San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick is the New Gun in the West

As soon as the national Jim Harbaugh-wooing parade was over and he was announced as the 49ers' new head coach, the only thing I could think about was who would be quarterbacking.

Alex Smith definitely wasn't on my mind. Alex Smith didn't even think Alex Smith would be back. So I began studying Jim Harbaugh and what he would say when talking about the qualities he was looking for in a quarterback. 

Here is what Jim Harbaugh said to Tim Kawakami in February. 

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"First of all, a competitor. Look for a guy who has athletic instincts. Want him to be an accurate thrower, understands timing, has the ability to make great decisions. Quick-minded. Those things happen extremely fast. Tough. Durable.

I might be leaving out one or two. Leadership ability and more so by how he works. Tremendous work ethic. Hardest-working guy on the team. Does it by example.

And like any leadership quality, is able to make the right decision at the right time. People want to follow that, a guy that makes the right call, makes the right decision."

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Those guidelines in mind, I started really looking at the options Harbaugh would have. I reviewed a lot of game tapes and really tried to get a feel for the possible candidates. Colin Kaepernick really stood out to me.

Kaepernick appeared to be one hell of a quarterback—very mobile and athletic, as Harbaugh described. He is a smart guy, good character and heart, great size, a cannon for an arm and hungry.

Once I learned of the two separate meetings Harbaugh and Kaepernick had, combined with his performance in the combine, it was clear to me that the 49ers would at least be pursuing the young gun.

I then realized that Kaepernick was under the radar. Not many teams seemed interested in him (kind of like when he was going into college). It seemed to me that the 49ers could probably get him in the second round, and that they would.

Here is why you Alex Smith lovers will hate me even more. Smith will play noticeably better. Unfortunately, he will also still be noticeably Alex Smith. 

Colin Kaepernick is already surprising his doubters and impressing the media. His athletic ability and cannon arm dwarf Smith's. The one advantage Smith has over Kaepernick is experience. Not good experience, but experience. Aside from that, Colin Kaepernick is the superior quarterback in San Francisco. Accept it or not.

After the third or fourth duck Smith tosses up this year, Kaepernick will get the start, and don't be surprised if that is by week one of the season.

Here are some quotes from training camp.

Can Inman 

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The play of the day came from Kaepernick, who ran a naked bootleg 48 yards for a touchdown. Kaepernick also threw back-to-back touchdown passes in the red zone to tight end Delanie Walker. 

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Matt Barrows 

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The flashiest play of the afternoon was turned in by Kaepernick, who connected with former Monmouth receiver Chris Hogan on a 50-yard pass down the sideline.

The 49ers have yet to bring another veteran quarterback on board, partly because they haven’t been able to land any passers they want but also because Kaepernick is more advanced than they expected. "

Gwen Knapp

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Colin Kaepernick looks very much like a real thing, sturdy in the shoulders and long in the limbs, with an unquestionable athlete's bearing.

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Jim Trotter

"Kaepernick impressed me not only with his arm strength, but also his savvy. he didn't force balls into coverage. He appeared to have good feel in pocket"

Friday will be the first game of the preseason. We all will be able to judge Kaepernick vs Smith for ourselves. Pay close attention Niner fans.

I don't like saying I told you so. 

Okay, that's not true. I love it, and I am really close to having legitimate reason to do what I love. Colin Kaepernick is the new gun in the West. Remember, you heard it here first.

Thank you for reading. Please join me on Twitter  @ryanthebroker