Steve Young spoke on KNBR Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said Colin Kaepernick.
Q: Does Kaepernick’s game remind you of you? Was there anything he did against the Bears that you didn’t know he could do?
YOUNG: “There were some throws. He’s got a little interesting throwing motion. A little Phillip Rivers-y. Just a little different. But, I don’t care. It doesn’t bother me. As long as you deliver it.
“The way he threaded some – for the really great throwers, there is a ton of risk, and it’s just right at the end, and that’s how you feather stuff in and make it fit just right. And the Bears defense is a defense that demands perfection. If you’re off, they’re around, and they’ve made a lot of average or below-average quarterbacks pay dearly.
“I was a little surprised. I didn’t know Kaepernick was able to feather those ones in and make those nice, refined throws – obviously, against his body for the touchdown. The patience to go through his reads and hang in the pocket. For young players, that’s not the easiest thing to do in the world.
“Everything was, ‘Wow!’ He hit a couple, and then he hit a couple more, and then he just mauled the Bears. It was 20-0 and I didn’t know what happened.
“And you could see Jim dialing them up. That was the most aggressive play calling I’ve seen from the get-go that I’ve seen. You can say that Jim was showcasing him, like: ‘Hey, I don’t want to hang around with the Bears and risk losing 10-7. Let’s let it rip.’ The neat thing is Colin answered it with flying colors. It’s one game, but it’s one big game on Monday night at home. It reminded me of the old days.
Q: What did you think of Kaepernick throwing a pass so hard he hurt Randy Moss’ finger?
YOUNG: “He threw too hard. It’s all contextual. There are some throws where it’s like: ‘Bro, chill. That one doesn’t need to happen that way.’ Experienced receivers expect certain balls to be thrown a certain way. Some don’t have to be drilled – you can tell by coverage.
“The quarterback always says, ‘Hey, I’m sorry that I didn’t warn you. It’s coming.’ The truth is some throws you can put a ton on it and put some hurt on people. Now, Brett Favre made a career out of it – he didn’t know how to take it off. He just figured, ‘Man, every one of them is coming so get used to it and good luck to you.’”
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Are you creating a separate post for each Steve Young quote about Colin?
You sound upset
I agree with Coffee. The insight in these articles is great, but wading thru multiple articles is not cool. Total bush league.
Advertisement driven maybe?
I hope he does not throw a zillion interceptions, sends pics of his privates to team employees and be the drama king the last few yrs.
Haha that’s funny cause it’s true.
lol!
Good stuff Neal.
I also hope for CK’s sake that he is better equipped than the diminutive Farve.
msclemons67,
I don’t see the Fahr in him and just read Dan Brown column from the Merc, he seems to be very grounded and a team guy, column is also up in Press Democrat sports too
Nice Clem, you dirty dog!
MSC / Neal
Thanks for the laugh
I think CK will be more disciplined than Fahr, Harbaugh is more conservative but that was not the case against the Bears, except in the second 1/2, don’t know for sure but more micro managing system with his QB’s than Holmgren.
I don’t know who does the titles, but the Brett Favre quote had almost nothing to do with the overall tone of the interview. Misleading.
I know young is a big supporter of AS but even he can deny CK’s talent and ability and that’s what makes us explosive…the key phrase he said during this interview was…it reminded me of the old days…that sums it up for me CK has the ability to get our offense back to the old days were we dominated the NFL we already know our Defense is on eof the best…people forget that back in the day our defense was almost as dominant as the offense…CK is gonna bring us back to that level of offense and that’s gonna mean multiple Super Bowls for us…I feel like I’m dreaming… go niners
That was on the money. Same thought came to me when I read it. I never hear praise Alex Smith this way.
Also, all those that claimed CK is a running QB, this quote is for you:
The patience to go through his reads and hang in the pocket
He proved a lot in the last game. Ability to stand in there and take it was a big step. Nice to know he’s not just a gimmick QB and that when he needs to play, he can do it.
This room is eerily quiet now that the Smithers have piped down. No more average QB to defend. No more average stats to defend. My favorite analogy was the one using surfing. Alex was surfing waves perfectly in three feet of water. The rest of the surfers were surfing in 20 feet of water. Not as perfect, they had to deal with sharks and larger waves, but he was perfect in shallow water.
Going forward CK is our Niners QB. Something the visionary fans saw coming. It’s not all going to be perfect. Teams are going to mix coverages and attempt to confuse young K-gun. This is where Harbaugh will have to be at his best. And like a perfectly written script, it’s when a healthy Brandon Jacobs returns.
Give young K-gun a power running game. Make the play action that much more effective. And watch a real QB then make a team pay by taking the top off the other teams defense. For those of you that said this isn’t that type of offense. Shhhhhhhhh. Yes it is. Sit back and watch.
Grant a couple of folks have suggested you post where will AS play next year. I think that is a good idea. AS should that Jim Harbaugh a million times over. Unlike last year, this year at least he’ll have some choices. Last year no one wanted him. Not even as a backup. This year I believe a couple of teams would kick the tires. Teams that want to emulate the Niners. Run, ball control, defense and win the field position battle. Jets, Chiefs for starters.
If Smith were to become a FA, I think Arizona would be a good spot for him. He would make them much better.
Bayarea says “Going forward CK is our Niners QB. Something the visionary fans saw coming”
Just like when you said the Niners should sign Palmer, Kolb, Flynn, hasselback. Come on Bay, your not a visionary fan, your a flavor of the week type of fan.
None of those things happened FDM, but I wanted them to happen because I wanted competition at the QB position. Something any true Niner fan would want.
Smith played at the highest level possible for him and he’s still being replaced. By Harbaugh the QB guru. Doesn’t that say something?
The visionary fans were the: “Alice Smith” and “Lucky Sperm Jed” and the “why didn’t we go after Michael Lombardi, now we’ll be left behind and everyone laughing at us,” crowd.
Don’t forget DMcNabb and MVick. Bay was a big proponent of signing either one of them and where are they now!! LOL
“Smith played at the highest level possible for him and he’s still being replaced.”
So are you discounting the other things Steve Young said in the other post? Maybe it’s not the highest level. And if Young is right, they’re not taking the top off the playbook for Smith.
So what does that mean? What about ten more years? Pedal to the metal? Is Young wrong? I mean he played the position, so are some comments he made (the one’s you agree with) more valid than the other comments that seem very complimentary of Smith?
Well that decision is yet to come Bay and the result of wether that decison was the right one will come if and when the Niners are holding the Lombardi trophy.
You haters act like you knew all along, but I guess if you predict things on a daily basis and say it will be better, then finally one of those things comse to fruition (which we wont know about CK for awhile), you label yourself a visionary? That’s priceless.
Bay and 23 hater have been making predictions for a long time hoping that one day one will come true. Now they are all over this CK thing like they knew. What happens if CK goes into NO and lays an egg? Then what? Careful what you wish for clowns.
FDM,
Like it or not the Niners are moving on from someone you supported and I did not. Right or wrong who cares. Just support the new direction.
AS not good enough. Next up.
Smither haters are hoping that CK lays a egg in N.O. well this is a Special Report their man crush has laid enough eggs to fill a Costco store.
Funny,
the smithers pretty much look inept because they were in one full swoop proven wrong. Everything they thought, wrong.
So now you attempt to discredit my stance. One in which I never wavered by saying that I predicted all kinds of things and I finally got one right.
Here is the deal. I always said Smith sucked. In the last two years I said he grew to be average. Two years ago there was no one available to bring in because of the lockout. Last year once again other than Manning no one to bring in.
The TEAM Harbaugh built was good and could win with Smith’s safe play but it didn’t mean teh QB position didn’t require upgrading.
I. Yes I followed CK in college, wanted him drafted and proclaimed him to be the future QB of the Niners. I guaranteed it by 2013 or I would leave the blog. Well guess what, I was right and it happened even sooner.
Go name call or be bitter, I don’t care. But I was right and you were wrong : )
Grant was right and you guys were wrong. Every bit of criticism towards Grant, saying he was writing to create controversy. Wrong. He had a hunch and he was right, Smithers were wrong. Just say it, it will feel better. I am a Smither and I was wrong. But instead I think your group will attack people like me that knew what I was talking about. Next you’ll attack Harbaugh and his staff for making the decision. Ultimately your group will break into two groups of Smithers. Those that cheer on the new direction of hte organization, and the other group will just be a group of bitter a$$holes that attack people because their precious isn’t a focus anymore….
Neal, I don’t think anyone is hoping Kap or Smith lays an egg. Im thinking that everyone is just worried this thing could go south with either guy. We had a good thing going with Smith. Then Kap came in and kept this good thing going. Now there is a tremendous amount of drama surrounding the team and the first real test of the Harbaugh era happens.
Hopefully the winning continues.
Hey lame area fanatic, hold your horses. CK has yet to arrive. One game does not make a franchise QB. You might have creamed your pants to early son. Lets see what happens this weekend and beyond. Keep telling yourself you were right. God knows that for all the times you were wrong, you deserve the potential opportunity to maybe be right for once.
Prime, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
correction FDM.
No-one is hoping Kaep lays an egg, if he’s the starter, everyone will be rooting for him, but several clowns on here have been hoping for Smith to lay an egg each week or the last couple of years.
“Visionaries”….lol.
Prime
You are beyond stupid. Shut your mouth.
Every time I see one of your posts, it’s filled with more idiocy than should be allowed across all humanity. You are a pathetic moron. If you don’t like the Bay Area, move. Don’t call it Lame Area. You were wrong about Alex, you were wrong about CK, and your presence on his blog just serves to make everybody else more stupid. Go away!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Neal
No one is hoping for CK to lay an egg. We are just saying that it is a posibility. As long as the team wins and the chemistry isnt disturbed i dont care if U played QB. But the adage is true “backup qb is the most popular guy in town” How long a leash do u give Kaep before u and the rest of the lynch mob start calling for Tolzien to get in there.
All im advocating is PATIENCE before declaring CK the unequivocal leader for the next 15 years
FDM,
That is not my take, feel their is a under current, of the Smithers haters that want CK to fail, they are truly AS fans first and 9er fans second but CK is not replacing a legend, it is only AS. Not a major deal compared to Joe and Steve.
If Smith plays again this year, I want to see what the haters will do then. I know as a”Smither”, I will support Kap. Will they support Smith or turn on Harbaugh? The drama could get thick.
Bay, how soon you forget…visionary or waffler??
bayareafanatic says:
November 19, 2012 at 1:09 pm
“Regardless whether CK lights it up, or wets the bed, the starting job is AS’s.
I think if CK performs average to above average it will give the coaching staff confidence and will play into the competition in training camp 2013.
I also think that if CK is terrible, it might lead the organization to draft a QB next year as an insurance policy in case CK doesn’t develop.”
Neal what Smither said they want Kaepernick to fail?
Hofer
Shut ur mouth that was a whole 4 days ago when Bay only had 3 quarters of play to make his decision on. Now that its up to 7 quarters the “Visionary” has spoken
That is unles after 10 quarters AS is the man again.
Stay tuned to the weathervein hour
Newsflash
The HATERS created the Smithers. Without the endless hate and vitriol there would be no need for people to defend AS (thus making them smithers) If we had a competent QB and the team was winning I dont see a single person who would be pining for AS to come back. Cant u see the Smithers arnt pro smith they are anti haters. Without repeated attacks there would be no reason to defend him. Notice how there arnt Rachalers or Snyderess
FDM, not in those words, but every completion that CK made, you hear the Smither lovers say AS could of done that, could of made that throw, it was showing their jeolous streek. This just in, the Coach of the year made this decision, not Jordan, not Bay, not Jack, not Nick, not me. It is like we were part of this decision give us a break.
“Smither haters”
You’re a nasty piece of work there, Neal. Smith Haters, not Smither Haters.
I haven’t seen one post where someone wishes CK flops.
I’ve seen a few posts asking the question: What happens if he flops?
Not the same thing.
You’d have done well in 1930s Germany, pal.
Taran, pretty upset today, do you need a hug hater?
BOS – Newsflash
The Haters/Smithers dichotomy is based on the long tradition of great Niners QBs. THAT is why there is no similar uproar about Rachal or Snyder.
When the Niners drafted #1, the assumption was that they would get the QB that Rodgers became, not the QB that Smith became. Haters declare that Nature is more important than Nurture, and that Alex will never be and could never have become what Rodgers became. Smithers declare that Nurture is more important than Nature, and that Rodgers would have suffered the same fate as Smith here, while Smith would have become the league’s preeminent QB in McCarthy’s system up north.
Each perspective was equally viable in 2011 as Harbaugh took the reigns, but halfway through the 2012 season, the Haters have a stronger case, because Smith plays in the most dynamic offensive system in the NFL under the most favored QB coach in the NFL. Smith should be FAR more advanced than he is at this point.
Examples: missing Otis in the back of the endzone then throwing a pick; missing KW 2x in a row on deep balls to begin a game; taking sack after sack after sack; failing to get VD involved …
Smithers will reply by bringing up the 70% completions and the 104 rating and the winning record, but each if these can be explained through arguments that favor Nurture, not Nature.
Alex’s shortcomings are of the Natural sort, and he will never be able to outgrow them, no matter how much Nurture he gets.
Prime
I’m in a glorious mood, basking in the glory of my righteousness, the genius that is me.
I am a Hater, for I hate the stupidity that oozes out of your every pore.
NO
Great analogy in the nature/Nurture breakdown.
We do not have the most prolific O system in the NFL. ours is one of the most conservative as evidenced by running all the time and not going for it on 4th and short often.
U cite AS misses but CK missed a wide open KW in the rams game and a wide open VD in the bears game so everyone misses.
What I was saying is that there is not a single person who is so invested in AS that he roots for the team to fail just so AS gets glory/chance ect. I agree with 80% of ur post aside from what I said above. A better reclasification would be Haters and defenders because they dont so much say how great AS is but rather that he is not as bad as the haters claim he is.
Also AS in 2012 is better than AS in 2011 in every way measurable but it still might not be enough for u/me based on 9ers great history of QBs
Actually, it’s the absolutist statements like: “…and he will never be able to…” that get people riled up.
You haven’t been here long enough to have seen all the fights over the years so you’re forgiven.
BOS – just because the O is run-centric does not foreclose it from being the most dynamic in the NFL. It’s hard to say without having seen more, but I suspect that under CK our total production (points and passing O) will catch up to our running production.
Whatever the case has been, we are in for a treat as CK is groomed under Harbaugh’s careful tutelage.
Adam, I’ve been here. Different handle, etc… through no malfeasance of my own I might add.
Neanderthal Offense,
You have to realize that Primate is from Canada. It/He/she is an Alex Smith fan 1st and a 49er fan 2nd, posts under miltiple screen names, and is not very bright.
Oh Cal boy, your humor is as dry as a popcorn fart in the desert. Creative thinking is not your thing is it? You cannot even insult me with something new. You are hopeless. Whatever happened to the Row part of your name? Got angry cause we called you Nick Slow? Ha!
>>FDM, not in those words, but every completion that CK made, you hear the Smither lovers say AS could of done that, could of made that throw, it was showing their jeolous streek
Nice revisionism there, hater. After every completion it was the haters that would crow that Alex could never make that throw. It was just them showing their d-bag streak.
Neanderthal Offense,
You are passionate and got some nice zingers. lol
Bay,
Going forward CK is our Niners QB. Something the visionary fans saw coming.
You can’t be serious? People that don’t want Smith have been calling for everybody and their Mother to replace him. Kaepernick was just the latest one. It benefits everyone if Kap is the real deal Bay, but don’t pretend that you or Jordan were visionaries. You just kept calling for the other guy until the other guy actually played well. You got your wish congrats.
Thank you Rocket : )
ROFLMAO! My stomach hurts. You visionary guys are funny.
Looking forward to seeing what Kaep brings against the Saints… The Faithful are behind you Colin!
+1
Too bad all the faithful weren’t behind Alex. Give ‘em hell, Colin!
Looks like Coach had a change of mond too.
mind
I may be misreading this, but where was the Favre comparison? Mentioning Favre threw fastballs every time isn’t a comparison to Kaep. I would hope he turns out better than the self absorbed Favre. If he was so great he would have known when gunslinging wasn’t the best for the team. See: Vikings/Saints playoff and Packers/Giants playoff. I’ll take a smart Montana with less arm then Favre and his loose cannon.
He was drawing a parallel between Kaepernick and Favre. That is a comparison.
Subjectively that’s a comparison. But to buy into that you need to believe that CK threw the pass to Otis too hard. If Otis had caught that ball, no discussion. Bet you none of the receivers would admit a ball was thrown too hard at that distance (15+ yards).
So, is it a comparison, objectively. Sure, if Young is your boy and you buy everything he’s selling … er, GRANT!!!
Do you think that Harbaugh going to say that CK was a better QB than he was?
I believe we have heard Harbaugh say more than once that he does not compare any players because you tend to diminish someone in the process.
More from the same KNBR SYoung show:
“It was the most aggressive playcalling from the get go I have seen”
“I hadn’t seen Jim dial them up as aggressively”
“I don’t know if Vernon was just responding just how that game went, more than just about Colin”
“Jim’s been very careful. So was that Alex? No that’s the playcalling. I’ve said that before. I don’t know if Alex knows how good he can be because I don’t know that they dialed it up that way to go find out.”
“If I was Alex there’s a part of me that would say, hey wait a second, do that for me. You know! If you want to let it rip, don’t wait for the backup to get in, let me. But then again, against the Bills they had almost 600 yards. He had almost the perfect game in Phoenix.”
All those quotes are in the previous blog about the QB controversy.
Trust in Harbaugh Hof. Either Harbaugh had called aggressive games plans and AS check down too much for Jim’s taste, or Jim rarely called aggressive game plans because he didn’t feel AS could execute.
Either way, in Harbaugh we trust right? All arrows up?
Bay, as an unabashed Smither, I agree with you. Trust in Harbaugh, and if he feels Kaep’s the guy, lemme on the wagon!
But the Smither in me has to point out the Bears stacked the line against the run. Teams haven’t been doing that against the 49ers with Smith under center. Receivers (and Davis) were left in single coverage (poor single coverage at that), and it was like shooting fish in a barrel. They dared the 49ers to throw it on them, and Kaep blew them up! I daresay that if the Bears played that strategy against Smith, the results would have been more or less the same.
Agreed,
but in his first career start he showed some much poise, and he emotionally lifted the team so much, that it warrants another look.
Plus I am sure he is consistently doing this at practice. Time for Brandon Jacobs anyone?
The difference was not the play calling. It was a QB willing to take a shot. On more than half those throws to Davis he was well covered, but Kaepernick put it up and gave him a chance to make a play.
Proof? Look no further than the 1st quarter in Arizona. Called shot play to Davis, he is open but Smith checks down to Gore. 3rd quarter on Monday, called shot to Davis who is well covered but Kaepernick gives him a chance and just misses a huge gain.
One guy is safe, the other is dangerous.
I’d bet the play calling wasn’t much different. I think Smith was being smith. It’s not like CK went in and threw for 400 yards. What he did do was connect down field more than smith. Hitting about 4 more deeper passes makes a huge difference in the defenses outlook and field position and points and I mean td’s!!! Plus like i stated before it was the first time in awhile I saw the passing game open up the run. I wonder how much Steve young really watches this team in depth.
My point isn’t that the 49ers play-calling was any different with Kaep under center. It wasn’t, I agree.
However, the bears play-calling on defense was dramatically different than it would have been had they been facing Smith. They sold out against the run early, and Kaep made them pay. Facing Smith, teams often take away deep stuff, forcing them to matriulate down the field (Minny game comes to mind).
And if a receiver is well-covered on this team, I’m really not in favour of the QB throwing it to him anyways (unless we’re losing late, then you gotta take chances).
Our team is so balanced, that we can follow the golden rule; “Take what the defense gives you”. That’s what Kaep did on Monday, and that’s what Smith had been doing prior to the tune of a league leading comp % and YPA combo, with very few turnovers, and a boatload of wins.
Great points Angus. The Bears played man to man, single safety coverage and stacked the box. It was a terrible game plan and the 49ers exploited it. Would Smith have been succussful against this scheme? I would never be able to say yes or no, others think not but not sure how they come to that conclusion. Lets see what happens this weekend on the road against a up and comin Saints team.
It wasn’t the play calling or defense.
http://ninerchatter.blogspot.com/2012/11/playcalling-wasnt-difference.html
Jack
You sure that was the play he was talking about? There’s a significant community (Sando included) that declares this comment to be about the throw in the 4th quarter, the one that Colin appears to have thrown blind off his back foot with Briggs(?) bearing down on him… What say you?
Gotta disagree, Jack (partly),
Yes, Smith missed Davis on that play in the ‘Zona game. No one’s said he’s perfect (although he was as close to perfect in that game as you can get!). If anything, that ‘Zona game would be evidence of the high level of Smith’s play, your example notwithstanding.
On the VD touchdown you illustrate, Davis is hardly “well covered”. He’s already got a step on a linebacker, which is a mismatch on its face, and the ‘over the top’ help isn’t there. Kaep throws a good throw, and Davis is very open when he catches it. Good play by Kaep, that’s for sure, but I don’t see that as an example of Kaep making a ‘risky throw’.
On the deep corner route, where Davis was in single coverage, and Kaep overthrows him….how is that any different than Smith again? I thought the critique on Smith was he always leads his deep receivers a bit too much cuz he’s too worried about an INT? That throw was vintage Smith. It could have been a TD or a pick, but was neither.
That last play you comment on, I don’t remember it, but based on what I see, there’s 5 single coverage options down field, with the zone LB only a factor if it’s thrown to Crabtree too soon (oh….just saw the free safety back there….) Anyways, I think it’s just pure speculation on your part that Smith throws it to crabs instead of VD there.
All that been said, yes Kaep is likely less ‘cautious’ than Smith, but I don’t think that was the reason for the whuppin’ we put on the Bears.
Neanderthal,
The question he was answering was specific about the play. You can look it up from Grant’s post after the game.
I did, and I read that too, but sometimes Grant’s posts are a little skewed, so I’m still curious. I’m looking for the footage of VD bowing to CK, because he did that right after the play.
Angus,
This is more to show that blaming Roman is misguided.
Jack,
I have to disagree with on the throws to Davis. I’ve seen Smith throw the same passes to Davis numerous times. The fact he showed up after being quiet all this time is playcalling because they did not try a number of these plays in recent weeks.
They doesn’t take away from Kap throwing the ball beautifully, he did, but I disagree with this notion that Kap was doing new things they didn’t try with Smith. The playcalling, right down to the run/pass ratio, was nearly identical to what they called with Smith. The only difference I saw was Kap threw deep a couple of times more than Smith normally would.
They dialed it up like that against the Giants and Smith failed. Miserably…
People like to pile on Smith with the Giants game. In the first quarter it looked liked the Niners had the game in hand. They had two successful drives close to the 20 and then it was a made and missed FG. He threw the pick, his first one in over 200 attempts and that changed the energy of the game. Niners were only down 10-3 or 6, with a missed FG. And then in the 3 Quarter it all fell apart and the Niners weren’t coming back.
I like CK and can’t wait for next year. This year is still being played out, with Smith doing well, being patient, which rests the D, eats up clock. Like an earlier poster said, it’s not like CK threw for 400 yards.
My hope is that CK gets more reps to get him game ready as we move towards the play-offs. CK will have some bad games and bad reads, it’s the nature of the game. He’s not Jesus.
We all know what Smith can do now. He’s playing at HIS top level. Which can beat most teams and if the D plays well, keep them in games. With the remaining games, there are only two really tough ones — the PATS and the HAWKS in Seattle. The team is good enough to win the other games with Scott Tolzien at QB.
Saints will be tough but we all know CK is starting, not because he’s better then Smith and gives them the best chance to win (Saints team last year in the playoffs was way more dangerous), but because Smith still isn’t cleared to play.
CK is not the reason we win that game. It’s going to the be the running attack, the O-Line, and the D slowing down Brees and keeping him to around 20-24 points.
Hofer
Don’t forget that JH and staff want to minimize weakness and emphasize strength of players. Therefore, Alex will not be trusted with airing it out.
Favre NO!!!!! And my next statement isn’t saying he is as good as this legend. But I see ck being in the mold of a John Elway type qb. The arm strength and the scrambling ability reminds me of an elway type qb. When he learns to become a true pocket passer and turning the runs into scrambling I think we will see greatness from this kid.
Jeeze .. Elway ?
Well .. maybe for the reasons you said … but..
at the end of that 55-10 butt-whippin’ he got in a Super Bowl..
he stood on the sidelines with big alligator tears runnin’
down his face !
(one memory which still tickles me to this day !)
I doubt we’ll ever see CK7 do that !
Here’s hopin’ Breese chows down many times on some “Who-Dat” astro turf … (courtesy of Aldon, of course)
Well NOBODY beat Joe. I’m just saying the look and style of an elway. Which I would take any day over Farve THE INT KING
Harbaugh is the best thing that has happened to Alex Smith. He resurrected AS’ career from the trash heap and has designed a scheme that fits AS’ limitations.
One of those limitations is the ability to trust his arm to throw the long pass. Almost every football talking-head (whether they agree w/CK starting or not) has said that CK made some throws that AS can’t make. I don’t think that AS has a problem making the long pass. He does seem to have a mental block that will not trust himself with the long pass.
The fact that S.Young invoked the name of B.Farve regarding CK speaks volumes. Monday night VD invoked the name of T.Brady regarding CK.
Harbaugh has to know that if the Org is going to justify the signings of Manningham and Moss, that someone has to get them the ball with the occasional deep shot. AS does not give the team that luxury.
I never asked AS to be the next B.Farve, I only would have loved to see him take a few more risks and take the occasional deep shot rather than check-down. Safe Alex (ball security driven), limits the one phase of the passing game that makes our offense dangerous: A vertical presence!
At the moment I still feel a little more comfortable w/AS on the field, but the team and Harbaugh may feel differently.
We all will get a better perspective what direction the QB race is going after Sunday if CK or AS plays.
Things are getting very interesting around 4949 Centennial Way.
“…and has designed a scheme that fits AS’ limitations.”
Why limitations and not strengths?
Adam,
You name Smiths strengths. Think about strengths that he’s had in his entire career, not the ones you think he’s acquired sine JH got here. Take your time. It’s gonna take a while. He’s never had many. Ill wait.
And buhziiiing, just like that, this is exactly how I know you never played the game at any level. You’re only interest in the last several years (since I’ve seen your posts anyway) is trying to build any straw man argument you can to reinforce your own stubborn beliefs (which you then make your ludicrous bets on – and lose) . You’re not interested in the team, you’re lasered in on any tiny thing you can find wrong with Smith.
And there’s no sense in going through this with you for the thousandth time. If you’ve watched ANY of the games remotely objectively and listened to the experts, former coaches, GMs, players, you’d know the answer to your question. It’s out there.
He’s not a perfect QB but he’s better than a boatload out there playing. It is what it is. Whether CK is a better option is now the question. The answer was never “anyone but Smith.” Half the guys you advocated for aren’t even in the league anymore (McNabb, Young, Johnson, etc.) so try, try for some perspective here. Please. I beg you. Start over man, it’s not too late to be a team guy. :)
Because after what CK did on Monday night, it becomes clear that AS was operating more on limitations rather that strengths.
The strengths were game management and ball security. Watching Harbaugh’ reactions to CK’ long completed passes was very evident that he wants to go beyond the above mentioned and reach the next level.
Adam, I’m still not completely sold that CK is ready to be the full-time starter, but he certainly has the ‘stones’ to take the deep shot and shows a pocket presence that makes him a equally as dangerous as a pocket QB as he is a running QB.
In a word: Explosive!
Something has had to change since training camp with Colin. I remember hearing how players we’re laughing at or ridiculing him because whenever a little pressure came his way or the pocket collapsed, CK went directly into a default mode called “tuck and run”. Grant knows about this… I think he even wrote on it. Grant watched most of these practices and at the time there was even some discussion on whether or not Kaep would even be named as the #2 on the QB depth chart.
I have three problems with Coach Harbaugh’s decision based on the decision to bench Alex directly after and because of a result of the Bears game.
1. Emotion.
The Bears defense was set to play the run versus the 49ers. They knew that CK was starting and stopping Gore was their first focus not Colin. They didn’t game plan to stop Colin nor did they seem to try after it started. Result: Harbaughs evaluation of how well CK actually played was based more on emotions rather than analytical thinking. The 49ers defense played lights out..they forced turnovers…we were given great field position all throughout the game. Don’t you think that even Alex, despite his (obvious to others) quarterbacking deficeinies wouldn’t of put up at least 30 points or more?
2. Rational
To me it’s unfathomable for a starting QB to complete 25 out of his last 27 passes with no interceptions, win 26 of his last 31 games, be the 3rd highest ranked QB in the league in terms of effeceincy (70% completion rate), and continue to look like his play is improving each and every game and then be told to “sit the bench” get benched. I can understand if suddenly Aaron Rodgers were to walk through the door and say “start me next game and I’ll be a 49er for life”, But to bench Alex for CK? I just don’t get it. Admitingly Kaepernick looked like the second coming of Dan Marino Monday night but so did Scott Mitchell a few years back when Marino couldn’t go one game. Well, we all know the end of that story
3.Chemistry
The 49ers are right now in the middle of a season when any little disruption or distraction could derail the chance they have of winning the division and playing in the Superbowl. What we don’t need right now is a QB controversy or worse yet some form or amalgamation of a two headed warrior leading the “troops” into battle each game. If CK continues his stellar play and looks much more gifted than Smith week in and week out…it’s smooth sailing. However if CK falters and if the 49ers lose a couple more games here and there, or even worse if the Niners to lose just this Sunday against the Saints…Suddenly Kaep might be called out as just a “one-hit” wonder, the natives get restless and both QB’s now have no confidence. In other words, things were working and the ship couldn’t of been sailing more smoothly
If this decision backfires, and Harbaugh looks like a fool…can anyone not say in 49er land that “Houston, we’ve got a problem”.
Ship could HAVE been sailing more smoothly if Alex hadn’t taken a ginormous dump in the middle of the field during the Giants game! That was atrocious, and the single biggest reason that Harbaugh HAD to make this move to Kaepernick at this time in the season.
Jeff you’re absolutely correct, which shows us how much CK7 has grown. Like Brent Jones said, “when he stepped on the field, he looked like the starting QB”.
He turned that next corner that he just couldn’t seem to do early on. Many players were now backing him and shocked at how easy it was to dismantle their opponent. VD said “felt like handcuffs came off”, Aldon said on CK7 “shooot I’ll roll with him”.
The locker room believes in CK7 and so does coach. JH “a controversy is 2 groups of ppl w opposing views. Our locker room is united behind one QB”.
Jeff,
I’m going to debate your 3 points
1. Do your realize we got those turnovers because we forced the bears to throw the ball more because we took a 20-0 lead on them. Kap took the points, the Bears didn’t give them to us. Kap made some great throws. 5 throws over 20 yards. 3 over 30. 2 more for 19 yards. Show me where smith has done that against a quality opponent. The giants stack the box like that against Smith and he doesn’t beat them deep.
2. The throws Smith made in the cardinal game were basic and short. Name 1 difficult play he compketed in the Cardinal game? Most of his throws were for less than 10 yards. All but 2 of them. Shouldn’t a QB have a better completion percentage when he makes a bunch of shirt throws?? You have to know that those Niner receivers want to see Kap start again. He made them look good!
3 See above!!
What changed was Harbaugh being his coach. Dude knows qb’s. do you really think Andrew Luck would have been even close to ready this season without Harbaugh teaching him the years prior? No way. The Colts should thank Harbaugh personally.
And what if, just if Harbaugh was beginning to deal with disgruntled wide receivers and Tight ends because they were not getting the ball?
Same system two years in a row, better offensive line, better wide receivers SAME PRODUCTION.
Jeff,
Well done. There is nothing in your read that can be dismissed or discounted even though some will try!!
” Do your realize we got those turnovers because we forced the bears to throw the ball more because…”
1) Jason Campbell isn’t the greatest QB out there. If he was he’d still be in Oakland battling an equally deficient Carson Palmer.
2) We have a hell of a run defense as noted by every expert out there.
3) Campbell was pressured by gap blitzes and TE stunts all night long. He was rattled and rattled often.
4) Our DBs looked a little more like last year’s DBs and made some nice plays. And conversely, Campbell was doing his best Tony Romo desperation impersonation.
Short throws are the West Coast Offense. When you look at the YPA for the Bears game it’s maybe a yard different with CK. The attempts will still be balanced, the yards per completion were similar, total yards were similar. Poor passes as a percentage of incompletion is about the same with CK having a few more points. Drops are almost identical. Statistically, this is insignificant, not enough of a sample size (obviously) but much of this may be about the same when all is said and done. We don’t know yet.
CK does get style points though, which is important to some fans.
Jason Campbell’s departure from Oakland had more to do with him getting injured and the team financially handcuffing themselves to his replacement then it did his performance. Wasn’t he playing pretty well that season before he got hurt? I believe that’s part of the reason the team gave up so much to get Palmer is because they were expecting to make a run that year after a good start.
Adam,
Not short throws that don’t gain yardage and don’t convert 3rd downs into 1st downs.
“And what if, just if Harbaugh was beginning to deal with disgruntled wide receivers and Tight ends because they were not getting the ball?”
What if a meteor falls on us tomorrow.
We don’t know Jack about what happens in that locker room.
Read between the lines. They changed QB’s.
The Bears played man to man and one saftey over top. CK made some great throws but in a different scheme and zone coverages, we will know then if those throws are a thing of beauty.
Adam
You are so civilized and never get too hot or cold on an issue, but with this CK transition, I must say you are seeming more and more like an Alex Fluffer. Is this true?
N.O.
How long have you been on this blog? Months/years??! Or are you the dreaded double poster? Hmm.
FDM,
The Bears played plenty of zone too, and Kaep still beat it.
He has played 7 1/2 quarters straight, and in that time brought them back twice against the Rams and put them in position to win, then blew apart one of the top ranked defenses in the league.
There is nothing to suggest he won’t do the same this week.
I’m a team guy going back to Brodie. For whatever that’s worth. Don’t know what a ‘fluffer’ is.
I’ve seen tons of QBs come through here and tons of knuckleheads proclaim the guy is Jesus in a red suit. And most of them weren’t good enough to play 2nd string. I mean hell, we got lucky one of them could punt the ball.
All I say is this: take the time to do this right, don’t ruin another QB.
By all accounts, they seem to be bringing CK on slowly and correctly. That’s a good thing.
My arguments over the years are with the irrational minority who scream and cry and whine that Smith is the anti-Christ (or Alice as they like to call him) or that Jed is the “Lucky Sperm” and doesn’t know what he’s doing, blah blah, and they’re always, ALWAYS, proven wrong. Smith can play (he’s not the greatest of all time but he’s good) and Jed knew what he was doing after all. Lombardi wasn’t the answer and Baalke was, etc.
Just get tired of all the irrational, emotional babies who need instant gratification and their egos are so fragile that they need any kind of negative reinforcement they can find to bolster their weak positions.
The drama on this blog is like a bunch of Junior High School girls picking each other apart. Just stupid. Play the damned game.
“Read between the lines. They changed QB’s.”
So what if they did?
Man nice to have ESPN draped all over us now, officially the hottest team to discuss is our boys.
I told all ya’ll that Jim is a sneaky bastard. Reminds us of Walsh n Siefert days, they wld always attack downfield @ least once in 1st 15 plays to test.
Jim n Roman are gonna be pulling out all stops on the pages of playbook that Alex never got to.
The INT Alex threw against the giants was a preordained,pre snap read that he telegraphed all the way…it’s time we had a confident qb who can think on his feet and improvise off the cuff. Ck7 is a hybrid mutant with the toughness of rothlisberger, the pocket poise of Brady and quiet confidence of Eli. Factor in his raw athletic ability and you have some high grade plutonium! Romans going to need to harness that unique skillset and channel it within the confines of a balanced attack. The argument that alex smith would miraculousy make defenses pay for playing 8 in the box is specious & disingenuous. The copy cat league has been playing the niners this way since gore ran outta his mamas womb and out onto the gridiron. If harbaugh can derive obscured talent outta Alex after 7 yrs of abysmal play just imagine what he’ll do with a natural talent like kp7. I hope we keep Alex on board for another 2 yrs. He’s absolutely brilliant and kaep would learn a whole lot under his tutelage.
Btw…Steve young is a brilliant lawyer/capital investor/espn commentator…I’m always intrigued by his insight. I admit he is a tad garrulous and goes off on a tangent from time to time but its always refreshing to hear unlike all the trite regurgitated platitudes that circulate from the proverbial pundits. Im surprised his brain hasnt turned to mush as of yet considering all the hits he took.lends credence to the protective effects of neuroplasticity and the healthy Mormon lifestyle. Does anyone have the transcript to his speech at the 2000 rnc?
Interesting that SY mentioned Kaps delivery. It has changed dramatically from what it was in College. They’ve really shortened his release and it was hard to see the hitch he used to have in the delivery. They’ve done an amazing job overhauling Kaps throwing motion.