Steve Young thinks 49ers should tie Colin Kaepernick’s legs to prevent him from running
By Cory Buck
Steve Young knows a thing or two about playing quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He also knows a thing or two about reining in that desire to run in favor of making the big pass play. Now he’s hoping that Colin Kaepernick can benefit from the experience of his elders.
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According to Pro Football Talk, Steve Young told NFL Live that Kaepernick can’t be as great as he could be until he stops running so much.
"“That’s going to be a very difficult thing for Colin to master. He’s going to have to tie his legs in training camp. Literally, he should tie his legs, physically, so he can’t do anything but throw from the pocket,” Young said."
Young makes a fair point. Kaepernick is one of the most physically gifted athletes playing QB today, which is becoming less and less of a rarity in the NFL. Remember, we’re just two years removed from the ‘Read Option’ craze which was partially started by Kaepernick and his roughly 5,000 yards rushing against the Green Bay Packers in a playoff game two years ago. Since that game, teams have been more and more focused on stopping him, and Kaepernick has obliged opponents by continuing to run.
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Obviously we can’t put ourselves in the shoes of an NFL quarterback, but we know how this story ends. Quarterbacks who run too much either become too easy to figure out (Vince Young, anyone?) or they just get too battered up by the wear and tear of a QB playing like a tailback (Michael Vick comes to mind). At the end of the day, the best QBs throw the ball more than anything else.
If the San Francisco 49ers are going to pay Kaepernick the big bucks in a year or two, they’ll want to know that their long term investment is as safe as possible. Colin Kaepernick would be doing himself and his employer a big favor by growing more patience in the pocket and trying to do more through the air.