49ers see runs of success in their quarterback’s future

This is my Sunday column. Keep running him until he breaks down. That is the 49ers’ plan for Colin Kaepernick next season. I can’t prove it beyond a reasonable doubt, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, but I can make a case. Exhibit A: Mike Shanahan and Rob Chudzinski – the top candidates to become the Niners’ new offensive coordinator, according to reports. Shanahan was Robert Griffin III’s head coach…

January 17, 2015
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Ranking the top QBs in the NFL

Who are the best QBs in the NFL? I’m going rank them by tiers. You’re free to rank the QBs however you see fit. TIER ONE: GREAT QUARTERBACKS. QBs who can carry a team even if it lacks a good defense or key offensive personnel. 1. Peyton Manning 2. Aaron Rodgers 3. Tom Brady 4. Drew Brees TIER TWO: GOOD QUARTERBACKS. QBs who lack one or two qualities the great ones have. QBs…

March 3, 2014
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It’s Panthers by a whisker

This is my Friday column on the 49ers upcoming playoff game against the Panthers. Before I write off the 49ers, I want to say I underestimated them this season. When Michael Crabtree tore his Achilles’ tendon during OTAs, I thought the 49ers’ season was dead. And when Aldon Smith drove his truck into a tree and the 49ers started the season 1-2, I thought the season was really most sincerely…

January 10, 2014
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It comes to pass for 49ers, Panthers

This is my Thursday column on the difference between the 49ers and Panthers. SANTA CLARA – The 49ers face a version of themselves this Sunday. If the 49ers are a “Bob,” the Panthers are a “Roberto.” For the most part, the 49ers and Panthers are the same team: Excellent, hard-hitting defenses. Quarterbacks who run and throw. Offenses built around running the ball. And coaches who are the sons of coaches…

January 9, 2014
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Fangio: “The quarterback powers and lead draws. We’re anticipating more of those from them.”

SANTA CLARA — Vic Fangio spoke in the 49ers’ media tent Thursday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department.   How has CB Carlos Rogers seemed to you? “Who’s that?”   Carlos Rogers. “He’s doing, what’s the word I’m looking for, he’s still hurt a little bit. But, he’s much better than he was last week. We’ll see if he can try and do something today.”…

January 9, 2014
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Kaepernick: “When I’m on the field, I’m not worried about my health.”

SANTA CLARA — Colin Kaepernick spoke in front of Garrett Celek’s locker Wedensday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department.   Do you like watching Panthers QB Cam Newton play and do you feel there’s similarities in your game and his? “He’s a great player. He does a lot of things well. We do have some similarities.”   There’s so much that’s being made that Cam…

January 8, 2014
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Spying the quarterback

From the Packers’ perspective, the biggest reason they lost on Sunday was their inability to contain Colin Kaepernick when he scrambled. The Packers’ coaching staff, and defensive coordinator Dom Capers in particular, did not assign a “spy” to Kaepernick in their original game plan. And once they saw him running around and breaking down their defense, they never made an in-game adjustment to incorporate a spy. Even if they had…

January 7, 2014
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Kaepernick’s season of regression

Here is my Tuesday column on Kaepernick’s season of regression. The following play epitomizes how inept the 49ers’ offense has become: Eight minutes left in the second quarter against the Saints. Play No. 2 of drive No. 6 for the Niners. Colin Kaepernick lines up under center and waves his left arm to silently signal the third-string tight end, Derek Carrier, to shift to the slot. Carrier isn’t looking. Kaepernick…

November 19, 2013
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Kaepernick on Manningham: “It’s not going to take much time for him to get back up to speed.”

SANTA CLARA — Colin Kaepernick spoke in the locker room Wednesday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department.   What’s it like having WR Michael Crabtree back on the field and WR Mario Manningham active and some reinforcements coming in? “Always good to have the receivers back out there.”   How are they both looking at this point? “Look like themselves.”   What did you do…

November 6, 2013
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Harbaugh: “I support Jonathan Martin.”

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here is a transcript. Q: What strikes you most about having Aldon Smith back? HARBAUGH: I wouldn’t say one thing strikes me most other than it’s good to have him back, good to be around him again. Q: Patrick Willis and Ahmad Brooks said they got pretty winded in a drill the other day and Aldon wasn’t even…

November 6, 2013
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John Clayton: “I don’t know that the Panthers can put up enough offense against SF’s defense.”

Wednesday on 95.7 The Game, John Clayton broke down the upcoming 49ers-Panthers game. Here is a transcript. Q: How good is the Carolina team that comes to Candlestick on Sunday? CLAYTON: “They’re good. They have some holes but they’ve started to turn the corner. You could see from the very first week that their front-seven may not be as good on defense as San Francisco’s, but it’s in the same…

November 6, 2013
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49ers’ magic numbers vs. Panthers

Here are some stats which may inform our discussion of the 49ers’ upcoming Week 10 game against the Panthers. Rushing attempts per game: 49ers: 33.8 (1st in NFL) Panthers: 32.6 (3rd) Rushing yards per carry: 49ers: 4.5 (9th) Panthers: 4.0 (18th) Yards per carry allowed: 49ers: 3.9 (11th) Panthers: 3.7 (6th) Passer rating allowed on play action passes: 49ers: 80.1 Panthers: 97.8 Opponent’s third down conversion percentage: 49ers: 33.04 (3rd)…

November 4, 2013
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Harbaugh says Wallace can “do a lot of the things a QB that can move could do in our system.”

Here’s the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.   Tell us about the addition of QB Seneca Wallace? How do you see him fitting in here over the next, whatever it is, several weeks of the exhibition season? “I think he hit the ground running. Professional, he’s played in the league, experienced guy. So, going over a lot of things that he is familiar with,…

August 23, 2013
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Which NFL quarterbacks will have passer ratings better than 95 this season?

Last season, 10 quarterbacks finished the regular season with passer ratings better than 95.0. Those quarterbacks were: 1. Aaron Rodgers: 108.0 2. Peyton Manning: 105.8 3. Alex Smith: 104.1 4. Robert Griffin III: 102.4 5. Russell Wilson: 100.0 6. Matt Ryan: 99.1 7. Tom Brady: 98.7 8. Colin Kaepernick: 98.3 9. Ben Roethlisberger: 97.0 10. Drew Brees: 96.3 Which quarterbacks do you think will have passer ratings better than 95.0…

June 30, 2013
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Kaepernick vs. the QBs on the 49ers’ 2013 schedule

49ers fans and Bay Area residents are hyper-aware of Colin Kaepernick’s excellent 2012 season. He took Alex Smith’s starting job Week 10, started the final-seven games of the regular season and was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL over that stretch. I thought it would be interesting to compare Kaepernick’s final-seven regular season games to the final-seven regular season games of each of the quarterbacks the 49ers will…

May 20, 2013
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Cosell breaks down the QB prospects in the draft

Greg Cosell recently broke down the draft’s quarterback prospects on Yahoo’s Shutdown Corner podcast. Here’s his breakdown. Q: What do you think of Geno Smith? COSELL: There is no question he has an NFL arm. He’s an NFL talent. Now, he’s got some other issues. First of all, he’s got some footwork issues. I think that can be corrected. He plays almost exclusively from the shotgun. He’s a bit of…

March 7, 2013
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Top 5 questions 49ers must answer this offseason

What are the top-five questions the 49ers must answer this offseason? I’ll give you my list, and I’d be interested to read yours as well. Can the 49ers’ defense improve? Once Justin Smith got hurt in the third quarter of the Week 15 game against the Patriots, the 49ers’ defense imploded. They went from elite to awful, giving up 34.4 points per game in five of their last six games…

February 11, 2013
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Is Colin Kaepernick Cam Newton?

Cam Newton dismantled the Falcons’ defense twice this year. He completed 38-of-59 passes for 502 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He also ran for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns. Are the Falcons vulnerable to dual-threat quarterbacks like Cam Newton? Do you expect Colin Kaepernick to torch the Falcons defense like Newton did this year? Keep in mind the Falcons dominated Cam Newton in 2011, intercepting him five times and…

January 14, 2013
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Ranking young quarterbacks, part II: Grant’s ranking

Earlier today I asked you to rank Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick in order of which QB you would most want to build an NFL team around. Here’s my ranking. Colin Kaepernick – Of these four quarterbacks, Kaepernick has the strongest arm. He’s not quite as athletic as Griffin, but Kaepernick is more athletic than Luck and Newton. Kaepernick can throw from the pocket or…

December 1, 2012
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