The New Tom Brady?

[PatsFaninAZ]

Stop me if you've heard the story before.

Passed over second string QB gets a chance because of injury to an accomplished, stable seasoned veteran. Second year coach stakes his job and reputation on leaving the second stringer in there when the starter recovers. Team goes on to win the Super Bowl, QB becomes the greatest of all time and, in some senses, redefines the position.

We've had a lot of suitors for the throne of the next great franchise QB. Maybe it will be Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson. Maybe Cam Newton will come around. My money is on Kaepernick. Some of the stuff he did on Saturday in his first playoff game defies explanation. The game slows down for him. He sees the field in a way others don't.

I hope things don't come full circle. I don't want to believe in there being some sort of cosmic script or anything like that. But I think it would take a near perfect game plan for the Patriots to beat the 49ers on a neutral field without Gronk. And I just can't shake the feeling that this is all playing out to situation where Kaepernick is going to have the ball in his hands in the freaking Louisiana Super Dome in a tie game with a minute or so left. If that's the script, it would only make sense that the New England Patriots would be on the other side of the ball.

Can't happen that way, can it? ***** doesn't work like that in the NFL, does it? But, all I can say is, Go Falcons!

 

[PatriotSeven]

I don't know about that yet, too early to say. Losing Gronk hurts simply because in terms of physicality, athleticism, match up problems, he was our main weapon.

The one advantage we have is that we have played Colin K. We have now had some experience against spread option QB's and I trust BB's defensive genius to make it a bit harder for him the next time around.

 

[PeerlessKid]

Even if he wins this year, he will have to do it again.. and again.. so I know everyone would love to give Brady's throne away because they just can't wait (not directed at you, just in general) but this **** ain't easy.

Really exciting QB to watch but ain't done a thing yet.

 

[Sivy]

Running qbs dont last.

People always say Brady is not mobile like its a bad thing. Because he's not, he is and will be able to play at a high level well into his 40s.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

Stop me if you've heard the story before.

Passed over second string QB gets a chance because of injury to an accomplished, stable seasoned veteran. Second year coach stakes his job and reputation on leaving the second stringer in there when the starter recovers. Team goes on to win the Super Bowl, QB becomes the greatest of all time and, in some senses, redefines the position.

We've had a lot of suitors for the throne of the next great franchise QB. Maybe it will be Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson. Maybe Cam Newton will come around. My money is on Kaepernick. Some of the stuff he did on Saturday in his first playoff game defies explanation. The game slows down for him. He sees the field in a way others don't.

I hope things don't come full circle. I don't want to believe in there being some sort of cosmic script or anything like that. But I think it would take a near perfect game plan for the Patriots to beat the 49ers on a neutral field without Gronk. And I just can't shake the feeling that this is all playing out to situation where Kaepernick is going to have the ball in his hands in the freaking Louisiana Super Dome in a tie game with a minute or so left. If that's the script, it would only make sense that the New England Patriots would be on the other side of the ball.

Can't happen that way, can it? ***** doesn't work like that in the NFL, does it? But, all I can say is, Go Falcons!

You are reaching for parallels between Brady and Kap. Bledsoe had been signed to a long term contract. Smith has been seen as a stop gap for Kap until Kap was ready. Kap was the 4th pick in the second round, the 49ers liked him so much they traded up to get him and were already integrating him into the red zone offense early in the season.

He is dynamic and exciting, and I don't disagree he could be awesome, short term and long term. But he is not Brady II. He is his own guy,

 

[Welkerstache]

A quarterback who plays like a running back is going to get physically punished like an RB, and have a career as long as an RB.

 

[PeerlessKid]

Oh yeah and if there is a re-match I'd like to see Kap run into Mayo and Spikes behind the line. Our defence is a lot better that what Green Bay showed.

 

[BSR]

Anything can happen, but in my estimation SF has the best chance to win the SB this year and Moss will get his ring. I am seriously routing for Atlanta to pull it off this weekend.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

Obviously, anyone who anoints any QB the next Tom Brady is going to be wrong 99 percent of the time. I'm aware of that. There's also a tendency to decide you know what's going to happen next week by what happened this week. Just because the 49ers looked great last week doesn't guarantee anything this week. But I can't help but notice parallels to 2001, and I really don't see it as a stretch. Are there differences between Bledsoe and Smith? Of course. Beldsoe was a hall of fame candidate. But Smith did take the team to the verge of the Super Bowl last year. And there is a difference between getting picked 35th and 199th. The analogy is not perfect.

I think if you had to make a list of the most courageous and important coaching decisions in the NFL in the last 20 years, Belichick's is number one and everything else is competing for second place. Harbaugh's decision has to be up there.

I don't know where Kaepernick will be in 12 years. But there do seem to be some pretty significant parallels this year to me.

 

[fxkane]

Kap in the future I don't know... but right now, he seems to be peerless in terms of his deeper options. Also, Brady does take quite a few blows in almost every game, although most are in the pocket... and not as destructive.

 

[Kontradiction]

Kaepernick had the good fortune of playing a Green Bay defense that is in need of several more pieces before it can contend at an elite level. The Falcons are a better defense and did an admirable job containing Russell Wilson throughout most of the game Sunday.

EDIT: That said, I still expect the 49ers defense to befuddle Ryan and move on to the Super Bowl.

 

[TruthSeeker]

A quarterback who plays like a running back is going to get physically punished like an RB, and have a career as long as an RB.

He's tough to catch though, tough to punish something you can't catch. I don't wanna face that team again, I'm not counting my chickens, I fear Baltimore big time as well. BUT, I'm praying he has his worst game ever and Atlanta upsets them.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Time will tell. In the past, NFL D's have figured out how to adapt to players like Kaepernick and limit their effectiveness. Belichick has already had a good look at him in person and will dissect every second of the Green Bay and Atlanta film, should we have to play against him again.

The other thing I'd add to the discussion is that a guy like Kaepernick will have to get his Championship(s) early in his career. The likelihood that he will avoid injury and still be running five years from now like he did against the Pack this weekend is slim. I know Colin is a big, strong guy, but RGIII has recently reminded us how vulnerable a QB who ventures out of the pocket most of the time can be.

But, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Atlanta is on a mission; the way they won yesterday will work in their favor on Sunday.

 

[patsinthesnow]

I think comparing Wilson to Brady is more accurate. Fell far in the draft over dumb reasons, was drafted later than totally unqualified QBs. (Brock Osweiler- Giovanni Carmazzi, Tannehill/Weeden-Spurgon Wynn and Tee Martin), and unexpectedly won the starting job.

I know I'm a biased Wilson fan, but his pocket presence/poise is the best I've seen in a young QB since Brady. Kaepernick is running a gimmick pistol offense that I think will be solved eventually.

 

[PeerlessKid]

Stop me if you've heard the story before.

Passed over second string QB gets a chance because of injury to an accomplished, stable seasoned veteran. Second year coach stakes his job and reputation on leaving the second stringer in there when the starter recovers. Team goes on to win the Super Bowl, QB becomes the greatest of all time and, in some senses, redefines the position.

We've had a lot of suitors for the throne of the next great franchise QB. Maybe it will be Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson. Maybe Cam Newton will come around. My money is on Kaepernick. Some of the stuff he did on Saturday in his first playoff game defies explanation. The game slows down for him. He sees the field in a way others don't.

I hope things don't come full circle. I don't want to believe in there being some sort of cosmic script or anything like that. But I think it would take a near perfect game plan for the Patriots to beat the 49ers on a neutral field without Gronk. And I just can't shake the feeling that this is all playing out to situation where Kaepernick is going to have the ball in his hands in the freaking Louisiana Super Dome in a tie game with a minute or so left. If that's the script, it would only make sense that the New England Patriots would be on the other side of the ball.

Can't happen that way, can it? ***** doesn't work like that in the NFL, does it? But, all I can say is, Go Falcons!

I think comparing Wilson to Brady is more accurate. Fell far in the draft over dumb reasons, was drafted later than totally unqualified QBs. (Brock Osweiler- Giovanni Carmazzi, Tannehill/Weeden-Spurgon Wynn and Tee Martin), and unexpectedly won the starting job.

I know I'm a biased Wilson fan, but his pocket presence/poise is the best I've seen in a young QB since Brady. Kaepernick is running a gimmick pistol offense that I think will be solved eventually.

Agreed, I love watching Wilson play. Seattle have good years ahead of them with him in centre.

Actually Wilson out Andrew Luck-ed Andrew Luck, ready for the pros, mind of a veteran, unflappable, good decision making.

 

[Kontradiction]

I think comparing Wilson to Brady is more accurate. Fell far in the draft over dumb reasons, was drafted later than totally unqualified QBs. (Brock Osweiler- Giovanni Carmazzi, Tannehill/Weeden-Spurgon Wynn and Tee Martin), and unexpectedly won the starting job.

I know I'm a biased Wilson fan, but his pocket presence/poise is the best I've seen in a young QB since Brady. Kaepernick is running a gimmick pistol offense that I think will be solved eventually.

The Jaguars drafted a punter four picks ahead of where the Seahawks took Wilson.

:bricks::bricks::bricks::bricks::bricks:

 

[doesntmatter1]

Even though rg3 is awesome, i always thought he was going to get killed at some point. He is super skinny and it doesnt look like his body could take vince for example driving him into the ground even once without coming away with broken ribs etc. Kap and wilson are different physically because they seem to have alot of meat on their bones.

Also, i could see Kap lasting the longest out of all of the mobile qbs. Wilson runs alot and sometimes he has to just to see the field so he might get nailed. Cam tries to make to many things happen and bad things such as hits, int, etc occur.

Kap also does what other mobile qbs fail to do-getting out of bounds without taking a hit. It sounds simple but vick and so many others take brutal hits while going out of bounds and I don't understand why they just dont go out of bounds sooner or run further out of bounds like kap to avoid those cheap shots.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

A quarterback who plays like a running back is going to get physically punished like an RB, and have a career as long as an RB.

Good comparison. Kaepernick is two years older than Brady was when he came into the league and will be 26 next season, the age at which Brady started the 2003 season and won his second ring.

What we don't know yet is whether Kaepernick is a "freak of nature" like Nolan Ryan who will defy the conventional wisdom and odds for the next ten years or whether he'll see his running abilities reduced in the next few years as a result of injury.

He has a strong arm, but so does Joe Flacco; without the run threat Kaepernick could well become one more talented QB with a gun.

 

[PatriotSeven]

Even though rg3 is awesome, i always thought he was going to get killed at some point. He is super skinny and it doesnt look like his body could take vince for example driving him into the ground even once without coming away with broken ribs etc. Kap and wilson are different physically because they seem to have alot of meat on their bones.

Also, i could see Kap lasting the longest out of all of the mobile qbs. Wilson runs alot and sometimes he has to just to see the field so he might get nailed. Cam tries to make to many things happen and bad things such as hits, int, etc occur.

Kap also does what other mobile qbs fail to do-getting out of bounds without taking a hit. It sounds simple but vick and so many others take brutal hits while going out of bounds and I don't understand why they just dont go out of bounds sooner or run further out of bounds like kap to avoid those cheap shots.

I would go Wilson, Tebow and Cam for durability. For Cam's size, I'm surprised he's held up so well so far. Big Ben, McNabb and Farve were always banged up and didn't run anywhere near as much as Cam.

Kap & RG3 are both small imo. But how fragile they are is not dependent on size. After all, look at Wes. And then look at Gronk. And how about Eli?

I think the biggest difference is the guys in the first list aren't about running full speed. They are shifty runners, who pick their lanes, juke, and break tackles. They usually don't turn it on until they're out of traffic.

Kap, RG3 and Vick are more about speed and slashing. They are more prone to injuries when they get hit or fall at those speeds.

 

[goheels22002]

Kaepernick has one playoff win under his belt, same as Scott Zolak.

NFL starting quarterback playoff records - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maybe he'll become a great quarterback, or maybe he'll become a daytime sports talk show host. Right now I'd say it's 50-50.