San Francisco 49ers: 5 Backup QBs That Could Succeed in Niners Offense

With Alex Smith at the helm, the San Francisco 49ers have all but locked up a first-round bye for the 2011 postseason. 

With a new head coach and the hoopla of the lockout in the air, how many fans––counting the 49ers faithful—can say they predicted such an outcome? A playoff berth was even hard to imagine despite the ineptitude of the NFC West. 

The combination of both Jim Harbaugh and 49ers GM Trent Baalke have brought stability and direction to a franchise that has lacked such qualities. The most recent win against the Seattle Seahawks is proof of this profound change. 

Despite the tough atmosphere, the 49ers were able to escape Qwest Field with a victory over a much-improved Seattle Seahawks team coming off a three-game winning streak. 

Many fans attest the change to the improved play of an already solid defense or the consistency of the running game but who can argue that Smith's elevated play has not made a difference?

The explanation for such a turnaround is clouded in controversy. Has Smith matured in his seventh season, or is Harbaugh's influence playing a role in his progression––or is it a combination of both?

It makes you wonder if there are other quarterbacks—mainly no-namers, like Smith—who could be successful in Harbaugh's version of the West Coast offense.

No worries, I have listed five backup quarterbacks who would succeed in the 49ers offense. 

Matt Moore

Matt Moore started his career with the Carolina Panthers but is currently the starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins. 

Moore flashed huge potential with the Panthers, especially during the 2009 season when he finished with a 98.5 quarterback rating––finishing with a 8-2 touchdown-interception ratio. It was a small sample size, but Panthers fans legitimately believed Moore was the franchise quarterback at one point. 

After posting a 55.6 quarterback rating the next season––finishing with a 5-10 touchdown-interception ratio—Moore pretty much played his way out of Carolina. 

He signed on as a backup to Chad Henne with the Miami Dolphins in 2011, and the injury to the former paved the way for Moore to start. 

In 12 games, Moore has posted a 15-7 touchdown-interception ratio and thrown for 2,375 yards, resulting in a 89.8 quarterback rating.

Moore lacks the cannon arm, but he is accurate and mobile. Those two qualities are extremely important in a West Coast-based scheme.

With a strong running game and a stingy defense—attributes the 49ers possess in abundance—Moore would be a star in San Francisco. 

Vince Young

We all know the Vince Young story and how he ended up with the Philadelphia Eagles as a backup to Michael Vick. 

Fans are always talking about his maturity issues and whatnot, but sometimes those discussions end up overshadowing Young's versatile skill set. 

I believe Young is accurate and mobile, but he also possesses that rocket arm coaches covet. His speed not only makes him dangerous, but also the running back next to him.

We all saw the damage that Young and Chris Johnson dished in their Tennessee days. A Frank Gore-Vince Young tandem would be very dangerous for defenses to deal with on a consistent basis. 

Harbaugh would salivate at all the ways he could use Young within the West Coast scheme. 

Josh Johnson

Josh Johnson would be an intriguing addition. Johnson was coached by Harbaugh at the University of San Diego. I'm sure the offense has changed a bit, but Johnson would be familiar with Harbaugh and the way he thinks, which should go a long way. 

Johnson is still a bit raw but has shown the qualities that Harbaugh covets in his quarterbacks. He is primarily a running quarterback, so mobility is not a issue. 

The concerns with accuracy are not out of the question, but I'm sure Harbaugh can help in that area. Johnson is the type of player who gets better with more game-time experience. 

He can make all the throws and is a good decision-maker, unlike other young quarterbacks. Johnson should get another chance to start in the NFL, and San Francisco could be a landing spot if Smith ends up spurning the 49ers and resigning elsewhere. 

Mike Kafka

Mike Kafka has shown that he deserves the opportunity to start. If an organization is able to put the pieces around him to succeed, Kafka could be a big time quarterback for any team. 

He has the pinpoint accuracy and the arm strength to make all the NFL throws. He is mobile when he needs to be and has shown that the big lights rarely faze him. 

He has studied under Andy Reid's tutelage for two years now and seems to be progressing quite nicely. Despite the differences in certain schematics, Reid also runs a West Coast scheme. 

Certain plays may be different, but Kafka understands the principles of a West Coast scheme and should have no trouble picking up the 49ers playbook. 

Of the five I listed, Kafka is the safest bet to bring immediate production. 

Matt Flynn

Matt Flynn will eventually start in this league and likely will demand a contract somewhere in the range of what Kevin Kolb received from the Arizona Cardinals. He has all the tools to develop into a top quarterback. 

Like his superior, Aaron Rodgers, Flynn does not have Brett Favre arm strength, but he possess solid velocity on his throws and has shown to be accurate. 

He is not as mobile as Rodgers, but the young quarterback has had his moments. Flynn is both intelligent and humble, which should appease organizations looking for a franchise quarterback with those qualities.

I would like to seem more game tape—competitive ones at that—but from what I seen so far, he has all the tools to succeed with any team, including the 49ers. Rodgers agrees. 

His skill set is perfect fit for what the 49ers want to do on offense. The 49ers should consider trading for the 26-year old, though only for the right price.