SAN FRANCISCO – Here is Colin Kaepernick’s postgame press conference transcript, courtesy of the 49ers.
How would you assess your play today?
“I think we did pretty well. We got a W.”
How about yourself? Are you pleased with the way you played today?
“Yeah, wish I had a few throws back. A few different decisions. But, overall, yeah.”
Can you tell us just what happened on that 50-yard touchdown run, how it came about?
“The end crash, had a great block by [TE] Garrett Celek coming around the corner. Great fake by [RB LaMichael] LaMike [James]. And a great block by [WR Michael Crabtree] Crab, and cleared it up.”
LaMichael, talk about him a little bit. Does he kind of open things up for you with his speed and everything?
“He’s a great player. Very shifty, very fast. So, he opens up a lot of things for this offense.”
How natural does that feel with you and your background, that sort of offense and LaMichael as well? How have you guys been able to click without a whole lot of practice time?
“I think it’s something we’re both very comfortable with. So, it doesn’t take a whole lot for us to practice that.”
Can you talk about your struggles in the first half, like how long it took for you to really get it going?
“We just had a few bad third downs where we didn’t convert, things like that. But, we knew we had a good game plan. We knew we had good plays. We just had to go out and execute.”
Did you feel like you had the WR Randy Moss touchdown there on the throwback? Did that feel like that was going to be made?
“It was a play we thought we were going to have six on. We just didn’t come up with it.”
Can you talk a little bit about your comfort level now compared to the beginning of the season and maybe even when you got drafted?
“I think my comfort level is about the same as the beginning of the season. I’ve been comfortable this whole season with everything. Compared to last year, I think I’m a lot more comfortable. Moreso with the offense than what defenses are doing. Our offense has a lot of volume and that’s something that just takes a little bit of time.”
With the speed of the game, too, is the game slowing down for you at all, or has it always been at this?
“I guess you can say it’s slowing down. I’ve been comfortable this year. So, things kind of look the same.”
In these four starts, have you seen any defensive wrinkles that you haven’t been ready for?
“Defenses always do different things to our offense. Different formations, things like that. That’s just a part of playing defense. They’re going to scheme us up.”
What did the Dolphins do today that maybe you hadn’t seen from the Rams last week, or the Saints the week before?
“Well, you really can’t compare it. They’re completely different defenses, different schemes. So, it’s like comparing apples to oranges.”
Do you get a greater appreciation for RB Frank Gore being out on the field and seeing what he can do?
“Yes, a lot greater appreciation. I always knew Frank was a great running back. Being out there on the field and seeing some of the cuts he makes and how he protects in pass protection, I don’t think there’s another back like him in this league.”
You talked about the game on the field, off the field between the games, everything you do now, whether it’s your turtle or anything else that happens seems to be news. How are you adjusting to all of that?
“I’m not. I don’t pay attention to it. I’m focused on football and focused on trying to win games.”
Obviously the W’s important. But, are there any other things you judge yourself by statistically? Do you look at third down conversions, turnovers, what are things that you’re focusing on?
“Obviously you don’t want to turn the ball over. For me, it’s should I have made a different decision on the play? Should I have made that throw? Things like that. That’s what I really base my performance on.”
Upset about the fumble there a little bit?
“Yes, the fumble and the throw to Crab on the going in, I sailed it a little bit. And those are two things that stand out right now.”
Were you surprised that you had so much room on that 50-yard scamper?
“A little bit I was.”
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Then why not have CK start the season then?
JH isn’t making any sense if what CK says is true.
Because Harbaugh gave a fair chance to smith to IMPROVE on some other parts of his game. And he Didnt! Sorry but like some have said in the past. Smith will not and cannot throw 20 yard outs or anything deeper than that. Defenses figured out Smith and the check down routine. Not good enough for Harbaugh. Deal with it. Since you’re not leaving till next season when smith does.
Smith has already hit his 7 foot ceiling, JH has seen enough, CK can do in 4 games what took AS 8 years to do. Also AS has played in 4 miserable games this year, thankfully the defense bailed him out for two games. AS could never do what CK did yesterday, and I am not only talking about the 50 yard run to ice it. Also CK won the game at a very tough place to play against the Saints at the Superdome. AS has never won a game at the Superdome in 8 years, CK is playing winning football as he has only lost one game so far. What a great wonderful move from Harbaugh. This is one small step for a man and one giant leap for mankind. ((woo hoo))
I told the Smithers at the end of last season that Smith had reached his ceiling. I told you that it was at the top of his helmet. As it turns out, that’s exactly where it was. I am not surprised at anything that’s happeneing right now. It should have happened at the end of last season. I TOLD YOU SO! SMITH NEVER HAD IT. HE NEVER WILL!!!!
DS next year will compare AS progress on his new team compared to CK progress with the Niners, although AS will be nothing but a temporary fill for the next QB of the future, poor AS the future will be now.
Why Neal?
AS will be on a different team with different players and well…everything will be different.
The only time to really make a comparison is when you have limited variables. And that only happens if you have the same team (players, coaches, etc.). This is the time to compare them if you were to ever do so.
@23welcher:
I told the Smithers at the end of last season that Smith had reached his ceiling.
Right, because he didn’t show improvement in virtually every part of his game this season. Are you as ignorant about the rest of life as you are about football?
Claude,
Then why can’t he have his job back??????? Abwahahahahahahahahaha!
@23welcher:
Because Harbaugh thinks Kaepernick is better. I thought that was obvious.
I believe Kap has a much bigger upside than AS. That being said i feel Harbaugh rushed him to fast. Smiths injury forced his hand but after Smith was healthy I believe he should have been put back in as the starter. Now i have to be honest i supported his decision at the time so what i’m saying is mea culpa i was wrong. Steve Young said something interesting on KNBR a couple of weeks ago. He said the most important skill a QB can have is game management skills that all other skills come 2nd. I do’nt believe Kap has those skills yet and i believe that they can be taught while a player is on the sideline as well as during the game. I know now that Harbaugh has made the change there is no going back but it worries me that Kaps inability to manage the game will hurt us in the playoffs and with Harbaughs system limiting Kap to being a AS clone we might have had a better chance with AS in this years playoffs but then again i could be wrong [again]
How do you feel you’re wrong? The wins are still coming in and the numbers are the same if not better than smiths when facing tougher defenses. Lets not get it twisted the bills and jets defenses are horrible. The saints when CK played them were on fire defensively. AND it was in N.O.
Now with that being said. If the upswing is better and he’s playing the last two games AS like. How is it a wrong decision?
Kap is physically superior i do’nt believe he is mentally prepared yet and small game management mistakes can cost games once you get to the playoff level
md – It took 7.5 long years for Alex to barely get over .500 as a starter.
Alex was 39-37-1 as a starter and Niners only won 1 playoff game in those 7 years. Alex should get an “A” for effort though. Alex is really a tremendously nice guy and he always was a true team player.
Kap is 3-1 as a starter, already is 2 games over .500
which is a great start.
After Kap gets 73 more starts like Alex, I’m looking forward to comparing the two QB’s.
I doubt Kap will have only 1 playoff win and remain 2 games over .500 as a starter 7 years from now.
@ crab15:
That’s a very good job of comparing an apple to an orange. The two quarterbacks came into the league under vastly different circumstances. Smith was drafted by the worst team in the league while Kaepernick is getting his start with one of the best teams in the league. Moreover, Kaep has been coached exclusively by Harbaugh since he entered the league. Smith, on the other hand, had to endure a revolving door of offensive schemes and coordinators and had the privilege of spending two years being coached by Singletary and Raye before he ever got the chance to be coached by Harbaugh.
Claude,
There you go, again, letting facts get in the way of a good story.
Steve Young has also said on his Wednesday KNBR show he didn’t see the “it” factor when he looked at AS, Not recently but I know he said it, cuz I was listening.
CK was 18/25, no turnovers, took what MIA gave him and when he saw an opportunity late in the game, he took advantage of it with a 50-yrd run. Critics will say that he almost cost the team a fumble and others may say that if RM isn’t interfered with, he delievered a beautifully thrown deep TD. Depends how you look at the glass. I think he managed the game just fine yesterday.
We can defintely be beaten by a better coach & good QB play ( as demonstrated by STL & MIN). Nex week we’ll be up against the best in that regard (NY is a close second). Harbaugh has been praising Roman of late and is trying to give Roman confidence (just like he did with AS throughout the season) but Roman needs to call a kick-a$$ game next week and JH will need a strategy to get calls down in time because timeouts and a dozen other things will be under the microscope in NE.
Am I worried? Not in the least. Of all of the top tier QB’s including (Rogers, Manning, Brees) Brady is the easiest to rattle with pressure and take him off his game- when he doesn’t have 4 effing seconds to throw the ball. I hope we get a nice dose of it tonight on MNF. SF can learn a lot by seeing what NE does vs. Watt and yet our D is that much better.
I’ve seen most of NE’s games on the Sunday NFL ticket because there is no team I hate like NE, so it’s my version of keeping my enemies close. I hope HOU pounds the crap out of them and leaves them bleeding so our sharks can come in next week and feast. I love my TEAM! Go Niners!
OldCoach,
Remember, the playoffs havn’t started yet. They are still 3 weeks away. RoboKap isn’t perfect, but he is an upgrade. We just need to work on the little things. Play clock, time outs, etc. Those things will come. They havn’t cost us any games yet. Hopefully, we’ll get that cleared up here in the next few weeks. We’ll be ready for the playoffs. JH has 5 illion reasons to make the right decisions every year. I don’t see us having a problem with him getting the playclock, timeout stuff squared away. We’ll be fine. “In Harbaugh I trust!”
old coach,
Actually I have seen Kap become more game manager the past couple of weeks. I think he has improved greatly with his game management and decision making. Now that doesn’t mean he won’t have a brain cramp the rest of the way, but I’ve been impressed with the discipline he’s shown for such an inexperienced player.
I agree with the game management area Coach. Alex was better at getting the team to the LOS and it appears he did a better job of calling audibles (tough to tell on that one).
But CK7 is performing as well or better in every other area. Pretty amazing considering how raw he was coming out of Nevada. The coaching staff really knows quarterbacks.
http://ninerchatter.blogspot.com/2012/12/week-14-grades.html
@ Jack:
Another good write up. I will raise the same question with you that I raised with Grant. If the defense limited the Dolphins to 227 total net yards, 4.0 yards/play and 13 points, how is it that no unit gets better than a B?
Nice, Jack. Gotcha bookmarked!
@ninermd A large part of why i feel this way is that other than his running i belive Harbaugh is putting the same constraints on CK as he was on smith so CK is’nt able to use his skills so game management becomes a much bigger part of the game
I tend to agree with old coach here. CK may have been rushed, but I can see why Harbaugh chose the AS injury as the time to insert him. CK will have about half a season of experience going into the playoffs and that should be plenty of time needed to have a full grasp of the offense.
I like what I’m seeing from CK but until he duplicate what he did against the Bears he will not completely distance himself from AS in the public perception.
The fact that CK’ stats closely resemble AS’ will leave many doubts on the faithfuls minds.
CK has to have the type of games that make us forget about Alex Smith.
A good game against the Patriots will help to alleviate the doubts.
AES if the O line protects better and harbaugh loosens the reins a bit NE does’nt have a great D so lets keep positive thoughts
49ers – Seahawks has been flexed. Back to back Sunday night games coming up.
Excellent! Aldon loves to hunt at night under the floodlights.
This means I can watch RedZone (aka, video crack) all day for the next two weeks.
@crabs i agree with you eventually i believe that CK will be measurably better than AS, eventually…..
coach – What do you agree on? I didn’t say eventually.
Old coach,
RoboKap already is better. He just needs to clean up some very small things that come with experience. Nothing to do with athletic ability, making throws, reading defenses. The kid is doing a hell of a job. Keep in mind, that was his 4Th start coach. We are right on schedule. New ENgland can and will be had!
Crabs you said you were looking “foreward” to comparing AS and CK in the future that reads to me that you think eventually CK will be superior. I apologize if i misread you.
Coach – No worries…I feel Kap gives Niner best chance to win NFC Championship now and think he’s a little better than Alex now.
Harbaugh and staff know more than all of us combined.
Harbaugh knows quarterbacks, I trust in “Hellacious Harbaugh!” The QB Guru……Hail Harbaugh!!
No one asked and fewer care but here is what I need to see from Colin before I drop the why did we switch argument. From the next two games because of their weight and importance if I see the following I will stop asking the question;
1- We don’t have to win but he cant be directly responsible for a loss, i.e. pick six, turnover on final drive etc…
2- I want to see some TD passes from the boy with the golden arm, like I’ve said I want my running backs to run for TD’s and my QB’s to pass for them. Between the next two games I want at least 3 TD passes and that shouldn’t be asking to much. If he only gets 2 I’ll probably be OK with it as long as he didn’t miss any wide open scores along the way. Anything less then 2 passing TD’s combined against the next two opponents is unacceptable from any QB starting for this team.
3- No more then one INT that is directly his fault. I don’t count tips off receivers hands or receivers that run the wrong route.
4- I know the next one will be blamed a bit on Roman getting the plays in late but if we’re going to win the next two games we are going to need our time outs at the end of them so we cant afford to waste any on slow play changes. I want to see zero timeouts taken because Colin is trying to change the play and runs out of time.
All of the above items are things that I believe Alex could achieve in the next two games. I’m not asking Colin to be better at this point just don’t be worse. I’ve loved seeing his strong arm on passes but the body of his work doesn’t add up to the one that was in place before him yet in my opinion but if he cant at least match it then I’ll be fine with him and his upside.
edit: “but if he can at least match it then I’ll be fine with him and his upside.”
Can instead of Can’t
What really irritated me most about yesterdays game was the 3rd down completion percentage. We were 2-10. What pisses me off is that we were in so many makeable 3rd down situations. They were 3rd and 1, 2, 3 yards. Our execution as an offensive unit was poor. That directly goes on the offensive line. they have to be more focusd on blocking assignments than ever in those situations. You have to make a 1st down on 3rd and less than 3. You just have to have it.
That directly goes on the offensive line.
Holy crap. Ignorant and a hypocrite? That’s a winning combination.
“That directly goes on the offensive line.”
No it doesn’t. An offensive line that was providing excellent pass-protection does not suddenly self-destruct.
Quality of pass protection ALWAYS dips when there is a change in the starting QB mid-season, especially when the QB styles are significantly different. The OL is guessing the position of the QB is once the ball is snapped — it’s not easy to protect someone with your back to the person. It takes a while for the OL to figure out how the QB reacts to different defensive pressure situations. A veteran QB often communicates better with the the OL and knows of ways to help out the line. It’s all part of the learning curve / growing pains with a new, young QB.
That’s why Grant sophomoric grading analysis makes little sense. Football is too complex a team game to assign simplistic credit / blame exercises.
Mood,
I’m talking about on the running plays bro. Not the passing plays.
“That directly goes on the offensive line.”
That used to go directly to Alex! What’s up?
Amnesia.
Jordan,
God, you’re a riot. You never cease to amaze me. The offense under Smith doesn’t convert enough third downs, and it’s all Smith. The offense under CK doesn’t convert enough third downs, and it’s the offensive line’s fault. Huh, funny how that works.
EX,
I can’t blame the QB when it’s 3rd and 2 and you run and don’t get it. I blame the QB when it’s 3rd and 7 and we don’t get it. You have to admit. We had a ton of 3rd and shorts yesterday and didn’t get them.
Really didn’t have that situation when the other guy was the QB. I was definitely critical of our QB yesterday. I felt like he could have made better decisions with the ball throwing in the past 2 weeks. However, he’s got the best QBR of any QB in the history of the game and he is 3-1 so I can’t complain too much. As for his 185 yards passing. Looked at the throws. Two 25 yard out patterns and a 3rd one that was a yard too high. 15 yards slants. We never saw those from the other guy. 2 50 yard runs two games in a row….. C ‘ Mon EX!!!
I continue to be impressed how Kaep handles himself on and off the field. At the post-game presser, he spoke precisely and thoughtfully like a vet.
His big tests are coming up. I think he’ll do fine. It’s interesting how successful Dick Le Beau has been in handling the RG3 run/pass threat using the middle line backers (esp. Larry Foote) to drop back into coverage or using as a spy. I’m sure Bellichick will have some defensive schemes to confuse Kaep. Niners will have to run successfully early in the game and it’s great that LaMike has debuted very well. Kaep just needs to be a good Alex with the threat of run and deep pass to keep the defense on the collective back foot.
The young man’s maturity has been a pleasant surprise. He’s a good fit on Harbaugh’s team. Some credit is probably due to his predecessor as well for showing how to act in public.
The tattoos though… /sigh I guess I’m just too old. Ah well.
@Msc i know i hate those tats but then i remember my dad telling me to get a haircut cause i looked like some hippie commie freak and i realize oh my god i’m my dad
I think we all have that “oh my god I’m my dad” moment in our lives.
The tats put me off a little, too, MSC. Does it soften it at all for you to know they’re biblical references?
For me, they’re still tats, which carries a lot of negatives, but I guess it’s better than Hell’s Angels or Black Panther propaganda.
@Rusty even though I’m a crusty old fart I’m learning that tats are just part of the culture now. My teenaged kids tell me they’re “self expression.”
Hopefully the little bastards will demonstrate their “self-expression” by getting jobs soon.
I’ve got a few of my own and don’t find any issue with them myself. I have a few meaningful dates on me so I don’t forget. They do seem to be the in fad right now.