Niner Nate-tion Podcast: When was the last time people feared the 49ers’ quarterback?

President Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” When it comes to 49ers’ passers, opponents haven’t had anything to fear for a long, long time. The question was posed by Niner Nate in today’s Niner Nate-tion Podcast, almost in passing.

“There is talent out there, that’s attainable talent, that sets you from being a team with a decent quarterback who sometimes makes above average plays to having elite talent and beating the Chiefs. Watching Patrick Mahomes get to smile and hold that trophy up last year hurt so bad. I just want people to be afraid of our quarterback again. I think that’s my biggest point here.”

The point is a good one. When was the last time a 49ers’ quarterback kept coordinators up at night?

It certainly hasn’t been with Jimmy Garoppolo. Chiefs’ defenders were openly rooting for Jimmy G. to throw the ball before the Super Bowl.

While Colin Kaepernick’s running ability certainly had defenses on alert, they weren’t losing any sleep over how to stop him during the other 90% of his plays.

Alex Smith eventually became a solid player for the team, but solid players don’t make anybody’s knees knock.

I’m not even going to mention some of the other names we’ve seen under center since the good old days.

Do we have to go all the way back to Jeff Garcia 20 years ago? How can it be that a team with the quarterback history of the San Francisco 49ers has gone two decades without striking the fear of God into opposing defenders?

Check out the full conversation (with special guest Hugh Tomasello) in today’s Niner Nate-tion Podcast in the player below.

Other topics discussed in the episode:

• Which of the National Championship game quarterbacks fit in the 49ers’ system?
• If it takes three first round picks to acquire Deshaun Watson, is he really worth it?
• Where should Robert Saleh want to coach next year?