My sense tells me he is a bit overconfident and will have to learn the hard way. Nobody will be mistaking him for a really smart savvy leader anytime soon.

They should have ran it every down. They would have won the game. he could've bootlegged it

Instead they invited a full on blitz on the 4th down, who didn't know that was gonna happen

In response to dapats1281's comment:

So apparently Kaepernick was the one who checked into the fade on that controversial final play for the 49ers. He said a play was called for coverage, he saw cover zero, and audibled out of the original play.

I don't know if a fade is the best call for a fourth down play, but I'll commend the kid on the guts he took. There is no almost no bigger play in the game of football than that 4th down. He saw something,  trusted his himself on what he saw and tried to take control.

Obviously, it didn't work out. But this was just his 10th start. I think he'll be more adept to know what works and what doesn't work in those situations with more playing time. Out of all the starting QBs who finished out the season, only Hoyer, Pryor and Foles had less playing time than him. 

I like the kids confidence. I like his ability. Don't know of his worth ethic is, but if it's good he's got a really great chance of developing into something very special. I was impressed with a lot of his passes in the game. Teams may figure out the pistol, but he's got the arm to compensate

I call it stupidity.  It's very easy to argue Harbaugh's stupidity/arrogance cost them the SB.  They very likely could have been in the SB with Smith anyway, but to seriously give him autonomy as a rookie to audible? Dumbest thing ever. He's running a pistol base as they sprinkle in some random passing plays over the top.

He's cocky, brash and the deer in the headlights in the first half basically cost the win. The kissing of the bicep thing is also lame.

The arm is clear, but I also think the pistol is a huge way for him to draw zone coverage in to make what are really routine passes, regardless of Simms fawning over those.  The rest of us are yelling at the tv, wanting SF to win, as he throws high, late or to the wrong player.

Those 4 plays, one timeout burned, an almost second delay of game near the goal line was also horrendous.

There is no way on earth I would have allowed him autonomy in that situation.  Run your best plays and keep it simple.

They should have ran it every down. They would have won the game. he could've bootlegged it

Instead they invited a full on blitz on the 4th down, who didn't know that was gonna happen

In response to RockScully's comment:

In response to dapats1281's comment:

So apparently Kaepernick was the one who checked into the fade on that controversial final play for the 49ers. He said a play was called for coverage, he saw cover zero, and audibled out of the original play.

I don't know if a fade is the best call for a fourth down play, but I'll commend the kid on the guts he took. There is no almost no bigger play in the game of football than that 4th down. He saw something,  trusted his himself on what he saw and tried to take control.

Obviously, it didn't work out. But this was just his 10th start. I think he'll be more adept to know what works and what doesn't work in those situations with more playing time. Out of all the starting QBs who finished out the season, only Hoyer, Pryor and Foles had less playing time than him. 

I like the kids confidence. I like his ability. Don't know of his worth ethic is, but if it's good he's got a really great chance of developing into something very special. I was impressed with a lot of his passes in the game. Teams may figure out the pistol, but he's got the arm to compensate

I call it stupidity.  It's very easy to argue Harbaugh's stupidity/arrogance cost them the SB.  They very likely could have been in the SB with Smith anyway, but to seriously give him autonomy as a rookie to audible? Dumbest thing ever. He's running a pistol base as they sprinkle in some random passing plays over the top.

He's cocky, brash and the deer in the headlights in the first half basically cost the win. The kissing of the bicep thing is also lame.

The arm is clear, but I also think the pistol is a huge way for him to draw zone coverage in to make what are really routine passes, regardless of Simms fawning over those.  The rest of us are yelling at the tv, wanting SF to win, as he throws high, late or to the wrong player.

Those 4 plays, one timeout burned, an almost second delay of game near the goal line was also horrendous.

There is no way on earth I would have allowed him autonomy in that situation.  Run your best plays and keep it simple.

I agree. Give NFL D Coordinaters an entire offseason to scheme against Kaepernick and we will see how he looks then. That 1st and goal from the 5 was a golden opportunity and he totally blew it.

In response to dapats1281's comment:

So apparently Kaepernick was the one who checked into the fade on that controversial final play for the 49ers. He said a play was called for coverage, he saw cover zero, and audibled out of the original play.

I don't know if a fade is the best call for a fourth down play, but I'll commend the kid on the guts he took. There is no almost no bigger play in the game of football than that 4th down. He saw something,  trusted his himself on what he saw and tried to take control.

Obviously, it didn't work out. But this was just his 10th start. I think he'll be more adept to know what works and what doesn't work in those situations with more playing time. Out of all the starting QBs who finished out the season, only Hoyer, Pryor and Foles had less playing time than him. 

I like the kids confidence. I like his ability. Don't know of his worth ethic is, but if it's good he's got a really great chance of developing into something very special. I was impressed with a lot of his passes in the game. Teams may figure out the pistol, but he's got the arm to compensate

I call it stupidity.  It's very easy to argue Harbaugh's stupidity/arrogance cost them the SB.  They very likely could have been in the SB with Smith anyway, but to seriously give him autonomy as a rookie to audible? Dumbest thing ever. He's running a pistol base as they sprinkle in some random passing plays over the top.

He's cocky, brash and the deer in the headlights in the first half basically cost the win. The kissing of the bicep thing is also lame.

The arm is clear, but I also think the pistol is a huge way for him to draw zone coverage in to make what are really routine passes, regardless of Simms fawning over those.  The rest of us are yelling at the tv, wanting SF to win, as he throws high, late or to the wrong player.

Those 4 plays, one timeout burned, an almost second delay of game near the goal line was also horrendous.

There is no way on earth I would have allowed him autonomy in that situation.  Run your best plays and keep it simple.

In response to kansaspatriot's comment:

They should have ran it every down. They would have won the game. he could've bootlegged it

Instead they invited a full on blitz on the 4th down, who didn't know that was gonna happen

I agree on this completely. I would've went with the pistol read option for the first 3 plays on the final 4 plays. Also use Gore not James.

In response to BabeParilli's comment:

My sense tells me he is a bit overconfident and will have to learn the hard way. Nobody will be mistaking him for a really smart savvy leader anytime soon.

Porbably rubs off from his coach a little too. Alex Smith seems a little more level headed

In response to kansaspatriot's comment:

In response to BabeParilli's comment:

My sense tells me he is a bit overconfident and will have to learn the hard way. Nobody will be mistaking him for a really smart savvy leader anytime soon.

Porbably rubs off from his coach a little too. Alex Smith seems a little more level headed

Thats the difference between good and great, Smith and Kaepernick.  Look who was leading the team in the SB.  They were 6 yards away from winning the game.  Legends take chances, playing safe doesn't get you a head and make you great.  Had Crabtree ran the route better instead of running straight into the CB he might have been able to make the play.  He ran a terrible route, imo.

It's not like Kaepernick led some group of players to the Super Bowl after Smith was a failure. This team was two misplayed punts away from being in the Super Bowl last year with Alex Smith at QB and no "pistol" offense. In my opinion, Kaepernick got WAY too much credit for the 49ers success. In the regular season, the team was 6-2 with Smith at QB, and 5-2 with Kaepernick (they tied the Rams the game that Smith got injured).

This was not like Brady taking over that was 5-11 the season before and in the process of losing it's second game when took over and leading to 11-3 over the rest of the season.

Smith was in last year's SB barring 2 fumbles by a rookie kick returner.  Who knows if Smith would have led them to a win, but the whole move was implying that Kaepernick would.  FAIL

Did the win the SB with Kaepernick? I don't think so. In fact, he choked.

Smith was in last year's SB barring 2 fumbles by a rookie kick returner.  Who knows if Smith would have led them to a win, but the whole move was implying that Kaepernick would.  FAIL

In response to RockScully's comment:

Smith was in last year's SB barring 2 fumbles by a rookie kick returner.  Who knows if Smith would have led them to a win, but the whole move was implying that Kaepernick would.  FAIL

Dude you need to quit with your Kaepernick hating.  Smith played like complete dogs hit in the NFC Championship game last year.  Even if they had won that game it wouldn't have been because of Smith.  Whether you like it or not they made it to the SB with Kaepernick (something you said wouldn't happen) and you are now trying to shift the goalposts because they didn't win.  You act like it was a given they would have even made the SB this year with Smith.  Last time I checked it's pretty dam hard to make it to a SB.  I do not understand why you have such a man crush on Alex Smith.

That fade pass was uncatchable, thats why no flag. If he threw it more in Field of Play would have been called.
Wish more games were Ref, like this. I see plays were recievers have absolutely no chance at catching the ball and the flag will come out.