Jim Harbaugh is in a difficult position. He has gone on record in total support of his original starting quarterback – Alex Smith – even after a dalliance with Peyton Manning. Yet, Smith’s performances always brought up questions and concerns.
Now, with Colin Kaepernick in the picture after just a game and a half, the dilemma is to whom does Harbaugh turn for the next game?
First of all, if Smith is not cleared by the neurologist, there is no controversy or question about who plays the game.
If he does not play, and Kaepernick starts and loses, it makes it easier for Harbaugh to go back to Smith when he is cleared.
If Kaepernick wins with a performance similar to Monday night, the issue still remains front and center for Harbaugh. It becomes a tougher issue in the locker room because bottom line, the players want to win a Super Bowl, not play favorites with a starting QB.
It does not take a football genius to realize that Kaepernick, even in his limited exposure as a starter, has the talent and the skill level to make coaches and players drool.
It is not a matter of who is the better QB in Harbaugh’s mind, but how is he going to handle the transition.
Win out with Kaepernick, and Harbaugh is a genius, although others will question as to why it took this concussion episode before he was willing to make the change.
Play Kaepernick and fail to win the whole enchilada, and doubters will say Smith would have given him a better shot, even if Smith is more conservative and the game plan does not have the downfield and explosive plays in the passing game.
Tough decision and some sleepless nights, but that’s why Harbaugh gets the big bucks.
Remember, Super Bowl appearances are hard to come by, so a coach does not want to blow what could be a good opportunity.
On another note, does any then Yankee player, coach or manager have any regrets for the “Wally Pipp” incident?
Has there ever been a “Wally Pipp” incident that has backfired?
Look at the Rams when Trent Green went down and a bag boy at a corner grocery store and a QB for the Iowa Barnstormers named Kurt Warner stepped in at QB. That worked out pretty well.
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Really a tough choice. Safe, efficient and boring Smith or dazzling, electric, dynamic Kaepernick? We know Captain Checkdown won’t turn the ball over but on the other hand the Kid can make big down field plays, has better pocket presence and the athleticism to make a “bad” pass protecting offensive line look really good.
I’m glad I don’t have to make the decision.
Alex Smith got re-concussed watching CK’s performance last night. He won’t be playing on Sunday.
I don’t think Alex Smith is going to be cleared to play. I think Coach is going to want to take another look at CK7 in hostile territory. Maybe CK does not practice all that great, but when he gets in the game he balls. That might answer why we have not seen him prior to the injury. If CK7 has another stellar performance against the less than impressive defense of the Saints, I think at that point you have to make the change.
Razor,
I agree. Sit Smith for another week and see if yesterday was an aberration. If Kap destroys the Saints like he did the Bears, we have a new QB. His confidence will only grow and this offense will only get better. The receivers are very excited for this kid. I bet they want him in there because he’s going to give them a chance to make plays. Gore is concerned as well. If Kaepernick plays, Gore carries it less.
CUT KAP LOOSE!
Here’s the deal. Harbaugh is in a tough spot. Smith will make it easier of he can’t get cleared to play. Obviously, Smith was still having some issues with his health on Sunday. JH is the head coach. He certainly was able to recognize the flow of that game last night. We scored 20 points in the 1st half against the bears defense. A defense that was 2nd to us in points per game. We scored points in our 1st 4 drives of the game. We could’ve put up 45 on the bears last night. It has nothing to do with our defense. It was about our offense against their defense.
What is impressive to me is that last nights game felt like an 80′s game. Where we get up on a teM early and just destroy their confidence. We let them know the game is over and then we cruise to a win. We blew out a good Bear defense.
Harbaugh recognizes that playing Kap opens up the entire playbook because he stretches the defense. We have limitations with Smith and everyone on this blog knows that. That offense last night was very explosive. Once Kap loosened the bears up with the deep passes, Gore and Hunter started gnashing them. We were flowing on offense.
With Smith, we win that game 16-10. Too close for comfort. Diehard, long time Niner fans remember how we won games back in the day. We won them just like we did last night. Against EVERYBODY! We beat bad teams like that every once in a while like that with Smith. Kap has that capability against any team. If he can dominate the Bears defense, then who’s defense can’t he dominate?
CUT KAEPERNICK LOOSE AND LET HIM RIP THIS LEAGUE UP!!!!!!!
I don’t think a Smith-led offense would’ve scored that many points against the bears. And the early passes really did set up the run. I think that is what G-Ro was trying to do against the Vikings and Giants and that is why we came out throwing in those games too. Well executed by everyone. Lets hope that whenever he plays next, CK continues this trajectory he is on! I almost wet myself with excitement on some of those plays he made!
Not a chance. Would have taken 7 sacks and won that game 15-13.
Tough one, but Grant u are right JH has to worry about the locker room because as hard as some people believe is that there are players who still believe AS is there best option and has experience in the playoffs and then CK is the more atheletic and explosive qb but with little experience! Its a tough tough choice!
Nobody is going to question why it took “this concussion episode” to make the change. I mean that. Nobody. As Peter King rightfully points out, since Harbaugh took over Alex is 19-5-1, 64.2%, 7.36 YPA, plus-20 TD-Int ratio, 95.1 rating. There is not a coach in the league that would take those numbers and determine he needed a switch to his unproven backup. What the Kaepernick performance shows is the tantalizing prospect of a more explosive offensive. It is however only a prospect. There is now one full game tape of him in the league, and if history has taught us anything about one game backup QB performances, everyone would be well served to pump the brakes on the hype.
1680, that was so good, it bears repeating: “There is not a coach in the league that would take those numbers and determine he needed a switch to his unproven backup. What the Kaepernick performance shows is the tantalizing prospect of a more explosive offensive.”
Pump the brakes on the hype, indeed. Looks to me like we just may have at least two GREAT QBs on the team. So what’s the problem?
Great post Grant!
This is not baseball but how many times did Bruce Bochy have to risk hurting players feelings in order for the team to win 2 World Series in 3 years? In 2010 Bochy left former Cy Young winner (Zito) off W.S. roster and in 2012 Bochy put two-time Cy Young winner (Lincecum) in bullpen for best interest of team.
Like Bochy, Harbaugh will do what he thinks increases our chances of winning the Super Bowl. If that means starting Alex for now than so be it. Alex will be on a shorter leash now that CK7 has proven he can beat a quality team.
If CK7 starts than Alex will have to suck it up and be prepared to step in at any moment. Alex would make a quality backup.
Alex showed he’s a team first guy last night by trying to help CK7 throughout the game.
I support Harbaugh either way he goes but I would go with CK7 because of the mojo he has right now.
If you had to make a QB change during a game, I think it’s easier for Alex to play well off the bench than it would be for Kaep.
Crab, nice read.
“Has there ever been a “Wally Pipp” incident that has backfired?”
I’m sure there a few teams that did the qb shuffles: Browns, Nolan/Sing..LOL
After one game, I’ll say I am not gonna test the water of Lake Conclusion just yet. But I do like to see Kaep start vs. the Saints and let him show he can build on things he did vs. the Bears.
I always believe Harbaugh will be loyal to Jed and put the best options on the field.
Excited for the TEAM.
Well said. Future looks bright with this roster.
On the contrary, Harbaugh is in a great position with a wonderful problem to have. With Kap playing as well as he did last night, it gives him a second option at QB when many teams in this league don’t have one. Secondly, Kap playing that well, pushes Smith to up his game even more and gives us two options that can go in and win games.
I see people arguing today about the Smith vs. Kap issue and I don’t get it. This is a position most teams wish they could be in. Having two QB’s you have confidence in to go out and win you ball games is the biggest luxury a HC could have.
My guess is, if Smith is deemed healthy this week, he’ll get the start with Harbaugh now having the confidence that if Smith struggles, he’s got a viable replacement. My gut tells me that Smith is not going to be cleared this week though and Kap will get a second start on the road in a hostile enviornment which will give the Coaching staff a great opportunity to see how he adjusts to a vastly different enviornment than he played in last night. This is a win win imo.
Rocket,
you always answer straight up. I have a question for you. Remember the first five games of the season. No vertical passes, especially to WR’s. Grant even wrote an article titled, Can Smith throw deep?
Several posters ( Smithers ) came back and said it wasn’t that type of offense. I posted several times and asked, then why did we bring in two vertical threats in Manningham and Moss. Decoys?
In Kaep’s first start, we see him chucking it all over the field, different receivers various distances. They’ve tried a pass first strategy for Smith against tough defenses and it didn’t fare as well. So here is my question, if it is the same offense and it’s just a matter of progression and where the QB chooses to throw it, then why isn’t Smith attempting to connect downfield?
I am quite confident now that it is a matter of choice based on what VD said. He said he’s run that particular route many times and doesn’t get the ball from Smith, so he was surprised to get it.
My opinion is that this offense, with these weapons should be flat out unstoppable. It looks and feels potent, but only when you hit teams over the top because then they just don’t know what to defend. And man does that open up the running game.
Kap chucked it all over the field for all of 240 yards passing…bout inline with Smith. And total offense was 10 less yards than the teams average this season.
Bay, are you asking a question? With all of the (note sarcasm) “unbiased” opinions inserted between the long winded written lecture, it’s hard to see it! LOL
MJ,
He had almost 200 by halftime. They backed off and managed the game after that.
Smith would have had 85 yards at half with a high completion rate and would have had his team in a dogfight till the end.
Bay,
I always try to be honest with my answers and will do so now. There is no doubt Kap has a stronger arm and his ability to improvise is already superior to Smith’s, but the offense wasn’t really any different last night than we have seen most weeks with Smith. When you talk about throwing deep, Kap really didn’t go deep all that much. Most of the passes were slants and outs which is what they do with Smith as well. If anything, last night showed us the Niners will call the same offensive gameplan no matter who is under center.
What I will say is, Kap obviously gives them more athleticism and the ability to get the ball to the receiver quicker. That showed up on the pass to KW last night and the TD to Crabs.
The bottom line is: the team can win with either one of these guys and that is not a problem; it’s a luxury.
Rocket, there was a major difference. When CK took an early deep shot to Kyle Williams, he connected. This changed the entire game by making the Bears respect that pass. Alex doesn’t hit that throw. In fact, he misses it with alarming frequency. That was the difference. That is why the Niners shredded a formerly impressive Bears D (see other marquee QBs who failed against them). Definitely a game Alex would have struggled through (more like Giants than Bills).
Smith would have had 85 yards at half with a high completion rate and would have had his team in a dogfight till the end.
Yeah, just like in the Cardinals game.
Wait, what?
>>Smith would have had…
Heh, I love the way people pull out hypotheticals from their backsides, then try to use them as some sort of proof to bolster their argument. Hilarious.
Bay and Neanthedral, how can you guys say that with a football intelligence that Alex would have had lesser numbers? I don’t undersatnd that. No one can say either way. The Bears loaded the box, the Niners play actioned them to death. It was a brilliant game plan to start that game. You guys make it sound like Smith cannot make those throws when he has.
CK missed some throws as well and two throws that were caught, the one by MM was low and he took it for some quality YAC, and the same with Crabtree that he gained a bunch on a 3rd down conversion. He got help from his playmakers. Same thing has happened all year in Niner wins, a total team effort.
But to make statemtn that smith would not have had the pass totals at halftime that CK did, is just a guess or a lie. No one can predict that.
Sorry Clueless,
Are you trying to bolster your argument by using the last place Cards as an example? The Giants and Vikings are closer examples. Use those.
Smith left at halftime against the Rams with……80 yards?
FDM,
Smith not only couldn’t have made some if those throws, he wouldn’t have sat in the pocket as long as Kaep. I know, I have eight years of film to prove it.
Lameareafanatic, from what we seen of the Bears last night they are no better than the Bills.
At the time against the Cards you and 23 hater were saying Smith would crap all over the field against a forc defense like the Cardinals. But today they are junk. Nice arguement, convenient hey?
On another note. Remember how upset you were when the Niners did not trade for Carson Palmer? That was one of your best next to Harbaugh should game plan against the boo birds at Candlestick! Classic!
>>Smith left at halftime against the Rams with……80 yards?
1/2 way in the 2nd qurter actually. And CK played the next 3 1/2 quarters and had… 117 yards. Your point is what? That you can predict the future, Nostradomus?
Bay are we seriously bringing up the last 8 years? Do you really want to talk about that, 7 years, 7 different OC’s? Come on, we are past that.
If you can develop an arguement on the past year and half I will repsect that. The /87 year thing man, its been played.
@ bay:
Are you trying to bolster your argument by using the last place Cards as an example?
Sorry, but your ignorance of relevant facts once again betrays you. The Cardinals’ pass defense ranks 5th in the league. The defense as a whole ranks 7th (points scored against) or 9th (yards given up), depending upon your preferred stat.
Smith left at halftime against the Rams with……80 yards?
Halftime? No. Smith left the Rams game after the touchdown drive, which started in the 1st quarter and ended with 8:13 left in the 2nd quarter.
You don’t need to trash Smith with made up b/s to appreciate what Kaepernick did last night. He had a great game. What’s with the continuing obsessive hate on Smith?
The Cards handled both TBrady and MVick quite well just before the 9er game.
They also made Matt Ryan look like he had never played the position before Sunday.
Just once I wish we could have a discussion on this board with opposing viewpoints being honest and unbiased.
Here’s a link to the NFL.com experts take on the situation. Interesting read as I expected more to call for Kap.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000098262/article/colin-kaepernick-or-alex-smith-san-francisco-49ers-must-pick
Good read, Rocket. Thanks for the link. I’m not surprised that most of the writers thought Alex is the best bet going forward. They’re looking at the forest, while a lot of guys here are seeing trees.
If Harbaugh can keep the team from reading/believing anything the local writers write simply for the sake of page hits, we’ll be fine.
Really. You think Harbaugh is in a tough spot? Go ask Mike Mularkey what it is like to have to decide between Blaine Gabbert and Chad Hennie as the QB who will keep him from getting fired. Now that is a tough spot!
I trust coach Harbaugh completely. I am behind him whatever decision he makes.
As for the Saints, they have one of the worst defenses in the league. The only way they can put any pressure on the QB is to Blitz, which means either Manningham or Crabtree (or both) will be one on one a lot. It does not matter if Smith or CK is the starter. I see us putting at least 35 on the Saints and winning 35-24.
I agree but you have to be careful with the predictions. Seems like everytime this year’s team comes off a dominant win they throw up a clunker. But late in the season is when teams need to put it together with consistency to make a playoff run. It will be interesting to see how this plays out going forward!!! God I Love football!!!
Anybody know the last time Alex led the Niners to scores on their first 4 possessions? Hofer, Prime, Angus, Sean? Anyone?
Well then, I guess we can expect that each and every week can’t we?? LOL
Hofer, it’s never happened with Alex playing.
That’s a huge sign. 133.1/97.5 is stellar against the #2 defense in the NFL.
I’m out.
Since the first game of the 2005 season I’ve been waiting for a change at quarterback. Is my waiting over? Come on, Coach. Now’s the time.
Kap is the easy choice here… we’ve seen smith and he’s good in the system but we all know his conservative approach will only take us so far…I remember when we first drafted CK harbaugh said he’s got the kind of arm that can power the ball through tight windows and in the NFL there a lot more tight windows than there are big ones plus his ability to keep a play alive and push the ball down the field is what defenses fear the most…that kind of explosiveness is exactly what the offense has been missing the conservative approach (with a great D hasn’t won since dilfer) smiths safe throw mentality was holding the offense back and CK’s approach gives the offense unlimited potential so it’s a no brainier Kaps time is NOW
His conservative approach only took the team so far as 2 muffed punt returns from the SUPER BOWL!
“His conservative approach only took the team so far as 2 muffed punt returns from the SUPER BOWL”
Or prohibited us from going to the superbowl. That game would have been completely different if he wasn’t afraid to throw farther than 5 yards
Harbaugh is in a GREAT position. His hand picked QB played lights out. He still has old reliable Alex Smith to fall back on.
He’s always made it clear the best player would play.
He’s keeping the Saints guessing who will start next week.
Why is he in a difficult position?
Aldon has seriously answered questions about his ability to produce when starting the whole game, vs just pass rushing specialist!!! Boooomshakalakalaka
And also, it looked to me like he does better rushing from the Left side than his usual spot on the right side of the D line. 2 of his really sick moves came from the left. Just an observation, but I think that they should continue to move them around.
Smith is done as the Niner’s starter. Oh, he might get another start but his wooden style and inability to get the ball out under 10 seconds will show why Colin makes the whole offense look good. Wait until Kap drains it 80 yards down the field for a TD to Moss; coming soon… -L-
He plays like a robot.
Did anyone notice or was it just me that it seems that CK drops back way further in the pocket then AS? This gives him more time and space to pass.
Neal,
He is 6’6″. Of course he should get more depth than Smith : )
i think there were just more 7 step drops called last night. if CK was dropping back more than the usual 7 step drop it would leave a freeway to the QB for outside speed rushers
Jack that about 2 inches per step putting him approx a foot further back OT’s can adjust to a foot deeper drop but not as Neal put it “way further back”
He is cut much higher than AS and has a longer stride which he has yet to constrict to reduce the depth of his drops to specific yardages that comport with the pass protection schemes employed for a specific play. Several of his 7-step play actions put him at 12 yards rather than around 9 yards, but he will learn not to stretch out so much on his drops. Also, with the speed of his drop he reaches his set up point sooner and has a better opportunity to survey the field and be able to move if the rush happens to come free.
ok Thanks guys make sense.
Who played QB on this blog? Isn’t the number to drop steps predicated on the route combinations of the called play?
Nervermind, I guess you guys are talking about the difference between CK and AS on the same number of steps.
Rib,
The answer is yes.
Rib i never played QB i was a WR and DB but i Coached QB’s at the H.S. level one season and assisted an Offensive coordinator who was something of a QB guru at the JUCO level but i’m about a millon miles from a QB expert.
Neal, I’d say an outstanding game by the O line was primarily what gave CK more time and space to pass. There’ve been many times when Alex took a 3 step drop, only to find the D was already at his dropback point…hard to pass in that circumstance! The O line guys played lights out last night. WHOEVER our QB is going forward, I sure hope he gets this kind of play from the guys up front for every game from now on.
Greg Roman has two cars Alex Smith is a toyota prius, boring but very efficient and Colin Kaepernick a beautiful brand new Ferarri fast and very exciting to drive. Roman wishes every morning he could just take off in the Ferrari but gas is way to expensive, so he hops in the prius waiting for gas prices to lower. Well gas prices are dropping , fire up the Ferrari and sell the DAMN prius!
Nice! (lol)
It’s all fun till the Ferrari stops behind a truck w/ NY Giants bumper sticker and slows to 15 mph. It will be interesting to see if the Ferrari can steer around it.
A reliable 2nd car is never a bad thing. LOL
Let me be the first to predict, G Roman will interview for the recently available Cal head coaching opening. If he get hired the 9ers have to tie up G. Chryst quickly before his brother lures him to Pitt.
Really? How difficult is it? Start Kaep. Alex is a mediocre at best QB who has reached his ceiling. He was a stop gap until Kaep was ready, Kaep looked ready and did what Alex has never done last night and beat a top flight defense. Kaep has the talent and potential to be a franchise QB, Alex is not a top 10 probably not even top 15 starter in the NFL.
I’m a huge Kaep fan and have been since his college days but i think AS has been a little better than you give him credit for the last 2 years. Mediocre? No, this year i would put his play in the top 10-12 QB’s and thats not mediocre.
OC, maybe AS takes this as a kick in the a$$ to play even better. It will be a tough decision replacing an “efficient” QB that is top 5 in QB categories with the exception of total passing yds.
as i mention….CK could be the kemp or cavanaugh montana needed to show montana how to utilize rice
He’s been slightly above average, but at no point has he been a playmaker. He had one great game against the Saints, but that’s something few of us think we will ever see again.
JG, good point. JMo has stated he didn’t throw the deep ball well until JR arrived on the scene. Kemp was very good throwing the deep pass.
Great point jgwindsor. Pretty sure the entire offense, Alex included learnt alot from Kap last night. I think this team can win with either guy. The decision has to be based on a lot of things. To me its about the lockeroom, the money longterm, and the confidence gained from going with either guy. The last thing that this good problem can have happen is a divided team.
When is the press conference today?
Conference call at 4:30.
Alex has done whatever the niners asked him to do. He’s also got better every year.
Kaep’s play was outstanding but lets not sell Alex short. He’s been oour Mr reliable for the last year and a half.
I was a Kaep fan before yesterday’s game but I must admit I didn’t think he would acquit himself so well against the Bears D. That’s the most impressive thing about his performance – it was against a very good D. And he did the things I most wanted to see from him – he played within the system and didn’t turn the ball over.
I’ve said before that if Kaep can do the little things that Alex does well (pre-snap reads, limit turnovers), then Kaep brings a better package to the 49ers table. As the players themselves have said, he’s a playmaker at the QB position. He doesn’t need to be as ‘efficient’ as Smith – he can make big plays happen, and turns the offense into something like the Steelers of years gone by (which was quite successful for them). Good ground game with a passing offense that can make big plays. Kind of like what the Ravens are trying to do with Flacco and Rice too, though Flacco is still wildly inconsistent.
I think that Harbaugh will consult with a few of his players on the matter as well.
After last nights game I wonder how the reaction to CK will be in the locker room once the dust settles.
Harbaugh will not make a decision based on what the fans or the media pushes. He will meet with his inner-circle of coaches and likely reach out to other outside reliable and trusted sources before making a call going forward. But the inner-circle of players he listens to will also play a part in his final decision.
The one caveat or pause I had with CK was if he had the ability to be a pocket QB. He passed that test with flying colors last night. He showed poise, patience, and the ability to read defenses at the line of scrimmage and countered with precise passes for the most part.
With AS we get a ball security and efficient game manager who is a proven commodity, but may have hit his ceiling.
With CK we get all the above, but with explosiveness and an upside that will not be corraled.
My guess is that Harbaugh will see what CK7 can do against the fast rising Saints before making a decision.
>>The one caveat or pause I had with CK was if he had the ability to be a pocket QB. He passed that test with flying colors last night.
Yes, that was a great relief as well as a surprise to me as well (and also the Bears, no doubt ;)
>>the ability to read defenses at the line of scrimmage and countered with precise passes for the most part.
On the post-game ESPN interview CK said he never saw anything he hadn’t been prepared for. The next hurdle is what happens when that is not true, when teams start mixing things up.
One game, as awesome as it was, is not career-defining. It is too soon to say that CK will exhibit the same decision making day in, day out. I am very optimistic about his upside though.
I truly believe the Bears’ defensive scheme (stop the run! stop the run! stop the run!) left a lot of man coverage on the outside for Kaep to exploit. Give the kid another game (N.O.) and see how he does when a team prepares for him, specifically.
Automatic,
That is true, they did put 8 in the box to stop the run. However, Kap threw darts anyway. Now that teams know he can beat single coverage, that will open up our running game and keep 8 out of the box.
Programming Alert!!
Everyone’s favorite analyst Greg Cosell is coming up at 1pm on KNBR.
Tune in now…
lol. Just what we need. Inside the mind of Colin Kaepernick.
Prepare for 4 new pages from Grant ;)
What is very interesting is that OL isn’t getting much credit for their best game of the year. The pocket resembled a TBrady pocket most of the night.
Hofe – Agree, the O-line was great and it was a Brady-like pocket. CK7 still made accurate throws against a good secondary.
The extended play pass to MC was a beauty.
They protected the same way in the Buffalo game and the Jet game and the cardinal game Hofer. You need help man. You love for Alex and your bias for him shines through every message you post. Kap made plays outside the pocket as well. Yes it was only 1 game but. It was impressive. He is the answer and he offers so much more than Smith. You know it, I know it and this blog knows it.
23J – Alex played great vs Buffalo and Arizona. He didn’t have to do much vs Jets, it was ground and pound all day.
Niners had well over 200 yards rushing and won game 34-0.
I’m not surprised that Kap is doing so well, the kid is a special talent.
I would like to see Kap start vs Saints but I think Harbaugh goes with Alex if he’s fully cleared.
Crab,
It wasn’t like they didn’t try to have Alex do much against the Jets. He just didn’t connect on the deep throws in that game.
Jack,
As well as CK has played, he missed a wide open KW last week and an open VD on a deep pass last night. The pass to KW was a beauty but he wasn’t perfect either.
Again, I like your objectivity. //sarcasm
I dont know it yet, there is potential, but to say he has arrived after one game is not accurate. One more test against the Saints could tell us more 23.
Are you referring to this miss Hofer?
Jack Hammer says:
November 19, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Oh he had Vernon! Just missed it…
Are you going to continue to follow me around? Maybe you will eventually realize you are acting like a blind man in a dark room, looking for a black cat that isn’t there.
The bottom line is this.. AS is was and will always be a bust, a bum! He has been in the league eight years and have done nothing at all.. defense got us in that spot last year along with akers… Ive been waitin on AS to get hurt so he get his crappy nfl skills on the bench or somewhere else.. He is a bum! A eight year rookie.. let the kid CK play in the mercedes dome… Even if he loses which i doubt.. I think we stand a better chance than an eight year rookie, who cant see the field, checks it down every chance he gets, cant run, cant throw on the run, no pocket presence, its a no brainer.. i think JH dnt want to hurt his feelings,. Ck has been the better qb since training camp.. his only downfall was that he was a rookie.. but he looks way better than an eight year “vet” in a game in a half.. Bottom line, AS is a bum.. get em outta here
You must have missed Jeff Garcia’s game plan suggestions to CK yesterday! JG didn’t know that the Bears were looking run all night.
excited for CK….
but …..
realistically this kind of game will not be on display when defensive cordinators game plan …. but CK does have a lot of good pieces around him …
All of you Smithers say that AS numbers would match up quite well with CK, really is that all you got, you didn’t see a QB who has more talent than AS, can see the entire field and see receiver options better than AS. A QB who made throws that AS could not do in his dreams, QB that does not get dumped and sacked as many times as AS, really take a deep breath, it’s over.
whatever, who is to say As couldn’t have executed that game plan….not saying he has the physical skills of CK but he can execute a winning game plan…..
but it is interesting how all of a sudden the OL played superbly and the rcvrs were pretty much wide open….except for that one to VD on that one play…. was it really because they played for CK or was it really because they got embarrassed by the rams the previous week….
Whatever happened to the 300+ passing yard milestone they all blah blah about every week? Same AS type numbers period.
Bet?
We all saw AS do the same type of thing against Buffalo earlier this year, flinging the ball around, making big play after big play. Is CHI’s defense better? Sure, but given the competition they’ve faced It’s tough to determine just how much. Everyone that steps on the field is a pro.
I was excited by CK’s performance last night, but I refuse to go overboard. Could he be better than AS? Certainly. Could AS be better than him? Certainly. There’s not enough game time production from CK to say either way for certain. We’ve seen too many flash in the pan backups that have flamed out (Flynn, Kolb, etc) for me to put too much on this one performance.
What makes this decision even more tough is the fact that we play that Saints this week, who’s passing defense is historically bad. I think either QB will pick them apart. Now its just a matter of who that will be. In my opinion Smith, when medically cleared, should start the remainder of the year. There is still the “what if” factor on how CK will perform vs teams that are blitz happy or have a constant pass rush. Then after the season’s end we cut ties with Alex and hand the team to CK and give him a full off season being the #1. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that CK has a higher ceiling than Smith and makes the offense much more dynamic, but i think waiting another year will benefit his game. The only problem to all this is, If we win the SB with Smith can we really let him go? IDK, i’m conflicted.
Whatever the decision, it will be a huge turning point in 49er history.
Wow. Just saw on Espn that ck’s qbr (97.5) is the highest for a debut start in 5 years. The list he topped includes Aaron Rogers, Matt Ryan, and rg3.
In case anyone wanted to read a description of how the 49ers thoroughly dominated the Bears:
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/11/20/refo-bears-49ers-week-11/
Good read and especially the accolades for the Oline. I think the Oline play is the biggest difference maker for the Offense as a whole this season.
I, like many here, noticed last night that the Bears D was cheating, playing eight in the box with a stop the run first priority, daring our QB to beat them, very similar to what I saw from the Giants in the game we lost to them earlier in the season when they crowed the box and disrespected AS’s ability make them pay for this tactic. We countered with a lot of play action and CK simply carved up the Bears D scoring 2 TD’s and 2FG’s in our first four positions.
What this does, in my opinion, is send a message to every D coordinator in the league. With CK at the helm you cannot cheat against us, stack the box and disrespect our QB and his ability or lack thereof of getting the ball downfield. Throw in CK’s ability to run and it is now an even more daunting task to game plan for the 49er’s.
Wow it’s amazing how some of you are debunking CK’s performance. You have a clue now on what Alex smith is supposed to look like in year 2 of the same offense. Just deal with the fact that they are two different types of qb’s. ck makes deep throws, is calm in the pocket, makes more reads than a hot route then a check down. Is far more mobile. Smith has the veteran leadership, and that’s about all I can honestly say he’s had over CK. sorry but if ck doesn’t start this season again he will next season. Unless Smith goes Montana/elway on us. Like I said earlier in the year. It’s the FINAL do or die year for smith. Now there is no question as to who else could they get. Buckle up, because we are either going to see elite Alex or Ck in the huddle THIs season. What a ride so far. GO NINERS!!!!
I agree MD,
I think next year it’s no doubt. Unless Smith wins the superbowl, there is no way they pay him the $8 million roster bonus….
Funny how DS disappeared. Last time the little alien left for this long Harbaugh was courting Manning. It really is all about Smith for X-ilicious.
So the Niners make it to the Super Bowl, Smith plays great but lose on a last second field goal, they release Alex?
Your hypothetical crap is as pathetic as my question. Difference is mine was made up, you actually believe what you say is gonna happen. The sad part is you have no idea but think you do. Keep the blanket statements coming, there pretty funny!
I think the biggest statement this offseason came from Justin Smith. He said ” Some of vets are getting older, free agency tears teams apart so there is a small window to win the Superbowl”.
when I heard that statement I knew that we have to do whatever it takes to win right now. With 6 games left to go, it’s a clear advantage to totally confuse opposing defenses with the threat of a young QB who had 5 quality pitches instead of 1 boring fastball.
Roman was pulling out all the stops with formations and trickery we haven’t seen in many weeks
I agree about Roman’s superior play calling in the Bears game. Do you think it would benefit Alex if Roman “pulled out all the stops with formations and trickery” when AS was in? No sarcasm here, just wondering what anyone else thought. As I watched last night, I wondered where this play calling had been all year.
I know some will say, “He can’t pull out all the stops, because Alex can’t make all the throws.” I don’t remember CK throwing all that many long balls, Alex’s supposed weakness, (though he did an exceptional job of hitting guys in stride, so lots of YAC), and he’s thrown 32 completed passes for 449 yards this year, according to FFT. That’s an average of 14 yards per throw, and Alex is a master of the middle distance throw, so I don’t think that’s been the problem.
Many of us have noticed some pretty bland play calling this year. Now that we know GRo is capable of much, much better, I’m hoping he’ll try some of that out when Alex is in.
Rusty,
With the exception of one slight formation change on the gun option stuff the offense was the same as it is every week with extra linemen, formation shifts, etc.
Thanks for the response, Jack. I know you follow it all very closely, so you might even have the objective facts to back up your comments. But seriously, did the game plan *feel* the same to you? Why did the announcers comment several times on the creativity of the play calling? I know some of the guys here will say the only diff was the fact that CK played instead of Alex, but it didn’t seem that way to me.
Rusty,
The announcers are always reveling in the 49ers play calling. Their use of various personnel groups is among the best in the league.
To me the game plan felt the same as it did against Minnesota or New York. They started with the pass and even when they ran it was up tempo. The difference is they finished 2 of their first 3 drives off with TD’s, and should have been 3 for 3 had Kaep not missed the shot to Davis on that opening drive.
(Great play call on 3rd and 1 at that point. Instead of playing for 3 they went for it. That is a difference)
Whats up all you 49er fans? Im back!!! Oh, Well some of you are Niner fans, but alot of you just talk crap to each other and argue over meaningless garbage. Sometimes not even football related. eh? Nothing like opinions right? Well, my opinion as one of the greatest Niner fans of all time is that your football team starts with how they are coached, and tought character, hard work and class. Jim Harbaugh knows what he HAS to do. He hands the reigns back to Smith because wether you all believe it or not, Smith has finally earned his LAST SHOT. Just like most of you, I think Kap will be a stud, that is what we have to look forward to, but as the leader, and teacher, you have to keep the respect of your players. We all know what we are getting with Smith. We cant JUST YET say what we are gonna get with Kap. The Bears Stacked the box and didnt expect Colin to throw bombs on them, Kap has great mobility, a strong arm, and excitement but any qb should be able to exploit a team if they are expecting run, and you have Moss, Manningham, Davis, and Crabtree running down the field all night one on one. Roman called a masterful game. If Harbaugh wants to keep his locker room intact, he has to call Smith his starter, give him his shot, and even though Alex is not Montana or throwing up numbers like Manning, he gets the job done, and If it wasnt for a few fumbles against the Giants last year, we played the SuperBowl. Just like all you Real Niner fans, I just want to win. Ugly, pretty, old fashion, running, throwing, who cares, Winning is winning, and Alex has BEEN WINNING. I to hated to see him falter, year after year, but he has earned my respect by staying strong, staying the course, and willing himself to get to where he is. Harbaugh has alot to do with it, but Alex is not a Rookie anymore, and anyone who says he plays like one is just an Idiot. He isnt a GunSlinger, but He earned the right to give us another shot at a title. He doesnt, Great, we get what we want, he does, great, we get what we want. Harbaugh was giddy about Colin, he knows that Colin can be a great Qb, but he also knows that Smith has earned his respect, and with the numbers he has put up lately, he should have earned the respect of all of you, and his teammates. Davis was saying those things because ROMAN has gotten away from him lately, um, Kap hit Davis more this game ONLY because Chicago’s Linebackers could not in no way keep up with him, and our O line let Kap find the open man. One game is no way a measuring stick for a young Qb, but I promise you, If Harbaugh throws Kap in, and he sinks, it will be way worse than keeping Smith in, and Losing in the playoffs. Next year Kap could be what we need. Til then, Im with Steve Young, Get your locker room in check, and put everything you got into winning a SuperBowl with Smith, and the rest of the team, meanwhile Kap just sits and learns even more. Its a win win. Loved the game. Colin is a baller, and by all this happening, Smith will come out a Warrior too. Maybe with not as much weapons, but a battle hardened vet that knows more about opposing Ds them Kap does at the moment. Either way, If one fails, we will get the chance to see who truly deserves the helm at the most important position in football. Harbaugh is smart, but he has to realize that the team needs one leader, and Alex is that leader. Til he has one bad game right? I hope either way, we keep it real, and we keep that Trophy this year… GO NINERS …… Aldon is an alien, Justin is a Cowboy on PEDs, Willis and Bowman can use crutches and shut fools down, Crabtree has finally realized that he is a Pro Reciever!, Gore is the true definition of a WARRIOR. . Our oline plays in spurts, if they become constantly consistant, look the Fok out. Excited. Lets whoop dem Saints AGAIN…. ALRIGHT
Nice post, Thorn.
Hoferfan67 says:
November 20, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Whatever happened to the 300+ passing yard milestone they all blah blah about every week? Same AS type numbers period.
Yeah in a half. If they Didnt conservative it would have been a Bree’s type game. Quit hating Hoff.
MD,
They go conservative with Smith too. That’s the gameplan with a lead. Can we all just agree that it was great to see Kap play well?
MD,
You are sensitive and out of line. There is no hate in that comment and no hate in the previous comment. I don’t understand why you are so quick to use hate just because you disagree. Debate me if you can but enough with the hate nonsense.
An interesting read by Kawakami.
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2012/11/20/hints-and-half-moves-maybe-the-49ers-have-been-edging-towards-kaepernick-for-a-while-now/
Thanks for the link, Jack. It WAS an interesting read. I hope he’s wrong, but while I haven’t read Kawakami before, he makes a strong, reasonable, thoughtful argument. Interesting…