San Francisco 49ers News: Colin Kaepernick Not Well Prepared
Some controversial San Francisco 49ers news, Colin Kaepernick has been accused of not being prepared enough as a quarterback, according to NBC Sports.
One of the more fascinating stories in the NFL this year involves Kaepernick and the 49ers. Many expected the team to take a step back after witnessing so many of their top players stepping away from the team for various reasons. Expectations were also lowered in San Francisco because Jim Harbaugh left for the University of Michigan and was replaced by Jim Tomsula as the head coach. However, some still had hope because of Kaepernick and his potential.
Things just didn’t turn out well for Kaepernick this season. Rather than showing improvement after spending the summer with Super Bowl winning quarterback Kurt Warner, he actually regressed a bit. Critics and experts tried to figure out what was wrong with Colin. During an appearance on 95.7 The Game, former Niners linebacker Bill Romanowski claims that new starter Blaine Gabbert studied four to five times more game film than Kaepernick did.
You don’t have to study a ton of film to see that Kaepernick is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the NFL. He is as fast as a running back and has a cannon for an arm. The 28-year-old can usually get out of trouble by relying on his athleticism. That might actually be the problem. Oftentimes, players don’t utilize the mental aspects of the game when they’re so gifted physically. Vince Young, who struggles to learn a playbook, is a prime example of that.
Another example of that is Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard. Long viewed as someone that could dominate the NBA, the 6’11” 275-pound Georgia native seems content with just being an all-star every year by relying on his ability to out-jump and out-run other big men in basketball. Howard once tried to learn the more advanced skills by hiring hall of fame center Hakeem Olajuwon, but he immediately fell back to his athletic game once the season started.
Although the Niners are denying the impending divorce with Kaepernick, the belief is that Colin will be wearing a different NFL jersey next season. It makes all the sense in the world from a contractual standpoint to move on. Plus, San Francisco needs to abandon the notion that they simply needed to reload instead of rebuild after the championship window closed on them. Finding a new quarterback is a major step in that direction and better for the long-term future.
Since there is a dearth of starting caliber quarterbacks in the NFL, the belief is that Kaepernick will have plenty of suitors when he is released. Chip Kelly could be looking to reload with a new signal caller for the Philadelphia Eagles. The New York Jets seem to be eternally looking for a franchise quarterback. If Robert Griffin III leaves as expected, then the Washington Redskins might be willing to take another chance on a mobile quarterback that needs grooming.
Which NFL head coach do you feel can help Colin Kaepernick overcome the mental side of being a good quarterback in the league?
[Featured Photo by Ezra Shaw / Getty Images]
