On Paper, Kaepernick Move Puzzling

[PatsFans.com Article]

On Paper, Kaepernick Move Puzzling
By: Ian Logue

A lot of talk has centered around the quarterback situation in San Francisco and taking a closer look, Jim Harbaugh is either crazy, or he's a genius. ...

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS STORY​

 

[RIpats88]

I think CK is a good move for the future, but I have a feeling he is going to make a rookie mistake in the playoffs and cost them a game..and fans will start questioning whether they shouldve stuck with alex smith or not....he hasnt really impressed me the last couple of games...I mean the Dolphins played them toe-to-toe for most of last weeks game. they are winning those because their defense is soo rediculous

sure, smith might not be as "dynamic" but he went toe-to-toe with brees last year, beating them in a shootout...and shouldve been in the superbowl had their kick returner not fumbled 2times

 

[mayoclinic]

2 arguments make sense to me:

1. Harbaugh realized after losing to the Giants in October that he needed another dimension on offense. After he watched how RGIII did against the Giants he realized that a mobile QB with a strong but accurate arm was more likely to give that defense troubles than a pocket passer. After Smith went down and Kaepernick played well, he decided that the odds of the 49ers leapfrogging the rest of the NFC were better if he took that risk now.

2. The Mike Lombardi "illusionist" theory: the 49ers are a rushing team, and they're using Kaepernick to create the illusion that they're adding a deep passing dimension, while they're really just adding another rusher to their offense.

To me it's a more sophisticated version of Tim Tebow vs. Kyle Orton. Kaepernick may not be Tebow, but I haven't seen enough from him yet to believe that he will settle in and stay the course once teams have had a look at him and figured him out. Maybe he will, but I'm a bit skeptical. A lot of those guys fizzle out once the novelty wears off (Vince Young, for example).

 

[Chopblock CB]

I wouldn't be surprised if Both of the Niners QB's saw action in this game....nor would I see Harbaugh hesitate in pulling Kaep out of the game if he falters...How many times have we seen the backup QB come into a game and light the opposition up. I know BB will focus on Both QB's....cuz that's just the way he is...

 

[JMarr]

On Paper, Kaepernick Move Puzzling
By: Ian Logue

A lot of talk has centered around the quarterback situation in San Francisco and taking a closer look, Jim Harbaugh is either crazy, or he's a genius. ...

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS STORY​

I vote for crazy.

And I agree, it's a very risky move that really didn't have to be made. But who knows--maybe Alex Smith was getting a bit c*cky and/or complacent.

 

[Spergon Wynn]

I like Kaep a lot. I think once Harbaugh decided to play him over a healthy Smith, he had no choice but to stick to his guns (although I don't think that CK did any thing that would allow Smith to take the job back). Kaep provides a play making ability that Smith doesn't and has a much higher ceiling at this point. I'm rooting for the kid.

That being said, I hope he has a terrible game tomorrow night!

 

[BananaRepublican]

After he watched how RGIII did against the Giants he realized that a mobile QB with a strong but accurate arm was more likely to give that defense troubles than a pocket passer.

That's a good theory. I say it's likely true that the ghost of Giants Past haunts Harbaugh. However it wasn't Alex Smith that lost that game for them.

The time to break in a rookie doesn't seem to be the stretch drive. For instance, what happens if he just turns the ball over once or twice Sunday as you could normally expect from a rookie in a big game on the road? Suddenly the Niners have an average record and are in a rock fight with a Seattle team waiting to ambush them in Seattle. Forget the Giants if you can't win your own division.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

That's a good theory. I say it's likely true that the ghost of Giants Past haunts Harbaugh. However it wasn't Alex Smith that lost that game for them.

The time to break in a rookie doesn't seem to be the stretch drive. For instance, what happens if he just turns the ball over once or twice Sunday as you could normally expect from a rookie in a big game on the road? Suddenly the Niners have an average record and are in a rock fight with a Seattle team waiting to ambush them in Seattle. Forget the Giants if you can't win your own division.

Exactly. The pressure on CK as the playoffs approach is more than any inexperienced QB i can ever remember. This is what makes this move so puzzling (though the $$$ part is probably a factor). Teams get to mid season with the hope they have a formula that gives them a tangible chance at winning the Super Bowl. For instance the Patriots D might have been a weak spot, however, their passing O, good STs and not making mental mistakes is a formula to have a tangible chance at winning the SB. The 9ers already had that formula. Solid defense, solid running game and a passing game that didn't make a lot of errors as well as get a fair amount of TDs. They clearly had that formula. Yet Harbaugh changed the formula to an unknown. It's almost unheard of to do this.
Anything can happen but, IMHO, what the 9ers are asking CK to do is extreme. Come lead a SB caliber team, a fan base with high expectations, a QB right behind you that has just about proven he can lead them to the SB, and do this while having almost no experience handling the pressure or the media attention.
Not sure why Harbaugh didn't continue to have CK come off the bench and play more and more.....but continue to let Smith start and take the media responsibility of winning and losing.

 

[Joker]

I can't help but look at Harbaugh and see this strident, emotional, drama queenish, hawk nosed Joan Crawford impersonator with the intelligence of a comatose Kathy Lee Gifford.

Trying to figure out why a mongo makes a mongo move only makes your head throb.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

kap is going to have a tough time vs our D in our house tomorrow..i see 2 INTs from him

 

[stcjones]

In all fairness we only beat the doofins 23-16.....Kaepernick is going to be a decent, Jeff Garcia/Maybe Steve Young kind of player for San Fran.....He has a strong arm and can really run the ball successfully when needed. He is Michael Vick WITH Brains....Whether he can "Keep up" with Brady and the Pats......is the question at this stage in his career. But, I feel like he WILL be a very good player in the league

I think CK is a good move for the future, but I have a feeling he is going to make a rookie mistake in the playoffs and cost them a game..and fans will start questioning whether they shouldve stuck with alex smith or not....he hasnt really impressed me the last couple of games...I mean the Dolphins played them toe-to-toe for most of last weeks game. they are winning those because their defense is soo rediculous

sure, smith might not be as "dynamic" but he went toe-to-toe with brees last year, beating them in a shootout...and shouldve been in the superbowl had their kick returner not fumbled 2times

 

[goheels22002]

Colin Kaepernick is a rookie who has 3 TD passes (compared to 29 for Brady) and who gets sacked once every ten times he drops back to pass. Brady gets sacked once every 25 times he drops back to pass.

Colin Kaepernick = Chandler Jones' and Rob Ninkovich's lunch meat.

 

[PatsDeb]

Colin Kaepernick = Chandler Jones' and Rob Ninkovich's lunch meat.

From your mouse to the football gods' ears!!

 

[PatriotSeven]

Kaepernick's actually a better passer than Smith from what I saw. He's decisive with the ball, quick to release it, has a bigger arm, and is very accurate downfield.

When you have all of those + the legs, it makes sense to try and go in that direction. The only thing Alex Smith has on him is experience.

He's also a lot more decisive from what I saw compared to guys like Newton and Wilson when making the decision to pass or throw. He's more like RG3 in this category. Doesn't take him more than an instant to figure out if it's a play he should take off and run with the ball.

Having the deep ball and Moss is a great addition to that team. I don't think Smith could really take advantage of Moss's deep threat. Kind of scary if Colin can and Moss gets it going now at the end of the year.

And he's still got 3 games before the playoffs to get more experienced, plus a game against the Patriots on his resume and watching the tape resulting from that, will help tremendously. Gotta remember, he's not a rookie. He's a sophomore. Brady was experienced enough to win us a Superbowl his second year.

 

[mayoclinic]

Breer reports that Deion Branch simulated Kaepernick this week:

Branch helps Pats prepare for Kaepernick, 49ers | News | NFL.com

 

[IllegalContact]

Kaepernick is a more polished Kevin oconnell

 

[PatsFanSince74]

2 arguments make sense to me:

1. Harbaugh realized after losing to the Giants in October that he needed another dimension on offense. ...
2. The Mike Lombardi "illusionist" theory: the 49ers are a rushing team, and they're using Kaepernick to create the illusion that they're adding a deep passing dimension, while they're really just adding another rusher to their offense.

To me it's a more sophisticated version of Tim Tebow vs. Kyle Orton. Kaepernick may not be Tebow, but I haven't seen enough from him yet to believe that he will settle in and stay the course once teams have had a look at him and figured him out. Maybe he will, but I'm a bit skeptical. A lot of those guys fizzle out once the novelty wears off (Vince Young, for example).

#1 makes more sense than any other explanation I've heard. I think that L at home in a "revenge" game on national TV really hit them between the eyes; until then, they felt (and many of us agreed) that the loss to the Giants in last year's playoffs was just another "Fluky Eli Sunday" where the Giants got lucky as hell and won another playoff game where they weren't the better team.

As for the Tebow comparison, I think Kaepernick is a lot more of a weapon than Tebow, but, as you suggest, only time will tell one way or the other.

 

[Froob]

If Harbaugh really wanted to mess with the pats, he should list Kap as probable, and then start Alex Smith at the last minute. Probably would hurt Kap, if he plans on playing him the rest of the year(which looks like it). But, if he really wanted to win this game...something to consider. I think this is what the falcons did to the pats in 05 with Schaub right?

 

[Hael]

I personally think A Smith is a tremendously underrated QB and its a major blunder for the niners to have benched him (although its too late now to reverse decisions).

The guy has one of the highest QB ratings in the league, he never hurts you (only helps) and he enables all the other good things about that team.

He is more accurate than CK, makes better decisions and is far from a slouch in the mobility department.

Yea sure CK can throw bombs better and can hurt you on his feet. But that's small relative to just how much more efficient Smith is.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

glad we have to play kap and not smith..but wouldn't be nervous facing either