Originally posted by Afrikan:
Originally posted by jedediahyork:
1. No. Kap was done. He was playing scared and broken. He was airmailing passes and throwing 5 yard slants into the dirt.
2. No. See #1. Sitting a few games isn't going to change anything. Would I like to convert more 3rd downs? Yes. But I'd like more 3rd downs to be manageable distances first. That comes with a running game.
You claimed a run game isn't important. I don't believe you really think that.
The entire focus of our defense from 2011-2014 was to eliminate the opposing team's run game. Why would we focus so heavily on turning them into a one dimensional team? Could it possibly be when you don't have to worry about the run, defending the pass becomes easier? Or maybe by stopping the run, you put them in 3rd and long, with a lower chance to convert it?
With no run game, you don't even have to stack the box... you can send 4 or 5 every play and keep 6 or 7 back in coverage, like we used to do. And you also don't have to worry about getting gashed by a running back when he runs past the blitz. You can keep 4 and 5 back to cover 2 and 3 receivers, while sending the house every play if you really wanted to...
*waiting for the obligatory single game example to try to prove your point, "well one game Harris had 6 YPA and we didn't convert 3rd downs"
I don't really think that, because I didn't say that. 
this is what I said.
people say that Gabbert hasn't had a running game...but that can be attributed to not only to the running backs...but more so the oline, and alittle bit Gabbert himself.
I've always felt the value of a running back...(besides durability, athletic ability, and elite vision) was overrated.
when the Oline has blocked well Droughns has run well.. he has good moves and seems like he can get the most of what ever yardage is possible.
If the Oline is letting defenders get into the backfield, before a running back can do anything... then that is going to play a role into a QB "not having a running game to help him out".
if a QB is not keeping a defense honest (throwing beyond 10 yards), and they slowly bring people closer to the box...then that is also going to play a role into a QB "not having a running game to help him out"
Coaching also comes into play. If we call a read option play early in the game, the defense is going to key on the running back... easy tackle for a lost. If we call a read option at the f**king goal line.....lol...you're coaching is horrible.
how do you know the coaches weren't going to put him back in? I mean Tomsula said he wanted Kaepernick to get a breather... if Gabbert took a hold of the starting role showed aggressiveness....and to play to win, and not to lose, that I think that even if Kap was available...he wouldn't have got the starting job back.. ala Alex Smith.
and we saw frustration from Boldin, Torrey Smith, and then Boldin again...with the offense, even when it was led by Gabbert. You don't think the coaches would've went back to Kap to see what he learned from Gabbert? from what he learned from the outside looking in?
and how do you know that sitting a few or alot games wasn't going to change anything?
I mean it wasn't like Kaepernick was going back to the same situation he started the season with... Devey, Martin, Pears.
Come one Jedediah, I have to believe that you are disappointed that Gabbert didn't take advantage of this opportunity....not every opportunity is going to be easy...Gabs has had to deal with some s**t too, like other QBs who have seized their starting roles. But now all the talk on forums and the media is that the 9ers should take a QB high in the draft... that Gabs a "bridge QB". All that talent there with Gabbert, looked over.
I was disappointed in Kaepernick not taking advantage of his checkdowns or passes to the flats to the running backs to force teams to cover those, just so the middle of the field would open up. Teams were straight ignoring those RBs at times... leaving them wide open, to which it could've made the next down easier to convert...and also less time for the Oline to have to block, to get the pass off. But this is also tough to fully bash Kap for, when you have the QB coach teaching him to ignore the small plays and look for the bigger ones.
I also feel Kaepernick was too much of a Team player/too PC...felt he should've forced the issue with making changes to our Oline...but maybe by then he was already injured so had other s**t to worried about....who knows.
"
I've always felt the value of a running back...(besides durability, athletic ability, and elite vision) was overrated."
I don't know how you can think the value of a running back is over rated and not think the run game isn't important.
Why would the coaches put Kap back in? Gabbert has looked 100x better and has been more productive than Kap. That's the definition of "best chance to win." He WON that spot, fair and square.
I'm not disappointed a single bit with how Gabbert has handled taking over the starting role. Nobody thought he was going to come in and take us to the playoffs or the Super Bowl. But he at least looks like an NFL QB.
Go and actually watch the things people b***h about. Not converting 3rd downs, when the majority of them are 3rd and long. In the first half of the Lions game, we had, what 5 3rd down attempts? We converted one of them, and 3 of the other 4 were 3rd and long. One was 3rd and 3 where it was a designed underneath route and the WR supposed to block completely missed a chop block. One of the third and longs the WR just straight fell down and the ball was thrown perfectly. Another had only 1 of the 4 routes at the chains before the rush got there (1 was short and two were running deep routes).
And again, a lot of those 3rd and longs were setup because the RB gained 0-1 yards on 2nd down.
Bottom line is, there's more to these games than people see, either because they don't understand how these things tie in together, or they choose not to see because they're so upset we're losing.
Kap:
Gabbert:
Gabbert is far more effective moving the ball on 1st and 2nd down. That means he has less 3rd down attempts than Kap. Which the stats also show. Kap has had nearly 10 more 3rd downs. That's the equivalent of one full game's worth of 3rd downs. Notice how he has more first down attempts than Kap? That means he's moving the ball more, which we can verify by looking at the number of first downs they've each converted, and Blaine has more.
And then look here.
Kap:
Gabbert:
Far more attempts at 10+ situations. Because outside of the more first downs he's converted, Gabbert was also playing with RBs not named Hyde, who routinely set us up with short yardage situations. As is evidenced by how Gabbert has far more 3rd and long attempts than Kap.
People can talk all they want. But what it comes down to, is when this OL is solid again, I'd rather have Gabbert behind it than Kap. If we draft a guy, which we should (but I'm not sold on Goff or Lynch in the first round), I'd rather have him sitting behind Gabbert than Kap.
Kap was never an NFL QB. He should have been playing TE or WR. Even better, he should have played baseball. Gabbert can do everything Kap can, and you don't have to teach him the basics of being a QB 5 years into his career.
[ Edited by jedediahyork on Dec 31, 2015 at 4:00 PM ]
