Would you trade Alex Smith for Colin Kaepernick straight up?

[Alex Smith 4Ever]

I would not. Alex is a better quarterback right now and does not have the off field incidents of Kaepernick

[Dylan]

On Kaepernick, I think the trouble for SF once CK gets inside the opponents 20, seems to become rattled. He has on-going troubles with the play clock, undecided at the line trying to figure out where all the defenders are in space.

SF had a dominating performance vs. Carolina – However, they came away with too many FGs when they should have had TDs. SF always seem to have too many FG when they need TDs. In addition, that was over the entire season.

During the playoffs – SF had seven FGs, three TDs in three playoff games…that is an issue.


Just my opinion

[Kaepernick]

Kaepernick's floor is Alex's ceiling. You would have to be crazy to go with Alex rather than see how Kap develops over this year. He came out raw from a gimmick offense and has only started 32 games.

In his 3 year career, he has only had 1 training camp. There was no training camp in his rookie year. In his sophomore year, the focus was all on Developing Alex Smith. In his 3rd year, he was the undisputed starter and finally got a camp where he practiced exclusively with the 1st team.

Meanwhile, in those 3 years, what has he done?

Gone to the super bowl.

Gone to the NFCC game twice.

The first 49ers QB to win back-to-back road playoff games.

Holds the 49ers record for most road playoff wins in a season.

Holds the super bowl record for longest rushing TD for a QB.

Holds the NFL all time record for most rushing yards from scrimmage by an NFL QB, and a playoff game at that.

Longest run from scrimmage in a playoff game.

25 TDs to only 8 interceptions.

Engineered the biggest comeback win in the 48-year history of the NFC Championship game.

Kaepernick is the 5th most accurate deep passing QB in the NFL. That in itself is meaningless, but it shows his potential. It is easier to learn the short game than it is to grow a rocket for an arm.

http://regressing.deadspin.com/chart...nfl-1469917039

Yes, much of this comes from his legs because he is still developing as a pocket passer. In his first year starting, 2012, they babied him and had less on his shoulders as a pocket passer, letting him freelance more.

In 2013, they made him stay in the pocket and run less in the regular season. He struggled. I don't know if it was sophomore slump or lack of receiving weapons with Crabtree and Patton gone most of the year or what.

Without a doubt he is not a great passer, but the potential is there, from being able to fire a 60 yard pass accurately on a rope, to showing a willingness to throw into tiny windows.

His short game is poor and needs development. He is in love with the deep pass and is poor at taking the check down and hot read, sticking with the deep pass too long.

He has a LONG way to go to develop a great passing game. But the potential is there, because the intelligence, work ethic, drive and coaching are there. About the only thing I can question is how well he sees the field. Does he fail to see his 2nd and 3rd reads, or is he coached to stay with his 1st read? I don't know? I don't know how he is being coached as a young QB of 32 starts.

The elite potential is there. I will take a promising young QB with elite potential any day over a solid middle-tier veteran.

Forget Alex vs Kap.

What if this was, would you take Carson Palmer over Matthew Stafford. Palmer used to be a nearly elite QB himself when he was in his prime matched with Chad Johnson. He is still a savvy veteran who can win games with a good supporting cast. But Stafford has much more potential. He makes a lot of mistakes and takes foolish risks, which is probably more due to bad coaching than the man himself.

There is no planet on which I take a solid mid-level workman over a young QB with high potential just because he hasn't attained that potential in 32 starts.

[Dylan]

Lucky, you have that great defense.

[Kaepernick]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Sorry man but you're dead wrong here, they are both "meh" QBs. Neither is awful (although both can be at times) and neither is a guy you count on to carry your team. Given a choice between two QBs who are in the same range, I'd normally go with the younger guy. BUT Kaep appears to be an uncoachable moron so his youth just means you get stuck with a "meh" QB for longer. So, in that case, give me the guy who isn't a total douche.

Thanks for the laugh. I needed one.

[Kaepernick]

Originally Posted by Dylan

Lucky, you have that great defense.

Remind me how you went undefeated through 9 games.

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by Kaepernick

Remind me how you went undefeated through 9 games.

After you remind me how YOU had it better than us!

Checkmate...

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Oh great Kap ' s butt buddy is bback.This place REALLY needs another buffoon.

[Kaepernick]

Originally Posted by Dylan

After you remind me how YOU had it better than us!

Checkmate...

Of course we had it better. We are a better organization with a better owner, better GM, better head coach, better players and better QB.

I'm not going to deny the obvious. The only thing you had better was one of the weakest schedules last year.

At least you guys are on the right track now with a solid Head coach and GM. Now if only you could trade in your owner for somebody serious about winning a championship, you would be set.

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by Kaepernick

Of course we had it better. We are a better organization with a better owner, better GM, better head coach, better players and better QB.

I'm not going to deny the obvious. The only thing you had better was one of the weakest schedules last year.

At least you guys are on the right track now with a solid Head coach and GM. Now if only you could trade in your owner for somebody serious about winning a championship, you would be set.

Not to disrespect your tinfoil hat - But heck of a straw man you threw together there.

[Kaepernick]

Originally Posted by Dylan

Not to disrespect your tinfoil hat - But heck of a straw man you threw together there.

I was half joking. You took it fully seriously.

Internet communication is next to impossible without nuance, vocal inflection, eye contact and body language. No wonder we are at blows so often.

[brucey_72]

Also how people keep saying Kaep has a stronger arm than Alex, I watched every single 49ers game last season and he rarely throws it deep and when he does it is inaccurate half the time. He spends most of his time trying to figure out if he should run or pass. He will stand there with a clean 10 yards in front of him and bounce until the gap is closed and normally ends up with a sack or 2 yard gain.

He runs when he has someone open but hesitates to run when no one is open and has a clear a run way. I sit there and spend most of my time screaming at the TV for him to make a decision.

He is also terrible in the red zone. I know the moment he gets inside the 10 yard line it will be a FG.

[bevischief]

Originally Posted by PGM

Oh great Kap ' s butt buddy is bback.This place REALLY needs another buffoon.

[Jakemall]

Originally Posted by Kaepernick

Kaepernick's floor is Alex's ceiling. You would have to be crazy to go with Alex rather than see how Kap develops over this year. He came out raw from a gimmick offense and has only started 32 games.

This statement has already been proven false..so why go into the rest of your post?

Alex performed better in 2012 than Kap did in 2013. Alex performed better in 2013 once he got the playbook down and developed some chemistry with the other players...and arguably did it with less offensive talent than Kap had.

So, Kap's floor is not Alex's ceiling. No questioning Kap is talented..but your statement is unmitigated bullshit.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Plus tattoo boy is a moron not learning from Sherman owning his ass.

[KCSLC2008]

Originally Posted by Kaepernick

Kaepernick's floor is Alex's ceiling.

The rest of your post was fine. But this is not true. Last year was Kaepernick's floor. Some argue that Smith had a better year (citing 2013 second half performance) and the Niners team overall was better. I won't argue that, but I believe that this next year will be higher than Kaepernick's last year. I'm not just talking about stats. Reid is getting Smith to pass more than he's ever done and he has and will take more deep shots than he did with Harbaugh while maintaining his low interceptions.

Have gotten to know you as a poster a little bit over the last year and I think you're reasonable. I think that statement was little bit exaggerated. I'm not saying Smith > Kaepernick or arguing upside or youth.