Being thrust into the middle of a super bowl run is tough. Probably the MOST difficult situation a young quarterback can step into.

The expectations were no where near the same.

When we drafted Alex it was, "Ok we're not where we wanna be, let's draft a piece to get us back into contention."

That was the thinking, but obviously (for WHATEVER REASON) that didn't happen.

When Kaep came in? Get to the Super Bowl.

That was it. There were no Super Bowl Expectations Alex's first year. We won 2 games the year before.

Kaepernick was under a lot of pressure too. So while I agree that Kaep had a steadier organization, because of that there was more pressure to win immediately. Like, he literally had to make plays from the second he stepped on the field.

If McCluster was his first read, you're probably right. But at the back of his drop, his eyes may not have been focused on McCluster. And as you noted, even if they were, he'd have gotten Dexter absolutely demolished.

But you're presuming that McCluster was his first read. If he wasn't, then he wouldn't have been looking that way at the top of his drop. At that point we get back to him really only having that narrow window when the GIF pauses that I think throwing that ball is a good idea.

EDIT: Boy, as I watch the GIF, either Smith is damn clever with his eyes or McCluster wasn't his first read. He looks to be the third option in this play, to be honest. I don't think Smith did anything wrong by not firing that in right at the top of his drop - McCluster doesn't appear to have been his first read so expecting him to hit him right as he gets to the top of his drop ignores those progressionsn.

;)

Both under pressure... one 20 year old QB with a completely shit team around him and a revolving door at OC... one 24 year old QB with a completely stacked team around him and years to learn the same system.

Hmmm.....

NFL stands for "Not Fair League"

Come on. CK sat behind Alex for a season and a half, on an elite team, with probably the best HC in the NFL.

Alex was thrown to the wolves his rookie season on a shit team.

Which situation would you choose?

Doesn't matter because Alex does not even have the athletic ability to even hold Kaep's jock.

No, he does not.

He sounds like a QB we got rid of 20 years ago in Steve DeBerg.

Matt Cassel's problem wasn't an unwillingness to throw the football, it was an inability to throw the football. Even when he let it go, the damn thing missed its mark by several yards.

I might take the #1 overall pick compensation and take the abuse for a few years. Then bail out and buy an island! :)

few QBs do... but matching up the brain to the athleticism is the real trick.

Seems Kaepernick is really struggling, right?

I don't know why we keep expecting Hudson to get better than that. Hudson's never been a good center.

We keep talking about this guy like he's going to be great, but when Ryan Lilja slides over and is a massive improvement on you during your 2nd season in the NFL, you're not off to a great start.

I just don't see it in Hudson. He gets abused entirely too often and there's nothing that will destroy a play like interior pressure.

Says the guy who repeatedly takes stuff from the Chiefs board back to the 49ers board. you have, absolutely no room to talk.

No, he is doing just fine. Sucks that he choked away the SB comeback in the end though. He should be really good, but it is yet to be seen how well he can diagnose defenses... or if he can keep fame from turning him into a prick or convict.

Do you buy clues from vanna or just vowels?

I thought they just gave you clues.