We didn't suck, so we don't need Luck.
by ak4niner on Feb 8, 2012 6:45 PM PST
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Back before the season started, the San Francisco 49ers were predicted to be in the "Suck for Luck" competition. There were quite a few reasons why.
- New Head Coach.
- Yet ANOTHER offensive scheme.
- Limited training time because of the lock-out.
- ALEX SMITH as the QB? Seriously?
And on and on and on. Then the season began. The 49ers started surprising everyone by winning! Yeah, we lost against the evil Cowboys, got beaten by the Ravens, and lost to the Cardinals. However, we found ways to win. Excuses were made by other fans and other teams. Those excuses were told to sit down and shut up during the playoffs when we beat the Saints at their own game. I won't go into the hard-fought Giants game other than it still hurts too much.
However, after we lost that game some 49ers fans started talking. "How do we get Luck?" Many elaborate plans were made here on Niners Nation for ways we could get Andrew Luck. After all, if we had Luck during the Giant game (slight pun intended) we would have won right? Maybe, maybe not. I see our needs as better pass protection and better WR play.
So, where does that leave our vaunted QB position? Smith may or may not become elite, but who will be our franchise QB?
Colin Kaepernick. Yes, that raw talent from the University of Nevada. There are three reasons why I think he will be the answer. One, he has the talent. Two, he is a very hard worker and is driving himself. Three, this little-known guy named Jim Harbaugh who seems to have a knack for making QB's the best they can be.
The same people who have been lauded for all the great draft-picks and FA acquisitions moved up in the draft to get Colin. He drove to SF on his own dime to talk to Coach Harbaugh right after he was drafted to learn what he could before the lockout was renewed. Also, he wasn't thrown to the wolves, giving him time to refine and learn his talent.
Do I think he is the starter next year? No. He needs another year or two to learn the NFL offense, refine his throwing. I would like to see Alex Smith signed for a two-year contract to allow Kaep to develop. Then watch out NFL!
I know the talk has been about getting P. Manning and trying to trade up for A. Luck. What are your thoughts on C. Kaepernick?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.
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Me either.
Might not be next season, but soon. And he is going to surprise people (in a good way for Niner fans!).
Who's got it better than Honey Badger? Honey Badger don't give a ....
Kaepernick's raw talent + Harbaugh's coaching = Hall of Fame QB
rec
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 9, 2012 5:07 PM PST up reply actions
no idea about Kaep
There’s just no way to know. I think we give Smith a 2 or 3 year deal, keep developing Kaep, and probably if a good QB prospect falls to us in the draft in the next few years we take it and see what happens.
If you don't like Brandon Medders you're not a true fan.
by wjackalope on Feb 9, 2012 4:58 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Kaep
We literally have no gauge at this point so I think any evaluation is pretty much speculation at best, useless at worst. He just has to sit back, help with reads on the sidelines, get his reps, and listen. He seems to be doing just that. I do not think they took Kaep specifically because they said “We want Kaep,” I think they knew they wanted to take a QB in the draft and the talent drop that was going to occur after Kaep was too dramatic to wait. We saw QB’s that we thought were late 1st at best go very early in the draft so the Niners did what they had to do.
The quicker we sign Smith the better it will be, I’m really sick of reading Peyton Manning speculation. He’s not coming here, we’re good to go with Smith and Kaep. Harbaugh prides himself on developing QB’s so I somehow doubt he would bring in such a polished one that can run an offense. I see more defensive minded coaches with other specialties going after Manning if he’s available. We don’t need him and his Mena Suvari five-0head and his Stephen Curry neck.
Honorary parent of Duane Kuiper, beloved solar powered broadcaster and power hitting coach for the Giants.
Taking Kaep, specifically could have been the plan.
I am not an Alex hater, I'm an Alex apologist hater. Now you know. -Mr Moses
by rlott#42 on Feb 9, 2012 6:41 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
oh definitely
I’m not saying it wasn’t. I think everybody was a bit surprised at where some of the QB talent was being taken and I think the 49ers wanted a QB that was at least as good as Kaep was. I think the shock of where certain people were chosen led the 49ers to not take any chances on keeping their pick and seeing what happens. The Niners knew what they had to do to secure a prospect like Kaep and they did it instead of risking it.
Honorary parent of Duane Kuiper, beloved solar powered broadcaster and power hitting coach for the Giants.
It wasn’t a surprise, They went where they were projected. I thought the qbs would go where they went, aside from Mallet I thought he’d go earlier.
I am not an Alex hater, I'm an Alex apologist hater. Now you know. -Mr Moses
Ponder went a bit higher than people though
And a lot higher than some of believed he’s worth
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 11, 2012 5:16 AM PST up reply actions
I thought he would go end of first, but I did mock Dalton to Cincy and predictrd 9ers trade up for Colin.
I am not an Alex hater, I'm an Alex apologist hater. Now you know. -Mr Moses
As an Arkansas fan who watched Mallett play, I thought he'd go later
than everyone thought and he’d be a bust regardless. Couldn’t believe so many people were holding on to their 1st/early 2nd round projections for him. lol’d so hard when he fell to the 3rd round.
He actually has a chance now to not suck though since he gets to sit behind Brady and be coached by the Patriots staff.
the way they described that little work out in Reno, I came to believe that was the case. It seemed that Harbaugh and Kaepernick had good chemistry going in that workout.
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 9, 2012 10:09 PM PST up reply actions
after seeing what these rookie qb's did this year
I want to see what Colin Kaepernick can do, he already has a year under his belt and will have a full off season with Harbaugh to learn his craft some more.
Also on the radio at 95.7 The Game they were saying that alex smith wants Ryan Fitzpatrick money, that is too much money for a guy with career lows in yards per game and td’s per game. The Niners would be stuck with that contract for three to four more years with that much guaranteed. If someone offers alex smith that much money I hope he takes it and I hope it is not with the Niners.
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 9, 2012 10:06 PM PST up reply actions
He's gonna get it, sorry to ruin your life. I hope every dime is guaranteed.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 10, 2012 12:15 AM PST up reply actions
As much as I think Alex will come back
Giving him that type of money will be a mistake.
And when we win, we want to dominate. We want to take guys out. We want to hurt guys. We want to win. We just want to dominate, hit them in the mouth. - Rathman
Follow @manraj76
by manraj7 on Feb 10, 2012 8:14 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Alex is going to get
a comparable guaranteed signing bonus that will be spread out over a 2-3 year deal. Everything else is window dressing. And he deserves it because he had the best year of his career on a one year deal coming back to a team and a fanbase that hated him. He led the “training camp,” without a deal in place and led this team to it’s first Divisional Round playoff win in 14 years.
He earned another contract by beating the Saints.
by throwthedamnball on Feb 10, 2012 11:30 AM PST up reply actions
24million guaranteed is insane!
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 10, 2012 12:29 PM PST up reply actions
Did I say, "exactly," the same contract?
Comparable, look it up.
by throwthedamnball on Feb 10, 2012 3:00 PM PST up reply actions
so 3/5*24 = about 15m g
so around 15m guaranteed for Alex Smith. Sir thats preposterous
And when we win, we want to dominate. We want to take guys out. We want to hurt guys. We want to win. We just want to dominate, hit them in the mouth. - Rathman
Follow @manraj76
You do realize we're talking about NFL QB's?
Jon Kitna is going to get paid $3 million dollars next season. The jets are on the hook for $28 million guaranteed toward Sanchez plus his $8.5 million base salary. The Niners are going to back load a multi year deal and put in incentives just like every team does. Its the York’s money and they’ll probably end up paying a small percentage of whatever contract Smith signs. Get over it. The Niners just got a $200 mil loan from the league to build a stadium that will make the franchise even more lucrative. I think they can afford a signing bonus.
by throwthedamnball on Feb 10, 2012 11:30 PM PST up reply actions
The jets are on the hook for $28 million guaranteed toward Sanchez plus his $8.5 million base salary.
<<— bad contract and hate to break it to you its not baseball where teams can be like look we got more money lets spend it on getting more players. A 5-6 million dollar deal is more around Smith’s level. Before Fitz got his deal he was killing it putting better stats than most QBs. The only thing Smith is good at is not throwing INTs and he only did it for this year.
Maybe Smith finally turned the corner or maybe this year was just a fluke but honestly I don’t know. More likely than not its like a bond between two atoms not completely ionic but at the same time not completely covalent.
And when we win, we want to dominate. We want to take guys out. We want to hurt guys. We want to win. We just want to dominate, hit them in the mouth. - Rathman
Follow @manraj76
5 - 6 Million is way too low. 8 M per is his number
And like I said. I hope it’s all guaranteed. He renegotiated a #1 pick contract with huge guaranteed money when he didn’t have to in order to come back and play behind our crap offensive line.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 11, 2012 5:20 AM PST up reply actions
No it isnt.
He’s hasn’t done anything to deserve that. Nothing about his play, says pay him over that based on his potential. A five year real gets done for Alex, and the niners screw themselves. Two years to see if he’s worth the risk. In two years spending 12-14 nil is okay if he makes drastic strides.
I am not an Alex hater, I'm an Alex apologist hater. Now you know. -Mr Moses
alex is lucking not to be third string like brady quinn
alex should have been cut after his pathetic rookie year
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 12, 2012 12:53 AM PST up reply actions
I know there's a salary cap
but you’re going to have to bring in someone and pay them more than they paid Alex Smith last year unless you go with Kaep or Tolzien or another rookie.
Good luck getting Garrard, Orton, McNabb or Flynn for less than 7 mil per season. Hell, Josh Johnson is probably going to get 4 mil. Are you even considering the cap hits with any of this?
Fitzpatrick was killing it before his contract? He had five decent games this season and then tanked after the contract. His 2010 season wasn’t even as good as the one Alex just had.
by throwthedamnball on Feb 11, 2012 11:39 AM PST up reply actions
anything “comparable” is insane, alex, if he comes back, should only get one year guaranteed with incentives. alex has not shown anything above being bottom end of mediocre qb.
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 12, 2012 12:50 AM PST up reply actions
If we gave everyone a contract based on their contract year you'll end up with an Albert Haynesworth.
And when we win, we want to dominate. We want to take guys out. We want to hurt guys. We want to win. We just want to dominate, hit them in the mouth. - Rathman
Follow @manraj76
by manraj7 on Feb 10, 2012 1:29 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Somehow I think Alex Smith has a different work ethic than Haynesworth
I have to trust that Balke is shrewd enough to structure a deal that shows a little love to Alex while being team friendly (base salary, incentives). Alex isn’t going to get offered Fitzpatrick money from any other team. He’s valuable to the Niners to an certain extent. His agent may tell him otherwise, but the rest of league recognizes that Alex Smith’s season was a Jim Harbaugh reclamation project.
I also believe that Alex has to sense that he’s better off sticking with Harbaugh. He’s not going anywhere unless we offer the job to Manning.
by throwthedamnball on Feb 10, 2012 3:10 PM PST up reply actions
And if we offer the job to Manning
I think I may fly down there and smack the snot out of talk sternly to Harbaugh.
Who's got it better than Honey Badger? Honey Badger don't give a ....
Kaepernick's raw talent + Harbaugh's coaching = Hall of Fame QB
alex needs harbaugh which is probably why alex smith was washing harbaugh's balls for him this past week
i.e. being his “caddy” lol
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 12, 2012 12:52 AM PST up reply actions
but haynesworth has played at a high level comparable to other people at his postion, alex smith has not.
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 12, 2012 12:49 AM PST up reply actions
Alex had career highs in yards, rating, and INTs (fewest)
If you’re gonna try to argue a point, divulge all information.
Any Niner fan who actually pays attention can stop hoping Alex isn’t going to be back. 0% chance that happens. Listen to Harbaugh’s comments from what was it, yesterday.
Alex will be here next year, and probably one or two after that at minimum. The sooner people realize that and stop whining, the better off they’ll be, and we can actually talk about something relevant for a change.
"Bears are crazy, Willie. They'll bite your head off if you're wearing steak on it."
People whine because they feel hopeless
They are torn between their complete belief in Jim Harbaugh and their complete belief that Alex Smith is damaged goods that is never going to be better than “well he didn’t lose the game for us”.
Every time Jamie Dukes says something enlightening and informative about football Jerry Rice and I mount up on our flying grizzly bears and claim pirate treasure from the moon. That's how often it happens.
In understand that. Completely.
But my belief in Harbaugh so far outweighs my current doubts in Alex it’s not comparable. Not even close.
In Harbaugh I trust. Even about Alex.
"Bears are crazy, Willie. They'll bite your head off if you're wearing steak on it."
by Blank x2 on Feb 10, 2012 9:56 AM PST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
In Harbaugh I trust, especially about Colin.
Who's got it better than Honey Badger? Honey Badger don't give a ....
Kaepernick's raw talent + Harbaugh's coaching = Hall of Fame QB
and if Harbaugh told you to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge?
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 10, 2012 12:29 PM PST up reply actions
I'd ask him to buy me the plane tickets down first.
Who's got it better than Honey Badger? Honey Badger don't give a ....
Kaepernick's raw talent + Harbaugh's coaching = Hall of Fame QB
So you doubt air coach after this season? You don't trust his decisions with this team?
No wonder I don’t agree with most of what you say.
"Bears are crazy, Willie. They'll bite your head off if you're wearing steak on it."
you still wondering who farted?
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 10, 2012 12:40 PM PST up reply actions
Your damage goods comment is unsubstantiated , unimformed and far remove from the level of play he had last year , so being without form with allegations as such , is contrite in yours eyes , but not in Harbaughs , makes you look silly ...!!
I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ..( .AleX ) was asked , what do you think about all the game manager talk ... AleX i guess i just managed myself a VIctory ... Extend the Man ...!!
That's alot of 50 dolla words to basically say
“Two drives against New Orleans!! HaRbs and AlEx sitting in a tree!! Neener Neener Neener!!!”
Every time Jamie Dukes says something enlightening and informative about football Jerry Rice and I mount up on our flying grizzly bears and claim pirate treasure from the moon. That's how often it happens.
Makes you look silly for not seeing the obvious.
He is damaged goods, he has happy feet. He doesn’t see any one open he feels pressure that isn’t there. It’s not his fault, he didn’t pick those horrible lines to play behind. Hit him early and the offense stinks, see the ravens game. And Dallas.
I am not an Alex hater, I'm an Alex apologist hater. Now you know. -Mr Moses
Actually, the pressure is there most of the time.
The Ravens game is a prime example of that. They were getting to him in less than 2 seconds only rushing 3 or 4 guys. Also, he’s gotten better over the last 3 seasons with his pocket presence and avoiding sacks with his feet. As long as he keeps getting better, he’s not damaged goods.
If you want to talk about damaged goods, look at David Carr. He is still completely shell shocked from those years behind the Texans o-line.
No, the first play of the game he had a td, he disnt look downfield.
He threw a quick two yard pass with no pressure.
He expects pressure. Pocket presence is not fleeing the pocket, its dodging bullets ala Brady.
Gonna make the WR position relevant again? When?
Dude Brady almost never has to move at all
When you have that type of protection you’ll sidestep and continue looking downfield because your line will adjust and repick up the man. Ours cannot do that.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 13, 2012 11:33 PM PST up reply actions
and career lows in yards per game and td's per game.
he ranked lowest of qb’s who started 16 games in yards passing and td’s. He also had career low in per game passes attempted(could explain why lows in int’s)!
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 10, 2012 12:27 PM PST up reply actions
You understand so little about football strategy its amusing. Our gameplan won games. It lost 0.
Unlike the high flying gameplan that put up 60 against Indy for the Saints… and the very next week cost them the game against St. Louis. Which sent them to Candlestick… Where that same gameplan cost them them the game against us when Alex scored 4 TDs and had no turnovers in a WIN.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 11, 2012 5:24 AM PST up reply actions
Our game plan works with a mediocre QB, so guess what we have?
If the gameplan relies on that many turnovers, its going to be a long year next year.
I am not an Alex hater, I'm an Alex apologist hater. Now you know. -Mr Moses
Funny you credit his low number of attempts as the reason for
his low interception total, but don’t also credit it for his low number of TDs and yards.
Just shows how biased you are.
You don't understand "design" when talking offense, do you?
Stop playing madden. Success for a QB doesn’t mean 400 yards and 5 TDs per game.
"Bears are crazy, Willie. They'll bite your head off if you're wearing steak on it."
qb position is not relevant!
I am going to go back to watching sesame street and barney now
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 10, 2012 12:40 PM PST up reply actions
We need Alex to stick around for a couple of years
because Kaepernick is still a “project.” He’s got more raw ability than Andy Dalton but he was the more polished pro prosepct and that’s why the Niners tried to trade up for him but when they couldn’t they took the next best option.
The real quandary is the unexpected revitalization factor that Harbaugh has brought to this franchise. I think everyone knew Harbaugh was the real deal but no one expected him to be able to turn it around this quickly. The plan may have been to get Kaepernick ready for 2012 or 2013 but now we have new expectations.
That’s the only reason people keep frothing at the mouth over the idea of Peyton Manning. Our defense is ready now. Realistically we can keep this core together for at best another 3-4 years. Even more maddening was we got to see Alex Smith perform on a big stage in a big moment and he rose to that moment. It was short lived and he reminded us what he normally looks like against the Giants, but the spark was there. So we’ve got three options as I see it:
1.) Ride it out with Alex and bring in some more perimeter weapons and hope we can “Dilfer” our way to a Lombardi trophy while letting Kaep hold a clipboard.
2.) Open competition at QB with what we’ve got on the roster and mid-level free agents (Josh Johnson?) and hope somebody has a better season than Alex did.
3.) Mortgage the future for Peyton and hope that his neck holds up long enough to get us another ring.
by throwthedamnball on Feb 10, 2012 11:48 AM PST reply actions
it is not a "need"
the offense was not that good last year.
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Feb 10, 2012 12:28 PM PST up reply actions
Why not just another
1 year deal for alex. Waiting three years for kaep? thats idiotic hes only on a 4 year deal so the 49ers should be looking to get him on the field. Think about it. In three more years kaeps deal will be up and he"ll (if alex starts all those years) never be the starter. Give alex a one year deal and if he gets to the super bowl or wins it then sign him again. But anything less than what he did this year i think kaep get the nod the next year. He’s to valuable and skilled to possibly not be utilized.
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