Colin Kaepernick says Brandon Lloyd is a huge asset

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Colin Kaepernick’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department.

 

People are trying to set this game up as a study in opposites between you and Broncos QB Peyton Manning, a guy at the end of his career, you at the beginning of your career. Do you buy that? Do you see him as sort of the polar opposite to you and are there actually similarities between you two guys?

“I think we’re two people trying to lead our team to victories. At the end of the day, that’s what we do.”

 

What do you admire about the way he plays the position?

“Very intelligent. Very smart player. Puts his offense and his team in the best position to win.”

 

I know that you’re not going to have to face him directly, but do you get motivated when you face top quarterbacks on the other side?

“It’s always a great opportunity to go against someone like Peyton. He does a great job. Great quarterback.”

 

Was there a time since you’ve been in the league where you’ve sat down and studied him and seen what he does well, what makes him so successful?

“We’ve watched a lot of film on Peyton.”

 

And what technical aspect of it impresses you the most on what he does?

“The mental side of the game. Puts his offense in a position to be successful.”

 

What do you see as the biggest challenge against that defense?

“They have two great ends that can rush the passer well. We’re going to have to be ready for that.”

 

Broncos LB Von Miller, who has been rated though as one of the best outside linebackers in that 4-3, is he really the player you have to key on when you’re deciding on the play calling at the line?

“He’s someone you have to be aware of at all times.”

 

How about playing in the altitude? Any thoughts about that?

“Did it for five years. I’ll be alright.”

 

Do you feel vindicated at all by winning part of that appeal that got you the fine on the language penalty or do you think it should have all been erased?

“I think it should’ve all been gone. If you’re going to say I used a racial slur and come back and say I didn’t say it, then I don’t know what I’m being fined for.”

 

Peyton yells out ‘Omaha’ quite a bit.  If you had to pick a word to yell out, what would you–?

[Laughing] “I don’t know. I have thought about that.”

 

Are you going to try one out, maybe?

“No, not just yet.”

 

He’s so close to setting this all-time touchdown record. Do you look in the future and see yourself wanting to obtain some of these records that he’s had, former QB Brett Favre’s had?

“I don’t really look at records too much. At the end of the day, what matters is Super Bowls and that’s what we’re trying to do around here.”

 

What do you remember about your visit to the Broncos before the draft?

“It was a nice place. Talked to a few of the coaches. That was about it.”

 

Did you sense they were pretty interested in you?

“At that point in time, yeah.”

 

Another fine question, have you heard from the NFL about the Beats around your neck after this last game?

“No, not yet.”

 

Do you expect to?

“Yeah, there will be a hearing for that.”

 

For the first one?

“Yes.”

 

But you didn’t get fined again after last game?

“Not yet.”

 

What’s your view on that?

[Laughing] “I’m not going to say anything or they’re going to throw another fine my way, so I’m just going to be quiet at this point.”

 

Talk about what you see in the Broncos secondary and the challenge that they face.

“They have good players. Able to make plays. They’ll jump things when they have the chance. They just do a lot of things well.”

 

How about WR Brandon Lloyd? That play especially, the big bomb, having a weapon like that, what’s it mean to you and also just the relationship that you’re building with him?

“It’s a huge asset and I think the last two weeks he’s really built my confidence as far as being able to give him a chance and him making plays.”

 

In what way? What are you seeing? What’s giving you that confidence?

“Him making plays.”

 

That was like a 50-yard pass in the air and then you also had the touch pass to WR Anquan Boldin. Is there one that you favor doing and that you really took more pride in?

“Any one that ends up in the end zone, I’m good with.”

 

The one to Anquan, it was almost like a jump shot in basketball. Is that something that you’ve been working on?

“We do a lot of different throws. At some point in the game, you just have to make them.”

 

You mentioned having confidence in Brandon and you have four quality, proven wide receivers. Does it…do you need to have that confidence? Does it take longer to build that confidence when you have as many weapons on the outside as you have this year?

“It takes a little bit of time. They’re all very different, they run routes differently, but they’ve all been very successful. So, you have to be aware of that and take your time with them.”

This article has 137 Comments

  1. By year’s end, out of all of them, I think Stevie will have emerged as his best target.
    .
    Maybe not his favorite target…but his best target.
    .
    Dude just gets open.
    .
    .
    .
    ~ALOHA~

  2. Just like Jim’s press conferences. I don’t even need to read the press transcript because the only phrases Kap uses are “we need to execute” and “just trying to win the football game” and “they have a great team” and “give them a chance to make plays.”

    Why interview him with open ended questions?

    1. Why interview CK at all as he’s doing what Harbaugh does, DISRESPECTS! He doesn’t talk clearly with the media. He looks like he don’t want to be there. He don’t even seem happy that he threw for all those yards and got a gold star for it. NFL needs to stop interviewing CK from any outlet. You think CK would talk to NBC football, ESPN football, Thursday football? Absolutely not. He has no respect.

    2. Some people just don’t like CK7 and will criticize him regardless of what says or does. He’s direct and to the point. The questions are either stupid ones or have a hook to them. He avoids all the drama. If you want drama, go watch “The Real Housewives” or another TV show.

      1. I am not criticizing Kap, I am stating the obvious. No one cares what he says to the media as long as he wins football games and stays out of trouble.

  3. I look for the 49ers to match up VD against Marshall, and VD should have a very productive performance. Fangio will have the scheme to frustrate Manning, but the Special Teams unit needs to be sharp. Coffin corner punts. Don’t give Manning a short field. Offensively, time of possession is critical in this game. Keep Manning off the field, and keep the defense fresh in the altitude. Smart, penalty free play is another must. The #49ers are one of only two NFL teams that have bested Peyton Manning statistically. Manning has a negative 5-6 TD-INT ratio versus the 49ers….

    1. Razor, you just touched on something I haven’t seen in awhile ..
      There was a time .. punters used to put it out of bounds
      on the two .. so there was no chance of a return .. but
      I don’t see that anymore …so ..

      I guess what I’m askin’ is …

      Did the No Fun League outlaw that while I wasn’t
      payin’ attention ?

    2. Razor, I am tempted to say that VD is past his prime. Especially now that we have several other options.

      His game last week was the worst that I can remember. I know I am going to eat crow on this and I hope I do, but c’mon.

      I don’t want to hear about his injuries or lack of practice time either. He needs to get his head out of his culo and play some football cause it’s not looking like V Mac can.

      1. VMac actually looks like an athletic mismatch out there when they actually get the ball to him. That fumble isn’t going to help him get more targets, but you could see the athleticism when he turned it up field. I really would like to see him used in the passing game a little more.

    3. Best scheme vs Peyton is to bring pressure and cover underneath routes. Seattle set blue print how to play Peyton. Tight bump n run physical with safetys up and constant pressure up middle

  4. Don’t know if anyone saw this story yet, but I think it’s cool and I have a whole new respect for Lloyd.

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. — When 33-year-old Brandon Lloyd retired last year, he didn’t just stop playing football. He escaped from the NFL, and all that he was for a decade as a wide receiver for the 49ers, Redskins, Bears, Broncos, Rams and Patriots.

    He could have been catching passes from Tom Brady last fall. The year before, Lloyd had 911 receiving yards for the Patriots. Instead of selling moves on cornerbacks, Lloyd began selling steel parts for airplanes. He gave up being cheered by thousands and having his accomplishments replayed on giant scoreboards, televisions, laptops and mobile devices in order to be a regular guy, with a regular job and regular kids in a regular suburb of Denver.

    A lot of us wanted to be Brandon Lloyd. Brandon Lloyd wanted to be us.

    He never watched a game or even checked a score. He kept in contact with no one from his football life. He turned down overtures from at least six teams, including the Patriots, according to Pro Football Talk. He even denied that he was who he was. “When I was working in the aerospace industry, people sometimes would make a comment,” Lloyd said. “They’d say, ‘You know there is a football player who has the same name.'” Lloyd laughs. He didn’t want them to know. One time, he admitted it, he said. And it helped him make a sale.

    Lloyd sought complete separation from his former life, and it was not difficult to attain. “I didn’t have time to distract myself with sports or gossip or whatever,” he said. “I don’t watch much TV. I had a lot on my plate. I was doing a lot of reading. Lot of studying. Even reading sales books, figure out how to make sales, maintain clients, keep the clients I had happy. I had to submerge myself into their lives so they could understand who I was beyond football.”

    He wore a collared shirt when he worked in an office at Re-Steel in Commerce City, Colo. When he traveled, he wore a tie. He took business trips to Japan, Detroit, Southern California, Great Britain and Seattle, where he studied under a metallurgist. He made decent money. And he worked hard. He said football ingrained a discipline in him that helped prepare him for the corporate world. Getting up early, being on time and staying late had been second nature.

    Lloyd found his new job rewarding, just like football had been. “I got the same gratification out of solving problems with my mind that I did physically out on the football field for so many years,” he said. “That’s what I liked about the challenge.”

    In his free time, Lloyd did things like driving his two boys to school and watching their athletic events. He played in a men’s tennis league and went golfing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Those sports were a lot easier on his body. The aches and stiffness in his shoulders, back and legs dissipated.

    But he had to yearn for the game, right? He had to miss the competition, the locker room, the adulation, the money, didn’t he? “There was not an overwhelming desire or need or urge to play,” he said. “I wasn’t missing anything in my life by not playing… There was a peace of mind and anonymity that I really appreciated in that time off.”

    So how can we explain the sight of Lloyd at 49ers camp this week, putting a move on a 22-year-old cornerback, creating separation and scoring a touchdown in a seven-on-seven drill?

    After last season, when the NFL was Lloyd’s ex-wife, his agent David Dunn called. He asked if Lloyd would be interested in reconciliation. The answer was no, unless…

    It once was Lloyd’s dream to play for the 49ers, the team he grew up cheering for. And he was chosen by San Francisco in the fourth round of the 2003 draft. But the 49ers that drafted him were no longer the team of his dreams. The Bill Walsh magic was gone, and Lloyd’s experience was disappointing. He lasted three years in San Francisco before being traded to the Redskins. But now, Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers are more like the 49ers that Lloyd dreamed of playing for. “An opportunity presented itself for me to play for the team I was in love with when I was a child when they were back in the winning mode,” Lloyd said. “The conclusion we came to is the ability to bring closure to my career was worth it.”
    Initially, the thought was Lloyd would go through OTAs and see how his body felt, and if he had any misgivings. That went well, and now he is playing well in camp. Many around the team believe he could give the 49ers passing game a dimension it lacked one year ago.

    It only was four years ago when Lloyd led the NFL in receiving and played in the Pro Bowl, so it came back quickly to him. He said he feels just like he did in 2012 when he was catching all those passes from Brady. Harbaugh told reporters Lloyd looks “young and spry.” Rookie cornerback Dontae Johnson said Lloyd is the most difficult receiver on the team to cover, and praised him for his ability to disguise his routes. Lloyd’s re-ignited flame for football has burned brightly. Harbaugh has gushed about how Lloyd gets animated when he watches tape, even rising from his seat to mimic moves on the screen.

    The best part for Lloyd is he didn’t have to give up his new life. His employers were pleased to give him a leave of absence, in part because they were excited to watch someone they knew so well do what they never could.

    So one day Lloyd will slip back into a phone booth, and when he emerges, hardly anyone will know who he used to be.

        1. Good stuff. Still wished I never gave his jersey away. Idk about the Maroon colors though. Hated them.

        2. MW,

          I know I asked you this question before and sorry to ask, but my Boldin pic fell off and now I have the creepy cartoon profile. What is the name of the free web-site where you can download pics. Thanks

    1. NinerMD, This is a wonderful human-interest story and I don’t ever read anything this lengthy — I just don’t have the time. Anyway, good job.

    2. Great story. Glad to see him be able to have a life outside of football and enjoy. Glad his employer gave him a leave of absence. Means he will go back to being a regular life one day, his sales will probably increase, and the transition will be smooth. One of the first stories I read today. Good way to start the morning.

    3. Great read MD. That really contrasts with the public perception of Lloyd the diva / locker room poison, more interested in his fledging rapper/film career.

      1. Yeah, that perception is clearly dated. It appears that Lloyd has grown up since his first stint in San Francisco. Funny how that works.

        1. Winning culture? Things must not have been as rosey in New England for him to turn down a contract.
          I still think he is a one trick pony but we need this type of pony to make plays like he did the last 2 weeks!

    4. Fantastic column MD, on a very interesting athlete. I like him even better now. I heard him in a interview after Monday’s game, he did not say much. Nice to read something with meat to it.

    5. Thanks for posting this! I already respected Lloyd for his on-field performance, but this definitely makes me respect him even more!

  5. He is a cool dude who has his priorities straight and a wonky outlook on life. I like him a lot. Very real…

  6. I saw that during the game, scooter .. and
    couldn’t figure out why their QB was inbounds ..

    To Chris Cook, I say … “Good eye !”

  7. Can somebody tell me is it absolutely mandatory that CK must be interviewed, even though he wears glasses, (shades now), ear phones (got fined for) lied about swearing (Houston said he did, KPIX had something about what CK said, but can’t confirm), and does not look directly at the media and speaks clearly like other QBs can speak? They need to STOP interviewing CK. The 49ers radio, other sites, stop talking to the man that can’t do anything on the 49ers unless you ask him some tough questions like when was the last time he kissed his bicep after his latest TD?

    1. I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think it is mandatory that starting quarterbacks and head coaches make themselves available for “press conferences” of some kind. I think its pretty clear Harbaugh and Kaepernick hate talking to media.

  8. MD..

    Moron doesn’t care that he’s not welcome here ..
    (and neither does Monkey)

    It’s sad when the only thing one lives for is
    displaying your ignorance to the world and
    making an @$$ out of yourself in the process ..

    Problem is ..
    neither of them have the ability to comprehend that

  9. So far most of us have done a good job with the ignore. Some of you guys have got to get better.

  10. So how you guys think the Broncos will defend us? I haven’t seen the play this yr so I’m not sure what their defense looks like. I’d like to say they will play is similar to the way they played the Seahawks. I’m calling an upset (only saying upset due to all of the injuries). We put our stake in the ground and put the NFL on notice.

    1. They’ll play Cover One Pressure. 49ers will attack with 21 personnel. VD runs the seven route, Mr. Crabs runs a Dino Stem, Boldin motions from the Z and runs a high/low route. Off play action, Boldin should be wide open in the middle of the field….

      1. If that’s what they choose to do I really like our chances. O-line and Kaep both need solid performances.

  11. to quote Coach Harbaw: ” my destiny is … ”
    the memory of a postgame press conference
    with the winning quarterbarck be interviewed
    wearing a suit and tie (and no headphones)…

    A consummate professional – Peyton Manning.
    His articulate style with the press is a sign of
    maturity, and is reflective of his gamesmanship.
    Polished. Not particularly enamoured with ugly wins, okay?

  12. Anyone else hear Golic on trying to hurt Ricky Watters in a pile when he was with the Eagles?

    1. Here’s the article (referenced in the yahoo piece) from the guy who interviewed the coaches:

      http://mmqb.si.com/2014/10/15/nfl-breakdown-peyton-manning-colin-kaepernick/

      As is usually the case, the money shot comes at the end:

      None of those coaches were saying Kaepernick is a better quarterback than Manning, they were just saying he’s more stressful to face. Manning might be able to cut a defense with greater depth and regularity than Kaepernick, but at least the defense knows in what ways he can cut them. With Kaepernick, there’s a terrifying unpredictability.

      Coaches hate unpredictability. In fact, the whole point of their job is to eliminate as much of it as possible. Perhaps Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman will come to hate Kaepernick’s unpredictability themselves at some point. They’ve already had to retreat from some of the new spread passing concepts that they’d hoped to incorporate in 2014. But so far, the double-edged sword that is Kaepernick’s unpredictability has been immensely valuable for San Fran.

        1. ribico:

          That’s a perfect metaphor. At first I thought you were making a comment on bay’s creepy exaltation of Kaepernick’s studliness, but a quick Google search revealed this:

          http://www.stsci.edu/~lbradley/seminar/attractors.html

          Although the math forced me to awaken a part of my brain I hadn’t used in a long time and my grasp on the subject is tenuous at best, the following reminded me of Kaepernick’s style of play and the stress he causes defensive coordinators:

          Strange attractors are unique from other phase-space attractors in that one does not know exactly where on the attractor the system will be. Two points on the attractor that are near each other at one time will be arbitrarily far apart at later times. The only restriction is that the state of system remain on the attractor. Strange attractors are also unique in that they never close on themselves — the motion of the system never repeats (non-periodic). The motion we are describing on these strange attractors is what we mean by chaotic behavior.

          Not only is Kaepernick sometimes unpredictable (and thus chaotic), when he does something unpredictable, he often creates chaos in the defense. Defenders don’t know what to do, they don’t know what their teammates are going to do, and schemes fall apart. All of which leads to big plays.

          We should probably enjoy this while it lasts, because, eventually, Kaepernick will either develop sufficiently as a pocket passer and become a better Steve Young, or, as his physical gifts fade, become a slightly better Mike Vick.

          So, let’s cheer for the unpredictability and call him Captain Chaos, although I am sure doing so will lead inexorably to Kaptain Kaos, which is horrible. Vernon Davis probably won’t be happy about having another “Captain” around, but screw him and his misplaced priorities.

          1. This is actually a very good way to put it.
            Here’s an excerpt from the article the writer wrote a year ago, before the NFCCG:

            Brady’s stability and football IQ allow the Patriots to build great systems with middling players. Kaepernick’s best work is done through improvisation which, almost by its very definition, is something you can’t build around. If a coach doesn’t know where his quarterback will go on a given play, how does the coach create plays that form a cohesive game plan? And how do the other 10 guys on offense practice and perfect the nuances of their craft? Randomization can’t be mastered.

            1. Fansince77:

              Can you link the article so that the rest of us can read it? Thanks in advance.

              Randomization can’t be mastered.

              Perhaps not, but the offense can be unpredictable to the defense without resort to randomization, and there are ways to orchestrate a player’s improvisational skills. The read option, before teams started figuring out how to defend it, was a good example

              Moreover, and this is supposition, on some plays in which Kaepernick has taken off from the pocket to run, I’ve had the distinct impression that it wasn’t a total surprise to the rest of the offense. Harbaugh is crazy enough to design (or have Roman design) QB runs from the pocket that initially look like pass plays. Those are plays that can be practiced, allowing for the nuance perfection desired in the article. We also know the 49ers have plays in which several receivers are sent out in patterns only to block. Usually, they’re blocking for the first read, but it doesn’t mean they can’t also be sent out to block for the QB.

              All of this is academic, however, because Kaepernick is improving as a pocket passer, as even you grudgingly admit. He needs to continue that development and become more consistent. Until he gets to where he needs to be, however, it’s good to know he has another skill set that he can turn to when the structured offense breaks down.

              1. Here it is:

                http://mmqb.si.com/2014/01/15/colin-kaepernick-nfc-championship-game-san-francisco-49ers/

                It was a link from the article you posted.

                It was written before the NFCCG. Hindsight is always 20/20. He made a huge impact on the NFCCG with his legs. Sadly the last play, and the game, was decided on a pass.

                Last year my biggest gripe with Kaep was that he would take off and run, and not try to get the ball downfield. The article is interesting in how it shows the problems that Harbaugh and Roman face in trying to coach the team, Kaep etc. He had a great 20 yard run in the Green Bay game, but also had to options available underneath.

                I never saw anyone break down the plays in the SB either. In the end, for the SB, it’s really not on him, but the coaching staff. That’s a lot to put on a guy on his 10 or 11th start. What do we expect him to do?

                He’s 3 years in and still figuring out progressions and reads. That’s not a knock, just the way it is.

                But check out the article and form your opinion.

              2. WoW!

                Who needs a game plan when you’ve got randomization ? Who to block…pass patterns to where…that 4th quarter blimp that he sent up last week sort of tipped me off that randomization is best practiced on tables in Reno and Vegas.

              3. Get the Stanford Band on the field. That works every time. Well, every time it’s been tried, and that’s 100%

          2. Though not quite in context, chaos theory is what I thought of when reading that “terrifying unpredictability” quote from your posting. And doesn’t chaos supposedly follow Harbaugh around like Pig-Pen’s dust cloud from The Peanuts strip?

            *Someone* needs to come up with team nickname around this. I dont think KAOS, “the international organization of evil” from Get Smart, is all that bad. Maybe too Raider-ish.

          3. Claude,
            Good post. The system is initially chaotic but eventually returns to equilibrium. Same will happen with CK, he may be unconventional and chaotic at times, but over time, as he gains experience (and his athleticism diminishes), he’ll settle to some steady state … hopefully at a high level.

        2. ribico,

          Great reference.

          As time goes on I think we’re seeing less chaos and more attention to the system, but that TD pass to Boldin was a clear example of Kap just making play. I am encouraged by the fact he is looking at multiple options before running when given time. He now needs to work on just sliding in the pocket and throwing the ball instead of bailing completely and leaving himself half a field on a scramble drill.

          Improvement is obvious, but he’s still got a ways to go.

      1. I think the writer of the article was also part of a podcast that ranked the QBs from 2011 and 2012.

      2. Andy Benoit has obviously not paid much attention to Kap this season because he’s not a one read and leave QB anymore. If the pocket starts to collapse he’s quick to escape it, sometimes too quickly, but the idea that he’s bailing if the first read is covered is completely untrue and shows Benoit is holding on to a theory instead of looking at what’s happening on the field. He’s hit second and 3rd reads regularly this year and yet we still have guys like this stereotyping him as Michael Vick. Eventually they’ll have to accept the preconceived opinions are flawed and look at this guy for what he is: a supremely athletic raw prospect, who is still in the early stages of developing into a true NFL pocket passer. Some have decided he will never be more than he is now. I guess we’ll see.

        1. Rocket,

          Turns out it is I, who is the masochist.

          http://www.si.com/nfl/video/2014/10/14/49ers-beat-rams-kaepernick-concern

          If it pains you to watch, they said that Kaep had a great game against a weak opponent. All his problems are still there.

          In a sense, i think the traditionalists are always tougher on Kaep because they think that no matter what, the game always comes back to a QB who can go through the reads properly, and not wait for the play to break down, and then it’s a free for all and it looks like Kaep is actually reading a play,when in reality there is no play.

          I admire unconventional approaches, which for Kaep will be in he doesn’t evolve. It’s Captain Chaos as Claudey Balls calls it. Hey I support anarchy, which is why I won’t sing that dumb petition by Jordo. Let Jim Mora have his say!

          But at the same time I kinda agree with the old traditional blow-hards, eventually he’s gotta become a pure pocket passer and history is against him. It’s hard to break those habits.

          Sooooooooo, do I root for the player… or the team? Hmmmmm.. And I’m the troll.. got it….

          1. I never said you were a troll fan. My point about you has simply been you live to see the negatives in regards to this particular player. It’s been that way with you from day one, and none of the latest posts you’ve made on the subject sway that thinking. In fact they confirm it.

            Watch the Monday night broadcast again, or better yet the all 22 and you see clearly that Kap is reading the field on many occasions. Gruden points it out at one point during the game in some highlights if you feel you need to hear it from somebody other than me. Cosell even mentioned how Kap did a great job going through progressions on Cowherds show after the KC game.

            Nobody is saying he’s a finished product or a great pocket passer. What is being said is, he’s shown clear improvement in this area, and it’s obvious to anyone if they look and understand how the position is played. Benoit wrote a piece during the playoffs last year and is sticking to that view, meanwhile there are numerous examples this season that contradict his opinion.

            It’s called rhetoric and it’s used by those who don’t like to admit they were wrong. This behavior runs rampant on this forum.

            1. The counter argument is you only see the positives and dismiss the negatives that they will be solved or corrected. The “negatives” were the primary reasons the team did achieve it’s goals. The positives, while great, are also unpredictable. It’s like vegas, eventually those odds catch up.
              He’s getting better, but at what pace? And if the root fundamentals are still wrong, they will always be wrong. People can pick and choose and hear and see what they want to see.

              As for right and wrong, this is clearly subjective.

              I can easily say you are wrong to worship a player that is flawed and that ultimately he will break your heart. He is not as good as you think he is.

              Results are what really matters. We’ll have to wait til the end of the season to see how it plays out.

              If the niners win it all and kaep is MVP of the sb I’ll be happy.

              1. Fan,

                I hate to pile on, but you do have a flare for viewing things as absolute when they really have gradations. Take your implication that Rocket is “worshipping” Kaepernick for example. Given Rocket’s posts that I have read throughout the time I have been reading this blog, I see no hint of “worship” of any player. I will concede that he may, at times, be more optimistic about Kap and the 49ers than is the consensus, but he certainly has acknowledged problematic play from the team as a whole and from the QB. Thus, the implicature that Rocket’s position is akin to “worship” is at best ineffective hyperbole. At worst, it is an unfair attempt to cast him in the same mold as others who do worship certain players, and for no other reason than that he disagrees with you.

                I do not believe you are a troll, and I never have, but your posts over the last couple of days have seemed more designed to engender dispute than to discuss football. And I think we can all agree (or most of us, anyway), that posting for the purpose of evoking negative response is trollish.

              2. @JPJN001

                My initial thoughts when reading the word “worship” and the context in which it was used, was troll. It was merely a confirmation for me, but I’m glad you expressed my thoughts and saved me the effort….

              3. Rocket and JPN001.

                I mean no disrespect, wasn’t implying worship was negative, only just using it as an example.

                There’s only one person on the blog, and we all know who he is, that I get into it with that does take a mean spirit, mainly because he’s labelled me a troll and likes to bully people on this blog who disagree with him.

                You can disagree with my views, and I can disagree with yours, but this is all food for thought and not meant to be taken in a negative light.

                The reason you may think it is instigating dispute is because its taking a less then popular point of view for the quarter back play.

              4. Fan,

                I know of whom you write, and I do not disagree with you, but part of my point was that you are unfairly casting Rocket in the same mold, albeit perhaps unintentionally.

              5. JPN001,

                When I used that phrase, “worship,” it was part of a healthy debate, and i wasn’t trying to “put down” Rocket in any way. He wrote a link to Jack Hammer that he was a masochist for trying to change my point of view, and those are the interchanges that make it fun to post.
                At the end it’s just a game and this is not life or death and these debates on whether Kaep is great or not great really don’t matter in the big scheme of things.

              6. Poor fan doesn’t want to be labeled a troll. Here’s free advice. Don’t act like one.

              7. Cause if anyone knows how to act like a troll, it’s Bay who did it for years with Alex Smith!

              8. Bay Area Fanatic,

                I appreciate the free advice. I can use your help on explaining what a troll is. Is someone a troll because they criticize the team? Don’t you do that too? You always rip the Offensive line and blamed the loss to Seattle on the Defense. So it’s okay to criticize the defense and the fat lineman.

                And you ripped on Alex Smith all the time, even when he led the team to a 6-2 record before his concussion.

                So I’m confused Teach me Obi Wan Kenobi. Teach me your hypocrite ways. I am ready. My eyes are open.

              9. Fansince77:

                I can easily say you are wrong to worship a player that is flawed

                The problem with that assertion isn’t that it’s disrespectful towards rocket; the problem is that it’s an inaccurate description of rocket’s position. As JPN noted, rocket hasn’t posted anything that can be characterized as player worship. That you need to exaggerate rocket’s position in order to form a counterargument suggests that you don’t really have a valid argument against his position.

                By contrast, rocket’s description of your refusal to acknowledge Kaepernick’s improvement and your overfocus on the negative is accurate. He’s even provided examples Although the two of you hold opposing positions, that doesn’t mean they are equally extreme or equally subjective.

                Your comments over the past 2-3 weeks make me wonder what happened to you. In the past, your comments were in the “let’s hold off on coronating Kaepernick until he shows improvement as a pocket passer and cuts down on the mental errors” vein. They made sense, were reasonable, and were grounded in fact.

                But now, your comments have degenerated into stubborn refusals to acknowledge that Kaepernick is improving, despite abundant evidence of that improvement. You seem unwilling to even entertain the idea. I have to agree with rocket. You are starting to read like bay and jordan in 2011 and 2012, when they were unwilling to acknowledge Smith’s improved play because doing so would have been an admission they were wrong.

                The reason you may think it is instigating dispute is because its taking a less then popular point of view for the quarter back play.

                Smh. Congratulations; you managed to absolve yourself of all responsibility for your comments and insult JPN in a single sentence. Do you really think that JPN, one of the most intelligent, fair-minded and objective commenters on this blog, can’t distinguish between deliberately contentious comments and merely unpopular ones?

                Look at it this way. It used to be that the only people who objected to your comments were bay and some other fanboys. These days, the list has expanded to include people like rocket, Jack, ribico, JPN, me and others, none of whom can be described as fanboys and none of whom are afraid to take unpopular positions. That should tell you something.

          2. One needs to be able to recognize the difference between foundational structures and restriction. Also the difference between Chaos and Creativity. True creativity emerges from foundational structures. It is external variables that tend to throw off the potential synchronous balance between the two. If those variables are not recognized than the reaction to the restrictions imposed by an external variable might not be seen as creativity (growth) seeking an alternate path but as motivated by chaos. There is no Chaos ( it does not exist) it is only an inability to recognize the external variables which create the illusion of Chaos.

            If one does not recognize the causes as being external to a synchronous system then the system itself is seen as being at fault. Then the actual balance between structure and creativity is confused with the imbalance of restriction and chao’s.

            Fansince77- Your seemingly non reconcilable stand on supporting both anarchy and traditional structure is reflective of that sort of contradiction. An internalized conflict externalized through your perceptions of those same principles as reflected by not only Kaeps game but his personal life and choices as well. Kaep life is an external reflection of the internal ambivalence we are constantly subjected too ourselves.

            My posts in respect to Kaep have always been in respect to considering the variables that also influence his play. Fan77 by his own words seems to believe that his problems are more internal and less caused by external variables. So that even if those variables are removed his problems will remain. He doesn’t see ( or blinds himself ) to those variables and that is why he comes to that conclusion. The fact that he has never since his early games has not had a combination of both pass protection and more than a few reliable targets does not seem to represent any variables that would influence whether he is progressing or not. His reactions on the field represent Chaos because they can not see the variables involved. See the variables and the Chaos makes sense.

            1. Claude balls: The previous post is also relevant to your post on attractors. You made so good comparisons to Kaeps game in that respect. I think I might have recognized some communicative common ground. LOL. I can see the variables involved in your perspectives.

              You still seem to have an issue with my evaluations on TB as evidenced by your still prevalent humorous comments in respect to ODD. Well I see that as a variable that explains at least to me what at first seemed like Chaotic behavior. You see I do not subscribe or even use traditional psychological foundational principles. Rather a Rosetta Stone foundation that incorporates principles that can apply to every discipline including physics. Chaos theory being applicable to that as well.

            2. I’m not exactly sure what you are saying, in regards to chaos and creativity, and how that shapes my view of Kaep and the Niners.
              I will say that in life, I love the free spirit innovation comes from those that don’t follow the norm. That is the key to success in life, take your own road.

              That works for most professions and occupations. There are exceptions and sometimes you have adhere to certain rules. I can’t drive on the left side of the road here, if I want to survive.
              There are certain fundamentals. Let’s say I’m a secretary and I have to type 70 words a minute to get the job. I can can get really good and hunting and pecking. Or I can learn how to type the proper way. What is going to benefit me in the long run? Do I keep thumbing my nose at the man, or do I adhere to the fundamentals of typing?
              There lies the dilemma. Such is life….

              1. So what your saying Fan is running QB’s have never been successful in the NFL. Well done!

              2. What I attempted to say is that each of us has to find the balance between structure and creativity. You basically stated as much in your post. Kaep seems to represent that on the field of play as well as off the field. I am saying that finding that potential middle ground is not only possible but should be our quest. Recognizing that there are actual variables that have kept Kaep from progressing on the field is important because it reflects the standard we see for ourselves as well. Just as there are mitigating circumstances that have delayed Kaeps progress there are mitigating circumstances in our lives as well. Some of our failures are on us but more than we think can also be chocked up to circumstances. It’s all about making an accurate assessment. Our being hard and not fair with Kaep is not really that important to use individually. But it does give us a clue as to the standard we judge ourselves by and that is very important. Cut yourself some slack.

    2. Nice find Nick. Lets see what Fangio schemes up for PFM and hope our offense has a little something for Denver. They are formidable on D this year. Strong agains the run and have some high caliber players in the secondary with Ward, Talib, Roby back there. Thin at ILB like we are.

  13. How is Borland going to cover Julius Thomas? I guess most LBs need help on Thomas, but this matchup is particularly frightening. Granted, Borland was a tackling machine in college, but we’re talking about a 5-11 guy with short arms and a slow 40 matching up against one of the most productive TEs in the NFL. Obviously the safeties are going to have to help over the top. On the short routes is he up to the task? Does G Ro try to throw is some zone blitzes or other disguised defenses against the most cerebral QB in NFL history?

    1. Could Be Wilhoite covering depending who they think is better to cover J Thomas because we could be in Nickel all day. Borland did have two deflected passes last week. Something I am not sure Wilhoite has done yet. Somebody above suggested we could see Dime packages all day too. Bethea is faster than Borland but the same height. Reid is taller. Thomas is going to be an issue.

      Hopefully G Ro is calling Offensive plays and not doing anything with the Defense other wise we’ll really have a bad day. I think he’s going to let PFM have his short throws and bubble screens and not let Manning get deep. He’ll play lots of zone and throw in some blitzes carefully.

        1. I figured. It was my question too. Manning will get his yards but we need to keep him out of the end zone.

    2. 1. J. Thomas can be a beast in the red zone. I think they’ll match up Wilhoite on him. I’m worried more about D. Thomas. Most of his receiving yardage comes after the catch. Open field tackling will be critical in this game to minimize YAC.

      2. The Jets, last week, could not put consistent pressure no Manning. I think that will be another key area. The 49ers need to pressure Manning and make him move around in the pocket.

      3. Denver is 13th in the NFL in 3rd down conversion percentage (43%). The 49ers defense is 24th in the NFL in allowed 3rd down conversion (46%). This will be another key to the game and Niners D needs to do a much better job on 3rd downs and get off the field.

      1. Nick:

        The 49ers defense is 24th in the NFL in allowed 3rd down conversion (46%).

        Yeah, I haven’t been able to figure that one out. The defense has been inconsistent with regard to third down conversions. They’ve either been really good (Bears, Eagles, Rams) or terrible (Cowboys, Cardinals Chiefs). Even stranger, their performance on third downs doesn’t seem to correlate with winning and losing, although that may be a sample size problem.

        Cowboys 55% (5/9) Win
        Bears 33% (3/9) Loss
        Cardinals 62% (8/13) Loss
        Eagles 38% (5/13) Win
        Chiefs 55% (6/11) Win
        Rams 36% (5/14) Win

        All numbers are from ESPN box scores.

        1. Manning said this in an interview.

          “They have excellent players,” Manning said. “Well-coached. Tough against the run. They do a great job on first down. That’s where they get a lot of their stops, just on first down. Everybody thinks it’s all about third down, but they stop teams on first down and make third down awfully tough.”

        2. “Yeah, I haven’t been able to figure that one out.”

          I think you may find the answer if you look at the number of 3rd down conversions that came by penalty. That was a major issue through the first 3 weeks that has since cleared up.

          1. Beat me to it Hammer.
            The 3rd down penalties I complained about are a huge reason for 3rd down woes.
            Again now all of a sudden they know how to play on third downs. Smh. It was fixed from game 1-3. I don’t care what anyone says.

    3. From the mmqb article on Manning and Kaepernick:

      8. The Broncos are nearly impossible to play man coverage against. They’re too good with intertwined crossing routes and “switch release” concepts. Look for more and more defenses to play zone against them, at least on the inside.

    1. Jack:

      Great job dismantling the mystifying arguments against Baalke. Too bad the powers that be at 49ersWebzone wouldn’t let you title the article “A Big Middle Finger to DaNiners and Willtalk”

      1. yeah .. great job, Jack ..

        too bad the trolls, here, aren’t smart enough to
        read something intelligent

        1. MWNiner:

          Forget about the trolls. I wish some of the regular commenters would read it and reflect on the talent that Baalke has assembled.

            1. MWNiner:

              my bad

              Not at all. We just have different triggers. For you, it’s trolls. For me, it’s people who hold themselves out as knowledgeable and insist upon asserting strong, conclusive opinions when it is clear they don’t know what they are talking about. And hypocrites. I can’t stand hypocrites, especially when they bloviate.

              1. MW,
                My triggers are trolls like Fan77. The Virus trolls I don’t respond d to at all.
                And the other group that bothers me are the Napoleon complex, Nathan Lane look alikes that attempt to achieve greater physical height through the use of large words.

              2. Claude..

                I can look past the bloviation … I just can’t do
                stupid … it irritates me to no end

              3. You’re the troll because you always rip on the o-line and the defense.
                You support one player and not the team.

        2. Intelligence is only relative. A 40 watt bulb seems very bright compared to a 25 watt one.

      2. Claude: I wish I could get you one on one off site. This forum is not conducive to communication anything but simple idea’s and concepts. Also as I have also stated my writing talents are not really up to the task as well. Oh by the way usually the things that bother us the most about others are the very traits we hide from ourselves. Oh yes I do recognize the traits in TB that I b!tch about in myself. lol.

        Now why would my perspective on Trent’s shortcomings as a GM bother some of you guys so much. Taking it personal might say more about you than it does about my actual perspective.

        As to TB I am letting that go. I have pretty much laid out my arguments on that subject although I do feel most of it was taken out of context. My comments were mostly in response to the posts that made him out to be the best GM of all time. I felt I was just pointing out some of his shortcomings. Which mostly everyone seems to do in respect different players, coaches on the 49ers. I think everyone just went a bit overboard in respect to a realistic assessment of the abilities of players,coaching staff and front office based on the success of the 2011 season. Post on the subject all you want. However Claude if you persist in trying to make this personal via your constant personal snarky comments you might not like the outcome. Do we really want to get into personal cat fights on a forum or could our efforts be better served in more constructive efforts.

    2. Actual research and facts Jack? Yawn, how boring and undramatic. You really need to start writing from ignorance and emotional personal opinion. Don’t you know this team has blown the draft repeatedly under Baalke? He’s on the bubble and if he blows it again this year: He gone.

    3. Well done, Jack! I think Harbaugh and Baalke are the best GM-HC tandem in the league when putting a winning football team on the field.

      1. Recardo- They actually have the potential to be a good team. If they can ride out the after the honeymoon arguments that were inevitable when the initial illusions wore off. Sometimes the people that we don’t get along with are the very ones we need to strengthen us. Well we will soon see if they resign JH to a longer contract.

    4. Seahawks traded 1st/3rd-round picks for Percy Harvin and came away with 10 games, 27 catches, 322 yards from scrimmage, and 2 TDs.

  14. My head tells me all the signs point to a train wreck in Denver…
    – Banged up defense.
    – Travel after a Monday game to a high altitude stadium vs a hurry-up offense.
    – Playing a PPP (popular, pocket, pretty) quarterback means more roughing penalties against 49er pass rushers.
    – Denver is a very good team.

    Reasons for a little optimism…
    – Fangio’s defense shut down the Eagles hurry up. Practices were all about making sure defenders were in the right place. They had drills where the WRs were rotated but defenders were not to mimic Philly’s pace. It worked spectacularly.
    – Harbaugh mentioned the 49ers committed the extra day in the Rams preparation week to focus on Denver.
    – Justin has a history of giving Manning a very hard time. I remember a game vs the Colts Manusky had Justin and the rest of the D-line all standing vs the Colts shotgun. They swarmed Manning. His worst day of that season.

  15. I’d like to add to rockets point that Andy Benoit goes overboard (almost to the point of citing clichés) in evaluating Kap. He repeats 1-read conclusions as axioms when simple all-22 film study or even TV film shows Kap cycling through reads before running. I don’t have a problem saying Kap needs to become more consistent and manipulate the pocket more. I do have a problem with myopically saying Kap only operates in chaos and almost always goes into random play after the first read is covered (as Benoit concludes).

    Even Trent Dilfer has come around on this and Gruden highlighted Kaps pocket play on MNF. I think the media really struggles breaking out of a narrative, and Russell Wilson is another example (really mediocre and uneven play from the pocket and inferior play to Kap so far).

    1. I wish I would have scaled down and read this response before writing what I did above. Well said Adusoron.

    2. I hate to be the one who says it but I really believe people’s “evaluations” of Kaeps performance doesn’t ONLY include his play on the field. I personally feel his tattoos, headphones, interviews, etc all play into people opinions on his performance. If he was clean cut good ole boy I personally believe the reports would read a little differently. Kid has his flaws. We all see that but we all see his improvements. Whether we like it or not. Numbers don’t lie regardless of how boring and pointless they are.

        1. The image also helps people over look multi INT games by Luck and 100yd performances by R Wilson.

      1. I think you’re on to something there KY49ER, and I think only a Superbowl win can change their minds about CK.

      2. KY49er; It goes deeper than that even. Kaep brings out almost a fanatical dislike in people that seems to have no real rational basis. The masses seldom see reality but prefer certain people to either represent how they wished things would be, or they project their own personal issues upon others. Kaep seems to be a focus for the later type of focus. He has becomes a focus for their own fear of the unknown future of this country socially and economically. Wilson on the other hand is a refection of how they wished things were. The problem is that that reflection as is what i represents is also an illusion. The actions are not pure but rather done out of repentance and a resulting fear of negative consequences.

    3. Someone needs to do a Phd on how narratives develop and become a ground zero story line even after reality changes.

      I was thinking after reading your post what story lines about other teams have we bought into where reality has shifted but the media and the rest of us see are presumed axioms instead.

      Any examples?

  16. Anyone got the 411 on Denver? Hate to sound cliche but I’m going to Elway ‘ s for dinner. Seems to be a fun town.
    Call me a Homer but I believe we win 30-24.
    Go Niners

    1. “I’m going to Elway ‘ s for dinner.”

      Do they give you a complimentary set of horse teeth?

  17. Don’t try the Elway’s in Baltimore. You won’t get served until you make it to Denver. And when you do get your table in Denver, it takes 15 years to get your order.

  18. I watch the games and think about how the players compare to the pooches in my house. My15-year-old Shiba Inu is Colin. Drives me nuts sometimes, dog is willful and does some of the damndest things. crazy smart and wierd. Ki-chan deaf – -but can hear the Harley and meets me at the door. Pretty much blind but can see the cats and wants to play with them. They decline. Hell of a good dog. Just different… -L-

    Peyton is my 12-year-old Golden – goofy and predictable, a great, great dog. What you see is what you get, 100 lbs. of love but keeps an eye on the house more like a German Shephard. And Jim is like my Woodland Terrier, jumping around, eyes and ears on everything. But a great, smart woofie.

    Dogs, cats, Harleys, Mosin Nagants, lots of guitars and the NFL. Life is good for the old Ghost… Niners by 10 points.

  19. One of the biggest determining factors in the outcome of this game, will be whether or not the Broncos linebackers stay disciplined in their run keys….

    1. Or maybe Manning picking apart a very undisciplined secondary. Culliver has been bad, Brock and Ward probably won’t play. Eric Reid played better last year and Bethea is good one game, average the next.
      Add the fact we are missing three of our best defensive players, Manning at home could have a career day. That’s why they play the games and I’m taking:
      SF 26
      DEN 24
      Dawson game winning FG!

  20. I have a hunch this game goes much like the 2012 patriots game in Boston.

    We come out on fire, but manning being manning, brings the back to a near dramatic comeback.

    31-28 49ers

  21. ….this game will have a part in defining Ckone…..if he plays well as he did last week the word on the street will change from inconsistent QB to matured QB…..

    We need this Win……big time!!!!!!

  22. With a depleted defense we don’t NEED this win. What measurement are you going to get with a loss? A win will tell us our reserves had an excellent game. We NEEDED to beat Chicago, and Arizona. And we NEED to win 8 of the last 9 games. Which is very do-able

  23. An old article from PA newspaper quoting Manusky’s approach to stopping Manning
    http://citizensvoice.com/sports/49ers-manusky-offers-tips-on-slowing-manning-brees-1.601956
    ” The best way to attack Manning is to not change coverages until the play clock is winding down. Do it too early and Manning will have the time to change the play at the line of scrimmage. Wait just long enough and maybe you have a chance.
    “Manning is an offensive coordinator playing quarterback,” Manusky said. “He has seen all the looks and all the pictures. You are playing against one of the best offensive coordinators in the league. The play a basic 11 personnel. They give you three wide receives, one tight end and one running back. What we tried to do is disguise coverage and hold it as long as you can. You have to mix it up and do a good job up front.””

    In that game on Nov 1 of 2009, Manning did not score a TD (Addai threw one to Wayne). Niners defense moved around constantly before the snap. I recall that in some cases, none of the linemen had their hands on the ground. Peyton was discombobulated and very frustrated.

    1. Interresting! Payton does not thrive in chaos where as Kaep flurishes in it. It brings out his best. Now if he can learn to do better in a structured offense the Niner’s might really have something. I think it is learn-able for him. He just some consistency by the offensive line to provide the security ( a pocket ) that structure can provide so that he will have confidence it it. He already has the receivers that can get open.

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