Dylan stares down his receivers way too much. If that last preseason was against ones, he would have had double digit INTs.
I have been impressed with Gabbert. Looked poised and in control out there the whole preseason.
And that, my friend, is why Thompson is a 3rd string quarterback. Dylan Thompson is garbage, he had a few nice plays in a preseason game against 2nd and 3rd string defenders but in a regular season game he would have gotten
wrecked, no questions asked. This also is why Thompson is only guaranteed a mere $20,000 in salary (15,000 + 5,000 signing bonus) of a 3 year 1.5 mil contract. If anyone better comes along and is available Thompson is gone with the wind.
Gabbert was looking better during the preseason and
definitely had a better showing than Kaepernick, although CK7 did play a LOT less snaps. The fact is that neither he nor Thompson matter, barring injury Kaep will be starting every game and he will be the one who will have to carry the team on his shoulders. If Kaep can't emerge as a pocket passer this year, which also will be dependent on our depleted O-Line, the 49ers will struggle. Teams have learned that Kaep has explosive speed and as a result are playing defenses designed to contain his legs and present better opportunities to throw. Last season a weak O-Line, a bad season from some of our former best receivers (I'm looking at YOU Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree), and some genuinely bad pocket play and game management by Kaepernick made these schemes pay dividends.
As a result last season these defensive schemes worked and Kaep came off looking like a bit of a one trick pony. If his first look wasn't open and the scramble didn't present an opportunity to run CK7 stalled out time and time again. Part of the blame lies in Harbaugh and Roman for not adjusting their offensive schemes and relying too heavily on play-action calls, and part of the blame can be attributed to a flimsy O-Line that allowed the
most sacks under pressure in the league, BUT(!) part of the blame also rests on CK7 having difficulty reading a defense and putting the ball in the receiver's hands. If the 49ers are going to have success this season they need to do three things:
1. Get back to the run game 49ers were known for! Getting yardage early on the ground will open up the pass game and create manageable 2nd & 3rd downs. Between Hyde, Hayne, Hunter, and Bush (who I am not entirely sold on yet) the 49ers are up to their ears in talent on the ground. Now let's use it!
2. The offensive line will need to find a way to hold up and protect Kaep in the pocket. The 49ers don't have the same talent on the O-line that they've had over the last four years so they will need to find the heart to make it work with what they have. Guys are going to have to be battling one on one, standing their ground on the double team, and containing the bull-rush or else risk seeing another season with league high sacks against us.
3. Last and probably most important Collin Kaepernick is going to need to show improvement in the pocket. He needs to show some poise, read the defense, get off his back leg, and throw the football in around 7 seconds because thats the best protection he can expect to get at this point. This is what separates elite QBs from the rest of the pack. Defensive Coordinators have figured out CK7 can run and the opportunities for him to make those huge runs aren't going to present themselves like they used to during his breakout years because defenses have adjusted accordingly. Teams are going to be willing to stack up at the line and attempt to contain him while exposing the backfield to 1 on 1 coverage with receivers, its time to make them pay for it! Boldin is a BEAST, Torrey Smith was tremendous with the Ravens, and Ellington is showing flashes of speed that we haven't seen from him in years. Its time for WRs to get that degree of separation and most importantly for Kaep to PUT THAT BALL RIGHT IN THEIR HANDS!
With the return of Bowman and a promising defense I believe the 49ers
can take the division and head to the Super Bowl (at home!) if they manage these three aspects I have identified above.