So, Jim Harbaugh came out yesterday after an especially impressive performance by Colin Kaepernick, and said he had no idea who would start next Sunday in St. Louis. This information of course is up there in the pantheon of who shot JFK, and who General Patraeus is currently banging.
Funny thing is, a case can easily be made for either. Smith has put together quite a resume since Harbaugh took over. 20-6-1 and a botched punt or two from the Super Bowl. Cappy? Well, he’s the hot hand right now. He has put together 2.6 games of very solid play with some absolutely beautiful passes along the way.
So what will Harbaugh do? I have no idea. Does he ride the horse he’s got now? Or defer to the guy that got him close last year? Alex Smith didn’t do anything to lose his job besides get hit in the head, but Cappy is very dynamic and has strung together a great stretch of recent game play. If it was me, I’d keep Kaepernick in there. Let it ride. I love what he has brung to the table, and the team sure seems to feed off his energy.
As recently as Saturday I thought they should go back to Smith after NO, but this last game was a pretty big deal. Norleans needed this game in the worst way. They were on a roll, and desperately trying to climb back into the playoff hunt. They threw anything and everything at Cappy and the offense. A win would have put them solidly in the hunt for a wildcard spot, and no one would have blinked had the Niners lost a tough road game on the bayou. Instead, Cappy played tough, driven football. His field vision is outstanding, and his passes were accurate. The only blemish came on a bad snap, and Cappy didn’t get much of a look downfield when he threw the pick. He likely should have taken the sack, but that INT let to Ahmad Brooks’ pick 6, so it ended well for ther Niners. No one was happier when the defense came off the field than Cappy.
That being said, it would be so like Harbaugh to start Smith this Sundy just to tweak us droolers and mumblers out here in the wasteland of fandom. If so, I think Harbaugh has a megalomaniacal bent of the highest order. He’s Dr. Frankenquarterback. He can whip up QBs out of lumps of clay in a week.
I suspect Scott Tolzein will enter the QB race by week 14. But he’s not included in the poll.
Yet.
Forty Niners Forever 
You Smaters have a rat in the room, maybe 2. Alex has three votes and I didn’t vote twice. BTW, the question should have been who we think should start, not who we think will start.
And Chuckles, try a post not about Alex- just one day. Let’s see who handle it. Meditation, herbal teas, excercise, you can do it, Chuckie.
if he did that, what would you do with the rest of your day?
Educate you on the rest of football you know nothing about.
Hmmm, good advice. Why dont YOU follow it Mr. Twinfan??????
As I recall, I predicted the Niners making it to the super bowl and playing New England. I had the Niners going to the SB the year before, too. But that’s just me making some dumbass fan prediction and trying to stay positive. It’s the same shit in Phil’s prediction contest each week. All of us have the record we predicted (whatever that was) but every single week we all pick the Niners to win (except Dennis, Grumpy one week and me last week). Now that doesn’t add up, does it? Or did we all predict they would go 16-0?
There is only one way to determine if Kap was the right move or not and I’ll type slowly so you can follow along: It will all depend on their final game. Depending on the game they finally lose to end their season (assuming they don’t go all the way) what was Kap’s role in the loss? Was there anything he could have done to prevent it? Or did he have a terrible game and throw 3 picks? Was there any other single player (like KW last year) who could be blamed for the loss? Or was it a general team loss? Or was the opposing team just better than us? The only 2 people I know who attribute wins and losses solely to the qb are you and Denny. And obviously, Denny more than you. But the one thing you both share in common is an obsession with the quarterback position. It consumes both of you. And it’s annoying as fuck to the rest of the bloggers to hear nothing but the same shit out of you two day in and day out…………..
As I said, my expectations haven’t changed. They didn’t change with the QB switch. My prediction last year was 9-7, one playoff win, and then done. I didn’t think they’d get the bye and reach the NFCCG, but they did what they did, and they almost made it.
This year I expected 11-5 and a trip to the Super Bowl. Like Harbaugh said a few days ago, he foresaw a better team this year that could end up with a worse record than last year. Due to strength of schedule and some tough road games.
Is Harbaugh’s decision to replace Smith solely based on the 2 losses to the Gaints? Well, could be. Does he see more upside in Cappy’s game? Well, if he starts Cappy tomorrow, I’d think the answer is yes. Does it suck for Alex? Yes. he did nothing to lose the job. Except be on a team with a possible up-and-coming star QB.
Weaselville was for Flavoro. You’re saying you still think they’ll make the Super Bowl, correct? So you’re the first to make a call since Kap took over. That wasn’t hard, was it? As I’ve said, I really don’t like to predict failure for my team. I think the decision to bench Smith was wrong on many levels and I think Harbaugh will regret doing it. Colin seems like a nice young man and I think he has seemed very embarassed about Harbaugh’s handling of this. I will add that his “Valley Boy” accent is like fingernails on a chalkboard, but I digress.I think they’ll finish 11-4-1, Smith will end up the QB for the postseason and there will be a reunion of the Harbaugh Bros in the Super Bowl. It will be a defensive battle but Alex is a better QB than Flacco and one drive will be the decider.17-13 Niners. MVP Carlos Rogers.As always when a guy makes a detailed pick, there’s plenty to be wrong about and I don’t have to worry about hearing about them. You’ll always be there for me, Chuckles..
As I said-Weaselville.
Stop lying about what my position on team play is- I’ve spent seven years explaning to the Smaters that while the QB is the most important player, he’s also the one most dependant on the play of others- so discontinue your fabrication about that. One of the regulars put up a chart showing why *Smith* can’t win the Super Bowl- nothing to do with team. It’s always been that way- it’s all Smith for these idiots when we lose, all a team effort when we win. Hypocritical and ignorant.
Look,Flavoro-you didn’t put any quailfiers in about how you thought the team would do when you thought Smith was going to be the QB. This is simple- forget the issue of “fault”, why are you and the rest of this crew refusing to say how you think they’ll do now the Kappy is the QB? It shouldn’t be hard. Make a pick.
BTW, your favorite poster is hinting at another of his “cat drippings” posts. As to you “respectfully” asking fo ra ink, I know you and everything about what you really mean. You made that same “respectful” request before- when you think I can’t produce one.
Anyway- make that pick . I’ll make the question even easier, we’ll even leave out the QB, it’s just so unfair to put expectations on Colin.
What is your prediction for the rest of the season for the Niners?
I don’t think anyone here lowered their expectations with Cappy now in there. What they are arguing is your simpleton one that if Cappy doesn’t deliver a trophy, then the decision to replace Smith was wrong.
If that’s your stance, then Smith lost the NFCCG last year. Can’t have it both ways.
You said it, not him, skippy. Watch it.
Dude, the implication that they have to go further than Smith took them ain’t mine, pal. It’s the raison d’etre for the move.However, many observers think it makes no diff who the QB is- they win or lose on defense and the ground game.I don’t totally agree with that, it also relies on what the Smaters spit on- a minimum of mistakes. Colin has pretty much avoided them thus avoided them thus far, Moss saved an int in the NO end zone, fortunately Williams didn’t turn around and thus failed to catch the pass that would have ended the Ram game with a loss, we’ve only lost one of his 3 fumbles, etc. Colin plays a higher risk game than Smith does and the gamble is that his big plays will negate the mistakes. I don’t think they will so I don’t think we’ll have to worry about him besting what the team did with Alex at the helm for the playoffs last year. Kap will be on the bench, hopefully with his helmet on so he can learn the why’s of the play calling..
FYI, the ESPN poll with over 15,000 votes goes with Kap 60% to 40% for Alex.
Most unbiased people without an agenda would just read my 8:04am and agree with it. You either didn’t understand it because I didn’t type slowly enough for you or you’re just never gonna get it. So rather than keep explaining the same shit to you I’ll just say this: go re-read my 8:04am a few times, take notes and ask questions respectfully about the things you don’t understand. I’ll be happy to explain them to you in the same tone that you give to the question…….
Do you have a pick yet or do you want to wait until the season is over?
Twin, Flav didn’t change his pick with the QB change. He’s picking NE and SF in the Super Bowl.
Where does he say that? I’ll be happy to move him out of Weaselburg.
I’m starting to think a lot of this has to do with the outcomes of the last 2 Giants games. Smith and co. lost both times. The deal is to go with Cappy this time. Now is just getting Cappy ready for that game.
If they are going with Cappy now, barring a major implosion, they will stick with Cappy in the playoffs. Otherwise, there’s no reason to have Cappy starting now.
Shit, it’s 52% to 48% Cappy. Just like the goddamn election.
Ok, so this is where Harbaugh needs to get better with, making a decision and announcing it! When Smit was questionable but ready, he made the right call, not announcing his starting QB. Now though he should have made the announcement!! He should have made it this morning. All the sports guys, ESPN, etc say that the NFL has changed, it is no longer a start does not lose his starting position due to injury. Teams should go with their best player. Twin it is not that Alex is not a good player. It just that Colin is the best player at QB. With that said lets not forget the D won the game for the Niners. If those 2 picks had not happened we would have seen just how good Colin is and how creative Harbaugh would have been on offense. 2 games Colin has shown an extreme up side to him starting. Alex has already proven what he can do. It is still IMO, Alex starts. 13-3 was no fluke with Alex at the helm.
I posted this on the Flap. I have no problem with how Harbaugh is handling the situation, as long as the players are getting the info ASAP. He can hold out for as long as he possibly can on announcing it to the public/media and I have no problem with that…keep the opposition guesing…makes it more of a challenge to game-plan for a QB.
and the 2 missed FG Kevin?
Harbaugh said he’d tell us droolers tomorrow who the starting QB is.
How do you like the new header? Since we are turing into a gossip ciolumn, I figured I’d go with the gay-ass Twilight theme.
Well, it was bad enough to lose K. Williams for the year, but all the latest reports point to Kendall Hunter also being lost for the year.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2012/11/27/kendall-hunter-out-for-season/1729443/
Chuck has just said that Colin is starting to get him ready for an anticipated game with NY in the playoffs. Unless he’s also saying they don’t expect him to better Smith’s performance, and lead the team to a WIN, and he’s definiely NOT saying that, he’s saying the same fucking thing I’ve been attacked for saying.
This is almost as dumb as the Posey in LF argument. Almost!
I started in left field once. Once!
And that was almost as dumb as not realizing why LF is such a good idea. Almost!
Would you still think it was dumb if Flavoro thought it was good idea (Posey in LF)?Just wondering.Often I’ve found that if it’s my idea, it’s dumb.If someone proposes it, it’s a durn good thought. That doesn’t bother me, I find it amusing.
Well, they ain’t starting Cappy now to go back to Smith in the playoffs, skippy. Just what have you been sayng, Twin? You say a million different things and then attribute them to Maiocco. I guive up. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’ve been saying the Niners should stick with Alex, and if Cappy doesn’t win the Super Bowl, then the move was a failure. Irregardless of how the loss comes to pass.
If Harbaugh comes out and says he’s going back to Smith (as he hinted), then Harbaugh is dancing with Mr Brownstone. He’s a passenger on the looney train.
Here’s what Flav said.
That was just saying what he originally predicted. I’ll be happy to amend it.
He didn’t change it.
He said that had been his prediction, he never said it still was.
But as I said, I’ve put him down for a Super Bowl call. But with these injuries piling up, I’d give him a mulligan. I’m that kind of guy- firm but fair.
I posted my *prediction* earlier today—it was the prediction I made at the beginning of the year. And then I explained to the simpler section of this blog why predictions like that are so stupid. I don’t put a win or a loss 100% on the QB performance (unlike 2 other people here). Whether it will turn out that a QB switch was the right move or not won’t be determined until the end of the year. It would be that way for Smith or for Kap and it will have nothing to do with whether we win the freaking super bowl or not, lol. Now, you could call that a weasel answer or just me trying to answer a third-grade question with an adult answer……
But I definitely think that Kap is a better QB for us now and I do think he improves are chances of winning a game. But Kap can’t play defense. Kap can’t fumbled the ball once it’s in the running back’s hands. It’s so unbelievably simplistic to take that approach to evaluating whether this switch was good or bad it’s almost laughable.
But sure, I’ll play this dumbass game with him: when they turn football into 1:1 where it’s just the opposing QB’s taking the field to compete against each other then I will definitely predict that we win *that* super bowl with Kap out there instead of Alex…………
Good summation, Flav. And I agree. Who the QB is will not decide how far this team goes…there are 21 other starters, and a slew of special team guys that also figure in the equation.
And I also feel that Kaep gives the team a better chance (I think he has a better suite of tools to work with when compared to Alex). Alex has done a great job, I just think Colin gives them a better chance. And I am sure that is what is driving Harbaugh’s decision. He may have stepped on his dick the way he has handled it, but I still think he is one of the most brilliant young coaches in the game. And I also think he could give a flying fuck what the media or fans think of his demeanor.
The whole fucking point is, no one knows how the alternate scenario would have gone.
If the Niners stick with Cappy, nothing can be said regarding how they would have done with Smith. And vice versa. Twin, you can bitch and moan all you want about track record this and scenario that, but in the end everyone has to abide the decision. Or bail, or cry, or whatever. If they go back to Smith, then the usual crew of Smith doggers will magically reappear should they fall short.
Harbaugh may have come to the realization that the future is now, and he HAS to go with who he thinks gives them the better chance. Smith be damned.
We’ll find ouit tomorrow.
The dude abides . . .
I like Brian Billick and in this week’s version of the power rankings, he has the Niners number one, again. Here is what he had to say about the QB situation (and I agree whole-heartedly with him):
“You hate to see a player lose his starting role due to injury, especially one that has been as successful as Alex Smith the past two seasons. But backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick gives this offense an explosive quality Smith couldn’t.” Nuff said.
Fuck. Trying to read this thread with a terrible fucking cold is utterly surreal.
Not that I think the cold is responsible, mind you.
I have never said the QB is 100% responsible for wins and losses. It’s the Smaters who claim that. Pulling a Rove and lying often and loudly won’t make it true.
With the Smaters spending years battling Fear and Puddinghead for the pole of any QB who might permanently send Alex away for good, the dumbass notion that suddenly it’s not important that Colin better what Smith has acccomplished with the team is ridiculous.
Not sure to whom the comment is addressed, but I know I have never said it’s not important that Colin better what Smith has accomplished. I appreciate all Alex has done for the team. And I think Harbaugh could have done a much better job with this QB situation. But I do feel that Kaeperneck gives the team a better chance to win.
And I can’t imagine anyone begrudging you that opinion. Hell, I remember when Chuck Noll thought Terry Hanratty or “Jefferson Street Joe” were better options than Terry Bradshaw..
Unrelated to this stirring discussion, “Bradshaw’s teammates wondered about their quarterback as well. When he once called a power sweep on third-and-30, two offensive linemen threatened to punch him unless he changed the play..”
Just thought that was funny. Came upon it while Googling Bradshaw in hopes of causing more trouble..
Anybody remember Joe Gilliam? Guy had hell of an arm, wild as hell though. Think he died a few years back.Maybe I’ll look that up.
Gilliam was the starter the year they won their first Super Bowl, until Bradshaw replaced him. He was 4-1-1 through six games when Bradshaw got the job from him.
Gilliam had pretty awful stats, mind you. Terry Hanratty also started one game that year. He went 2 of 15, with 1 TD and 3 picks. One of them was a Pick Six. Didn’t matter. He won his only start that year by ten points. The Steelers were so ridiculously good on defense and rushing that year, Nate “Coloring Books iz mah friend” Davis could have quarterbacked them to the playoffs.
You referenced Maiocco, who said exactly that, to boster your point.
Why?
twinfan1 says:
November 26, 2012 at 7:41 pm (Edit)
What exactly is your question?