You may remember the big game from last year. The 49ers in the red zone, with multiple touchdown shots to win the Super Bowl. Although Michael Crabtree was held up on the play, the ball was thrown out of his reach. Kapernick’s detractors complained. Fast forward to this year’s NFC title game. With enough time for 2-3 more moves, Kapernick forces the ball to Michael Crabtree. Falling back, Richard Sherman puts a hand on the ball. The end result was a Seattle Seahawk interception, and the game and season ended for the San Francisco 49ers. Complicating the situation were comments from an overconfident Richard Sherman.
The fan growling now above a low murmur. What was wrong with the game call? Stronger yet, is Kapernick the right guy? The skeptics now increase in greater numbers. Is Colin Kapernick the guy who can lead the San Francisco 49ers to the ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl? Can we get there and win in our own backyard in 2 years? Is this the young man who can take us back to our glory days?
If you compare the 49ers’ Super Bowl years, does it seem like we have as much if not more talent on the field as they did back then? Training? I don’t think anyone questions Jim Harbaugh’s success and his personal success. Were the 49ers as good as their opponents? the 49ers beat a rejuvenated Green Bay team, in Green Bay in freezing weather. This is no small feat and it is something not even Super Bowl teams could top. Young Kapernick is undefeated against the Packers. They also beat a very good Carolina Panther team on the road. It’s no easy feat to advance to Seattle and almost walk away with a win.
So what is the missing ingredient? A good coach like Jim Harbaugh should know that. It’s so simple and right under his nose. You see, before his success as a head coach, Jim Harbaugh started out as a quarterbacks coach with the Oakland Raiders. Joe Montana and Steve Young had Matt Cavanaugh and Gary Kubiak to talk things over. Why do the San Francisco 49ers have such a young QB without guardianship? He really had no one to learn the job from, as Alex Smith struggled with multiple offensive schemes in his time with the 49ers. Who’s there to go through the two-minute drill with Kapernick and talk about high- and low-percentage shooting and whether it’s a good idea to force the ball to the receiver? Even Jim Harbaugh, who was also a quarterback and QB coach, should be able to figure this out. Colin Kapernick is only 2 years into this and is still learning the game. He has all the tools you could want for your quarterback. I don’t think anyone disputes that point. Two things we have yet to see are possible with Kapernick’s incredible talent, passing finesse (it comes with time and experience, watch Alex Smith). Experience is invaluable and Kapernick has it. Winning, the big game, as well as the tough loss, the playoffs, and the Super Bowl experience. The only thing he doesn’t have is a top division NFL quarterback as his coach and mentor. If you get Colin Kapernick, he will eventually live up to all that potential.
