SAN FRANCISCO – Here is the complete transcript of Colin Kaepernick’s postgame press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. When were you told that you were going to be a starter? “Last night was when they officially told me.” Did you have an inkling that was the way it was going as the week went on? “I started getting more reps on Friday and Saturday. We really didn’t know…
SAN FRANCISCO – Here is the complete transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s postgame press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. At what point did you know that you weren’t going to have QB Alex Smith for this game? “Monday morning, today.” How had the reps been distributed throughout the week to get QB Colin Kaepernick ready? “We were giving him more reps on Wednesday and Thursday. And then I believe…
After the game, Colin Kaepernick stood in the middle of the field surrounded by a hoard of people, getting interviewed on national television. Alex Smith stood over on the side of the field and chatted with Bears third-string quarterback, Josh McCown. Already, Smith is an afterthought. Kaepernick took Smith’s job Monday night. It’s not official. But it should be. If the 49ers go back to Smith and they don’t win…
SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers destroyed the Chicago Bears 32-7 Monday night. Here are the grades for Colin Kaepernick. Colin Kaepernick: A+. Jeff Garcia said Kaepernick should check it down all game. Steve Young said Kaepernick should use his legs. Kaepernick said to heck with that. He came out winging it. He saw that the Bears were loading the box and daring him to pass, and he accepted the challenge,…
Jeff Garcia spoke on 95.7 The Game this morning. Here’s what he said Colin Kaepernick should expect and needs to do against the Chicago Bears tonight. Q: What does Colin Kaepernick need to do tonight? GARCIA: I think the one thing he has to really do is play within himself. This is the thing about the Chicago Bears – they are an outstanding football team, especially on the defensive side…
Obviously, if Colin Kaepernick has a great game against the Bears, we’re looking at a full-on quarterback controversy. And if Kaepernick falls on his face, there will be no QB controversy. But what if he has a middle-of-the-road game? He manages the game as well as Alex Smith, has some good runs and wins. Would there be QB controversy then? I think there would be. I’m eager to read your…
As I wrote earlier in the week, this is an epic moment in 49ers history. Chris Mortensen of ESPN just reported that Alex Smith has been ruled out of tonight’s game against the Chicago Bears. Smith failed the final concussion contact test and was not cleared to play by an independent neurologist. Colin Kaepernick will start for the 49ers at quarterback. John Madden said earlier in the week that Kaepernick matches…
The 49ers play the Bears Monday night at Candlestick. In the meantime, I’ll break down five key matchups. LB Brian Urlacher and LB Lance Briggs vs. TE Vernon Davis Briggs and Urlacher are two of the best linebackers in the NFL, but they are not fast enough to keep up with Vernon Davis. The Bears play a Tampa 2 defense, so their linebackers – Briggs and Urlacher – will match…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Greg Roman said at his Saturday press conference about Colin Kaepernick. ME: How would you grade Colin Kaepernick’s performance against the Rams? Are there any plays you’d like to have back, and if so, which ones? ROMAN: I’m not going to get into which ones. I thought he did a very good job of coming into the game and moving the team. There were definitely…
Earlier this season, Alex Smith said taking a sack is “not the end of the world.” I wrote a follow-up blog explaining that on every series in which an NFL offense allows a sack, it has just a 14 percent chance of scoring a touchdown. Through the first nine games of the season, the 49ers offense has taken a sack on 28 drives, and scored a touchdown on just four…
SANTA CLARA – Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith spoke to Bay Area reporters on a conference call Thursday morning. Here’s what he said about preparing for the 49ers two quarterbacks, Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick. Q: Do you guys have to prepare for both Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick? LOVIE SMITH: We’re going to prepare for the quarterback position for the 49ers. Whether it’s Smith or Colin, it doesn’t…
Steve Young spoke on KNBR Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about Colin Kaepernick. Q: How do you think Kaepernick did against the Rams? YOUNG: I thought he was thumbs-up. A young player in a tight spot. Had to go down and kick a field goal – did it. Had to bring the team back – did it. For young players, those are big deals. Now, was it pretty? No….
Jeff Garcia spoke on 95.7 The Game Monday afternoon. Here’s what he said about Colin Kaepernick. Q: How would you evaluate Kaepernick’s performance against the Rams? GARCIA: I think the biggest thing is he didn’t turn the ball over. Fortunately there were a couple fumbles they were able to recover. He was fairly efficient through the air, being 11-for-17. He ran the football well, which is really one of his…
John Madden spoke on KCBS Thursday morning. Here’s what he said about Colin Kaepernick. Q: If it is the two backup QBs on Monday night – Colin Kaepernick and Jason Campbell – who has the edge in your mind? MADDEN: Kaepernick, because he can run with the ball. The play can break down and he can make a touchdown out of it. That’s the thing that holds the pass rush…
NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell just spoke on the Murph and Mac Show. Here’s what Cosell said about Colin Kaepernick. Q: What did you see from Colin Kaepernick? Does he look like he has the goods to become an NFL quarterback, or were there red flags raised right away about his awkward release? COSELL: It’s not the release, but I think he has a long way to go. It’s funny,…
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,…
The biggest difference between Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick is Kaepernick is not afraid to anticipate throws. He does not wait for confirmation that a wide receiver is open. Smith has become so conservative, calculating and untrusting that he consciously waits for confirmation. If a quarterback has to wait for confirmation before making the throw, it is too late. Smith is like a pitcher who calculates his ERA on the…
I just listed three things Alex Smith does better than Colin Kaepernick. To read that blog, click here. Now, I’ll do the exercise the other way around. THREE THINGS KAEPERNICK DOES BETTER THAN SMITH Arm strength: Colin Kaepernick has one of the strongest arms in the league and he trusts it. He has no problem and no hesitation throwing intermediate and deep passes. Also, he’s a very good passer when…
Alex Smith vs. Colin Kaepernick is Topic No.1 in the Bay Area this week, so for the heck of it let’s list the things Alex Smith does better than Colin Kaepernick, and the things Kaepernick does better than Smith. I’ll list three for each quarterback. Please list more in the comment section. THREE THINGS SMITH DOES BETTER THAN KAEPERNICK Ball security: Smith is one of the best quarterbacks in the…
Mike Florio of NBC’s Pro Football Talk just reported that Alex Smith is getting a second opinion on the concussion that forced him out of the Rams game in the second quarter. You can read Florio’s article here. What affect do you think this will have on Smith’s status for Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bears? Florio speculates that Smith is looking for a second opinion “that points to a…
