If given the opportunity, I think Webb could be a breakout QB, but I doubt he will be given the opportunity. GordonGekko, as long as SF is winning what would it take for the 49ers to bench Smith?
Well, I'm not sure where I said that Kapernick would rock out with a 5000 yard season ( This comment is not directed you Tchula) IMHO, the 49ers, given a bad half of this season, will be more than willing to see what Kapernick can do for them. Alex Smith played way over his head and way over anyone's expectations, and the 49ers were still 26th in passing. Twenty sixth and this is with Smith playing his best ball ever. Carlos Rogers and Dashon Goldson had career years, but does anyone expect the 49ers to have a turnover differential of +28 again? This was a key to their winning and a key to any team winning, hold onto the rock and strip the other team of the ball. Frank Gore is hitting the proverbial RB death sentence of age 30. The bulk of his production came in the first half of the season. Braylon Edwards and Josh Morgan got hurt, but the 49ers were relatively healthy. Does that sustain in 2012? I would say the 49ers were very fortunate compared to many other teams in regards to injuries. FootballOutsiders ranked them 8th in number of lost games by players in 2011 -http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2012/2011-adjusted-games-lostThe 49ers schedule shifts to, this season, the NFC North and AFC East. 1 Sun, Sep 9 @ Green Bay2 Sun, Sep 16 vs Detroit3 Sun, Sep 23 @Minnesota4 Sun, Sep 30 @ New York Jets5 Sun, Oct 7 vs Buffalo6 Sun, Oct 14 vs New York Giants7 Thu, Oct 18 vs Seattle8 Mon, Oct 29 @ Arizona9 BYE WEEK10 Sun, Nov 11 vs St. Louis11 Mon, Nov 19 vs Chicago12 Sun, Nov 25 @ New Orleans13 Sun, Dec 2 @ St. Louis14 Sun, Dec 9 vs Miami15 Sun, Dec 16 @ New England16 Sun, Dec 23 @ Seattle17 Sun, Dec 30 vs ArizonaIf the 49ers get off to a bad start ( that first half of the season looks tougher than the back half to me), and the playoffs look in doubt, and Alex Smith regresses back to what we've seen in all the years before last year, then why not start Kapernick at that transition point in Week 9 during the Bye? It's not like the pass defenses the 49ers face in the 2nd half of the season look like world beaters. NE even makes Mark Sanchez look good as a passer at times. New Orleans has been gutted by their suspensions and the scandal. I don't see Fisher turning around that Rams D overnight. Miami just traded it best corner and that doesn't look like a team that will scare people on D. That's the thing, I don't think the 49ers will be as successful as last year. I don't think they will have the same level of health and I think that turnover differential is something that they can't rely on being the same this year. I think their run D is stout, but I'm not sure their pass D will be as good, because Rogers is pushing 30 and Goldson gambles a little too much for my taste. Eventually Justin Smith is going to hit a decline too. Will McDonald and Aldon Smith have as good a year this year as last? The 49ers took a huge jump from 2010 to 2011. What's more likely? That they replicate 2011? Or that they regress some and Harbaugh wants more than the 26th ranked passing offense in the NFL? Why was Newton able to rack up stats? Not just his arm, but his mobility gave him a chance to be a dual threat for points. Why upside does Michael Vick offer the Eagles? He's got enough mobility to still be a ground threat and his legs help him extend plays. Kapernick offers you good mobility to get you points with his legs, not all of these young QBs out there can say that. If this thread is about potential breakouts, I'd guess Kapernick in the 2nd half. Do I think he's your every week starter this year? No. Do I think he can start the 2nd half of the season, light it up and make people wished they had him in dynasty this year? Yes. Do I think he can help redraft teams in the latter part of the season? Yes. The new CBA means 4 year contracts. Teams have to determine much faster now if their prospects will help them before they have to make the big decision on them to reup them or not. To me, a "breakout guy" is one that most people can actually still acquire right now.
I thought I was a minority of one, but I can see Fitzgerald taking another step up this year. Yeah, he fizzled in the last part of last year (after Fred Jackson got hurt), and he hasn't looked great in preseason, but I see something in Fitzgerald that I don't see in a lot of other QB's.Also, I like Flacco this year. Him & Torey Smith seem primed to "bust out" this year. A lot will depend on how well Flacco handles taking control of the entire offense, a la Peyton Manning, this year.
I'll offer Romo and Ryan. Boring, but somewhat possbile.
ffense would have to really struggle for him to get a look IMO.
