Niner Noise
FanSided

Top 10 Biggest Mistakes the 49ers Have Made Since 2015

By Peter Panacy

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Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) walks on the field before the start of the game against the St. Louis Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) walks on the field before the start of the game against the St. Louis Rams at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: Putting Too Much Faith in QB Colin Kaepernick

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick thrived under former head coach Jim Harbaugh for two seasons between 2012 and 2013. And the Niners rewarded Kap with a lucrative, and team-friendly, contract prior to 2014.

But that year should have been a pretty clear indication of what was to come. Most experts agree Kaepernick’s regression started in 2014. Simply put, the rest of the NFL caught up to him. Read-option techniques, in which Kap thrived, weren’t fooling defensive coordinators anymore.

Simply put, Kaepernick was a scheme quarterback. When the scheme was working, Kap excelled. When it stopped, well, there you go.

Maybe the 49ers front office realized this after 2014 was over. It’s possible this group wanted Harbaugh out because he was Kaepernick’s biggest proponent. And it’s likely why the quarterback’s contract gave San Francisco so many outs.

The problem is there was no Plan B.

Unless one considers then-and-now backup Blaine Gabbert as the answer.