The 49ers' downward spiral

[Eleazar]

Two articles describing Krapernick and the 49ers in general seeing their season circle the drain.

Kaepernick’s lack of progression holding back 49ers
By Glenn Dickey
San Francisco Examiner

Most of those who have discussed the problems with the 49ers have ignored the primary one: They don’t have a reliable quarterback. Colin Kaepernick can make spectacular plays but he can’t be consistent against top opponents.

That showed dramatically in the 49ers’ dreadful loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving night. When Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson was blitzed, he scrambled, always looking downfield until he found a receiver and often connecting. When Kaepernick was pressured, he decided to test the best corner in the NFL, Richard Sherman. The pass was offline, right into Sherman’s hands. As Sherman noted later, “He said he was going to throw to the open man. I was the open man.”

That’s Kaepernick. He’s a gunslinger, always trying to prove he can beat any defense and any team. That can work against weaker teams. It doesn’t work against quality opponents. More and more, it seems Kaepernick’s career peaked in his first season, when teams didn’t know him. It’s not working now, especially not against Seattle.

Kaepernick is certainly smart enough off the field, but there’s often a big difference between regular intelligence and athletic intelligence.

Willie Mays is probably the best example. Mays is of average intelligence off the field but his athletic intelligence is off the charts. I saw him score for the Giants one time on a pitch that bounced in the dirt and went no more than six feet away from New York Mets catcher Choo Choo Coleman, who simply stared in disbelief as Mays scored standing up. Years later, Mays explained to me that he saw as the ball left the pitcher’s hand that it would be in the dirt, so he just started running. You can’t teach that.

Joe Montana and Steve Young are another example. Off the field, Young is clearly the more intelligent but Montana slipped into the Bill Walsh system almost effortlessly, leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl win in his first year as a starter. Young struggled to learn the system, often using his feet to get big gains until, as he said in a recent interview, he realized that a quarterback wins championships only when he learns how to stay in the pocket and throw downfield.

Kaepernick still hasn’t learned that lesson. I doubt he ever will because he’s basically playing the same way he did when he was first made a starter with the 49ers. It worked better that first year because nobody in the league knew him. Now, they do.

He’s obviously not the only problem. Because of injuries, the offensive line has not protected him well, so he’s had to face a much fiercer pass rush than earlier. But he doesn’t handle that well, either. He’ll abandon the pocket at the first sign of a hard rush and, unlike Wilson, he doesn’t look downfield.

Usually what he’ll do is run off to the right, which reduces his targets for a pass, and then takes off running. Sometimes, he succeeds only in holding the ball long enough to get sacked.

General manager Trent Baalke is probably looking right now at a potential trade or drafting a quarterback.

Kaepernick is not the answer.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancis...nt?oid=2913259

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I should change Kaepernicks user name to Gabbert.

Please do. That would be ****ing hilarious. He might actually leave then.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Mav

Please do. That would be ****ing hilarious. He might actually leave then.

I knew you'd like that.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by Cochise

I wonder if there are any 49ers fans left who are backing him?

The 9ers problems stem directly from Trent Baalke completely alienating Harbaugh before the season even began. It wouldn't surprise me if they fire him today. O line has sucked it big time all season. Kaepernick's problems stem from being hit more times than a punching bag in an MMA gym every Sunday. I would still take him over Alex if we could have our draft picks back.

[Sandy Vagina]

OL hasn't been that bad. For all of Kaep's "elite" athleticism, he just sucks at evading pressure.. hesitates.. and taking his eyes away from the downfield receivers can't help.

He's just another athlete that relies on his physical tools instead of his brain. He can't process and react accordingly. That team is stacked with talent... dude just sucks.

The 49ers deserve this.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

The 9ers problems stem directly from Trent Baalke completely alienating Harbaugh before the season even began. It wouldn't surprise me if they fire him today. O line has sucked it big time all season. Kaepernick's problems stem from being hit more times than a punching bag in an MMA gym every Sunday. I would still take him over Alex if we could have our draft picks back.

I just don't know what you watch. Now, I don't watch 49er games much any more. I watched a little after the Chiefs game ended yesterday, and I watched the thanksgiving game, but if you think its the oline that is causing Kaepernick to throw horribly inaccurate passes, and to constantly stay INSIDE the pocket when he clearly cant throw from the pocket, then that is insane.

Would I take him over Alex Smith?

I hate the guys guts, but because he will at least TRY to throw it deep, I would.

But his biggest problem now is he wont run anymore, like at all. He cant find anyone off his first read, and hes an ASSHOLE to boot. hes gone all cam newton.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

OL hasn't been that bad. For all of Kaep's "elite" athleticism, he just sucks at evading pressure.. hesitates.. and taking his eyes away from the downfield receivers can't help.

He's just another athlete that relies on his physical tools instead of his brain. He can't process and react accordingly. That team is stacked with talent... dude just sucks.

The 49ers deserve this.

agreed.

These Kaepersexuals sound like I used to when trying to defend alex smith.

The only difference is, Alex Smith wasn't in his third year in the same offense, with phenomenal weapons around him.

That's the only difference. He sucks, plain and simple.

Not that Alex is any better. But Kaepernick literally has no excuses.

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

OL hasn't been that bad. For all of Kaep's "elite" athleticism, he just sucks at evading pressure.. hesitates.. and taking his eyes away from the downfield receivers can't help.

He's just another athlete that relies on his physical tools instead of his brain. He can't process and react accordingly. That team is stacked with talent... dude just sucks.

The 49ers deserve this.

They wanted to force him to be a pocket passer. He got hit a lot and lost confidence. He is a scared rabbit right now on an offense that mailed it in. Baalke should of and let this season play out before alienating Harbaugh. Jim made this team work, treating him like shit accomplished nothing other than exposing what a dumb ass he is.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

They wanted to force him to be a pocket passer. He got hit a lot and lost confidence. He is a scared rabbit right now on an offense that mailed it in. Baalke should of and let this season play out before alienating Harbaugh. Jim made this team work, treating him like shit accomplished nothing other than exposing what a dumb ass he is.

and on top of that his little slut daughter out there going after Roman.

This was the qb that HER DADDY wanted, he was the one who THREW THAT HUGE CONTRACT AT HIM, and her daddy is the one that got a big head, and ****ed over Jim. Now Jim is going to leave and go across the bay, and they have no one to blame but BAALKE.

Good. They deserve it all.

Im the ****ing Grinch right now.

[TimBone]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I should change Kaepernicks user name to Gabbert.

Or just wipe him from the database....whatever suits you.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by TimBone

Or just wipe him from the database....whatever suits you.

THIS.

At least the other "49er losers" are here in some form of actual support for YOUR team.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by TimBone

Or just wipe him from the database....whatever suits you.

Seconded

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by Mav

and on top of that his little slut daughter out there going after Roman.

This was the qb that HER DADDY wanted, he was the one who THREW THAT HUGE CONTRACT AT HIM, and her daddy is the one that got a big head, and ****ed over Jim. Now Jim is going to leave and go across the bay, and they have no one to blame but BAALKE.

Good. They deserve it all.

Im the ****ing Grinch right now.

It would be more interesting to see him go to New York. Can you imagine Harbaugh and their media? Hillarious. Something tells me there will be other vying for him before all is said and done. The 9ers have been horrible at selecting coaches recently. They finally get it right and then do this. It's friggen lame.

[KC_Lee]

So how long before KC offers up 2 1st and 2 2nd round picks for Kaepernick?

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Mav

and on top of that his little slut daughter out there going after Roman.

This was the qb that HER DADDY wanted, he was the one who THREW THAT HUGE CONTRACT AT HIM, and her daddy is the one that got a big head, and ****ed over Jim. Now Jim is going to leave and go across the bay, and they have no one to blame but BAALKE.

Good. They deserve it all.

Im the ****ing Grinch right now.

I got all excited, then I found her picture... Ugh. Little?