A Press Democrat Blog

Cohn Zohn

Lowell Cohn's pertinent and impertinent take on sports

Why Niners should go with Kaepernick (Grant opinion)

Monday, at 1:21 by

Over here at the Cohn Zohn we are interested in investigating all sides of an issue. In an earlier post, I said the Niners should re-sign Alex Smith because Colin Kaepernick, the heir apparent at quarterback, is not ready to take the controls. I firmly believe that. My son Grant, who writes the Niners blog for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, disagrees with me. He says forget Alex and give the keys to the car to Colin. (I’m going to… Read More »

No on Kaepernick

Monday, at 11:48 by

Lots of Zohn readers are saying let Alex Smith go. Colin Kaepernick can handle things for the Niners right now. My son Grant feels that same way. I say that’s wrong. Smith is a better option for next season than Kaepernick. If Jim Harbaugh thinks different, he’s wrong too.

More Alex Smith

Thursday, at 8:38 by

One more thought about Alex Smith. For a while, we thought there was a competition between Smith and Colin Kaepernick for the starting job, although Jim Harbaugh eventually moved away from that position and said Smith is No. 1. Tonight clearly showed that Smith should be the starter and that Kaepernick, although promising, is not ready to start at the beginning of the season. He needs to keep learning and, in case Smith gets hurt or does not do well,… Read More »

49ers: More QB controversy

Sunday, at 9:23 by

I woke up this morning to a barrage of comments and emails to my claim that the Niners have a quarterback controversy and that Jim Harbaugh started it with his Saturday conference call. Grant, too, has been deluged by responses as he heard things as I did. So here’s what I wonder. Harbaugh and Trent Baalke brought back Smith for one year at $5 million. I do not agree with bringing him back but that’s another matter entirely. If you… Read More »

Kaepernick question

Friday, at 6:56 by

I have a question about Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick. Why is Harbaugh leaving Kaepernick in so long? This may seem like a silly question but I don’t think it is. Usually a coach gives everyone a chance. The Raiders played three quarterbacks Thursday night. So, is Harbaugh giving Kaepernick experience? Is he seeing if Kaepernick can replace Alex Smith early in the season? Or is it something else? I would really like your input as I find this a… Read More »

Harbaugh compares his QBs, not.

Thursday, at 9:52 by

I intended to write my Friday column about Alex Smith, Thursday being his first day back on the job and all that. As I look back over the column it’s obvious to me it’s about Jim Harbaugh — he just sort of took over, being who he is and all that. Here’s what happened. I asked him to compare how Colin Kaepernick and Alex Smith throw a pass. I didn’t ask him to say who’s better, just how they throw… Read More »

Jim Harbaugh, QB coach

Saturday, at 2:24 by

Early in this afternoon’s practice Jim Harbaugh spent 25 minutes with the quarterbacks, which basically meant with Colin Kaepernick as Alex Smith watched. Harbaugh repeatedly showed Kaepernick what to do, commented on his footwork, demonstrated the correct footwork. Sometimes Harbaugh threw the ball. Harbaugh loves to throw the ball and he still delivers a pass with zip. You get the feeling he would like to be a quarterback himself and, in his heart, still is a quarterback. Sometimes, Kaepernick would… Read More »

Difference between Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick

Saturday, at 7:56 by

Some Zohners have written in saying there isn’t much difference between Alex Smith and Colin K. Both were winners in college and were highly thought of and are tall and mobile, etc. Fair enough. There are two major differences, as I see it. 1. The people who brought in Smith — went wild over him — are probably not as quarterback knowledgeable as Jim Harbaugh. I mean, Mike Nolan? 2. Alex Smith already has failed more than once and if… Read More »

Kaepernick is the one

Friday, at 8:59 by

It was a brilliant stroke by the Niners to draft Colin Kaepernick in the second round — the 49ers traded up no less to get him. What moxie. They even brought Kaepernick and his folks into the building to meet the media Friday night; they drove in from Turlock. Jim Harbaugh said Kaepernick will compete with Alex Smith for the starting job, that’s if Smith is a Niner. I don’t think Kaepernick will be ready as a rookie and I… Read More »