This is the opening for my Sunday sidebar on Michael Crabtree.
SAN FRANCISCO — This used to be Frank Gore’s offense. He’s still good — he rushed 22 times for 119 yards and a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers — but Saturday he wasn’t even the 49ers’ best running back. That was quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who rushed 16 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
Now, Gore is one of the many good complimentary players on the 49ers’ offense
And now, the main thrust of the 49ers’ offense is to get the ball to wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
To read the full article, click here.
49ers RSS feed
Loading ...
All those idiots that called him a diva are looking real stupid now…he’s a true #1 receiver and I’m glad he’s a 49er
Dhs, DS was the main person that just had the beef with Crabtree! Crabtree is a stud!!!
Top 10 pick coming thru ck7 to crab
For my money … I think(both) these two playoff games gotta rank
somewhere near the best playoff games ever played …
The AFC game between Payton and Big Bro John Harbaugh
was a nail-biter on into the double overtimes …
A great game !
And when CK7 threw the pick-six right off the bat … who woulda predicted how that game was gonna turn out ?
NFL records were broken in both games .. and Kaep broke a pretty good one !!
Looks like there’s one talking head who thinks he’s looking pretty good right now …
(The one who predicted a “Hargh-Bowl” for the next Super Bowl) …
But.. let’s not get ahead of ourselves ….
Let’s wait till we find out where the NFC Champ Game is gonna be played …
Atlanta …. or … The Stick
Any predictions … ??
Grant ??….
Anyone ?
MWN
I’m hoping for a Seattle victory over Atlanta so they come to the ‘Stick and get whipped.
I just hope that we break the season long trend of 2 wins followed by a loss.
Seattle has to be every Niner fan’s hope.
1. Home field.
1A. Sweet revenge.
MWN, Please don’ t have Grant predict, he picked Greenbay over the Niners, 31-27, if he was a gambler he would be broke. He was only 50% last week,same as me.
This new-fangled Kaepernickan Theory of QB motion has me all excited .
The chap is just unreal. Not only does he re-write the record for most rush yards by a QB ever, he breaks Rogers Craig’s single-game post-season rushing record by a 49er. Oh, he also outgunned the Great Rodgers (257 yards to 263).
His early pick-six did not trouble me much because he has overcome other adversities in earlier games with aplomb, as pointed out by this excellent article by Mike Rosenberg:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130109/harbaugh-kaepernick/
On to the NFCCG!!
Mood what is so impressive about CK is his MOJO baby! He does not lose confidence. Just take a look at the film and watch how many passes were dropped on him by our TD and even Crab or he would have had over 350 yards last night
Well, last year in the divisional round Gore didn’t even rush for 90yds.
And Vernon Davis got 180yds and 2 TDs.
So it’s not Frank Gore’s offense for a while now.
And the main thrust of the 49ers’ offense was to get the ball to tight end Vernon Davis.
So I guess one game is too little to say what’s the offense’s MO is going to be in te future.
Sando:
“Kaepernick has now outplayed Rodgers and New England’s Tom Brady in prime-time games over the past 27 days. His two-game statistical haul from those games: six touchdown passes, two rushing touchdowns and nearly 700 combined yards rushing and passing. The 49ers put up 86 total points in those games. “
How about this:
“Here is how thoroughly bamboozled the Packers were: Kaepernick gained 178 of his 181 yards before contact, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Quite literally, the Packers couldn’t touch him.”
Clay Matthews did a lovely pirouette as CK7 ran by him. I hope someone over at Niners Nation has gif’d that.
Kaepernicus is rockin’ Hammer:
“You can’t touch this!”
Me says:
January 12, 2013 at 5:39 pm
No, Kaep is the future but today is the present. Smith offers a better chance to win today and Krap is proving it basically every play (minus one). Playoff game is too big for him.
I love posts like this. All I had to do was go straight to the first quarter. Whoever this jacka$$ is I didn’t see many posts after halftime from him/her.
Why on earth are people still talking about Alex smith? Smh
What a game last night. Great tailgate party, great friends watching it with. My wife even schooled a Packer fan with some history and present knowledge of this great franchise. Gonna pick up 100 dollars from a bronco fan Tuesday when I go back to work. YES! I picked Baltimore to beat the Broncos. We beat 1 of the 4 most hated teams.
Now keep it going and lets get the craphawks here next Sunday. Wheeeeeeeew! Aahhhhh oooooo ahhhhhh oooooo ahhhhhh oooooooo!
Go NINERS!!!!
I have to admit that I was not in favor of the switch to CK at the time. He was an unknown and Smith, even with his limitations, was a known quantity and we knew Harbaugh could win with Smith. After several weeks, I am fully in agreement with the switch. CK is not as efficient as Smith. CK is not as careful with the ball as Smith. BUT, the dynamic playmaking capability of CK outweighs everything else. CK is the real deal. He needs to improve in a couple areas but he really could become the best QB in football. He could become the Johnny Football of the NFL. Having said all that, Harbaugh didn’t make the switch to win a Divisional playoff game. Smith can win a Divisional playoff game – he proved it last year. Harbaugh made the switch to win the NFCCG and the Superbowl. Harbaugh will be judged on the move to CK based on CK’s performance in the next game.
I disagree. This kid has outplayed Brady, Bree’s, and Rogers. 3 of the top 4 qb’s. this season is different than last season. Our defense has got to put together 3 solid games in a row. They are not carrying this team like last season. And we know the ST and Akers aren’t playing like last season too. In fact I think what he’s doing is more impressive than last season. We finally have a qb that can take the game over with his own skills. Alex smith could never do that. New season an different than last. Harbaughs decision is already solidified IMO! As we sit right now. They are at least in the same position as last season with a team that hasn’t matched the magical season of last year defensively.
Yeah, everything you wrote is accurate. This team is roughly the same players as last year with one huge exception, the QB. This team has achieved the same playoff success as last year. Smith could have gotten this team to the NFCCG. If they win the NFCCG then they’re better than last year. Harbaugh made the switch because he felt CK gave him the best chance to win. My opinion is that Harbaugh will be proved right if CK has a great game in the NFCCG.
Houston
You’re STILL not convinced???
I’m way past the point of convinced. CK is the man. I couldn’t be more excited and optimistic about the 9ers future with this kid at the helm. I’m speaking of the overall football world. The move will be judged in the short term in the football world by how CK plays in the next game. CK has equalled Smith’s achievement. He needs to surpass it by playing well and hopefully winning the next game.
I don’t think the opinion of others amount to a hill of beans to Harbaugh so it doesn’t really matter. Just saying…
Houston. I’m not convinced smith could have taken this team this far. I don’t think he wins in New England that could have hampered the whole playoff picture. I guess we’ll never know. But I think Harbaugh made the right move and its showing now. He’s AT LEAST matching what smith did and doing things smith couldn’t at times. It’s all on the defense IMO.
MD
Me probably switched over to the Broncos blog to urge everybody to dump PM and trade for Alex (but not Crabs). : >)
Lol is this Me character Bs?
Grant, I really do not like to nitpick but I had to (respectfully) comment on this one.
It is “complementary” not “complimentary” in the context of your sentence.
Sportswriters/journalists are held to a higher standard of spelling (and grammar) :)
I was a little disappointed in the first half with Kaepernick’s lack of touch passing and his inability to get the ball over defenders. It appeared he was trying to laser beam soem passes.
Half time adjustments, which are almost nonexistant in Harbaugh’s reign, addressed those concerns. The touch pass over the defender to Crabtree and the touch pass to VD were simply put, on another level.
It’s always exciting to watch the future of the organization grow before your eyes. Kaepernick appears to be evaluating himself even as the game goes on and making slight adjustments. It’s amazing to see in such a young player.
Gore has me a little concerned. He took himself out of the game time and time again. LaMichael’s quickness was a great change of pace though. If SF wins the SB this year, I don’t think Gore returns. We’ll see Justin Smith, Gore, and a few other names retire.
I sure hope we get another shot at Seattle on grass.
Matt… I dis agree your reading way to much into this. Gore takinghimself out shows unselfishness and trust in his backup. the way gore runs its all physical. h
When u run that hard u need a breather otherwise hes no good to us. I dont know about u but ill take frank in this offense over everybody.. Its our offense n all the coaches trust him to do the right thing. he cud stay out there but what would it prove. Oh n how do u figure its just fatigue? It could be a hidden injury hes protecting. just saying
“Kaepernick” means “unstoppable”. The only question is, what language is that translated from?
Grant always spells his name right. The paper of record, not so much ;)
Correction: January 13, 2013
A summary that appeared with an earlier version of this article misspelled the surname of the 49ers’ quarterback. He is Colin Kaepernick, not Kaeprnick.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/sports/football/colin-kaepernick-and-49ers-dominate-the-packers.html?ref=sports&_r=0
Last year I ate crow and apologized on these pages for previously slagging off Alex Smith, Trent Baalke, and Jed York. Alex proved to be a better qb than I ever thought possible (culminating with this year’s opener, when he was spectacular). Baalke went from being the guy I blamed (right or wrong) for picking the wrong guy in 2005 to the guy who made almost every call correctly afterward (Jenkins, TBD). Jed turned out to be the guy who stuck with Baalke and helped pick Harbaugh, and together they turned this team from chicken sheet (6-10) to chicken salad. Haven’t seen that since another young owner swung and missed on the Joe Thomas selection, then brought us pure bliss with Bill Walsh.
So for this year’s exercise in humble pie, I must apologize to a former #1 selection, who i repeatedly dissed for not having enough burst or strength to break through as anything other than a possession receiver, a less spectacular Mike Wilson. Mr Crabtree, I was wrong, and I am ecstatic in admitting it! (btw, to my eye Crabs has been playing better all year, and especially since the MNF game vs Chicago.)
Now, i’d just like to see a similar beast-like performance against those Seattle corners. Go Niners!!
I’ll join you in confession – I had given up on Crabtree at the beginning of this season. He really turned it up this year.
Mea Culpa as well. I was really getting frustrated with Crabs last year. But he has turned the corner now, and is showing how good he can be.
There is no way Gore is a quitter. All through his career it has only been him and now he has a chance to take a breather well deserved. Plus I saw him pull himself when the game was already in hand. Gore and Smith are not retiring this was Smith’s first injury I think he is only 32 and Gore has 2 more years left before he becomes a 3rd down back.
Off topic: The Broncos blogs are a riot today. The Tebowners have come out of the woodwork.
“See, we told you Manning wasn’t any good!”
“At least Tebow won a playoff game!”
etc. etc.
If you’re a fan of schadenfreude check ‘em out.
Late in WWII, a new terror was unleashed into the skies above Europe. While Yankee aces had dominated dogfights for years in their prop-powered P51 Mustangs, the reports of devastation wrought on them by the Messerschmitt ME262, the world’s first jet-powered warplane struck fear in every pilot’s soul.
Kaepernick is the Messerschmitt. The plane has tilted, the game has changed, and a new and sublimely omnipotent icon has arrived. Thank your lucky stars he’s ours.
A combination of delusional Tebow-heads and Manning hating? What a perfect storm – I’m loving it!
Grant
Nice article, but you might want to fix the typo:
Roman called Crabtree’s number three players later
Wow, what a performance fellas. I was never worried one bit about this game. I felt like we would win the game by 10 points. The amazing thing is that I felt like we needed a big contribution from VD to win this game. As it turns out, we didn’t get that play from VD but Kaepernick and the running game was unreal.
I have no question in my mind that everyone should agree that JH knew what he was doing when he made the switch. It looks more and more like it was an obvious choice.
What I love about Kap is his ability to bounce back from mistakes. The kid appears to be unflappable. He plays with extreme confidence. I wanted to see him use his feet. He hadn’t been taking off with the ball as much in the last couple of games. He lit the Pack up with his feet.
I don’t think we will be seeing much about what Kap can or can’t do. That performance was amazing and the kid is just scratching the surface. 181 yards rushing for a QB. As long as he uses his feet, we can’t be beat. Last point is that he ran smart. He only got tackled one time. He slid, got out of bounds, or he simply ran away from the defense. I told you guys, nothing to worry about. We’re about to get number 6. We are winning the Super Bowl!
23 Jor –
CK killed it. It was a transformative performance. I was nervous since the switch, never a Smith Lover, just worried that the switch would be disruptive with the team and it’s ID.
Well we have a new ID now!
What CK did last changes the NFL game as a whole. It’s not just being better than AS, but better than alot of QBs in the league. He’s a special weapon.
I never thought I knew more than Harbaugh but you were dead right.
Both JH and GR knew what they were doing, holding back a few things.
It was a close game but when he ran it in for 56 it was over. You can tell the GB was gassed and didn’t know what to do.
And when he made that pass to VD, that was it.
It wasn’t just CK though. The O-Line just killed the Packers. They did it in week one and again last night.
Aside from a few great throws from Rodgers, the D kept him in check too.
You can tell the team can smell it now. They’ll be rested for Seattle, and will be vicious.
Guess I won’t be wasting my time on this blog anymore!
What controversy????
Go for #6!!!
FAN,
We got this. Happy to have you on the bandwagon. Kap is just scratching the surface. This kid is about to change the game. Just like he did in college. The kid is fast!!
Michael Crabtree was and is who I always said he was. I said that Crabtree was a great receiver and he was going to blow up when he had a different QB throwing him the football. All the falsehoods about his getting seperation were nonsense. Crabtree didn’t leave college and forget how to get open. All he needed was his QB to trust him enough to get him the football when he needed it and where he needed it. Crabs is getting the football on time and making plays after the catch. He’s getting number no matter what the defense does. Crabs was and is a superstar. Crab15, I told you what we had in Crabtree. He will get his every game. Kap will target Crabtree because he knows that Crabtree is elite. He always has been in my book. I’m just thankful the he didn’t have to go somewhere else to prove it. All he needed was a bonafide QB. He has that now in Kap. Go Niners!
I always liked Crabs,last season he was hurt and the AS freaks were so unhappy that he did not play pre-season games, what a joke.
23J – Yes sir, the successful KaepTree connection happened exactly how you said it would. Kap has delivered big time.
Remember about 3 years ago in here, I said Crabtree will become the next Michael Irvin? I was laughed at and bombarded with Crabtree diva replies etc. Who’s laughing now?
Did you hear Terry Bradshaw after game last night? He said “that was one of the best performances by a QB that he’s ever seen!”
This Niner TEAM has really come together for one common goal, “win this whole damn thing!”
Crabs,
All they have to do is throw Crabtree the ball. He will take care of the rest. It’s that easy! You did say that he would be like Irvin. I knew he was a star. He is. This is just the beginning. We ain’t seen nothing yet!
Hey Kerry Byrne,
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130109/colin-kaepernick-alex-smith/index.html
Suck it you pedantic tool. Suck eeeet!
I wonder how this idiot has a job writing about football with statements like this:
running the ball well has a very low correlation to victory in the NFL
Clay Matthews is still trying to catch Kaepernick this morning.
Grant,
Somebody was telling you that Crabtree was a top flight receiver long before it was en vogue.
It was the same guy who told you back during offseason workouts that the team should look into pairing Kaepernick and James for the read option…..
Jack,
Thanks for giving me credit for that
You schooled me on those two.
Last night was great, but the last time they put up 45 and ran for 300 in a game they followed it up by scoring only 3.
Jack, don’t be a buzz kill! LOL
Grant, is it true a Press Democrat photographer died from a heart attack at the Niner playoff game? I saw them trying to perform CPR on him all the way till the ambulance left. I heard later that John did not make it. I tried to search on Google and SRPD but can’t find a story about him.
Nice to see Kaep shake off that horrible pick 6 and light the Pack up. Great team win.
Kap is still a HS-QB to me. Last night showed why Harbaugh didn’t play him from the beginning of the year. His bone headed TD pass to San Shields, his overthrown passes to Randy, his taunting penalty and I can go on. Moments of brilliance and then back to stupidity. Kap got lucky last night that GB didn’t play with the intensity that a Seattle is going to come down with. If you take away all the turnovers, GB would be up 14-10 at halftime. That would have been a different ball game!!! Everything went our way last night, I don’t think next week will be a walk in the park, plus the curse will be back 2-1-2-1-2-1-2………………….
Oh, and this is NOT about AS, this is about Kap!!!
Dee Phiant, your a negative idiot. Not a fan.
Negative Idiot??? Two negatives make a positive?
What makes a fan to you? Something who says positive things when we win and critics when we loose?
Let’s talk after next week!
It must be painful for this Smith cultist to accept that CK just destroyed the Packers last night. They were hoping that he would fall on his face and be the reason that the team lost. They wanted to say “I told you so” about CK choking under the playoff lights. Instead, they witnessed the unveiling of a soon-to-be superstar.
Even AS is helping CK anyway he can with preparation. It’s a team game and supporting the team on the way to #6 is all good.
Hofer,
You know that I agree with you. I’m thankful to have him. He has been the consummate professional and teammate.
Funny, how whenever you observe something about Kap, people try to nullify the facts with bringing up AS.
I didn’t bring up AS, I didn’t compare AS with Kap. AS will be gone, but WE are going to have to live with Kap.
Good and bad. GOT IT!?!?!?
Lucky? Youre an idiot.
Yes, a lackluster performance by the League MVP, I would call that LUCKY!
YEAH BUT THE LACKLUSTER PERFORMANCE WAS CAUSED BY OUR D AND THERE IS NOTHING LUCKY ABOUT THAT
BOS
Don’t let this insignificant turd get under your skin !!!
The Niners had to overcome GB and the officials. It seemed like every big call went against the Niners. Yet, despite all that, the Niners whipped the Packers and nearly put up 600 yards on them.
The only thing I agree with you on is the 2 win, 1 loss pattern. That pattern has to change.
Dee Phiant,
Clearly, you have officially become this blogs only troll. You sound like a fool. A high school QB? You need a hug. Your comments on this blog don’t even deserve a response. I can see that you don’t even watch the games. Find another location to troll. You’ve worn out your welcome here. Beat it!
High School QB? You must be joking.
I will tell you this right now, and I don’t take risky bets, if (and it’s still early yet) CK continues to play at this level, he’ll be talked about in the same ‘elite’ conversations as Brady, Rodgers, etc.
What we saw last night was phenomenal. The pick six was a bad judgment call that happens to ALL QBs. Usually more frequently with the young guys but it happens to all of them on occasion.
How you measure a guy is how he responds to that adversity. Does it ruin his confidence? Enough to blow the rest of the game? Or does he own that, shake it off and step up? We saw last night that he did the latter. And that is huge. Can’t over-emphasize that part of the game enough.
I guarantee you that if CK continues to play at this level, he’s amongst the elite QBs. He can out-run the running QBs and he can out-pass the passing QBs. He’s a physical freak that seems to have the rare dual-threat ability to decimate opposing defenses. When you can spin Clay Mathews around like a ballerina you know you’ve got something. Crabs can never get completely clear of a DB, he doesn’t have the burst but CK is sticking him the ball in really tight windows. If he can do that consistently, let’s say 65% of the time, you have something special going on.
I mentioned in the coaching post, the seam to Davis. In 2009, before Davis was swamped by blanket coverage, Smith was feeding him the ball in the same way, posts/seams. This pass isn’t as easy as it looks, six inches either way on a 40-yard toss is a disaster, so CK gets props for that one, too. Super nice throw.
Designed runs with CK aren’t all that to me. I don’t care for them. But where CK excels is when the play breaks down and the receivers are covered (which is almost always with our guys) and he pulls a Steve Young and takes off running. Those are brilliant anticipation/reaction plays. Smith could run a bit and is also athletic, but the recognition that the play was breaking down to9ok Smith longer and wasn’t as successful. CK is faster in his reads and faster in the pocket recognition or zone.
No way CK is a High School QB, That’s just silly-talk.
Adam
If Kaepernick keeps “this” up, he’ll supplant Montana.
“supplant Montana”
Calm down now. It’s one game. Albeit legendary.
Adam
So you’ve come around. Good!
But you didn’t like that 57 yard designed run? What, exactly, about that run wasn’t “all that” to you?
No Hofer. Don’t tell me to calm down. Why don’t you get jacked up!!! In 8 games, Kaepernick has completely redefined what seems possible from the QB position, and if he continues to progress, even the sacrosanct Montana is not unassailable. And you must know that I put Montana miles and miles and miles ahead of every other QB in history.
But Kaep is made differently. Just keep your d*mn eyes open and look at him.
No one will ever supplant Montana. But Kappy could be outstanding in his own way, and more games like this over a period of years, and we might be talking about Canton. Mainly it’s about him staying healthy and continuing to refine his knowledge of defenses.
There’s no “coming around” for me with CK. I wrote from the beginning that I liked the draft pick.
My umbrella concern was Harbaugh’s decision to replace Smith in the middle of a good run. Both sets of stats are similar and Smith was having a good run. It seemed counter-intuitive from a fan’s perspective. Admittedly though, we don’t see what happens in practices and we couldn’t see what kind of progress CK was making. Or conversely, maybe Smith was dropping off in practices.
My two concerns specific to CK were these:
1) Mechanics. He has a big wind-up and has huge velocity on the ball. This in some cases cancels the two things out and looks to me to be less of a concern than it might have been in the beginning. He’s learning to put some touch on the ball (nice floater to Gore for example) but he will still occasionally drill the ball when it’s not needed. This is a matter of reps and it will come. He’s overcome every other shortcoming so far: takes more time and fully looks over his checkdowns or progressions and looks to pass first, run second. The velocity, on the other hand, does make up for the split-second longer on the long wind-up so in some cases it’s a wash and in other cases a benefit.
2) I don’t like running QBs or QBs who will react to pressure by running first. If you look at the history of the league, these guys get chewed up. With Steve Young it was concussions, guys like Vick and Newton it’s other injuries or opposing defenses finally get a scout backer on the guy to isolate the damage. But generally for me it’s a gamble to build your offense around a running QB because if he’s enough of a physical freak to pull it off well you’re golden but as soon as that guy goes down you have zip behind him that can run that kind of offense.
Having said that though, I like the playmaking abilities to make something out of nothing. If the play breaks down or the backers and secondary are in blanket coverage, Staley ties up the edge rusher and there are 20 open yards? Hell yes, take it. So that’s a dual threat that I like. Rushing your QB on designed sweep plays though? A lot of that I don’t care for. Eventually it’s figured out and a guy gets hurt.
I’d rather have the intangible and unpredictable. Force a linebacker to stay up and account for CK, that’s the best way it seems to me. It should also solve the Vernon Davis issue and get him some more single coverage and with his speed he can get behind the coverage backer set to spy CK.
Just my opinion. I found very little to complain about in this game. CK stepped up in a do-or-die game and carried the offense.
I’m not sure about supplanting Montana but I will tell you this: If (and it’s still early so anything can happen) CK continues to play at this level, he’s the best-drafted QB in the last two drafts, bar-none. He can make the Andrew Luck throws, he can out-run and out-think Cam Netwon and RGIII. I predict he and Russell Wilson will be the talk of the league in a short time.
Adam says:
“How you measure a guy is how he responds to that adversity. Does it ruin his confidence? Enough to blow the rest of the game? Or does he own that, shake it off and step up? We saw last night that he did the latter. And that is huge. Can’t over-emphasize that part of the game enough.”
I agree. He has that supreme competitiveness and it was on full display last night. You could see it in his eyes on the sideline following the pick 6. He wasn’t down or upset, he looked like he fully expected to go back out there and open up a can, and that’s exactly what he did. This kid is special.
Nicely put, Adam. Kaep hates the running QB tag and his long windup looks slow but he was the quickest to read and deliver to a target in that ESPN sports science mumbojumbo last year. I think we’re gonna be okay.
The HS-QB comes from his clock management, taunting penalty, throwing too hard. That’s all stuff he should have under control. That really is kids stuff! Of course I see his capacity too, but in real tight games, which it was not yesterday, THAT is what makes the difference! That is where he will the hero or the zero!
Yeah but that’s stuff they can weed out of him. Taunting is kind of a subjective thing with the refs anyway. Maybe he just meant to spin the ball but it was too close to the defender. I mean it’s not like he threw the thing at the guy’s face mask or anything.
Not a huge deal. The clock management stuff may be other things, could be the time it takes to call the play, who knows.
I don’t think any of it is serious and it’s nice to see the guy celebrating with his team, I don’t see anything wrong with that. He’s a good kid overall and it’s nice to see him get excited. These are big games.
There’s glass half-empty guys, glass half-full guys. Then there’s Dee with a completely empty glass.
rib – Lol…..Is Dee DS?
Ribico,
Hilarious!
Don’t think so, Crab. CK passed DS’s long stated stress test – big performance in a big game – with flying colors last night.
Ribico,
I don’t think this person even has a glass, which is why they continue to cry over spilled milk.
Dee
That’s a bunch of hooey. Check the Cheeseheads’ blogs; nobody but you thinks the Niners were “Lucky”.
Dee. Alex is leaving. He’s not coming back. Ever. After this season, no matter how it ends, Alex is gone. It’s no loss to the team, Alex Smith, the alleged quarterback, is on the list along with Rashaun Woods and Todd Kelly as the worst busts in 49ers history. Except Alex leads them all, Alex Smith is the worst draft pick in NFL history.
Tim Couch was a world-beater compared to Alex.
Still not getting the extreme hate towards Alex around here.
Continue on, if you think it makes you a better man or fan.
Idiot. Jamarcus was the worst. Alex was the second worst.
Rib
Change your stupid avatar already you Kaep hater
Yes, it’s not AS’s team anymore we get it, but he is still on the team as backup still helping Kaep anyway he can. Why is the focus on an avatar instead of the positive win and perhaps SB #6??
Hofer
I like Smith as much as any rational Niner fan should. Had his back through it all until this year’s NYG game, and think he’s been instrumental in providing Kaep feedback when he seeks it. I’m just ribbing Ribs a little bit. I think we’re all happy this morning. It’s in jest.
MorningMeds = MuchNeededMeds.
Your hate for a player diminishes a really nice victory last night. Take your bitter pill somewhere else.
Smith has been everything you could ask for as a teammate and helped lead this team to where it is now. Stop ripping the guy for doing things the right way. He accepted his role and has shown nothing but class and support for CK. Why don’t you do the same.
Hofer – One thing’s for sure, Alex is a class act. He handled everything well without disrupting the team. He probably has helped Kap improve with getting the plays off on time. That was a big problem recently.
Mr. E, we are Niner fans. Not those dumba$$ Raider or (here on the east coast) Jets or Eagle fans. We are perceptive and intelligent. The concept of cheering, liking and appreciating multiple players, even those at the same position, should not be a concept beyond our intellectual grasp.
Your name dee phiant (defiant) says it all.
Your play on spelling does little to hide your true motives.
Oh, and as a reminder: ALL IN!
Wow. So Kaep played stupidly and we still scored 45 points? THat is high praise for the niners. If only we had a competent QB, we would have had 59 mins TOP and 127 points.
I am not concerned about our window for the Super Bowl, we have a ton of draft picks,Crabs and Kaep are out of this universe, Crabs is the best that I have ever seen that can sniff right past the first down marker, we will be scary good for a freaking long time.
The best you’ve ever seen? You must have been born after The Dynasty.
Crabs is coming around and yes he’s upping his game each week and performing at the level he was expected to play at but let’s not go overboard. Jerry Rice and John Taylor have a lot to say about your remark. Crabs gets some Superbowl time then we can talk about ‘best ever’.
Adam
I think Neal’s talking about just having a nose for the markers. That’s how I read it.
Yesterday changed the game of football, though. The Messerschmitt is a new weapon. Best in football. All ours.
Mr. E,
That is exactly what I meant and if JH can say that Crabs has the best hands he has ever seen, I can say that Crabs has the nose to reach the first down markers. that I have ever seen.
Then that’s something they’re drilling him on because I’ve seen him pull up a yard short on his routes on critical downs, several games this season.
I’ve been hammering him on that all year and so have the TV crews (and in fairness they do it with all receivers.) You have to know where the sticks are at all times and especially on critical downs.
He played a stellar game last night, not taking anything away from him but he hasn’t always run his routes to the marker. Many times he curls back in and gets tripped up short. I like some of the deeper slants they have him running now. The out and curl, I don’t like him in that spot.
He and CK make a nice threat for us, no question about it, and he is playing up to his draft status now – thankfully his foot seems to be holding together and he’s quickly getting better and better. So it’s all arrows up for Crabs.
Does anyone keep time stats on these players other than the 40?
I don’t think 40 times do some of these guys justice. Crab seems to have another gear and no one on GB was even gaining on Kaep.
I would love to know their 60 and 100 yard times.
Only shorter times, I believe. Or in as far as the NFL is concerned. During the Combine you will notice that they break the 40 down in to smaller chunks of space with video so that you can see “burst” as some players start faster than others.
The opposite is true also, as you say, some find another gear. You can see that in the Combine vids too. Some start slower but finish faster. It’s an interesting thing to watch.
I should have said “shorter chunks of space” instead of “shorter times”.
Thanks Adam,
I do think some of these guys are allot faster once they get going and since players are on the move most of the time I think those bursts can come at any time.
I used to think Crab would be a bust because he didn’t have the 40 speed but he really seems to be able to create seperation anytime he needs to, much like Jerry Rice.
Hoferfan67 says:
January 13, 2013 at 11:04 am
“Even AS is helping CK anyway he can with preparation. It’s a team game and supporting the team on the way to #6 is all good.”
@Hofe
I guess it’s nice to bring AS’ name into the convo after a big game by CK, but to what extent do you really believe that AS is helping?
Is there anything more vital then GR’ game plan that AS could offer?
Sure, I could see AS offering some things such as what to expect from certain defensive alignments and certain defensive players, but these are points that the coaching staff will go into great detail with CK.
Right now, the best thing AS can do is be prepared to enter the game in the event CK is injured. If this woeful event were to take place, I believe that AS would be more than ready. But then again, that is what I would expect from my back-up QB.
I’m sure he is helping. You can’t know about Smith and NOT know that he’s a class act. He’s been publicly supporting CK with outstanding praise and he’s accepted his new role.
CK himself has said, in several interviews, that Smith has been an invaluable resource to him, helping him with whatever he can. Who knows, maybe Smith’s biggest strength some day will be in coaching.
Compare that to the ultra-competive and sometimes contemptuous days between Montana and Young. It’s a whole different ball of wax.
Oh… and Hofer didn’t bring Smith in to the conversation. The Smith hater did. I think you missed the earlier part of the thread.
“I guess it’s nice to bring AS’ name into the convo after a big game by CK, but to what extent do you really believe that AS is helping?”
AES, in the comment string “AS cultists” were brought up. I simply stated that last week it was acknowledged by the beat writers and CK that AS has been helping him. In other words, AS holds no grudge and has moved on. So should the fans especially since this is a team game. It will take the offense and defense to win the SB. Is there a reason you are asking or did you just miss the gist of the comment as I explained above?
Apologies Hofe, it seems that I may have missed the entire thread. At first blush, it looked as if you were attempting to include AS’ name on CK’ parade.
My bad!