Over the past few weeks, my favorite NFL team, the 49ers, have been asking themselves what quarterback do they go with each Sunday.
Alex Smith, the veteran overall number one pick of the 2005 draft out of Utah, or
Colin Kaepernick, the young and quick 36th overall pick of the 2011 draft out of Nevada. Both have proven themselves to be extremely gifted athletes. Jim Harbaugh has been put into this situation after Smith fell victim to a concussion during a game against the Rams several weeks back. But Smith is back to full health now and Colin still holds the starting position. So what is running through the mind of Harbaugh? Even more prevalent, what is running through the minds of 49ers fans?
Edmund Burke is a political philosopher that is deeply conservative. His responses to the French revolution have made that clear as day. So what side would he be on? Naturally, he would go with the guy who has created a good system in San Francisco: Alex Smith. Why fix something that isn't broken? Alex smith is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and yet he is being beat out by a (might as well be) rookie. Burke would argue that Kaepernick's success is all just a bunch of hot air. The false success is something like the French's false liberty. To be good is to be consistent, something Kaepernick has yet to prove. Many fans and analysts talk about the so-called "
code" of the NFL, where the starter doesn't lose his job due to an injury. Why should we even be considering putting in a backup QB when your starter is healthy and coming off leading a deep playoff run last year?!? You just don't mess with that kind of vibe. But to me, I see it as an opportunity. I mean c'mon, if you learn anything about me it's that my boy is Karl Marx.
 |
| A fight for the starting position |
Where are the fans calling for a revolution at the QB spot? Here we have an opportunity to test the waters before the playoffs and see what this guy can do. Even if he fails, as
Zizek would say, we'll learn through the failures. The best way to look at things are to look at the failures. So why not risk a few late games in the season? While the Niners have yet to clinch their division, they have no doubt sealed their fate in the playoffs. Time to test the waters.
 |
| Just another TD added to Kaepernick's stats |
Here we have a young player you could build a franchise around. His athleticism is extremely apparent. He has a cannon comparable to Jay Cutler, he has legs comparable to Cam Newton and RG III, and his toughness makes him a standout in the league. His only drawback is inexperience. But fans and critics, how is he supposed to get experience if you don't even let him play?!? Yes, he is going to make mistakes early on. They all do. Look at Andrew Luck, the Colts starting rookie quarterback. Some analysts have been considering him as a possible MVP candidate, yet he has had his fair share of rookie mistakes, leading the league in
interceptions. Even Peyton Manning threw a myriad of interceptions his rookie year, and look how he turned out? As young players make mistakes, they develop into better players. You live and you learn.
In the end, the 49ers win both ways. Both are superb athletes that will find a way to get it done, whether through Smith's consistency or Kaepernick's "hot hand". Personally, I think most people are just mad because Smith was on their fantasy football teams, but who can blame them. The two quarterbacks are extremely talented individuals hunting for a Super Bowl appearance.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteAt 5am on a Sunday night… I mean Monday morning, I'm so glad that I get to write a blog post about football. I think that this story is one of the most interesting story lines in the NFL this season. What the 49ers and Jim Harbaugh have done with this quarterback decision is break a rule that is the foundation of almost all sports franchises, governments, and systems of rule -if it ain't broke, don’t fix it. Fortunately for Harbaugh, the unbroken thing that he fixed was something of his own creation: a team full of potential that needed to be used correctly. But what does this say about the situation between Smith and Kaepernick? Smith was long revered as one of the biggest QB busts since Ryan Leaf, a guy full of potential that just couldn’t pull it together and would rot away on the sidelines. But with the arrival of his soon to be best and worst friend in the same season, we saw Alex Smith quickly become one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the NFL, managing games like he'd been doing it since he came in the league. Then, all with one sharp blow to the head resulting in a concussion, the job which Smith had waited so long to get was being taken by the read-option kid from Nevada. So how does this tie into politics? I'm not sure. It goes to show you that in sports, just like politics, even the smallest of complications, intentional or not, can lead to the demise or rise of an individual. You did a good job tying in my boy Zizek when talking about how failure leads to knowledge. Also, I liked how you compared the Burke ideology of consistency to the clearly not employed ideology of Harbaugh. Overall, great read.
A fun post to read and think about, Ryan.
ReplyDeleteThe one aspect that I'd like to insert is questioning whether or not the QB situation wasn't "broke" under Alex Smith. I'm an Alex Smith fan and I think he's done a good job as the Niners starter the last couple years, but is he really a Superbowl quality quarterback?
The Niners went from mediocrity to automatic playoff birth with Smith at the helm. Harbaugh instituted a smash-mouth, tough ball style of football in San Francisco, built great defensive and offensive lines, and scrapped out victories. To maintain that status quo, Smith is more than adequate, but if you move up the burden to being a Superbowl team, questions start arising.
I'm not saying Alex Smith can't win a Superbowl, but Kaepernick is a far superior athlete and has a far superior arm- giving the San Francisco offense a firepower that lacked under Smith. With two minutes to go, down four on your own 20... I think it's clear you'd rather Kaepernick leading the team down the field.
"If it's not broke don't fix it," works in both politics and sports, but in order for it to, we need a definite measure of "brokeness," which is not necessarily self-evident.
Brad,
DeleteAnyone who doesn't think Alex Smith is top notch needs to just look at the stats. The guy is a crazy good QB that has just taken time to develop. Where he stands he has the 2nd best Passer rating, only behind the freshman RG III. His completion percentage is the highest in the league at over 70%. The only plausible argument against him is that he hasn't been in many situations that forced him to make superb plays, exemplified by his low yards per game and touchdown count. While this may be true, I think the reason for this is because he simply hasn't had the need to throw. They are the best rushing team in the League. They have a defense that continues to make plays, either by scoring or just simple turnovers.
Overall, I agree that Kaepernick is the better athlete, but Smith is definitely a Super Bowl worthy quarterback. When the game comes down to a 2 minute drill, Smith is my man. When the game is on the line like that, athleticism aside, the most important thing a quarterback can posses at that point is poise and leadership. I don't know if Kaepernick has that yet.
Great post Ryan, I am always a fan of a sports related post. This debate has been prevalent on SportsCenter so I have become well accustomed with the statistical implications each player has. Smith is brutally efficient and rarely makes mistakes, while Kaepernick's athleticism is that makes him a dual threat quarterback: a runner and a passer.
ReplyDeleteKaepernick's recent starts even led me to pick him up on my fantasy football team, as his rushing yards and rush touchdowns account for more points than passing yards and pass touchdowns. However on my fantasy team, I stuck with the "if it ain't broke don't fix it motto" and have continued to start the Matt Ryan even though Colin outscored him in 2 of last 3 games. I like to think of my dilemma as a less glorified version of the debate that coach Harbaugh faces (not really though).
On a more serious note, you did an excellent job including themes and topics we have encountered in the class. You were able to incorporate Burke, Marx, and Zizek all in one post which is nothing short of impressive. Thank you for the thought provoking post, it was a pleasure to read.