“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure…than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat”- Theodore Roosevelt
After 3 title game appearances and an endless promotion of Levi’s khaki pants, Jim Harbaugh’s era in San Francisco appears to be nearing its end. The media has hounded him all year, with numerous reports leaking out about the locker room disconnect, coincidently, all coming out during game day. Despite the murky relationship between Harbaugh and the media, players such as Frank Gore, Joe Staley, and Colin Kaepernick came forward to defend their coach.
I do not want to divulge too much into the Harbaugh contract situation, as it stands, only Jed Joke and Trent Baalke’s opinion on the issue matters at this point. However, I’d like to reflect on a tragic 2014-2015 campaign that fell short of expectations.
Colin Kaepernick
Beats headphones, quirky outfits, and squiggly lines in his head define Kaepernick’s time in the limelight. His short and irritating “self defensive” answering of questions frustrated reporters, while his mental breakdowns in the game left even the most civil fans in a fit of rage. Surely, the readers of SKA are well aware of this behavior, as the media has made it their mission to critique and obliterate Kaepernick’s image. Of course, his play on the field only added fuel to the fire. As an objective homer, I realize the limitations of Kaepernick, as he has not developed as previously expected, often choosing to throw a risky ball instead of checking down to the RB/TE in the flat. It’s also fair to note the lack of help he has received this year
The Failures
- Barbershop
What the hell did they do to Kaepernick’s hairline? - The Entire OL
Joe Staley and Alex Boone have been the only respectable players on the line this year. Iupati’s mental and physical breakdowns made it very difficult for the center (first Kilgore, then Marcus Martin) to be successful, as well Anthony Davis missing the entire year with numerous injuries. Once, this unit was seen as the best run blocking line in the NFL, but tragically, they fell off this year, which lead to a career low Yards Per Carry for Frank Gore, and leaving Kaepernick to fend for himself, going into week 15 as the most sacked QB. - Crabtree
Quiet in the media, but furious with teammates..Aided by Deon Sanders locker room destroying mentality, Crabtree has underperformed greatly this year. Yelling at Colin Kaepernick during the Oakland Raiders game might have been the last straw. I was a huge Crabs fan in years past, but his heart was lacking this year, leaving some to wonder why we traded away AJ Jenkins..(joke) - Vernon Davis
On field play: nonexistent, however, Vernon Davis announced 3 new flavors at his Jamba Juice location, and he’ll be there on Sundays starting in January for anyone who’s interested in fruits and healthy drinks. - Greg Roman
Ah, the man behind the scary offense that put up the 2nd least touchdowns in the league, ahead of only the mighty Jaguars. Sweeps with a slow and aging Gore, running go routes with 2 WRs from a jumbo set, and electing to give up in the last 2 mins of the half define Roman’s time in San Francisco. Roman’s vision to play an old school time of offense might have worked in the 1960s, but his kindergarten game plans have been a disappointment for 3 years now, not just this year. - Levi’s Stadium
Bad: Horrible fan showing, no home field advantage, expensive as hell
Good: Great Garlic Fries
The Future
Do not fret Niner Nation! The 49ers are still stacked with talent, despite missing a bunch of All Pros for most of the year. Aaron Lynch and Chris Borland have shined on the defense, while Martin showed his worth on the OL until getting injured this weekend. Jimmie Ward started in the slot until he and Chris Cook were put on IR.
Colin Kaepernick is still young, and will be going into his 3rd full year as a starter. Although he has struggled this year, he did not take off and run as he did previously, despite the lack of OL protection and run game. Stevie Johnson will be back next year, with Crabtree most likely gone in Free Agency. Stevie played very well early in the year until he was no longer included in the game plans because it made the team look good.
The current trajectory of the Niners see them falling short of the playoffs, but a potential Top 15 draft pick is a very good possibility.
The NFCW is a fearsome division right now, with even the STL Rams pushing around opponents despite a truckload of injuries. Next year’s division race should be very intense, with all 4 teams gunning for supremacy.
