One of my favorite lines from the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Anyhow, remember the thrilling days of yesteryear, when the Niners were coming off 2 resounding division wins, they were 6-2, 1st place in the NFC West, and there was a clear cut starting quarterback on the 49ers? You know, 16 days ago? Well, on that fateful day 16 days ago, the 49ers played the hapless St. Louis Rams. A team that was 3-5 and stumbling around pretty aimlessly under 1st year head coach Jeff Fisher.
Most everyone figured a crushing defeat for the Rams, but a funny thing happened on the way to the victory party. Steven Jackson ran the ball down the Niners throat. Jerry Amendola caught a ton of balls for a ton of yards, and with some stupid decisions on both sides, plus a few missed FGs, the game ended in a tie. And, Alex Smith was knocked out of the game in the 2nd quarter after sustaining a concussion. Colin Kaepernick did well enough down the stretch of that game to win it, and also made a play which could have lost it. Fisher made some very dumb calls, but all in all, it felt like a loss for the Forty Niners, given the circumstances.
Fast forward to the present, and the Niners know now that the Rams, for all their faults and growing pains, aren’t a pushover. Jackson shredded the Niners defense early, and the D missed more tackles in that game than in all the rest of the other games combined. Bradford had way too much time, and Amendola torched Carlos Rogers all day. I heard Fangio this morning stress tackling and say if their effort is the same as the previous game, the results will be similar. I don’t see that happening.
Offensively, both QBs did well vs the Rams. The run game gained steam going along, and both QBs made some good throws. We should know by tomorrow who gets the call. Other than that, KW is out, and also it looks like Kendall Hunter is also lost for the remainder of the season. Jewel Hampton, an undrafted RB, has been promoted from the practice squad to take Hunter’s place. The Niners are going with 52 guys for now, but I’m sure someone else will be added shortly.
BREAKING NEWS: NaVorro Bowman has been signed to a 5 years, $48.5 million extension through the 2018 season.
Forty Niners Forever 
Well, I hope he stays ready. Kap could get hurt and then it’s back to Smith. And he can’t just say *fuck you*. He’ll want to have added to his resume with whatever he’s asked to do for the rest of this season. The Niners will buy him out for a mil, shake hands and finally go their separate ways. It’ll probably work out best for him in the end—a fresh start with a new team. I’d love to see him go to Arizona— what great theater that would be
With Kap likely doing a good bit of running per game, the injury risk is certainly there. We just saw 2 guys go down for the season on one play. It can happen. Alex will keep himself ready, he’s a pro…
As far as this never happening, well, the NFL is cut-throat and ruthless. Smith has had a long, crazy career here, but he’s made enough coin to support his great great grand kids in style. He could have split a number of times, yet wanted to finish the job here. And he came oh-so close last year. Hell of a job to overcome a ton of adversity and lousy coaching for years.
Sure, it sucks for him, but know what? Them’s the breaks. It is a shitty situation for him down the stretch of this year, but he’s got to suck it up and be ready. Until he leaves next year.
I’m sure Alex would LOVE to go to AZ, provided they get an offensive line. He’d be sacked 10x a game behind that line. And I certainly don’t see a sign-and-trade thing beofre 4/1/13, but I suppose it could happen.
Ariz, Buffalo, Cleveland and a coupla more teams would probably kick the tires hard on Alex. Wherever he goes as a starter, he won’t get the benefit of a better OL than the Niners OL…
On a secondary level, the Niners must think Tolzien is a keeper, since he’ll be the new backup if, as we should now expect, Alex is no longer in the plans for next season…
I like Tolzien, I think he is a gamer too.
Obit number 68 for Alex here. Settle down. We’ve seen it takes one blow to take a guy out or a couple picks if it’s a young guy. Smith could certainly end up starting again- and depending on the outcome, he could be baaaaaaaaaaccccccccccccccccccck in 2013..
Smith bought into Harbaugh hook line and sinker only to get lubed up and bent over. After the recent off season he should have known better I suppose. At some point Smith has to have some self respect and move on.
I’m not surprised. The whole thing played out strange. But I’m glad he made a decision, and I think it’s the right one. CK may stumble in some of the remaining games, but I think AS would have too. All about the upside.
Suuuuper stoked about Bowman. Gotta appreciate proactive front offices.
Suuuper bummed about Hunter. Like Snarkk said above — he’s a bigger loss than Williams, IMO. Who knows what James can do. Hunter was a stud — dude almost always gained positive yardage, and almost always more than I thought he would as I saw the play unfold. It’s a tough loss. Stay healthy, Frankie.
Yep, I think the Hunter loss is going to hurt. LMJ probably won’t play much, they may not trust him, and I heard on the radio he’s had trouble picking up the offense. Jacobs is a plodder, a short yardage guy, he doesn’t replace Hunter’s skills. They’ve apparently brought in some new RB or activated a guy off the practice squad that I never heard of — that’s not encouraging. Chuck probably knows…
Kap’s running ability might have even been a small factor in giving him the reins, with the running game taking a hit with Hunter out now…
Jewel Hampton was described as a “bowling ball”. He is supposed to be a decent runner with power and hard to take down. Don’t know much more than that.
Kaepernick should avoid collisions when running. Just ask Michael Vick and lately Cam Newton. They have absorbed beatdowns. Randall Cunningham’s career ended on a run.
“CK may stumble in some of the remaining games, but I think AS would have ”
I don’t think Colin has the job regardless of how he does. He wouldn’t have to stumble much for Jimbo to change again.
Well I was wrong on that one. I really thought last week was to err on the side of caution with Smith and to see how well Colin handled the hostile environment in NOLA just in case Smith went down come PO time. Well, I’ve been wrong before and all I have to say right now is – Kaepernick, go out and kick some ass.
Where LMJ may hurt is blitz pick-up. An integral part of the Niner offense is to have RBs pick up blitzing LBs and safeties. If he ain’t getting it, the Cappy era may be a short one.
Might not be that big of a deal if we keep going with two and three tight ends. Harbaugh and Roman can find a spot for a speedy scat back if anyone can.
Just to be clear, Harbs said Kap was the starter “this week” and did not confirm Kap as the starter going forward when pressed on it. As Twin says, this is still a fluid situation, although I believe it would take a couple of QB disaster games to switch back at this point, a couple of interceptions isn’t close to be enough.
Look, I posted that at this point Jimbo should stick with Colin. But two losing games with him playing poorly before Jimmie would switch back? I don’t think so.
You also posted a couple of interceptions gets Kap the hook. It’s hardly a secret where your preferences are in this but do you really think that’s the case?
Well, I agree with Maiocco, who reiterated today:
“Coach Jim Harbaugh on Wednesday is expected to supply the answer to the question, Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick?
In order to answer that question, though, Harbaugh first had to ask himself something else.
Which quarterback gives the 49ers the best chance to advance in the playoffs this season and win the Super Bowl?
That’s it. That’s all that matters.”
I know that you don’t believe that but we’ll get a pretty good idea by how Jimbo handles it if Colin performs poorly.
That has nothing to do with my preference, it has to do whether one believes that Harbaugh based his decision on what Maiocco says. If Matt is right, Jimbo won’t hesitate to go back to Smith quickly.
Love what Kornheiser just said, BTW: if he were Alex he’d wrap his hands around Jimbo’s neck and squeeze with fury…that’s a paraphrase but if it errs, it’s a conservative error..
Actually Twin I completely believe this is about how far Harbaugh thinks each QB gives the team the better chance to win in the playoffs and have repeatedly said so. Just in case you missed it here it is again. IMHO I think this team has a better opportunity to beat good teams and go to the superbowl with Kap over Alex.
Not sure why you think Maiocco’s comment bolsters your thought that 2 interceptions means Kap gets the hook. Alex threw 3 in a game this year.
Alex is throwing over 20 yds at a rate of less than 3 per game, Kap is throwing at 5 per game and some of those are far more than 20.
Alex takes just a smidgen under 3 sacks per game, Kap 0. Kap has 1 interception this year in just over 2.5 games and that comes with an asterisk, Alex has thrown 5 including 3 in the Giants game no asterisks needed and all of these stats are with Alex throwing the least of any starter in the league.
Too small a sample size with Kap to see a trend but so far so good considering both starts were against hot and highly ranked teams.
In short, Kap moves the chains more, so far.
Kornheiser’s an ass. The best day in Alex’ Niner life was when they hired Harbaugh. What, Alex would have loved another 2 years of Sing? Harbaugh, an ex QB, has pushed Alex’ skills and rep to a level he would not have attained otherwise. That’s worth something to Alex — whether he still plies his trade with SF, or somebody else next year…
I feel for the guy somewhat on a human level. He has performed what was asked of him well and been successful by anybody’s standards in terms of wins and wasn’t yanked for failure. Having said that, Harbaugh saved his ass big time. When Alex was on the out not a team in the league would have started him, he was destined for the career clipboard. Now he has a chance to be a starter elsewhere if that’s how this plays out. He has lost out to a more talented guy, no reason for recriminations. It happens in all walks of life everyday including football.
I beg to differ. Harbaugh was free to go in either direction. He knows he’s crushing Alex’s ego with this move. Kaepernick has some rookie mistakes ahead and no one knows that better than Harbaugh. Barring injury or total disfunction I don’t see a way to bench Kaep and still look like he develops QBs.
Shit, 12th. This will never end . . . We’ll have breathless Harbagh press conferences every week.
Name that Starter . . .
Scary stupid isn’t it.
Who’s got it better then Alex?
Well Kappy does!!
Well, as everyone in the locker room knows: for now.
Calm down, guys. The name of the game is Meet Me in St. Louis. After that, we’ll see if we have a QB controversy.
But LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Win a Ring from the sidelines and filling in, Alex, then help rebuild the Chiefs. They need you bad.
AZ is idiotic except for revenge. Did they get an OL while I was asleep?
Sorry, Alex, you won’t be a starter in Sea or St Loo. Or Minnesota or Green Bay or Chicago, either. Maybe Detroit? Not.
So, Atlanta? No. Tampa Bay? No. NO, get real. Car? The QB is the only good player on the team.
The Iggles, Not Quite Dead Yet Jerry’s team, or off to the AFC if you want to be a starter again.
Jacksonville would be good for you, or KC. KC’s a far more talented team. You might have fun there.
Buffalo is, well, Buffalo. My Mom was born there. Your shoulder would never last the winter.
The more I think about it, the better I see you fit into KC, a real football town. You’ll need to take a salary cut no matter where you go, so what? Are you poor?
Brady Quinn and the former starter Matt Cassel? They have a good young team with a top #1 pick.
And a gaping hole behind center. KC would put up monuments to you if you could help turn them around.
Well, if Turner stays, San Diego is a possibility. Rivers is up the creek. AZ is a real possibilty, IMO. KC also.
But Smith has absolutely for sure no question about it thrown his last pass for the Niners a few times now. I’m seeing Alex as the OC in 2034 and Alex Jr. under center. Face it, boys, a York ancestor raided the tomb of an Egyptian deity and the curse is an Alex Smith under center for eternity..
Az would be a rotten career move for Alex. He would go down behind that “line” like a wet burlap sack of potatoes.
I’m not joking about KC. They beat the Saints in NO, lost to the Steelers in Pitt by 3, lost to the Ravens by 3, and darn near beat Peyton’s Broncs.
And they have the #1 coming.
Alex is what, 28?
Turners a gonna but I agree the Chargers makes sense as I wrote yesterday. Just as you say, Rivers is way off the mark this year and not great last either.
If I’m Alex, if he leaves next year and has a choice, I’d short list teams based on their OLine strength. That’s the only way. Receiver stable comes second. Bad OL, he’ll get creamed…
Bottom feeders looking for a starting quarterback most likely have weak lines.
IMHO there is absoulutely no chance Turner stays unless he wins them the Super Bowl this year. Not happening.
As I recall Alex was wearing a SD cap a couple years back in the locker room as the Sing era thankfully ended as he was clearing out his locker.
Could easily see a fit with the Chargers,and he did grow up in that area (LaMesa) I believe playing HS football with Reggie Bush.