Logan Couture Goes Kaepernicking As San Jose Sharks Reach 7-0-0

Logan Couture showed his support for quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers before Sunday's Super Bowl with a tribute to the dual-threat quarterback.


Couture scored his fifth goal of the season en route to the Sharks' 3-2 shootout victory over the Oilers Thursday night. During the celebration, Couture kissed his right bicep, a Kaepernick signature move after scoring a TD. Maybe the 49ers' championship-bound mentality will rub off on the streaking Sharks in the South Bay.

The win for the Sharks moved the team to 7-0-0 on the season, the only undefeated team left in the NHL.

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Poor Alex: Smith's Toughest Week as a 49er?

Alex Smith had to fend off questions surrounding the latest report that he will request his release from the 49ers before the March 12 start to NFL free agency, as well as deal with the fact he will not be starting for the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.


It has been a week to forget for Smith, who was not given a booth at Media Day on Tuesday, only to be swarmed by reporters out in the open. It got so bad, he had to wear a headset just to hear the questions coming from the masses that numbered close to 60 people at one time.

What has gone unsaid is Smith's help in the growth of starter Colin Kaepernick. Harbaugh said earlier this week that Smith coaches Kaerpernick more than he does, something for Smith haters to take into consideration, as well as the many suitors he is sure to entertain this offseason via trade or free agency.

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49ers Arrive in New Orleans for Super Bowl XLVII

The 49ers departed San Jose International Airport around 12 p.m. on Sunday and arrived in New Orleans to an ecstatic welcome from the crowd awaiting their arrival. The 49ers, as a team, will next encounter Super Bowl media day on Tuesday before the 3:30 p.m. PST Super Bowl XLVII start on Sunday, Feb. 3.

Flying nice today.Headed to Nola. instagr.am/p/VABskXENen/
— jonathan goodwin (@jgoody59) January 27, 2013

Back of the bus gang ready to head to New Orleans instagr.am/p/U__TsuoQcd/
— Joe Staley (@jstaley74) January 27, 2013

I ain't ever seen a plane seat like this! instagr.am/p/VACrQnNBAC/
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) January 27, 2013

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Were the 49ers Saving Kaepernick’s ‘Pistol’ Formation For the Playoffs?

If the 49ers weren’t awkward and untrusting of any form of media, it wouldn’t be a normal media session with the team. However, Saturday’s romping defeat of the Packers, and a birth in the NFC Championship game for the second year in a row, only provided the team the opportunity to shed light on their obvious change in gameplan for the playoffs.

The 49ers were a different team Saturday night. The national telecast showed a more refined Colin Kaepernick, a more hard-nosed runner in Frank Gore and a nearly spotless gameplan by offensive coordinator Greg Roman two weeks in the making -- a much different gameplan than opponents were preparing for over the past few weeks.

Kaepernick said the 49ers ran the “pistol” formation well over 50 percent of the time on Saturday, which is well above the team’s average use of the formation since he was named starter in Week 8.

"We had a lot more ‘Pistol’ formation in this game plan," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said (via ESPN), "both handing the ball off and [Kaepernick] running and play action. We're pretty multi-dimensional on that formation."   

Yahoo! Sports Jason Cole is reporting that it was the 49ers’ intention to undervalue the “pistol” formation in the final weeks of the regular season to set up a strategic run in the playoffs.

            "We didn't use it against the Cardinals because we wanted people to think we weren't going to use it," Roman said. "We worked on it a lot this week. A lot of practice."

An overwhelming amount of positive results came out of the substantial use of the “pistol” formation on Saturday, and if Roman was not a serious candidate for an NFL job, he most certainly is now.

The 49ers’ defeat of the Packers was very similar to that of the team’s destruction of the Bears in Kaepernick’s very first start in the NFL. The same offense against the Packers looked effortless, and Kaepernick was using his arm and his legs on the way to booking a trip to the NFC Championship game against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Bears had no clue what type of structure the 49ers’ offense would have on that Monday night in the middle of the season, and although the Packers thought they knew what was coming Saturday, they did not see the overwhelming majority of the plays running through Kaepernick being of the “pistol” formation variety.

The 49ers are still a running team centered on Frank Gore -- it is well documented. However, that is merely the basis of what the 49ers offense is all about. Once Gore and the running game begins to become successful, Kaepernick and the option run becomes the focal point and the recipe for an opponent’s nightmare. The scheme was put on fully display Saturday night in front of an astonished football nation that never thought Kaepernick was the type of quarterback to put a team on his back and lead a them to the NFC Championship with such maturity and rarely seen athletic ability.

Now the 49ers aren’t just thinking about the NFC Championship because they are currently favorites in the NFC to advance to the Super Bowl over Atlanta.  One roadblock remains, however, and the Falcons will have one week to prepare for an offensive gameplan that could takes weeks to prepare for, and attempt to stop the same offensive gameplan that was nearly unstoppable Saturday night against the Packers.

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Vernon Davis: Kaepernick and I Don't Have Chemistry

Vernon Davis has 10 receptions for 112 yards in five games since Colin Kaepernick took over for Alex Smith under center. For the Pro Bowl tight end, that is simply not up to par.


Davis has flip-flopped in his stance over who he feels deserves to be the 49ers' quarterback -- Smith or Kaepernick -- but now with Kaepernick as the regular at the helm for San Francisco, Davis now must adjust to the new man throwing him the ball.

He said as much Tuesday, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

"The 11-85 connection was established several years ago as a tried and trusted coordidor. The 7-85 connection? It's still under construction, said tight end Vernon Davis, who said he's having to start from scratch as far as building chemistry with a new quarterback. 

"'That's something me and Kap don't have right now,' said Davis, who was held to one catch Sunday in New England. 'We don't have it. You have to expect (that because) he just stepped in. Me and Alex - we've been there. It takes time. It took time for me and Alex to get like that.' 

"'In the beginning, he'd underthrow me, he'd overthrow me because we had to build that chemistry that I would be in that spot right when I need to be,' Davis said of Smith. 'And that's something that me and Kap don't have right now. But we're working on it. We started working on it the moment he walked in.'"

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Aaron Rodgers: 49ers' Alex Smith Needs New Team

It is hard for Alex Smith not to be compared to Super Bowl champion Aaron Rodgers.

The San Francisco 49ers drafted Smith with the No. 1 overall pick in 2005 instead of taking Rodgers out of UC-Berkeley. The Packers went on to select Rodgers with the 24th overall pick.  Smith was widely considered the safer pick, but fast forward seven years and Rodgers has a Super Bowl ring and is a bonafide elite quarterback in the NFL.


Smith, however, has had his ups-and-downs in his career.  The most recent debacle -- and there are many -- was suffering a concussion in Week 8 against the Rams. It enabled back-up Colin Kaepernick to fill-in and eventually take the starting job from Smith. The decision to start Kaepernick over Smith was justified even further after the 49ers knocked off the New England Patriots on the road in sloppy conditions, while Kaepernick threw for four touchdowns.

The quarterback controversy that was in San Francisco, and now is no more, seemed to take a toll on Rodgers, who has his Packers team vying for the No. 2 seed in the NFC against the now Kaepernick-led 49ers.

Rodgers went on NFL Total Access and seemed to vent his frustrations with the entire way Smith's injury was handled by Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers.

"Alex and I are buddies, we both got drafted in 2005 NFL Draft, and he's been through a lot," Rodgers said in the 'NFL Total Access' interview. "I can't imagine to have to go through that many offensive coordinators and the turnover in coaches has been tough for him.

"He comes in, he's 70 percent completion, he's 100-plus quarterback rating last year, he's like barely over one percent interception percentage," Rodgers went on. "He's a great quarterback, he just needs to go somewhere he gets appreciated for the skills he has and hopefully he gets a chance next year."

Credit Smith, who has handled his benching due to injury with absolute class since the news spread throughout the sports world.  Smith has all the right to be frustrated, but has barely spoken a word about it.

However, it is pretty clear that Kaepernick is the present and future of the 49ers under center. Smith no longer has a place in San Francisco, and the only option would be for him and the 49ers to part ways after the season.

Smith and the 49ers agreed to a three-year deal worth roughly $8 million per year shortly after the Denver Broncos landed Peyton Manning. Smith likely wants to play for a team that will give him a chance to start, and the 49ers do not have an opening for a starting quarterback any longer.

That leaves the 49ers with two options, where they can either trade or release him. Either way, it is likely Smith will not be in a 49ers uniform next season.

Smith still has a lot to offer. His last full game as a 49er came in a 24-3 beat-down of the Arizona Cardinals, where Smith was 18-of-19 for 232 yards and three touchdowns.

Smith will surely be coveted by NFL teams once the new league year begins on March 12, 2013, and the 49ers will be listening to any and all inquiries.

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Moss on Kaepernick: 'He Dislocated My Finger'

Colin Kaepernick's arm can dislocate fingers -- true story.

In November 19th's game against the Chicago Bears, Kaepernick threw a dart to Randy Moss so hard it dislocated Moss's finger, according to the future Hall of Famer, himself.


Moss went to the sideline and the 49ers' staff popped it back into place, but Moss took it more as an impressive feat than anything else.

Moss and Kaepernick have gotten along really well since the second-year quarterback took over for Alex Smith, with Moss having nothing but praise for the young flamethrower in recent weeks.

Read Matt Maiocco's full story at CSNBayArea.com.

"Man, he dislocated my finger," Moss said Wednesday after the 49ers' first practice of the week to prepare for the New England Patriots on Sunday night in Foxboro, Mass. 

... 

"Really, the play was designed for the ball to be thrown in the first hole," Moss said of the pass that he could only deflect in the 49ers' game Nov. 19 against the Chicago Bears. 

"And I think I got to the second hole -- or we call them windows as a wide receiver -- and when he found me in the second hole it was kind of too late to throw it, but he threw it anyway. So he had to put one them Randy Johnson fastballs on me. When it hit my finger, I felt my finger pop -- dislocated it. So I had to come back to the sideline and the doctor had to pop it back in." 

... 

"I try to take pride in taking care of my body and finessing the balls as they come to me," Moss said. "But Kap throws hard. He's very strong and he works out every day. And I didn't really say anything to him other than, 'Keep doing what he's doing.' My finger will heal up. 

"It hurt. It hurt. It really did. I tried not to show any tears. I don't know if they caught me crying or not. But it did hurt, but like I said, it's not the time of the year to be crying because it's late in the season. Everybody's hurting. Everybody's ailing. Everybody's feeling a little bit of pain. Some go home and some keep moving. And we want to be the team that keeps moving."

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49ers Bordering on Divided Locker Room?

One loss into the Colin Kaepernick era in San Francisco and blame is spread around like the 8-3-1 team just lost an actual meaningful game.

The blame for the 49ers’ 16-13 overtime loss to the Rams on Sunday can be found placed on offensive coordinator Greg Roman for the less than creative play-calling, Jim Harbaugh for allowing the poor option play call that eventually led to the defeat, Delanie Walker’s dropped guarantee on a touchdown and Kaepernick himself.  Suddenly, the 49ers have problems, and potentially even bigger ones if things continue to go wrong in the coming weeks.

However, the issue that will continue to chip away at the 49ers is the one that may currently be the most sensitive. The blame on Kaepernick is a topic the 49ers cannot get away from, and it will potentially lead to a divided locker room, if it has not already.

Every loss under Kaepernick is another second guess from the fans and the team in the locker room. Alex Smith and the quarterback controversy is alive and well in San Francisco until Kaepernick and the 49ers book their flights for the Super Bowl.

Smith and the 49ers advanced to the NFC Championship last season, and only a trip to the Super Bowl with Kaepernick makes Harbaugh’s midseason change under center a success.

The first inklings of a divided locker room have already emerged. Before Kaepernick’s start against the Rams, Vernon Davis came forward and said he still felt like Smith was the starting quarterback. But after Sunday’s loss to the Rams, a report of Joe Staley’s reaction to the quarterback situation may have been speaking for the entire 49ers locker room.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Staley is not too happy with Harbaugh’s decision at who is currently playing quarterback for the 49ers.

“It’s not just 49ers fans who have gotten emotional about the decision to bench Alex Smith and start Colin Kaepernick.

“It turns out that offensive tackle Joe Staley has as well. One day during practice last week when 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh noticed Staley seemed down, he pulled him aside, and the two had a discussion about it.

“Staley explained that Alex Smith is his best friend, somebody he had blocked for throughout his entire career and he was disappointed to see Smith treated the way he was.

“Harbaugh explained why he made the decision that he did to Staley. It’s not that Staley didn’t believe that Kaepernick could do the job, but he felt that strongly about his friendship for Smith and the job that he has done.

“It just goes to show you that there is more emotion involved in a simple decision than to just go with Colin Kaepernick at this point in time.”

Staley has the right to be unhappy with the way Smith was demoted. Staley and Smith are known to be good friends, and Smith lost his job because he had a concussion. Judging by Staley’s role in the locker room, it is safe to assume he is not the only player feeling this way.

It does not negate the fact that Kaepernick is the better option at quarterback, though. Opposing coaches would rather prepare for a safe passer that does not take chances down field than a mobile quarterback with a shotgun for an arm.

However, the 49ers are still in the midst of a quarterback controversy, despite Harbaugh already naming Kaepernick the starter for next week’s game against the Dolphins.

           

When asked Monday whether Smith still has a chance to regain his starting job with the team, Harbaugh was not so quick to shut the door on the idea, per the San Jose Mercury News’ Tim Kawakami.

"Alex is not out of this. We feel like Alex, we’ve said it before, he is one of our guys.

"He’s won us a lot of football games. He’s preparing himself to play in each of these games every single week. That’s what his mindset has to be, as if he was the starting quarterback. So, that’s what we expect and knowing Alex that’s what he is going to do."

For now, which quarterback will play under center remains decided on a week-by-week basis, whether Harbaugh admits that or not. Another loss for Kaepernick is another second-guessing of Harbaugh’s decision -- Harbaugh knows this and the players know this.

It was a risky decision for Harbaugh to name Kaepernick the starter after Smith came off a concussion. If all goes well and the 49ers march into the playoffs with high marks, then it may be Harbaugh’s best decision to date. But if the 49ers stumble into the playoffs with Kaepernick at the helm and things get worse, then Harbaugh’s credibility and reliability may have taken a serious hit with the team on the field and in the locker room.

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Harbaugh: Alex Smith 'Is Not Out of This'

For the first time this season, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh was put on the defensive, admitting the blame for bad calls and directly answering the status of the team's quarterback situation.

Harbaugh did announce who his starter would be, announcing it would be Colin Kaepernick for next week's game at home against the Dolphins, but he did not waver when asked if Alex Smith had a chance of regaining the job of starting quarterback this season.

"Alex is not out of this. We feel like Alex, we’ve said it before, he is one of our guys.

"He’s won us a lot of football games. He’s preparing himself to play in each of these games every single week. That’s what his mindset has to be, as if he was the starting quarterback. So, that’s what we expect and knowing Alex that’s what he is going to do."

It is safe to assume that Kaepernick is the starter for the 49ers until he proves to Harbaugh and his teammates that he is simply too young to hold the job and lead a team to the Super Bowl. So far, he has yet to show even a glimpse of that being a possibility.

However, Harbaugh did leave a little opening for the discussion of Smith being starter once again.

So you're saying there's a chance .......

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Report: Staley Unhappy With 49ers Starting Kaepernick

One loss into the Colin Kaepernick era in San Francisco, and all hell breaks loose ..... reportedly.

49ers offensive tackle Joe Staley is supposedly upset with Jim Harbaugh's decision to start Kaepernick's "hot hand" instead of returning to Alex Smith post-concussion. Staley and Smith are known to be good friends, and reports within the last week say that Smith is not taking the demotion too well. Staley is not, either.


ESPN's Adam Schefter said this on SportsCenter:

“It’s not just 49ers fans fans who have gotten emotional about the decision to bench Alex Smith and start Colin Kaepernick.

“It turns out that offensive tackle Joe Staley has as well. One day during practice last week when 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh noticed Staley seemed down, he pulled him aside, and the two had a discussion about it.

“Staley explained that Alex Smith is his best friend, somebody he had blocked for throughout his entire career and he was disappointed to see Smith treated the way he was.

“Harbaugh explained why he made the decision that he did to Staley. It’s not that Staley didn’t believe that Kaepernick could do the job, but he felt that strongly about his friendship for Smith and the job that he has done.

“It just goes to show you that there is more emotion involved in a simple decision than to just go with Colin Kaepernick at this point in time.”

A divide in the locker room was what everyone feared would happen if Harbaugh chose Kaepernick over Smith. It reportedly only took one loss for reports to surface supporting that situation, as Staley is a giant influence among 49ers players.

If the reports are true, there is no one else to blame but Harbaugh. He got greedy with what he had, and instead of starting a safe quarterback that got them to the NFC Championship one year ago, he took a gamble on a young up-and-coming star yet to prove himself in the NFL.

Harbaugh toyed with the team's emotions, and now there is reportedly a full-fledged divide in the locker room with a 8-3-1 team with one-time Super Bowl aspirations.

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49ers: Feeling Sorry For Alex Smith

Thursday seemed to be "Feel Sorry For Alex Smith Day" not just in the Bay Area, but across the country. The prim and proper quarterback that overcame such hardships in his first few seasons finally came around once he was given a chance to succeed ......... then was replaced by the better quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.


Those feeling sorry for Smith must have missed the first five seasons of his career, coming off being the No. 1 overall pick and hitting "bust" status in no time.

The 49ers are now an elite team, and having a mediocre quarterback is simply irresponsible. Harbaugh gets it, and the team gets it (not publicly). The concussion just sped up the 49ers' natural selection process.

In honor of one of the saddest stories ever told that was bound to eventually happen but no one ever saw coming, I give you a list of literature to dry your tears on.

Alex Smith: 'I don't know what else to say' -- CSN Bay Area

For 49ers' Smith, season took cruel turn -- SF Chronicle

Alex Smith: 'It sucks. I don't know what else to say' -- SF Chronicle

Alex Smith wondering how he lost his job -- San Jose Mercury News

Don't feel sorry for Alex Smith.He makes 9 million dollars a year, he'll be fine.
— David Michael(@KingDavid_88) November 28, 2012

#5ThingsOnMyChristmasList An Alex Smith home jersey :) feel sorry for the guy.
— It`s Me Bruh (@MadeinusBreh) November 30, 2012

I sincerely feel sorry for Alex Smith. He looked angry, dejected, depressed and defeated talking to the press this afternoon. #49ers
— Fabio Panetta (@FabioPanetta) November 30, 2012

I do feel sorry for Alex Smith. The guy got hurt and lost his job all in less than two weeks. #rough
— Hannah H (@hannah_bean02) November 29, 2012

Why should I feel sorry for Alex Smith? An NFL QB making millions of dollars who can't throw the ball deep? STFU #49ers
— Johnny Cables (@JohnnyCables) November 29, 2012

Feel sorry for Alex Smith. Last full game he played on Monday night he went 18/19 with a perfect passer rating.
— Blake Washington (@Bee_Dot_Wash) November 28, 2012

What’s next for Alex Smith? He’s been through everything, which might be a large part of his free-agent appeal: ... bit.ly/114epeW
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) November 29, 2012

@mattbarrows You may have been with him longer but I have the "hot hands" of the relationship;)
— elizabeth smith (@lizbsmith11) November 29, 2012

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49ers' Vernon Davis: 'Alex Is Still the Man'

Clearly, the 49ers have found something in changing quarterback at 6-2-1 on the season. With Colin Kaepernick at the helm, they are now 2-0 and now among the favorites to win the Super Bowl.

However, not everyone agrees. Vernon Davis told reporters this after Sunday's gritty win over the Saints on the road.

"It's difficult, but I think Alex is still the man. In my heart I strongly believe that and you'll know next week. I'm sure Harbaugh will make a nice decision who he wants to go with but right now we have two outstanding playmakers. I'm sure Alex is still our guy."

The quarterback controversy is alive and well in San Francisco.

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Harbaugh, 49ers' Antics Made Kaepernick Start vs. Saints Inevitable

Wednesday's festivities at the 49ers' practice facility in Santa Clara made it blatantly obvious that Colin Kaepernick would be the starter against the Saints on Sunday, despite the 49ers' intentions.

Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter reported Wednesday night that Jim Harbaugh has told Kaepernick that he will be the starter vs. the Saints. Even worse for the other end of the quarterback controversy -- Alex Smith -- Trotter is
reporting that the decision had nothing to do with Smith's injury status.

BREAKING: Jim Harbaugh has informed Alex Smith that Colin Kaepernick will start Sunday, per source. Said decision not based on health.
— Jim Trotter (@SI_JimTrotter) November 22, 2012

Wednesday did hold a lot of clues, though, even before Trotter's report. Alex Smith was once again wearing the black "no contact" jersey at practice, and Harbaugh unofficially declared Smith healthy to play Sunday. Kaepernick also received the first team reps at Wednesday's practice.

It will be the only real practice for the 49ers on a bit of a short week, and that very much played into Kaepernick reportedly getting the start on Sunday. Kaepernick was the only one getting first-team reps, and with Thursday being Thanksgiving, Friday being a travel day for the team and Saturday being a relatively slow preparation day before a game, it was inevitable that Kaepernick's status as the lead dog in Wednesday's practice was the final decision from Harbaugh.

Of course, that is not what Harbaugh wanted the media to think. More importantly, that is not what he wanted the Saints to think.

Harbaugh dodged the question left and right from the media on Wednesday, but he made a big mistake in concealing his hand. If Smith was starting Sunday and Kaepernick's Monday night performance was simply a back-up quarterback filling in for the definitive starter, then Harbaugh would have announced right then and there that Smith was the starter for Sunday vs. the Saints.

That was not the case.

However, Trotter's report did have some flaws in it.  What made the report so surprising was the fact that the decision was reportedly made without Smith's health being an issue.

There is still very much a quarterback controversy in San Francisco, and Kaepernick has not won the job, by any means. Smith has not been cleared to play yet, due to his concussion, although he most likely will pass the contact test prior to Sunday's game.

Smith was done in by the short week for the 49ers, and that certainly does not mean his era in San Francisco is over. Once again, Smith is not fully healthy, and the 49ers have a big game against an elite team.

- UPDATE 11-21-12, 9:37 p.m. -

Alex Smith just told @tdespn that Harbaugh told him Kaepernick would get 1st team reps but door open to start game based on practice

— Seth Markman (@tunasweasel) November 22, 2012

i have great respect for @tdespn and alex smith, and stand behind my report. harbaugh to alex: "I'm going with Kaepernick. Alex, I'm sorry."

— Jim Trotter (@SI_JimTrotter) November 22, 2012

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49ers: Harbaugh's Teleconference Cancelled, Back to Hospital for Evaluations

Jim Harbaugh never got a chance to clear up the comments he made about his current quarterback situation after Monday night's thrashing of the Bears.

If you remember, Colin Kaepernick lit up the Bears' defense in Alex Smith's absence, and Harbaugh's postgame press conference after the game did
not shed light on who would be the quarterback vs. the Saints on Sunday, only saying he would go with the "hot hand."

The comments have since sparked a quarterback controversy in San Francisco -- advertently or inadvertently.

Tuesday's conference call with the Bay Area media was Harbaugh's time to either clear up what he meant by those comments, or stoke the fire even further, but he never got that chance.

Harbaugh's teleconference was canceled last-minute due to follow-up evaluations for his heart that caused him to make a trip to the hospital last week for an irregular heartbeat.

He is set to talk to the media Wednesday at noon in Santa Clara.

Among the questions that will be asked to Harbaugh, 99.9 percent will be about the Smith vs. Kaepernick newly developed saga.

Harbaugh will have two choices: Give fluff answers and let the media decide while keeping the Saints in the dark, or give Smith the starting quarterback status we all assume will happen in the end.

We can expect the former not just because there is a looming quarterback controversy for the 49ers, but because Harbaugh's tight-lipped ways led to a "dump-trucking" of arguably the best defense in the NFL last week.

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Harbaugh Noncommittal on 49ers' QB vs. Saints; QB Controversy Underway

According to Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers have two red-hot quarterbacks on their roster right now, and a decision will be made this week to determine who will be starting on Sunday vs. the Saints.

Colin Kaepernick blew the pregame expectations out of the water on Monday night in front of a nationally televised audience, and that will be
good enough to at least start some conversation around the water cooler as to who can lead the 49ers the rest of the way this season.

A QB controversy with a 7-2-1 team in complete control of the NFC West and Super Bowl or bust expectations on their mind?

Believe it.

"We really have two guys that have a pretty hot hand, but we will make that decision as we move forward," Harbaugh said after the game.

As expected or unexpected as his comments were after the game, Harbaugh did not commit to a quarterback on Monday night -- merely acknowledging the fact the 49ers have two hot quarterbacks on their current roster.

When a coach is as non-committal as Harbaugh was after the game, it is safe to say he has a QB controversy on his hands. It does not take much for Harbaugh to glance over a question with a blanket answer, which made the less-than-committed answer to the quarterback controversy on Monday night all the more intriguing.

Alex Smith is out with a concussion, but all indications from Harbaugh's coaching of the 49ers in the past have suggested that Smith will be the starter if healthy -- and he is sure to be healthy and cleared for contact this week.

However, can Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman ignore the amount of schemes and plays Kaepernick provides the 49ers with?

Kaepernick has the ability to run, to throw the short ball with touch and throw the deep ball with accuracy. While Smith's abilities are limited to managing the game with effectiveness, Kaepernick allows the 49ers to get elaborate with play-calls and that is how the 49ers destroyed the Bears on Monday night.

Smith is the safe play, though. He has taken the 49ers this far to where they are Super Bowl contenders. However, is it too early to give Kaeperick the keys to the castle after just one game?

Kaepernick has the hot hand after his Monday Night Football performance, but Smith has completed 25 his last 27 passes. They are equally hot and equally available to play on Sunday vs. the Saints.

Make way for the most anticipated week of 49ers practice in some time.

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San Francisco 49ers: Josh Johnson Signing Sends Clear Message to Colin Kaepernick

It does not require much deep thinking to comprehend what a clear message the San Francisco 49ers' newest free agent signing sent on Thursday.

The 49ers signed their second free agent quarterback of the offseason, locking up former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Josh Johnson to a two-year deal.  The signing assumed to have
something to do with coach Jim Harbaugh's connections to him at the University of San Diego, as well as Johnson growing up in Oakland.

The signing also had a lot to do with other more important things.  Most notably, it had to do with the quarterback situation.

No, Johnson will not fight Alex Smith for the starting quarterback position in Week 1.  I am pretty sure last season's trip to the NFC Championship was enough for Smith to land that gig.

However, it is who sits behind Smith that is causing the biggest stir throughout the organization right now.  Who is the back-up quarterback?

In most cases, arguing about who the back-up quarterback is nearly pointless and poses zero discussion towards the actual success of this team heading forward.

However, the 49ers are a unique situation, and the Johnson signing gives us a clear insight into how the 49ers are thinking about their future under center.

Not sure what to make of #49ers signing QB Josh Johnson. My logic says they aren't sold on Kaepernick.

— Kyle Bonagura (@KyleBonagura) March 23, 2012

Until now, Colin Kaepernick was the quarterback in waiting and the next player to line-up under center.  But we have yet to see him either play in the NFL, nor see any inclination of just how good he is or possibly could be.

The 49ers' acquisition of Johnson on Thursday told us plain and simple -- Kaepernick is not the team's quarterback of the future, and he is definitely not NFL-ready.

The #49ers sign Josh Johnson. Let's face the facts they basically told Colin Kapernick he's a SaberCat.

— TheGreenRoomCSN (@TheGreenRoomCSN) March 23, 2012

Of course, it is hard to see how a quarterback coming out of Nevada and the pistol offense could become NFL-ready that quick.  It took Smith seven years, seven offensive coordinators and Harbaugh to help him get into a true NFL offense and away from the spread offense at Utah.

Kaepernick has the athleticism, strong arm and build to be an NFL quarterback, but the 49ers obviously see something with his accuracy or awareness in the pocket that turns them off.

So just in case, they brought in Johnson, a quarterback with a similar set of skills, just further along in his NFL progression.

The gut feeling with the acquisition is that at the best, the 49ers positioned themselves to have two athletic quarterbacks competing against one another and getting better in the process.  At the worst, San Francisco has zero faith that Kaepernick can one day become the franchise quarterback judging by the progress he has made so far.

With the 49ers' recent roster moves, it is safe to assume the latter.

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San Francisco 49ers: 10 Questions to be Answered Once the Lockout is Over

As much as there has been an absence of football news since the NFL Lockout, the San Francisco 49ers have been one of those teams that have made their presence felt throughout the Bay Area despite no gameplay.

Whether that was beat writers making something out of nothing or not, it is news - some good and some bad.

The best news for the 49ers since the lockout was Alex Smith's leadership in organizing a mini-camp event at San Jose State.

The worst news was the hostility shown by wide receiver Michael Crabtree towards Smith as the 49ers' starter next season.

Oh, and do not forget San Francisco's new head coach Jim Harbaugh. It seems so long ago that he was hired for his first NFL job and he was the talk of the town.

However, as far as teams who were affected most by the NFL Lockout go, the 49ers must be at the top of that list for the sole fact that the team has a first-year head coach and two quarterbacks on the roster, none of which will be the Week 1 starter.

It is for those reasons that questions are aplenty whenever the lockout ends.

Here are a few that must be answered sooner than later.



1. Who Is the Starting Quarterback?

It seems like a pretty simple question, and yet not everyone is going to agree with it.

The answer is simple. Does this ring a bell?

"With the first pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select........."

Yes, he's back.

Love him or hate him, although the overall consensus is that everyone hates him, Alex Smith will be the starter in Week 1.

To make it worse, he is Jim Harbaugh's guy. The first-year head coach has fallen in love with Smith as his quarterback. The leadership Smith displayed in organizing those training camp-like workouts is not helping anyone either. Those who wanted Smith on the streets and not under center are in for a rude awakening.

Above all, Smith gives the 49ers the best chance to win. That is something you cannot say about Colin Kaepernick, not fully affiliated with an NFL offense yet, or David Carr, not an NFL starter anymore.



2. Will the Lockout Affect First-Year Coach Jim Harbaugh?

I want to say no, but I am not sure how it cannot affect him.

Being a first-year head coach is all about learning the ropes, how training camp works and evaluating players.

Harbaugh has that luxury, but not in the time span that he may want.

If the lockout does end by the July 21 approximation, training camp will start almost immediately after.

No offseason preparing with players for Harbaugh.

Fortunately, he may have already picked a starting quarterback in Alex Smith, although nothing has been signed, and the amount of talent on this team could prove to help in the panicked offseason leading up to his first head coaching job.



3. Did Lockout Help Alex Smith?

In hindsight, Smith's offseason may have been his best yet,which is saying a lot considering he currently does not have an NFL job.

However, it was Smith's leadership that really put him ahead of the competition when talking about the starting quarterback position.

Not only did he and Jim Harbaugh start a love affair this offseason, but Smith organized a workout/practice for all 49ers players looking to get in shape and ready for the regular season while the lockout is still intact.

Was he sucking up?

Probably, but this is the most we have seen out of Smith since the offseason before his first year in San Francisco.



4. Will Michael Crabtree Have a Breakout Season?

We can say this every year, but this time, it is an actuality. And this time, there are facts behind it, unlike other years where Alex Smith, Troy Smith and David Carr would blindly be under center.

However, Jim Harbaugh's west coast offense that he brings to the 49ers has one big selling point.

New 49ers wide receiver coach John Morton recently told the Sacramento Bee that he expects Crabtree to have a breakout season.

“It’s quick routes or it’s slants or shallow crosses and things where you get the ball in their hand real fast and let them use their God-given ability. I don’t think they’ve had a chance to really do that yet from what I’ve seen on tape. I don’t think I’ve seen a slant here run ever since … since Terrell Owens left.”

When it comes to getting the ball in open space and creating extra yards from the catch, Crabtree may be one of the best.



5. Can Frank Gore Handle the Workload?

In 2010, Frank Gore rushed for 853 yards on 203 carries in 11 games. Add that to the fact that he had 46 receptions, as well, and Gore is a workhorse for this team.

Can it last, though?

The 49ers depend on Gore to do a ton of work on this offense, but it is safe to say that he has been overworked these last few years, culminating with only 11 games played last season.

Can Gore handle the workload?

I'm sure, but he may not have to this season. The west coast offense promotes slants and quick passes to receivers who can create after the catch.

Gore will still be getting his 18 carries and five receptions per game, but it will be with a much more refreshing feeling, as Alex Smith will be throwing a little more than last year.



6. Will Manny Lawson Be A 49er Next Season?

This is one of those question that will be answered almost immediately following the lockout.

Free agency will begin sometime after the lockout and linebacker Manny Lawson will be looking for a job, much like Alex Smith, except that Smith is all but guaranteed to land the starting spot in San Francisco.

As for Lawson, he has said that he wants to stay with the 49ers, but San Francisco may not be as willing to re-sign him in free agency, especially if the price goes up.

It is Lawson' physical abilities that have some teams drooling about acquiring him in free agency, and that may get him paid way more than what the 49ers were thinking.

Expect him elsewhere in 2011.



7. How Much Of a Role Will Colin Kaepernick Play in 2011?

The second round pick of the 49ers has many looking to the future, dreaming of an offense not run by Alex Smith. However, the wait will only get longer, as Smith has been all but guaranteed the starting job for 2011.

Kaepernick is one of those tender rookies that has been largely affected by the lockout.

The Nevada star has been in the pistol offense while in college, and it would have benefit him had there been some offseason workouts and a complete training camp to get him well-versed in the NFL culture and ways of doing things.

Kaepernick is physically gifted, but he may not be used anymore than on trick plays or a wildcat offense-type scenario in 2011.



8. Do the San Francisco 49ers Make A Play in Free Agency?

It is hard to say whether or not the 49ers will be active in free agency, considering it has not started yet.

Alex Smith is a main target, you could say. Expect for the 49ers to sign him seconds after free agency opens.

However, it is the areas of need that have many urging San Francisco to sign players. The most notable needs are the cornerback position and depth at wide receiver.

Possibilities at cornerback are Nnamdi Asomugha, Chris Carr and Carlos Rogers, while the wide receiver position targets include Sidney Rice, James Jones, and Malcolm Floyd.

Realistic options are Chris Carr or Carlos Rogers at cornerback, James Jones at wide receiver.



9. Is Michael Crabtree/Alex Smith Feud Resolved?

I am not sure if this feud will ever be solved, just because what was said was said and there is no taking it back now.

When told that Alex Smith was most likely the starting quarterback, Crabtree was not so sure saying "Who's the quarterback?"

Smith inadvertantly fueled the fire by responding to why Crabtree was not at Smith's workouts by saying "Good question. you're asking the wrong guy."

The answer was taken out of context, but only added to the 49ers feud from a media perspective, at least.

Whether the feud is over with or not, there are chemistry issues with the starting quarterback and arguably his most important target.



10. Is Vernon Davis Poised For His Biggest Season Yet?

Davis' splash onto the NFL scene cannot seem to get much higher, but anyone with insight into the 49ers' new offense would beg to differ.

“This offense is going to be pretty good for the tight end,’’ Davis said after coming off the practice field Thursday. “We don’t just have one way to go. That’s good. We’ve never had that since I’ve been here," he told Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News.

Pair that with the fact that wide receivers coach John Morton has predicted a big season for Michael Crabtree because of the run after the catch option, and San Francisco may have something this season.

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