Is Colin Kaepernick ready?

[clyde_carbon]

I know what you're saying, because you have been on the "lets start Kaepernick" band wagon for quite some time now, but can he protect the football and limit turnovers? I know you credit the coaching staff with the TO ratio, but i still don't think Kaepernick is capable of protecting the football like Alex did this past year.

Well, I already conceded that he'd most likely commit more turnovers than Smith. But I think you're underestimating our coaching staff's ability to play to a QB's strengths. Who knew that Alex would only throw 5 INTs this year?

And really, I don't see the INTs going anywhere but up in 2012 regardless or who's at QB. I just think Kap will be able to make more plays.

 

[Flyingiguana]

Using that logic we shouldn't look to upgrade any position. Why should we draft a WR in the first round? There's too many ifs with that, right?

u draft for the future not for next year

 

[clyde_carbon]

Re: practices, I've only ever been to training camp. In TC, they basically split the drill reps evenly, but the starting unit gets the majority of the reps in seven-on-sevens or full-squad practices. However, my understanding is that in the regular season the first team rarely, if ever, practices against itself. The second team plays against the first team during the season. So Kaepernick should be getting pretty substantial experience against a very good NFL defense.

The possible drawback is that he might be doing more of a scout team role, in which case he wouldn't be running our offense.

I think TC is completely different than during the season. During the season I doubt CK would get any legitimate reps in practice.

 

[clyde_carbon]

u draft for the future not for next year

But you said we're in win now mode. Does that mean we should trade our draft picks for players?

 

[Flyingiguana]

But you said we're in win now mode. Does that mean we should trade our draft picks for players?

for the right player i would. 99% of the time i wouldn't. the draft is about talent acquisition.

we're a super bowl contender, why wouldn't we be in win mode? why would we go with an unproven qb just to see what he can do?

 

[clyde_carbon]

for the right player i would. 99% of the time i wouldn't. the draft is about talent acquisition.

we're a super bowl contender, why wouldn't we be in win mode? why would we go with an unproven qb just to see what he can do?

The QB takes a backseat to the running game, defense, and special teams on this team. Unless we throw a Chris Weinke or a Dan Orlovsky out there, we still should be a superbowl contender.

 

[Flyingiguana]

The QB takes a backseat to the running game, defense, and special teams on this team. Unless we throw a Chris Weinke or a Dan Orlovsky out there, we still should be a superbowl contender.

half the qb's in the nfl couldn't go toe to toe with brees in the final 2 minutes of a playoff game.

i want to see some consistency from smith next year, but i can also see we need some help on offense. we need to be more physical on the interior offensive line and we need wr's who are capable of starting. i'd hate to throw an inexperienced qb behind centre on this team. it might not be very pretty when the pocket collapses and nobody is open.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

I think TC is completely different than during the season. During the season I doubt CK would get any legitimate reps in practice.

Running our offense, no. But either he or Tolzien has to be running the scout offense. That is experience against NFL-caliber players and an opportunity to work on his mechanics, anticipation, etc.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

for the right player i would. 99% of the time i wouldn't. the draft is about talent acquisition.

we're a super bowl contender, why wouldn't we be in win mode? why would we go with an unproven qb just to see what he can do?

That seems like it would be a strong argument to pursue a player like Brees.

 

[Flyingiguana]

That seems like it would be a strong argument to pursue a player like Brees.

it would be something to consider but the cap number it would take to get him from the saints would be too great.

 

[clyde_carbon]

Running our offense, no. But either he or Tolzien has to be running the scout offense. That is experience against NFL-caliber players and an opportunity to work on his mechanics, anticipation, etc.

The only way you can work on anticipation if it's real time. You can't anticipate routes in 7v7s or playing half speed in practice or playing with 3rd and 4th stringers.

We're seeing more and more young QBs playing immediately and contributing, and CK would be one of the most experienced. I'm not convinced he isn't ready.

 

[wartyOne]

no doubt, same as with almost ANY job in America, we need on the job training for our jobs. so yes, eventually Kap has to get in there and start the "real game" learning curve.

but why start Kap now if we end up with a better option? don't we want the best players to play? don't we want to give ourselves the best chance to win?

whereas you're speculating on what Kap can do, we KNOW what Alex Smith can do. its not as much as we want, but we know we can win.

Can we win a Super Bowl with Alex Smith? I don't think we can, because to date he hasn't been willing to risk anything. We have to get more out of the QB than Alex Smith gives us. I'd rather gamble on Kaepernick, than continue not winning Super Bowls. Don't get me wrong, the 13 win season was nice, but I'd rather go 10-6 and lock up a Lombardi.

 

[wartyOne]

smith had years to adjust to playing under center and he took his lumps on a very bad team under some horrific coaches. sometimes he didn't even have a real coordinator.

i'd rather kap learn at a slower pace much like pennington did with the jets. i'm not convinced he is the qb of the future and would like to bring in josh johnson or jimmy clausen in another year if the panthers are willing tol take a late pick for him.

I wouldn't trade my moldy ham sandwich from 2003 for Jimmy Clausen. If Kaepernick ain't the answer, Clausen don't even know the question.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Can we win a Super Bowl with Alex Smith? I don't think we can, because to date he hasn't been willing to risk anything. We have to get more out of the QB than Alex Smith gives us. I'd rather gamble on Kaepernick, than continue not winning Super Bowls. Don't get me wrong, the 13 win season was nice, but I'd rather go 10-6 and lock up a Lombardi.

But for two Kyle Williams fumbles, I think we would have won a super bowl with Alex Smith. That said, I don't think we would have won it because of him. If CK proves in training camp that he's our guy, let's go with him. But Smith has to have the leg up right now IMO.

 

[numone9er]

Can we win a Super Bowl with Alex Smith? I don't think we can, because to date he hasn't been willing to risk anything. We have to get more out of the QB than Alex Smith gives us. I'd rather gamble on Kaepernick, than continue not winning Super Bowls. Don't get me wrong, the 13 win season was nice, but I'd rather go 10-6 and lock up a Lombardi.

Now it's hard to speculate this, but how often were our receivers open? Smith hit Vernon when he was open fairly consistently in the playoffs. Why is it that our WR's get a break because Smith didn't throw their way? Maybe they just weren't open. If that is the case, then Smith did a damn good job of protecting the football. We need WR's bad no matter who the QB is.

 

[deep9er]

Can we win a Super Bowl with Alex Smith? I don't think we can, because to date he hasn't been willing to risk anything. We have to get more out of the QB than Alex Smith gives us. I'd rather gamble on Kaepernick, than continue not winning Super Bowls. Don't get me wrong, the 13 win season was nice, but I'd rather go 10-6 and lock up a Lombardi.

i get the gist so not totally disagreeing on Alex Smith, don't think he has "it" either.

however don't like the other options worse, one of which is starting CK. IF "starting CK.." means deciding now and not signing Alex, don't like it. we'd look real "non-footballish" should we pass on Alex and this team struggles. why take this chance if we don't have to?

 

[Flyingiguana]

if it wasn't for kyle i think we would have beaten the pats in the super bowl. smith made enough throws to win that game. it wasn't pretty but given the field conditions it wasn't gonna be.

gambling on an unproven qb is not to way to go when the team has finally taken steps in the right direction.

 

[deep9er]

if it wasn't for kyle i think we would have beaten the pats in the super bowl. smith made enough throws to win that game. it wasn't pretty but given the field conditions it wasn't gonna be.

gambling on an unproven qb is not to way to go when the team has finally taken steps in the right direction.

i agree.

if CK was the best remaining option then so be it. but thats not the case right now so seems to me.....the only reason for pushing this is because you don't like Alex Smith, not because you really think CK is better NOW.

 

[clyde_carbon]

But for two Kyle Williams fumbles, I think we would have won a super bowl with Alex Smith. That said, I don't think we would have won it because of him. If CK proves in training camp that he's our guy, let's go with him. But Smith has to have the leg up right now IMO.

We would've beat the Pats in the superbowl.

That said, A LOT of things went right for this team last year. Little turnovers, relatively injury free, etc. I hate to be pessimistic, but I don't think we'll be as "lucky" next year.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

We would've beat the Pats in the superbowl.

That said, A LOT of things went right for this team last year. Little turnovers, relatively injury free, etc. I hate to be pessimistic, but I don't think we'll be as "lucky" next year.

I agree. If nothing else, the injuries are likely to spike next year. We lost a lot of WRs, but were very healthy pretty much everywhere else. Especially the defensive starters. I'd trade a few turnovers for more offensive production, but either way, it's likely that number will spike.

Let's see what the buzz is out of workouts. Hopefully reporters will actually be allowed in. If Kaepernick looks great, I certainly think it bears considering that he be our starter. As I've argued elsewhere (and in this thread? can't recall), I think Kaepernick was Harbaugh's guy all along. He may be acting like he's very loyal to Smith right now, but if CK looks great in camp and the preseason, I think he'll get a shot.