On many levels, the Colin Kaepernick we saw Monday night was recognizable. But there was also a San Francisco 49ers quarterback who, at least early in the season, wasn’t quite as well known.
In a victory over the St. Louis Rams that needed a 14-point comeback and left the visiting 49ers with a foul taste in their mouths in the first half, Kaepernick displayed the kind of pocket comfort and ease that had only sometimes been seen this season.
Due in part to an offensive line that is both injured and lacking in pass protection, Kaepernick hasn’t been able to stand and shoot as frequently as he would want to.
He was compelled to act in that way on Monday night when the Rams filled the box and focused on stopping the run, depriving the San Francisco attack of its foundational elements and limiting running back Frank Gore to just 38 rushing yards on 16 runs (2.4 yards per carry), forcing him to act in that way.
The outcome of the match and the comeback depended on Kaepernick’s arm and his aptitude for directing the offense while making wise choices. The result was a 31-17 victory with 343 passing yards at an average of 9.5 per attempt and three touchdowns.
The quarterback who controls insanity and the quarterback who fires laser beams, Colin Kaepernick, were in perfect harmony with one another in what came next.
One should pay attention to the later Kaepernick. That person was there even during the 49ers’ faltering first half, when they only had the ball for 9:11 of that period.
He was there, taking two steps back from a shotgun stance and throwing the ball quickly to Stevie Johnson for a 13-yard gain as pressure approached on his second throw of the game.
In the last seconds of the first half, he made another appearance, bouncing in his own end zone and connecting with wide receiver Anquan Boldin for a 12-yard gain. The intermediate gains increased as Kaepernick established a rhythm on quick-hitting routes while remaining at ease in his pocket.
He assumed the role of a typical passer. While Monday was only his second-highest single-game production, Kaepernick has played this position before in his four career 300-plus yard passing outings (including playoffs).
When given more time, he becomes more at ease, which makes him similar to every quarterback in history. The difference, however, is in what he does with that ease, employing his tremendous arm strength to carry out deep bombs as well as intermediate throws that rely on time.
He should give the five men in front of him some knuckle taps for giving him the opportunity. Take a look at the room he was afforded on Brandon Lloyd’s 80-yard touchdown pass, which drastically changed the course of the game.
Why wouldn’t they give him a chance he only stood for something good the righteous thing to do when politics police are both bad when you stand kneel or crawl look at all the thing that are wrong in this country look at the Middle East wherever the US has influence what ever side the US is on probably better off choosing the opposite
He deserves not to play an American sport for kneeling on the anthem will never be forgiven for that for starting this kneeling during the anthem he’s the cause he’s a cancer he should be cut out that’s what you do with cancer as you cut it out
WOW about time you’re let that man play football. There are other players that did worse thing than that.
Just do us all a favor and leave the country. Don’t need the drama you have caused. My father was on the front lines in world war II. He would be so ashamed of you. He loved and respected our country.
Why does he want to go back to the plantation?