Well, then lets look at some things, will we ?
O-line: SF o-line is good but a lot of it has to do with CK being able to move around , extend plays and even break down a defense with his running. That line did not look nearly as good in front of Smith.
Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, Jonathan Goodwin, Alex Boone and Anthony Davis. They have two top 10 OGs, a top 10 LT, a top 10 RT and a meh Center. I don't care who is behind it, that's a darn good OL. If it's not the best in the OL, it's in the top 5. And the OL did not look bad when Smith was behind it. Smith just preferred to take sacks rather than risk INTs.
If you want to talk stats, San Francisco allowed the 2nd fewest pressures in the NFL this year behind Cincinnati.
CK is a classical two way threat . Pick your poison for a defense.
Crabtree was injured almost the entire season.
And without Crabtree, Kaepernick had 14 passing TDs to 7 Ints in 11 games. Sam had 14 passing TDs to 4 Ints in 7 games. Kaepernick still had Boldin and Vernon Davis.
The SF running game is good but again in large part due to CK himself being that dual threat who can beat you with his arm and legs.
In large part? That Frank Gore guy was pretty darn good before Kaepernick became the QB.
And it is one thing to have good talent around you and another thing to make it click.
CK ,as much as it pains me to say it, has lifted that Niners team up to elite status. Something Alex Smith could not do with the same HC and same OC running that gig.
Regular season W-L records:
2011 49ers with Alex Smith - 13-3
2013 49ers with Kaepernick - 12-4
2012 49ers with Alex Smith - 6-2
2012 49ers with Kaepernick - 5-2
(The Tie was not counted since both played in that game)
Alex Smith in 2011 and 2012 - 30 passing TDs to 10 Ints
Colin Kaepernick in 2012 and 2013 - 31 passing TDs to 11 Ints
CK in his first half year elevated the Niners to the SB making big play after big play especially in the playoffs coming so close to even win the big price in his first half year as starter.
And Alex Smith would have taken them to the Super Bowl in 2011 had Kyle Williams not fumbled a punt. I fail to see where Kaepernick has elevated the team. Don't get me wrong, they were smart to go with Kaepernick. He has more upside than Alex Smith. But at the moment, he's not elevating the team above where Smith would have it. In the future, if he improves as a passer...he very possibly could.
And this year he has them primed yet again for another SB run. On maybe the second most difficult field in the entire league he put this team on his back when it counted the most and drove them to the winning score, again coming up with the big plays when it counted the most in a pressure cooker situation, on the road, in Green Bay, in the cold.
After a completely underwhelming performance. And, of course, you're conveniently leaving this out:
That happened on the 3rd play of his final game winning drive. Of course, the DB ended up dropping the ball. So maybe we should count Kaepernick as insanely lucky too. Because he threw away the game to the Packers and they gave it right back.
In the end: If you would trade CK for SB it is your decision. But that very decision would get you fired on the spot if you´d happen to be a GM or HC in the NFL.
Go Rams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, first of all, what you're saying is complete conjecture. I highly doubt you have round-table discussions with NFL GMs and Head Coaches so you wouldn't know if what you're saying is true or not. It's just an easy thing to throw out there since you don't have to back it up. Second of all, Sam coming off a serious knee injury complicates things. But in terms of 2013 performance, yep, before he got hurt, he was outplaying Colin Kaepernick and he's currently the better passer. Kaepernick's legs are the X Factor but I've always preferred pocket passing QBs.