick comes out and looks like a deer in headlights tonight and coughs up the ball, it will be an epic night cause then finally you haters will realize he is not ready. I can’t wait to see the egg on your faces later this evening.”
Lol..i would love to see the egg on primes face..i told ya
Great game! The Kap showed his stuff, no fear, no shuffling, just poised, calm fluid QB composure. That was so beautiful to see this kind of consistency. I’m sorry, love Alex, but Kap was incredible! More Kap less Alex.
What stood out to me was the play action pass plays. Every play action pass, CK looked at the deep option first and then made his reads.
If Alex did that, I think he’d have more 300+ yards passing games. Alex wins games but why not blow people out like Kaep did tonight? Put the dagger in like CK did, that’s the difference to me.
CK had a great coming-out party no doubt. But I will put him under the same microscope that I use for AS: Consistency
It may be hard for CK to emulate the numbers he had tonight if he starts against the Saints, but if he does start, all I ask for is consistency.
I’m growing tired of the big game one week and average game the following week we get from AS. Consistency matters to me.
Your grade is fair based on one great game. But as far as CK (and I really like the kid) being the starter going forward he will need to put a few good-great games together before I christen him as our new QB.
I have to agree with that AES. If CK7 pulls an Alex and follows his “Saints” game up with a “Giants” debacle then he really isn’t any better than what the 49ers already have.
Y not Bears D is way better than the aints..
He doesn’t have to. The Kaeptain can throw two interceptions and still be a better choice in terms of winning. The reason is simple, we have a defense that can recover in most cases and his ability to make the big play deminishes the impact of those mistakes. In every game the room for error with Smith is zero. If he mistake were screwed. Franchise QB’s make mistakes all the time, but they also throw 60 yeard straikes the very next play. That is what a team wants to believe in. No matter how bad things get, we have a QB that can put the team on its shoulders and win the game. All you have to do is look at the Giants and you can see the difference that makes.
Nice….agree with u 100%..
A lot of players play outstanding for one game. I believe CK earned another start from his play tonight. Each and every game won’t be like this one. Playing musical chairs is the worst thing for two QBs. You make the change, you live with it!
I agree Hofer but Alex needs to heal as well so he does not end up like Steve Young!
Chicago
Quite right. That is why I’ve supported the idea of keeping both (given they are good).
You get a better team by getting AND keeping good players. Not trading them as I’ve read so frequently here (trade AS or trade CK especially is common).
WOW.
I think Colin deserves the start. Or at least for them to share snaps in practice and let the winner come out each and every week.
This is a short week followed by a cross country trip. It will be tough no matter who plays QB
Kap is the truth period and he’s the future…I always felt he would play great if he got the chance and just think how much better he would be with all the practice reps
http://ninerchatter.blogspot.com/2012/11/colin-kaepernick-history-lesson.html
Jack, I don’t get your read here. You are against CK starting moving forward? Or noncommittal?
Non-committal Hofer. If they start him on Sunday, and he turns in another start like this I am completely convinced. Right now I am at about 90%.
I want to see him do it on the road, in a hostile environment.
Jack, 90% is far from noncommittal!!
Hofer,
Skydiving analogy,we are at altitude, the door is open, and I just need to check my 3′s one last time before jumping.
Can’t agree more, Jack. Let’s see how the kid does when he’s deafened by crowd noise… THEN we can anoint the new QB1. ;)
Here’s what tonight settled:
CK is a terrific passer. His 11YPA with 2TDs and 0INTs are evidence of his efficiency. It felt like he could have kept it up if he had made 45 attempts. The Bears couldn’t get near him because he took the top off early and often. They were petrified by his mobility. When they did get near him, his calm and cool allowed him to escape and either complete a pass or get rid of it.
He can throw from the pocket, or while running to both his right and left. This is a QB. A real QB. He will be Top-5 in the NFL by the end of next season, if not sooner.
Of all the Alex Lovers, most are actually reasonable fans. The only one who has proven what an insanely foolish clown he is is Prime. All the others, including Hofer, DS9, and others, actually seem rational by comparison. Hey, Grant, can Prime, will ya? Thanks.
I’m still stunned from CK7′s performance tonight. Yes, I was thrilled when we drafted him, but even an ardent fan didn’t expect this. These were the Bears of defensive turnover fame, and I figured the Kaepper would have some learning lessons, as all the good ones do.
I certainly didn’t expect some sort of laser game from TRON. My god, he just let them rip. It was like that scene in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, where Hanks is throwing the shells. CK7 is a secret weapon, indeed. Funny part is that my East Coast clients kept yelling, “Where did you find this guy”? Like we had been hiding him or something. You can keep Tebow, New York.
Nice to have a confident backup who can enter and change the flow of the game. Kinda like the old Montana-Young jigsaw that Walsh would pull on the opposing teams.
I just think you have to take into account that this performance was against what is probably the best defense in the NFC. And the Bears defense did not have any significant injuries, to the best of my knowledge. That pass to Kyle Williams was a thing of beauty, caught right in stride, moving away from the safety help.
best defense according to who….obama
First off, great game by the team and great first start for Kaepernick. Just to sprinkle a little rain on this parade for Colin, his numbers looked very familiar. 16 of 23 for 243 yards 2 td and 0 turnovers. A couple missed deep balls, some low passes, a short pass to Crabtree on 3rd and long that MC turned into a first down with some good RAC, took a sack holding the ball too long. If this had been done by someone else, some people would be up in arms at the way the D carried the team to a win.
It’s about the team and that was a great game to watch the Niners flex their muscles. Don’t care who the players are as long as the end result is a W.
It’s not the stats it’s how they were accomplished. Not giving up on routes, reading routes high to low, leaving the pocket keeping a play alive but continuing to look downfield. Always on the attack, non checkdowns…. Should I continue? Oh and it was just his first start so he’s gonna get better. He should have competed 80% and had 3 tds. He almost had 200 at half and they managed the game in the 2nd half.
And the end result was the same, a win. He “should” of had this or that is something you’d roast the pro Smith crowd for saying. Kaep was great, as was the entire team. As long as the team keep winning and improving through the end of the year and playoffs, I don’t care who the qb is.
absolutely right on all counts sean, but Bay is (unfortunately) right, CK7 just looked better doing it. and they did mostly shut it down in the second half.
Are you kidding me Sean!!! I personally like Alex but your comment is not fair! CK was playing his first game on the national stage during a week that he did not even have all the practice snaps! In addition his agressive play and reads was superb! Did he overthrow a few passes for sure however that will improve with more practice and timing with the first team!!! GO NINERS
Well said Sean,
That was my thoughts exactly. Kaepernick played incredibly, well above what most, me included, expected. However, he wasn’t flawless, and I thought his performance was very reminiscent of Smith on a good day.
Whichever way we go for the rest of the season, you’ve gotta be optimistic that the long term future looks bright!
Congratulation to the 49ers faithful and Colin Kapernick! I am so proud of the way Colin played for a rookie QB starting his first NFL game agains one of the top 5 defenses in the leaque! To my opinion CK played a great game and his confidence was soaring high!!! This guy has the skill sets to become a great QB with experience and more maturity in this offense.
I do not believe there was anything similar between the QBs, with Colin our offense clicked. I am not ready to name CK the future QB but he has earned another start so Alex can sit and heal for the rams game.
I’m extremely happy for Colin Kaepernick and still high off that dominating win!! Maybe Greg Roman should call the same amount of downfield shots with Alex as he does with Colin? That being said unless Alex wins the SB I don’t think he’s gonna be the starter next year as Kaep can only improve. My only concern is to see how Kaep performs when he is gameplanned against for a full week. My favorite thing about AS is his Pre-Snap reads and CK was pretty much perfect in that respect.
Bottom line: Alex better step his game up when he comes back. Winning record or not if he falters, he’s gonna lose his job
As JH stated last week, the Niners game plan wouldn’t change much regardless of whether AS or CK were starting. The difference is that one QB attacks the defense while the others plays safe with short passes and checkdowns.
The Bears wouldn’t have played 9 in the box if Smith was the QB. So, duh….
Again with the short passes critique of Smith? He’s 3rd in the league in YPA.
Kaep played great, and he might be the answer going forward, but your denigration of Smith is unfounded and appears to be based on an ignorant bias.
AS’s YPA is a result of YAC not air yards. Very rarely have we seen go through multiple reads, sliding or moving in the pockey, keeping hos eyes down field, and pulling the trigger. Just look at the last TD strike, how the play developed, and how CK handled it. I’m not so sure the outcome would have been the same with AS at QB.
*pocket
*his
I have seen so many moments of flash. One great game and now the savior of the team. Cassell, Flynn, Kolb quickly come to mind. Those were suppose to be the next coming of Joe Montana. One great game does not mean greatness is at hand. My experiences have taught me to make a judgement when there is enough samples to use to make an educated analaysis. I am not sure if CK should be the starter. What do I know?
CK had a really good game, I wasnt sure if CK could run a WCO due to his strong arm. Well, he made some touch passes that convinced me that he can run this type of offense. CK hung in the pocket didnt look to run first was a credit to him. He ran a very complex offense smoothly and efficently. My hat is off to him. One sample game is not enough to make me say we have our Elite QB like so many in here seem to think.
The team came to play last nite. The offensive line for the first time this year gave pass protection and did great run blocking at the same time. The defense showed up last nite and played a flawless game. Special teams had a very good game, tho the returns still are not what they need to be.
If I am slow to jump on the CK bandwagon its because I have seen so many flashes of the moment turn into piles of crap. CK had a great game and my expectations of him has risen and I hope CK turns out to be the best QB ever to play the game. Should he start next week, I really dont know its going to be a really hard choice for Harbaugh to make. Who ever he decides upon I am 100 percent behind him.
“If I am slow to jump on the CK bandwagon its because I have seen so many flashes of the moment turn into piles of crap.”
The last seven years are a prime example.
I also failed to note that CK had zero turnovers, very impressive performance.
So you have stuck with Bledsoe over Brady? Some people are visionaries and can see potential. Others over think the situation and screw it up in the end. CK has a much higher ceiling than AS. The switch needs to be made now – ad Grant pointed out. Why delay the inevitable?
Logical and wise words, UC… but, when watching Kaep work, what did your gut tell you? What about the seat of your pants? This kid just looks like he has “it”, imho.
Is it just me or does Grant’s grading A+ remind you of the scene from A Christmas Story where little Ralphy is fantasizing about his theme paper and the teacher is writing his grade on the chalkboard A+++++++++
It sucks to be a Smither these days, doesn’t it?
Barley, I agree. My first thought at seeing the A+ was, “Geez, Grant, get those hormones under control!”
CK was outstanding last night. I was shocked that the first play was a pass, and more to the point, that he was RIGHT ON TARGET with it (how many starters’ first passes sail, due to adrenalin?). Amazing.
On the other hand, he may have broken one of Moss’ fingers with his lack of touch. He missed a few others, as well. In fact, his overall numbers don’t rate an A+, by any stretch of the imagination. But he played one hell of a game, and it looks like all arrows are up!
In all the games I watched at Nevada, I never saw Kaep have a game as a passer like last night. In the Pistol, designed QB runs are always part of the game plan, so Kaep always rushed a lot, and most of his big games involved more rushing TDs than passing TDs. Last night, he looked like an NFL passer. Furthermore, he did not have the turnovers I would have expected given his problems with pro style defense in college (I will happily eat a whole bunch of crow on that prediction). The 49ers coaching staff has done a great job working with him.
Harbaugh = QB Whisperer
DANG, I should have copyrighted that last week when I first used it! Right on Automatic!!!!
I’d buy that Harbaugh T-shirt!
I am a Smith supporter. If Alex Smith had the team & coaching Kaepernick has now in his first start, he might have had more success earlier.
That said, frickin’ amazing game by the youngster. And I am rooting for him to continue to start and win, with his arm and touch passes…(no more dislocated WR fingers)