Is Colin Kaepernick ready?

[numone9er]

Last we've seen Kaepernick throw was in the Bucs blow out (correct me if I'm wrong). Harbaugh needs to keep an open mind -- he seems to have gotten too attached to Smith. I hope it just seems that way to bolster his confidence, because if Kaepernick tears it up in the preseason and mini camps then he needs to be the starting QB.

I think we will know a lot more about how Harbaugh and the coaching staff feel about Kaep by the contract and length of what we sign Alex to. If it's a loaded contract for over 3 years, then obviously Kaep is not in the immediate plans.

 

[BINGO]

Those 3 other teams' defense sucks.

...And our starting QB kinda suck. Not really, but sorta...

In another thread Crimson had made some recollection emphasizing how Smith played sorta "too conservative" during the NFC game against the Giants. In comparison to how Eli was willing to take the chances in making certain type of throws. Look, I like Smith! This is coming from a guy who was the first to throw a brick at him and managment when we drafted him back in 2005. I llike Smith because he proved a pivitol point to me during the Saints playoff game. I could never take that away from him. He balled out. However, when you want to go to the SB, there are some throws you have to get out of your comfort level in order to make if you want to win a particular game. Smith is a QB that plays the game and will refrain from making mistake. The best way to avoid making mistake is by not taking chances in making some types of throws. In contrary in order to go far in life (in this case: win a Super Bowl), you have to be ready to do things and take chances that may require you to get out of your own comfort level. Be willing to make mistake. Throw tight in double coverage (see Eli Manning).

I'm speculating now: The reason why he refrains from taking the "big opportunistic chances", is because he lacks the velocity in his passes to fit balls that only a few dare to make.

Kaepernick posses those rare QB traits. The kid has that strong arm and accuracy to make those "championship / playoff caliber" throws. In a physical standpoint I'm going out on a lamb and say that he has the physical tools to be a top 10 QB in the league in making all the necessary "elite throws". HOWEVER, I cannot speak and claim that he's mentally ready and has adapted to the speed of the game. I can't sit hear and claim that. The ONLY way to know is to throw him in there and see for ourselves.

Had I known that Harbaugh and company had used and SPENT (not invested but SPENT) a HIGH 2nd round pick on player to utilize in the year 2019 I would have booed the sh8 out of them. If so why couldn't we simply wait until the later rounds and draft Scott Tolzien?! With that 2nd round pick we could have drafted Brooks Reed, Kyle Rudolph, or Ryan Williams. I thought the difference between the two (Kaep and Tolzien) was that Kaepernick had more upside and was more ready to contribute at faster time than Tolzien. So if we're projecting and anticipating the same developmental stages as Tolzien, then we reached mightily for Kaepernick.

 

[maniax]

Ok so Cam Newton, Dalton, Locker last year, and this year Luck, RGIII, maybe Tannehill, 6 QBs that are all probably going to start. But for some reason CK is not ready?

You cannot use last preseason as an example that's out dated. Alex looked horrible last preseason as well.

I'd be actually excited if CK was the starter because that means Harbaugh thinks he's ready in terms of his QB decision making abilities and throwing abilities, and to top that off his athletic abilities are better. CK is a similar to Newton in that dept.

 

[imac_21]

Ok so Cam Newton, Dalton, Locker last year, and this year Luck, RGIII, maybe Tannehill, 6 QBs that are all probably going to start. But for some reason CK is not ready?

You cannot use last preseason as an example that's out dated. Alex looked horrible last preseason as well.

I'd be actually excited if CK was the starter because that means Harbaugh thinks he's ready in terms of his QB decision making abilities and throwing abilities, and to top that off his athletic abilities are better. CK is a similar to Newton in that dept.

Are you talking about QBs who were effective starters as rookies, or QBs who started as rookies? I'm wondering if you left Gabbert out on purpose because he was horrible, or if you simply forgot about him.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Last we've seen Kaepernick throw was in the Bucs blow out (correct me if I'm wrong). Harbaugh needs to keep an open mind -- he seems to have gotten too attached to Smith. I hope it just seems that way to bolster his confidence, because if Kaepernick tears it up in the preseason and mini camps then he needs to be the starting QB.

He threw two passes in the first Rams game. As memory serves, they were both pretty "off." But that's obviously way too small a sample size to give much significance.

As for Harbaugh, if he genuinely sees something in Smith, I'm content to let him continue to develop it. The guy obviously knows QBs. I think his gushing is deliberately over the top for two reasons, though. First, he's trying to get Alex to re-sign as he's our best realistic shot to replicate last year's success. Second, he wants to keep building Smith's confidence. This is a guy who doesn't even like to reveal injury info for backups. If he's saying something frequently and vocally in public, you can believe there's a reason for it. I don't see it as a clear indication that he's enamored with Alex, though.

 

[clyde_carbon]

I'd prefer he sits for another year, at least a good chunk of it. With the short offseason last year, he probably didn't grow as much as he could/should have last year. There's a pretty good chance Smith won't take every snap (effectively) again this year, so we continue easing Kaepernick in. He'll have some growing pains regardless, but fewer if he's had a chance to get on the field in live action.

If the question is simply whether he is capable of playing at this point, I think he'd struggle a bit. It's hard to say having seen so little of him, though. Either way, I give him lots of PT in the preseason.

Niether did Cam and Dalton, and they played well. Kaepernick was a more experienced college player than both of them. Cam played 1 year of D1 football and Dalton also didn't play the greatest competition.

 

[clyde_carbon]

point is to develop him before we throw him to the sharks

So what exactly is he developing by sitting on the bench watching Smith another year?

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Are you talking about QBs who were effective starters as rookies, or QBs who started as rookies? I'm wondering if you left Gabbert out on purpose because he was horrible, or if you simply forgot about him.

Ponder too, for that matter. But again, he didn't play all that well.

 

[clyde_carbon]

I would say no. Kaep has little to no NFL experience and we have a Superbowl caliber team. I'm not willing to roll the dice on that.

Baltimore Ravens rolled the dice on Joe Flacco when they were a borderline super bowl team, too.

When do we "roll the dice"?

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Niether did Cam and Dalton, and they played well. Kaepernick was a more experienced college player than both of them. Cam played 1 year of D1 football and Dalton also didn't play the greatest competition.

That's fair, I suppose. My preference - and perhaps it's because I'm still gunshy after we wrecked Smith - is to give him a little more time. See if Smith can be a bit more aggressive this year, open it up a bit more with a full offseason.

As for what Kaepernick is developing, he's continuing to get accustomed to playing against NFL talent. He's working on his mechanics, his touch (reportedly a problem for him even late this season), grasping the offense, and grasping more complex NFL defenses. I think there's a lot to be said for having the luxury of doing that for awhile on the sidelines befre you're doing it with big, angry men flying at you.

 

[clyde_carbon]

cam newton is an exceptional talent that rarely comes along. throwin kap out there before he's ready just because cam newton did it is asking for trouble.

Kap is just as talented as Newton, if not more talented. He is just as fast and mobile, and has an even bigger arm. He was also the more polished passer coming out.

 

[clyde_carbon]

That's fair, I suppose. My preference - and perhaps it's because I'm still gunshy after we wrecked Smith - is to give him a little more time. See if Smith can be a bit more aggressive this year, open it up a bit more with a full offseason.

As for what Kaepernick is developing, he's continuing to get accustomed to playing against NFL talent. He's working on his mechanics, his touch (reportedly a problem for him even late this season), grasping the offense, and grasping more complex NFL defenses. I think there's a lot to be said for having the luxury of doing that for awhile on the sidelines befre you're doing it with big, angry men flying at you.

We did wreck Smith by throwing him in too early, but this team isn't the 2005 team. We actually have talent, and we actually have a coaching staff that can gameplan around the QB's strengths.

Kap is too talented to keep on the bench. At some point we're gonna have to see what we have with him, and I'd rather it be sooner than later.

 

[clyde_carbon]

That's fair, I suppose. My preference - and perhaps it's because I'm still gunshy after we wrecked Smith - is to give him a little more time. See if Smith can be a bit more aggressive this year, open it up a bit more with a full offseason.

As for what Kaepernick is developing, he's continuing to get accustomed to playing against NFL talent. He's working on his mechanics, his touch (reportedly a problem for him even late this season), grasping the offense, and grasping more complex NFL defenses. I think there's a lot to be said for having the luxury of doing that for awhile on the sidelines befre you're doing it with big, angry men flying at you.

How is Kap developing any of that from the sideline, though? As a backup he's gonna be getting 0 practice reps. How is touch developed from the bench? How is learning to avoid pressure acquired from the bench?

We're talking about a QB who ran for 1,000+ yards each of his last three seasons at Nevada. The potential he offers not only as a passer but a runner for a mediocre QB, IMO, makes this an easy choice.

 

[Jikkle]

Clyde I think the better question is who gives us the best chance to win next season not if CK is ready or not.

I think it's a matter of if you want to take the hit that comes with a young first year starter for next season for futures sake or do you want to go with Smith who's a safer option in there and probably would get you more wins than CK.

 

[imac_21]

Ponder too, for that matter. But again, he didn't play all that well.

Yes. I just skimmed the post and assumed Locker was Ponder. I figured any post about rookie QBs would include Newton, Ponder and Dalton. Not Locker.

 

[maniax]

My opinion is, I cannot judge how ready CK is because I don't see him everyday at practice and in the film room.

Harbaugh and the QB coach are the ones really that can judge him.

Athletically and arm strength wise his ceiling is obiously higher than Alex's.


If we bring Alex back on a big $$$ deal, then I'll roll with that and cheer for Alex, and I'm gonna thing the coaching staff thinks Alex is "the man".

If we are in no hurry to bring back Alex, let him test free agency, maybe or maybe not re-sign him on the cheap, and CK wins the starting job, then I'll roll with CK and cheer for him.


At this point though I'm probably more excited to see what CK can do in next year's pre-season games, than Alex. I pretty much think I know what Alex can do.

 

[BINGO]

How is Kap developing any of that from the sideline, though? As a backup he's gonna be getting 0 practice reps. How is touch developed from the bench? How is learning to avoid pressure acquired from the bench?
We're talking about a QB who ran for 1,000+ yards each of his last three seasons at Nevada. The potential he offers not only as a passer but a runner for a mediocre QB, IMO, makes this an easy choice.

+1
Well said!

 

[Flyingiguana]

Christian Ponder and Andy Dalton are also two great exceptional talent that rarely comes along.

they had nowhere near the season newton had

 

[clyde_carbon]

Clyde I think the better question is who gives us the best chance to win next season not if CK is ready or not.

I think it's a matter of if you want to take the hit that comes with a young first year starter for next season for futures sake or do you want to go with Smith who's a safer option in there and probably would get you more wins than CK.

That's a fair question. Another one is who gives us the best chance to win two, three, and four years from today, and how long to wait to find out?

If Kap starts this season, what are his projected yards and TDs per game? Is 200 yards and 1.5 TD per game fair?

 

[maniax]

Are you talking about QBs who were effective starters as rookies, or QBs who started as rookies? I'm wondering if you left Gabbert out on purpose because he was horrible, or if you simply forgot about him.

Yes I left Gabbert and Ponder off that list, because they had 65 and 70 QB ratings respectively.