Let’s get a couple of plays out of the way early. Kelly explained that he merely needs a quarterback who, if the defense “forces” him to run, “can do it effectively.” What he essentially values more from his quarterback, if not being able to run, is being accurate with his throws and being able to make quick decisions.Īs far as Kaeperick and Gabbert are concerned, neither were very accurate passers in 2015. Running for a quarterback is only an option when he’s exhausted all his options, or the defense forces him to keep the ball on the read option. I am not going to run my quarterback 20 times on power runs.”" I want a quarterback who can beat you with his arm. We are not a Tim Tebow type of quarterback team. "“I look for a quarterback who can run and not a running back who can throw. But at a 2011 coach’s clinic he said the following: Inevitably, this leads many fans to conclude that Kaepernick must be the perfect fit because he can run. And while Gabbert appeared statistically only marginally better than Kaepernick, according to the Pro Football Focus statistics, which quarterback would be the best fit for Chip Kelly’s offense? How did San Francisco end up with a quarterback controversy on their hands?įirst, what does Chip Kelly want in a quarterback? The standard narrative is that Chip’s offense is a gimmick, that it relies on a running a quarterback. Statistically, it appears making Gabbert the starter was the right move, but he was only marginally better and it did not revive the offense in any significant way.īox scores only tell part of the story though. Gabbert posted a 3-5 record, 63 percent completion percentage, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Making the move to Gabbert seemed like the ideal move at this point to revive an anemic offense. Kaeperick posted a 2-6 record, 59 percent completion percentage, six touchdown passes and five interceptions. This, combined with atrocious quarterback play through the first eight games led to the inevitable benching for Blaine Gabbert. The hiring of Jim Tomsula as head coach and the loss of linebackers Patrick Willis, Chris Borland and defensive lineman Justin Smith compounded the problems.Įarly in the 2015 season, rumors surfaced that quarterback Colin Kaepernick was involved in a relationship with former linebacker Aldon Smith’s ex-girlfriend and that Kaepernick had also lost the locker room. The 49ers finished 8-8 and “mutually” parted ways with Harbaugh after the final game. The rumor mill continued and reports emerged early on in the 2014 season that Harbaugh “had lost the locker room.” The 2015 football season was not kind to the 49ers, though most of it was self-induced and began in 2014 when rumors emerged of San Francisco possibly parting ways with then-head coach Jim Harbaugh. This is the first part in a three-part series examining the San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks and which would be the best fit in head coach Chip Kelly’s spread offense.
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