Wilson’s progress at QB puts him way ahead of Kaepernick

Here is my Wednesday column explaining why Russell Wilson is better than Colin Kaepernick. SANTA CLARA – You have to admit, Russell Wilson looked like a miniature combination of Joe Montana and Steve Young Monday night against the Saints – Montana’s cool demeanor and precision from the pocket, Young’s explosive ability to make plays on the run. Wilson has been that Montana-Young combo most of this season, his second in…

December 4, 2013
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Time to mobilize the QB

Here is my Thursday column explaining how to improve the 49ers pass game. SANTA CLARA – What would you say Eric Mangini does for the 49ers? They hired him in the offseason to be an offensive consultant, but the offense keeps getting worse. I asked Jim Harbaugh what the Mangenius does and Harbaugh said, “Several things,” and listed none of them. So I assume Mangini does nothing. Jim, you need…

November 14, 2013
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49ers’ mini-camp: Day 3 – Kaepernick’s best practice of the offseason

SANTA CLARA – Here is what stood out to me at Day 3 of the 49ers’ mini-camp. If you have questions about anything else that happened at practice, ask me in the comment section. THE GOOD 1. Colin Kaepernick – He hadn’t done anything spectacular this offseason until this afternoon. He’d been mostly dinking and dunking. Colt McCoy had been more aggressive throwing downfield. Alex Smith had been more aggressive…

June 13, 2013
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Odds are against 49ers winning Super Bowl. Should they worry?

On Thursday, Steve Young said the 49ers may have missed their best opportunity to win a Super Bowl with Colin Kaepernick. Young believes NFL defenses will adjust to the Pistol formation and the read-option plays which Kaepernick executes so well. Is there anything to Young’s comments? NFL defenses may or may not adjust to the Pistol – we’ll find out next season – but history seems to support Young in…

February 9, 2013
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Geep Chryst improves 49ers red zone offense despite small hiccup

SANTA CLARA – It has come to our attention that quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst is in charge of game planning the 49ers red zone offense every week. The 49ers have scored touchdowns on 56 percent of their red zone trips this season – 11th best in the NFL, and 16 percent better than their red zone TD percentage last season – 40 percent. But the last two weeks, the offense…

December 7, 2012
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Harbaugh is “proud as heck for Aldon.”

Aldon Smith is six sacks away from tying Michael Strahan for the the single-season record. Here’s what Harbaugh said about that on Monday, courtesy of the 49ers.   LB Aldon Smith is six sacks away from tying Michael Strahan for the all-time NFL record. How cognizant are you of that? How much would you want to see him get there? “We’re always happy for the other guy’s success. The thing…

November 26, 2012
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Young sizes up Kaepernick, compares him to Favre

Steve Young spoke on KNBR Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said Colin Kaepernick. Q: Does Kaepernick’s game remind you of you? Was there anything he did against the Bears that you didn’t know he could do? YOUNG: “There were some throws. He’s got a little interesting throwing motion. A little Phillip Rivers-y. Just a little different. But, I don’t care. It doesn’t bother me. As long as you deliver it….

November 23, 2012
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How good will Kaepernick become and which QB does he remind you of?

Which quarterback, past or present, does Colin Kaepernick remind you of? He reminds me of a young Brett Favre. Kaepernick has the same electricity, better legs, probably as strong of an arm and a bit more accuracy. Favre had a wild hair about him that took Holmgren several years to corral and several off-the-field problems that were demons in his career for a number of years. As far as we know,…

November 14, 2012
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The lowdown on the 49ers quarterback meetings

Here for your pleasure and enlightenment, and because it’s a Bye Week and nothing’s going on, I wrote a piece about what happens in quarterback meetings, focusing on 49ers quarterback meetings. The article follows. SANTA CLARA — What happens in an NFL quarterback meeting? And specifically, what happens in a 49ers quarterback meeting? You’ve probably wondered about all that. A quarterback meeting is something you never can attend, a place…

October 19, 2011
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911 call for secondary: Is there a CB in the draft?

Late in the second quarter of the Niners’ 34-7 loss to San Diego on Thursday night, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers spotted the mismatch — wide receiver Vincent Jackson on linebacker Takeo Spikes — and lofted a pass to Jackson for a much-too-easy 11-yard touchdown. After the game, Spikes didn’t reveal whether he was supposed to receive help on the play. Instead, he focused on Rivers, who made the play happen….

December 18, 2010
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