This is my Thursday column. Is Colin Kaepernick serious about his craft? He says he wants to become a better quarterback. He says he wants to train with a guru. He says the right things. Jeff Garcia took him at his word. About a week ago, Garcia publicly volunteered to mentor Kaepernick. Garcia makes a living coaching quarterbacks. He has his own regimen and routine and everything, even has his…
This is my Sunday column. As Jed York and Trent Baalke search for someone who can make Colin Kaepernick a competent pocket passer, keep in mind that Jim Harbaugh, the Quarterback Whisperer, couldn’t do it; George Whitfield, the Quarterback Guru, couldn’t do it; and Bill Walsh, The Genius, almost certainly wouldn’t care to try. Of course, I can’t prove that last part — Walsh passed away in 2007 — but…
This is my Wednesday column. I don’t get you, Jed. You say you know what you’re looking for and you still can’t find it. I asked you Monday what qualities the next head coach of the 49ers should have. You were prepared for that question. Right away, you said, “I want a teacher. I think what made Bill Walsh so successful is that he was a great teacher, whether that…
SANTA CLARA – Hey, at least the 49ers didn’t lose to both Cardinals’ backup quarterbacks this season. KAEPERNICK: B+. Played his best when it really mattered. Threw two touchdown passes and zero picks for the first time since Week 6. Also threw zero fourth-quarter touchdown passes for the 18th game in a row. Would have committed a Delay of Game penalty with 2:11 left in the fourth quarter if Marcus…
This is my Wednesday column. Trent Baalke will move against you first, Jed. After you get rid of Jim Harbaugh, Baalke will set up an interview with someone you’re supposed to trust — some hot-shot NFL offensive coordinator, maybe Adam Gase or Josh McDaniels or Darrell Bevell. And at that interview, the coordinator will guarantee to Baalke he can fix the 49ers’ offense. Do not let Baalke hire him, Jed….
This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ p.r. department. Opening comments: “We had compiled some team voting and voted on awards for this season. Wanted to announce those. The Len Eshmont Award: [RB] Frank Gore. The Bill Walsh Award: [S] Antoine Bethea. Bobb McKittrick Award: [T] Joe Staley. The Hazeltine Iron Man Award: [DT] Justin Smith. Thomas Herrion Memorial Award: [LB] Chris Borland….
This is the transcript of Colin Kaepernick’s Tuesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ p.r. department. Did RB Frank Gore surprise you at all for what he was able to do six days after a concussion? “I can’t say he did because I expect a lot out of Frank and there’s not too much he does that amazes me anymore because that’s just the standard he’s set for himself.” …
SANTA CLARA – On third-and-5 with 3:43 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Niners up by seven, Colin Kaepernick ran out of bounds after losing a yard, stopped the clock for the Chargers and set up Philip Rivers’ game-tying touchdown pass. No, Kaepernick hasn’t thrown a touchdown in the fourth quarter this season. But Rivers threw one today, and Kaepernick helped him do it. Give Kaepernick credit. KAEPERNICK: D. That’s…
Here is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ p.r. department. How’s the running back situation looking at this time? “[RB] Frank [Gore] practiced today. [RB] Alphonso Smith has had a good week. And we have a new back that has worked in very nicely. Anticipate him being ready for the game and contributing at running back and special teams.” So, RB Phillip Tanner,…
This is the transcript of Colin Kaepernick’s Wednesday interview, courtesy of the 49ers’ p.r. department. What’s your reaction to DT Ray McDonald being released? “Not a situation you want to hear about. Very unfortunate.” General manager Trent Baalke just addressed the media and he said head coach Jim Harbaugh told the team. Can you tell us a little bit how that went, how he pulled everyone together to let…
SEATTLE – Trent Baalke folded his arms and hung his head in shame. The 49ers’ season was over. The Niners and Seahawks were shaking hands at midfield and Baalke was staring at his desk in the press box. Bad look, Trent. Time to face the failure you created. KAEPERNICK: C. Played like Alex Smith. Didn’t turn the ball over – a first for Kaepernick against the Seahawks. Yes, he scored…
This is the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ p.r. department. Opening statement: “Morning. Getting ready for a very good Seattle defense. I think these guys have gotten healthy the past couple weeks and are playing at a very impressive level. Very impressed at their Philly game and they certainly did a good job against us a couple weeks ago. I think we helped them…
This is my Wednesday column. Colin Kaepernick is in the tank. Every week he sinks a little deeper. I picture him diving into a pool like Dustin Hoffman in “The Graduate,” swimming to the deep end, sitting cross-legged on the bottom, covering his ears and screaming inaudible gurgles while Simon and Garfunkel sing “The Sounds of Silence.” Let’s put the plunge in context. Kaepernick is 27 years old and declining….
SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Colin Kaepernick’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Do you feel better about things this week with practice? “Yeah, we’re back to work trying to get ready for this next game, get back on a roll.” Is it possible to have fun with this, enjoy this, this challenge, the whole thing? Sometimes people wonder if you’re having fun….
SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. So, you guys activated LB NaVorro Bowman to the 53-man roster. What do you expect from him for the final three weeks of the regular season? “The doctors and medical staff put a plan into place that would make it possible for him to play this year. This week, he wouldn’t…
SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Has there been any decision on LB NaVorro Bowman? “We’re going to discuss that this afternoon. Let all the medical weigh in today and then make decisions.” The window closes tomorrow or today? “Correct. Tomorrow, I believe.” You figure Seattle would love nothing more than to effectively end your…
OAKLAND – Before we get to the grades, let’s have a moment of silence for the Jim Harbaugh Era. That’s enough. KAEPERNICK: Ω. He gets an omega, the last letter in the Greek alphabet, because English just won’t do. An ‘F’ isn’t low enough. A ‘Z’ isn’t low enough. This was the worst performance of Kaepernick’s career, the kind of performance that gets a quarterback benched and…
This is my Sunday column. What about Trent Baalke? Sure, the 49ers probably will dump Jim Harbaugh at the end of the season. His quarterback isn’t improving and his offense stinks and he ticks people off. We get all that. But what about Baalke? Who’s to say the Niners won’t dump him, too? What makes him worth keeping? Let’s evaluate his contribution to the franchise. Let’s figure out how many…
This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. How do you guys approach this game? As far as the travel and everything, is it almost like a home game as far as staying in the team hotel the night before and going to the game on a bus? “Yes, we are going to do that. Stay in the team hotel and then…
The NFL just named Andrew Luck and Aaron Rogers — not Colin Kaepernick — the offensive players of the month. When Jim Harbaugh was talking about Kaepernick’s greatness, I missed hearing about Kaepernick’s stats for the month of November. How do they stack up? November stats: Kaepernick: 87 completions/152 attempts (57.2 completion percentage); 1,017 passing yards; 6.69 yards per attempt; 4 TDs; 3 INTs; 78.2 passer rating. Luck: 88 completions/144…
