NFC Championship - a few pics
 

I'm removing some of this, as it seems like rubbing it in. Both of these teams should be in the playoffs again next year, so I'm just hoping they meet again on this kind of stage.

Our seats were actually TOO good at times. Any play around the 50 resulted in cameras, etc., that we had to look under at times.

We got to know 'The Chapmans' a lot better than we wanted to.

....

All over but the crying.

I don't know what type of QB Kap will end up being. What I do know is that 1.5 years as a starter he's taken his team to a Super Bowl and a NFC Championship Game. I think it's a little early to say what he is and isn't. On the other hand I agree, it's not too early to declare Sherman a tool.

True, but they went to the championship game without him, the year before he got the starter job, and that was Harbaugh's first year with the team - they have gotten better since then. I think they would have done just fine the last two years, without Kaepernick - perhaps might even have a couple of Superbowl rings.

He's great against not-so-great teams, which is a good skill to have, and his shortcomings can be hidden when you have a great surrounding cast and a great coach, which the 49'ers have.

But he certainly could end up being great.

I'd have to agree most of Kaep's success is directly related to his environment (team/coaching staff) especially a fantastic offensive line.

Put him on the Raiders and Browns and they're still 4 win teams. He can run like the wind, but his throwing mechanics and vision downfield leaves a lot to be desired.

Wait, so you are calling the 49ers a bad team?

Are you having a dialog with yourself?

I agree with a lot of what you say Scott.. though I do think Kaep is a bit better than you give credit for. He has had some HUGE games against good teams (last year- Chicago, NO, NE, GB, Atl, Baltimore to name a few.. this year against GB twice), but he has a long way to go and was much more up and down this year.. and in his bad games (far worse than any last year), he was in most cases the main reason they lost (NO, Carolina, Indy for sure).

As you say, the Niners are very good and I think may have had a very similar, maybe even a better record the 2nd half of last year through this year had Alex been starting. On a scale of 1-10, Alex was consistently a 5-6.. rarely, if ever a 10 (save for NO playoff game) but almost never a 2 or 3. Kaep on the other hand is capable of being a 9 one week and a 1 the next. That said, if he develops a true pocket presence (meaning to trully feel rush without losing downfield focus like Russell, get through his progressions, deliver balls ON TIME!!) he will be unstoppable, and I see why Harbaugh made the very tough decision to give him the job.

As is, he's very limited in what he does. He can run for sure, but I actually don't think he has nearly the pocket feel or elusiveness that Wilson does. He also seems far more comfortable throwing after a play breaks down and once he's left the pocket.. main reason being, at this point "reads/progressions" dissappear and it more or less devolves into a 1/2 field game of see target- throw to target.. or run. It also seems like he makes a lot of pre-snap decisions and really locks into a single receivers for extended stretches (Crab last year, Boldin most of this year, Crab in the playoffs). I think a lot of QB's make pre-snap choices, but the great ones are able to adjust and re-adjust/reset feet/throw in a split second. The Crab v. Sherman was a really tough example for me to watch (I was sitting in that corner too!!!!). He had trips left and 2 quick developling routes (Patton a quick hitch and Davis on a quick out) were open. Had he even looked left, he may have noticed he had a sure 5-7 yards with Patton, who was on the sideline and could've stepped out of bounds.. or with a block from Davis, could've had a shot for more. But Kaep, rather than making a throw you complete 10 of 10 times, chose to throw a 50-50 ball (due to it's being "man on Crab"). However, against Sherman this probably becomes a 30-70 ball.. and then when slightly underthrown, becomes maybe a 10-90 ball and is more likely to get picked than completed. 2nd and 3 from the 11 with 2 TOs and 22 seconds would have been nice. As it was, he locked onto Crab pre-snap and forced it and the season's over.

Bummed out, but psyched to by psyched about football again these past 3 years, following a decade of Dennis Erickson/Mike Nolan/Mike Singletary... and can't wait to face your Hawks again 2, maybe 3 more times next year. Regardless, enjoy the game this weekend, the Seahawks definitely earned their SB berth.

Ian, that was a great analysis - thanks.

I was referring to the "Kaepernick makes bad teams look worse," comment in the original post. I would hardly call the 49ers a bad team.

And I didn't. Re-read, use context, you'll get it.

Ok. Go Broncos! :)

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