Colin Kaepernick: Not the answer for 49ers
It seems like you can’t go anywhere these days without hearing about the San Francisco 49ers current quarterback situation, especially when it comes to former star quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
After taking over in 2012 Colin helped lead the 49ers to a Superbowl appearance against the Baltimore Ravens. After a very slow start the lights went out in the third quarter with the Ravens steam rolling with a 28-6 lead. After the lights came back on the 49ers went on a full offensives and almost made a complete comeback. Unfortunately the 49ers came up five yards short on a questionable no call pass interference where Jimmy Smith held Michael Crabtree in the endzone preventing Michael from making a play on the ball. The Ravens went on to in Superbowl 47 by the score of 34-31. Leaving 49ers players and fans heartbroken.
The Following Season Colin Kaepernick took over as the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback. It was apparent Alex Smith’s days in San Francisco were over and he was later traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. That Season Colin played outstanding football completing 58.4 percent of his passes for 3,197 passing yards and 21 touchdown passes.
After Another dominating playoff run the 49ers were back in their third straight NFC Championship game, this time versus division the Seattle Seahawks led by their dominating defense and star running back Marshawn Lynch. After a hard fought game the Seattle Seahawks squeaked out a victory by picking off a forced pass to Michael Crabtree in the endzone with time running down.
AROUND COVER32
Fantasy Football: Ranking the top ten wide receivers
Kick Returns: Devin Hester hates new touchback rule
PEDs: League to talk with three stars in June
2016 Preview: Predictions for the NFC East division
Latest 49ers News: Predicting the 49ers win total in 2016
Latest 49ers News: Key Position Battles Will Determine 49ers Fate in 2016
In 2014 the rumors went wild that Jim Harbaugh was no longer going to be the coach of the 49ers after the season. During the 2014 season it seemed like Jim gave up on trying to stay in San Francisco resulting in the 49ers taking a punishment during the season. They finished the year (8-8) and missed the playoffs.
During that season you also began to see the down fall of Colin Kapernick , he wasn’t getting better at reading defenses and his footwork was still very bad. It seemed defenses were beginning to figure Colin out as he threw less touchdowns and more interceptions. It was beginning to look like Kaepernick wasn’t getting better, but in fact getting worse.
2015 got even worse for the 49ers and Colin Kaepernick after firing Jim Harbaugh, the team had a string of several retirements and free agents leave during the offseason. (those two things have no correlation). Eventually the 49ers hired Defensive Line Coach Jim Tomsula and Kaepernick spent the offseason working with Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner. The season started awful for the entire team going (2-6) through the first eight games. For Colin it was much worse, he looked like a rookie in over his head, he had no confidence which lead to second guessing his passes resulting in turnover after turnover, his footwork continued to be atrocious making his passes inaccurate. Colin looked far from a NFL quarterback which sparked attention from his mentor Kurt Warner, who said “He’s not completing passes downfield and struggling to make quick reads against opposing pass rushes while doing less of the playmaking with his legs that made him successful earlier in his career.” Kurt also went on to say “Kaepernick has a chance to grow,” but admitted that he doesn’t know if that growth is ever going to come.
Colin Kaepernick’s season ended after eight games when he was benched in favor of back up Blaine Gabbert who went on to play a lot better than Kaepernick despite being in a similar situation with lack of talent around him.
Now that another offseason has passed the 49ers have gotten rid of that terrible coaching staff and hired a winning coach in Chip Kelly who brings in a exciting new staff and a creative new offense scheme. That might suggest Colin Kaepernick can turn right? I wouldn’t get my hopes up, here are the top three reasons why Colin Kaepernick isn’t the answer the 49ers are looking for at quarterback.
Why Colin Kaepernick is not the answer
Not a Scheme Fit for Chip
I know what you are thinking, but Colin Kaepernick is athletic and can make big plays with his legs. That is true Colin can run, but that’s doesn’t make him a Chip Kelly quarterback. Looking a Chip’s offense, he prefers the ball in his running backs hands when it comes to running the football. There are a few design quarterback runs but prefers his quarterbacks runs less than five times a game.
Colin is also a bad fit in Chip Kelly’s passing offense because Chip likes to spread the field meaning in the passing game his quarterback needs to see the field, read the defense, and make a decision quickly. All three of these traits Colin Struggles with. Kaepernick has been known to only look at one read, struggle with reading defenses, and slow to make a decision.
Another trait that is a need for a Chip Kelly quarterback is accuracy when passing. Colin Kaepernick isn’t a very accurate quarterback due to his poor footwork which makes him prone to pull his world famous inaccurate bullet passes which to a receiver is like trying to catch a brick fired out of a cannon. From watching tape you see Colin struggles the most in competing short passes, he tends to either lead the receiver into trouble or miss them completely too high or too low. which is a major problem because short passes are one of the main staples in Chip Kelly’s passing Offense .
Colin Kaepernick’s Age
November 3, 2016 Kaepernick turns 29 years old which presents another major problem with him. Kaepernick is a running quarterback and the higher he gets in age the less explosive he will become. He won’t be able to rely on his legs that he currently uses to make big plays. Kaepernick doesn’t have the skills needed to be a pure pocket passer such as reading defense, making quick decisions, good footwork, and pocket presence. His major down fall begins when he loses his athleticism. Once he loses it he will no longer be able to make big plays and unfortunately fall apart when he is stuck inside the pocket. Similar to what happened against the rams this season in St. Louis.
Commitment to the team and the game
As you already know Colin Kaepernick this past offseason asked to seek a trade out of San Francisco. Throughout the offseason it was reported the Kaepernick was done with the 49ers and actively talking with the Browns, Jets, and Broncos about possible being traded. despite deals almost getting done Kaepernick refused to take a pay cut resulting in him stay a 49er.
Don’t get it twisted Colin Kaepernick didn’t return because he wants to be here. He returned because he doesn’t want to take a pay cut. That isn’t a sign of loyalty or wanting to be a 49er, but is looking out for his own finances. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Kaepernick played well this season and immediately demanded out again. Until Colin Kaepernick looks the fans in the eye and says he wants to be here don’t assume he wants to be here. Don’t get me wrong keeping Kaepernick isn’t the solution, but saying he wants to be here is currently a false narrative.
The post Colin Kaepernick: Not the answer for 49ers appeared first on Cover32.
