By Jake Hamar
Don’t Count Out Kap Just Yet
(Photo Courtesy of AP)
A lot of San Francisco 49er fans are writing off this year as a loss.
At 1-4, the team’s play on the field would suggest that this season has been all for naught. Their offense is currently the worst in the NFL with just 15 points a game, and their defense isn’t much better, ranking 28th in the NFL. Some blame head coach Jim Tomsula, and others blame QB Colin Kaepernick for the team’s troubles. You can blame anybody you want, but the truth is this: when you got 11 players either retiring or going elsewhere, you are going to have problems.
The fact of the matter is Kaepernick is playing in a style that doesn’t fit his skillset. Kaepernick’s style of play involves him not only passing, but running as well. Jim Harbaugh knew how to accentuate Kap’s positives and hide his negatives. But since Harbaugh is no longer with the 49ers, many figure that the quarterback’s future with the Niners is in doubt.
(Photo Courtesy of Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)
Many critics think Colin Kaepernick should be traded or cut after the year.
Kaepernick had a pretty good game last Sunday against the Giants, throwing 23-35 for 262 yards and 2 touchdowns. He almost won them the game, if it wasn’t for the Giants scoring that last touchdown to win it with almost no time left. When he has a chance to be, Kaepernick can still be one of the most effective quarterbacks in the NFL.
If Kap is ever to be a consistent game changer, he needs an offensive coordinator that knows how use the Pistol. Last year, he gained 638 yards rushing with over 6 yards a carry. The beauty of Kaepenick’s game is not only can he throw the ball, but he is speedy and opposing defenses have a hard time catching him. The only ones that seem to know how to use Kaepernick is Jim Harbaugh and former Nevada coach Chris Ault.
It’s not that Kaepernick doesn’t have receiving talent. When you’ve got guys like Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Garrett Celek and Quinton Patton in your passing game, you have got a lot of tools to work with. Even though he’s got all of these tools, Kap’s bread and butter is pass and run.
49er legend Joe Montana thinks the 49ers need to let Kaepernick be Kaepernick.
“Beg the coaches and the offense to go back to playing the game that he knows. … Where he’s the best is moving when he’s outside the pocket”, Montana told Colin Cowherd on his Fox Sports radio show. “As long as he’s protecting himself, let him get out of there. In the pocket, decisions have to be made quicker, anticipation. …That’s how he made his living for the longest time.”
Montana is right.
That’s Kaepernick’s game. That would be like moving Chris Paul to Center. It doesn’t work, because Paul is a point guard. That’s what he knows, and that is the position best suited for his style of play. Who can accentuate Kaepernick’s skillset? Maybe Chris Ault can be brought in after the season to help educate the 49ers offensive coaches on how to better use the QB’s skills? It might be enough to save this young star’s career.
And the 49ers would be better for it.
