Fan in Chicago

Based on some guesses regarding coaches who will be let go, we should be able to put together a very good coordinators from out of: Mangini Rex Ryan holmgren Norv Turner Howver, I have no clue who will be a competent shepherd to herd the new bunch of cats.

leave the middle open to a team that has 3 timeouts left.

Why exactly did we punt ? Do we trust our D so much to get us the ball back ?

Fitz-Johnson not on same page, Jones with stone hands, clueless D, PR TD. How many ways can we mess this up ?

a-friggin'-men. Firing him during our bye week would have been too late

those last 3 points were squarely scored by the refs. Three poor calls in a row

Too early to tell either way. To me it was evident by the end of the first half that the dude has uncanny accuracy and moxy which IMHO the 49ers have been lacking with Alex Smith. However, it was just one game. Opposing D's in the NFL have a knack of digging up QB weaknesses and exploiting them (see Cam Newton between last season and this one). CK has to play for at least half a season for a judgment on whether or not he is better than Smith. So, back to your point, I think it is a calculated gamble by Harbaugh. He knows he has some buffer in the 49ers record such that the season won't magically be flushed down the toilet due to this change. The surrounding cast is still the same. The worst that may happen is that CK makes a serious mistake or two to cost them games. At that point, Harbaugh can still put Smith back in and chug along towards the playoffs. I think Harbaugh got presented this opportunity at the correct time of the season. Too early on or later, he may not have taken this gamble. (shameless LAMP): http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/152787-bears-niners-live-game-thread/

If it was possible, your post should be pinned just to answer the 'what has Nix done' crowd. While I have been on his case for not acquiring a QB early in his tenure, the achievements are not unremarkable. I would add a #2 WR to your list of must-haves.

It releases tomorrow, probably wide on Friday. Not sure if there were many preview shows for this movie. SHould be very interesting because I have read the book and considered it very difficult to translate into a successful movie-going experience. Heck, there were many who thought the book itself was quite a frustrating read. It will be interesting what Ang Lee has done with the source material and how he used 3D to enhance the vastness and dread of being 'alone' at sea.

Okay. How about I put it this way - Nix and Gailey should have have seen that the QBs they had on their roster were not the kind to take the team to the promised land. This would not have been hindsight, it would have been an assessment of existing players. What SHOULD have happened is that they make a concerted effort from day 1 to land that guy. What did happen is that the position was largely ignored save for the dabbling with a low pick, Vince Young, Tarvaris Jackson etc. And what did happen is that we continue to get mediocre and inconsistent play out of the position. These are facts. No hindsighting in any of it.

Can't we do this for just about any position ? And you are saying that the Bengals, 49ers, Seahawks are better that QB evaluation than the Bills ? You are excusing the FO for not knowing which QB had the potential to be significantly better than Fitz ? Then why evaluate any front office ? why fire any GM or college scout ? Can't each and every incompetent, out of work GM claim that he did the best he could at the time ? It is their job to know who is a talent worth drafting. And what we are doing here is performance evaluation. Which happens in every organization every year. An understanding of what the individual did well and what he has to work on in the coming year. An assessment of whether past mistakes are serious enough for a demotion or a firing. This is not hindsight. The good organizations get things done. And Nix has failed at setting us in the most important position. I am not using this argument as a blanket criticism of his regime. Arguably, he has made some very good decisions in retaining and letting go players. But for the QB position, he has failed so far.

Had to bump this thread because I read yesterday that at the rate at which Skyfall is going, it may pass the Dark Knight Rises in worldwide gross. Does anybody besides me find this utterly fascinating ? TDKR was a huge hit, but had a lot of hoopla, anticipation, viral campaigns and 'last in the series' mojo that went with it. Skyfall, OTOH was not that kind of iconic picture and yet here we are: TDKR worldwide: $1.08 billion Skyfall (as of Nov. 18th): $669 million

This is not a discussion about which fans were correct about which QB. This is about whether the FO was truly correct that there was no upgrade available near our pick positions.

What is your point ? The fans, and now even Nix, admit that we need an upgrade at QB. It is the FO's job to look ahead and look for deficiencies and attempt to fill them. They have failed to do so in 3 offseasons. I was not advocating any one QB over the other before any draft. But I do think it is the job of our talent scouts and FO to evaluate draftees much more so than the regular fans can. Dalton stuck out as an example of one we missed. Early indications are that Wilson and Kaepernick may also join that list. Again, what are you trying to say ?

I absolutely agree that it is too early to judge CK. What I did like about him yesterday is that he was no overwhelmed while making his first start and that too on national TV. Even if you remove this aspect, his accuracy and arm strength was very impressive. After the first half itself I was wondering if Alex Smith is going to be Bledsoed by Colin's Brady act. I hear NoSaint saying that Harbaugh of all people should know what he has in terms of QB and had kept ASmith as starter. But sometimes, the backup does not get enough reps or game time to showcase his skills. Sometimes players are just superlative in-game players. IMHO, CK did enough for the entire nation to sit up and take notice. He deserves consideration to challenge Smith as I have believed since last season that Smith is holding that talent-laden franchise back (despite his heroics against the Saints last January). Again, it is way too early to see how CK holds up after opposing Ds game plan for him and how he plays when down a few points, when he is rushed repeatedly etc. But early returns are encouraging and I would place my bet on him seeing significant playing time the rest of this season with the intent to deciding the starter for next year and beyond.

CK made that TD throw look easier than it was Ummmmm.... Gruden, Kaepernick is NOT a rookie

On the other side, Campbell looks unprepared and confused. He was not ready for this game esp against a D like the 9ers

If CK keeps playing like in the first three drives of the MNF game, it not he who will find himself on the trading block.

The Bears better make a play on D.like.right.now. Else this game is going to get away pretty soon. Niners are skewering the Bears D by mixing it up real well

Keep playing like this Kaepernick, and you will pull a Brady over Bledsoe with Alex Smith

Sorry but this playcalling drives me nuts. 2 good runs by Forte and tice calls a pass play from a backup QB who hasnt been on the field in forever. What is it with these OCs?

Gailey is not the only one calling a pass play on 3rd and 1 when they have a terrific RB. Perhaps the Bears run D made them call that play but 9ers should have taken the opportunity to run and set the tone

Terrifically accurate first three throws by Kaepernick

Only against the Pats* and Cowboys. With any other team, I will appreciate the coach calling the dogs off once he has a ~3 TD lead in the 4th quarter.

I don't think BB really cares. He was just being his regular arrogant self. There was no reason to keep Brady in after scoring 45 so late in the game. The Colts will remember this, as the Bills should. When (and if) the tables turn, both these franchises should remember to rub it in his face and score whatever they can.