SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh just named Colin Kaepernick the 49ers starter against the Rams this Sunday. Here’s everything Harbaugh said about his decision. Q: Have you made a decision as to which quarterback you will start against the Rams? HARBAUGH: We plan to start Colin Kaepernick. We’re preparing him to make that start this week against the Rams. Q: What’s the rationale behind that? HARBAUGH: The rationale is we…
Jim, if you choose to start Alex Smith against the Rams on Sunday, you’ll be making the biggest mistake of your coaching career. You absolutely must start Kaepernick. If you start Smith, you will start a massive quarterback controversy. Every play Smith makes or doesn’t make will be compared to what Kaepernick did or could have done. Talk about speculation and hypotheticals. And you’re the one who will have started…
Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said on Monday about the 49ers quarterback controversy, courtesy of the 49ers. I would imagine you don’t—are you going to announce the quarterback for Sunday, or is that still something that you’re going to decide throughout the week? “Won’t today. Won’t today. As you know it’s the players’ day off. And will continue to consider it and wouldn’t announce anything before we had the chance…
Jim Harbaugh has been tap dancing around quarterback questions recently like a performer on Bourbon Street. Monday at his press conference, Harbaugh said Alex Smith is still the starting quarterback, but Harbaugh wouldn’t name Smith the starter against the Rams. Harbaugh said he’ll wait until Wednesday to make that announcement. Do you expect Harbaugh to start Smith against the Rams? Should Harbaugh start Smith against the Rams? Why or why…
NEW ORLEANS – Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said after the 49ers beat the Saints 31-21. Q: Is Kaepernick your starting quarterback going forward? HARBAUGH: Colin played well in a tough environment. He acquitted himself very well. Q: Do you expect him to start next week? HARBAUGH: We’ll address that at a later date. Q: Was Alex able to play today? HARBAUGH: Yes, he was cleared yesterday Q: How do you…
Should Alex Smith replace Colin Kaepernick at quarterback in the second half? If so, why? If not, why not?
The 49ers play the Saints Sunday at the Superdome. In the meantime, I’ll break down five key matchups. CB Patrick Robinson vs. WR Mario Manningham Michael Crabtree was Alex Smith’s favorite target, but Colin Kaepernick likes to throw the ball downfield, and Crabtree is a possession receiver. As a result, Kaepernick has shown more chemistry throwing passes to Mario Manningham this season. Manningham is a deep threat, but the 49ers…
The 49ers play the Saints Sunday at the Superdome. In the meantime, I’ll break down five key matchups. SS Roman Harper vs. TE Vernon Davis The Saints absolutely cannot leave Harper one-on-one with Davis in this game. Steve Spagnuolo must devote two defenders to Davis. In the playoffs last season, Gregg Williams thought Alex Smith wouldn’t make the Saints pay for single covering Davis. Davis beat Harper for 180 yards…
It looks like Colin Kaepernick is going to start against the Saints in spite of the fact that Alex Smith is having a very good season and only went out because of an injury. Do you feel sorry for Smith, yes or no? Why?
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh held a press conference Friday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers quarterback controversy. Q: Any word yet on who your starting quarterback will be on Sunday? HARBAUGH: No. We feel like there’s no competitive advantage for us to release the information. ME: Is there a competitive advantage in not releasing the information? HARBAUGH: Possibly. Maybe it’s one percent, a small percent. ME: That’s…
Steve Young spoke on KNBR Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers quarterback controversy. Q: What do you think’s going on with this quarterback controversy? YOUNG: “It’s pretty easy for me based on what Jim said. There are three types of controversies – the one in the streets, the one in the locker room and the one with the coach. The one that truly matters is the one…
Greg Roman said yesterday the 49ers have not decided which quarterback – Colin Kaepernick or Alex Smith – will start against the Saints on Sunday. Thursday morning on the Dan Patrick show, Donte Whitner contrdicted Roman’s statement. Whitner told Mike Florio that Kaepernick will indeed start against the Saints. The 49ers have not officially named Kaepernick the starter, but I would be shocked if he didn’t start in New Orleans this…
Greg Roman held a press conference Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers offense and quarterback controversy, courtesy of the 49ers. Can you clear up what’s going on with the quarterback situation right now? “Well, no decision has been made. We’re hopeful that [QB] Alex [Smith] gets cleared tomorrow, physically. We’re confident in both quarterbacks to be on the field. We’re always going to make way all…
ESPN’s Ed Werder is reporting that Alex Smith has finally passed his final concussion test and is cleared to play, but Colin Kaepernick will still start against the Saints. This makes Jim Harbaugh’s intentions clear – he’s going with Kaepernick because he thinks he’s the best quarterback, not because Alex Smith is injured.
Jim Harbaugh deserves the highest praise for benching Alex Smith and starting Colin Kaepernick. It would have been easy for Harbaugh to hand the starting quarterback job back to Alex Smith after he returned from his concussion. Very few experts would have criticized Harbaugh for that conservative, timid move. After all, Smith is the fourth-highest rated quarterback in the NFL, and he’s a veteran and he’s a winner. Harbaugh didn’t…
Breaking news: ESPN is disputing Jim Trotter’s report that the 49ers have made Kaepernick the starter against the Saints. According to ESPN’s Trent Dilfer, Harbaugh told Smith that Kaepernick will get the first-team reps in practice, but the starting job is still an open competition. First team reps certainly implies Kaepernick is the starter. But it does mean there’s still some ambiguity. Obviously, this situation is fluid. We not only…
Jim Trotter just tweeted that Jim Harbaugh has informed Alex Smith that Colin Kaepernick will start against the Saints in New Orleans on Sunday. According to Trotter’s sources, Harbaugh’s decision is not based on Smith’s health. Here’s how I interpret this: If Kaepernick plays another stellar game against the Saints, the starting quarterback job is his for good. If he falls on his face, Smith could get another chance. How do…
New Orleans Saints’ interim head coach Joe Vitt spoke to Bay Area reporters on a conference call this afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers quarterbacks. Q: Are you going to prepare for both quarterbacks? VITT: Absolutely. Both quarterbacks are playing within the framework of the offense. Both quarterbacks are highly skilled, can make plays with their feet. Both protect the ball. We’re studying both on film. We’re defending…
SANTA CLARA – Colin Kaepernick spoke after Alex Smith in the 49ers locker room Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what Kaepernick said. Q: Have you been involved in a situation like this? KAEPERNICK: No. Q: What have your talks with Alex been like? KAEPERNICK: We’ve always been on each other’s side, we’ve always supported each other. We’re going to keep doing that. Q: Is it up in the air who’s going to…
SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith spoke in the 49ers locker room this afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: How are you feeling right now as far as getting cleared to play? SMITH: Still in the process of being cleared to go back out and practice. Going to be out there in the (black) jersey and just start the process again, kind of continue. Q: Do you expect to be cleared?…
