GB VS. SF

Here are a things to point out about the game this week and how the 49ers are a different team since they meet in week 1 when I saw the Packers live in Lambo (what an awesome experience). The obvious is that they have a new QB, but here are some stats that you may not be aware of since Harbaugh has made the switch at QB and the offense has switched that has followed. Here are three thing to point out; the emerge of Michael Crabtree, the disappearance of Vernon Davis, and the decline in efficiency of Frank Gore.

I'll look at Alex Smith as wks 1-8 (yes Alex went down in wk 10 but I'm considering wk 10 a Kaepernick week) and Kaepernick as wks 10-17 with wk 9 being their bye week.

Michael Crabtree w/ Smith:
REC- 39, Yds- 440, Yds/REC- 11.3, TD- 3

Michael Crabtree Kaepernick:
REC- 46, Yds- 665, Yds/REC- 14.5, TD- 6







Vernon Davis w/ Smith:
REC- 25, Yds- 374, Yds/REC- 11.3, TD- 4

Vernon Davis w/ Kaepernick:
REC- 16, Yds- 174, Yds/REC- 10.9, TD- 1






Frank Gore w/ Smith:
Att- 119, Yds- 656, TD-4, AVG- 5.5 Yds/att

Frank Gore w/ Kaepernick
Att- 139, Yds- 558, TD-4, AVG- 4.0 Yds/att

 

Everyone seems to be talking about the emergence of Michael Crabtree, 7 more targets for 225 more yards and an average of 14.5 Yds/Rec vs. 11.3 with Smith but I say at what cost? You can see Vernon Davis has been targeted less and to me that is is a huge loss. Davis is easily one of the top Five Tight Ends in the games right now. So with Kaepernick you are losing that threat. Frank Gore is averaging a yard and a half (1.5 yards/attempt) less per game with Kaepernick. Yes Kaepernick has ran for 415 Yds vs. Smith's 132 Yds, but again I say at what cost. Smith has a completion percentage of 70.2% and a passer rating of 104.1. He is 6-2 this year of games he finished. Now Keapernick has some good numbers at 62.4% completion and a QB rating of 98.3 and he is 5-2-1 in games he finished. The number don't lie, they Give Smith the edge.

It is a different 49er team that the Packers will see in the Divisional round but a less dynamic team as they have become the Kaepernick/Crabtree show. I hope the best for our former Ute in the offseason and Harbaugh's controversial decision could come back to haunt him this weekend. But I'll leave it to Woodson and Matthews to welcome Kaepernick to the playoff  and for Rodgers to show him how its done...

GO PACK GO!