Kaepernick or Smith?

The San Francisco 49ers sit atop the NFC West, have arguably the best defense in the league, and one of the most fierce running backs in the NFL with Frank Gore, yet there still seems to be one unanswered question; who is the 49ers starting quarterback?

Normally you would see a quarterback controversy on a team that is struggling or on a team that doesn’t seem to have a guy to rely on. The 49ers are in a different type of situation, a situation that any team in the NFL wouldn’t mind being in. It seems that Jim Harbaugh has a very difficult situation to make, one which there is no wrong answer.

The question is, Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick? Lets talk Smith for a minute, he’s currently ranked number five in quarterback rating in the entire NFL at 104.1 only Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Robert Griffin III lead him, he’s completed seventy percent of his passes which leads the NFL, and has thrown thirteen touchdowns and only five interceptions. Not bad for a guy who has taken most of the blame for anything the 49ers have done wrong, or a guy who allegedly will lose his starting job to a second year quarterback.

With that said why is there even a question of who the starting quarterback will be? What ever happened to the saying “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it?” Well, let me introduce you to a young man who goes by the name Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick might be the single most athletic player on the offensive side of the ball. Kaepernick who’s listed at 6’5, weighs in at 230 pounds, runs a 4.53 forty yard dash, and has excellent on the run accuracy. He has the ability to extend the play and make things happen on the offensive side of the ball, something Smith has been criticized for, he has that “it” factor, making the throws when he needs them most. In Kaepernick’s first start against the number one defense in the league (Chicago Bears), he shocked all throwing for 243 yards on sixteen for twenty three, two touchdowns, and the most impressive no interceptions. Kaepernick went on last week to win again in New Orleans throwing for another 231 yards, a passing touchdown, and rushed for another touchdown. So that’s 2-0 as a starter, not even Peyton Manning can say that.

It’s make it or break it time for Smith and Kaepernick, who Jim Harbaugh will go with next week will be an interesting decision, proven consistency or a risk that could lead to high reward. In my opinion there is no wrong decision, if you go with Kaepernick, Smith will still be there, and if you go with Smith Kaepernick will surely be there as well, but knowing the NFL like I do its almost a guarantee they both won’t be in San Francisco next year.