I'm making this for 2 reasons - I haven't seen this thread here, and I want to know how people decide which QB to start. It seems like a really interesting situation the 49ers have gotten into.

Basically, a refresher, we have a starting QB (Alex Smith) who gets injured, allowing the backup QB (Kaepernick) to play. Kaepernick goes 16-23 for 243/2 TD in a blowout against a top ranking Bears team.

If you're in Harbaugh's shoes who do you start?

Colin Kaepernick


-Impressive win against a team that was supposed to have a top defense.
-Age 25
-Can run (Well?)
-Stronger arm than Smith
-Lack of experience in a season where 49ers are making a SB run

Alex Smith


-49ers had an impressive 2011 season with him at the helm
-Age 28, has problems running the ball, weak arm.
-Injury Prone?
-Experienced QB in a season where 49ers are making a SB run
-Expected to be healthy enough to start this week

*I'm sure there are things i missed, i'm not an expert on either QB

So the question is, who do you start this week @NO/rest of the season, and why?

joe montana aint walking through that door

colin kaepernick is a FOOTBALL PLAYER but i would take 20 alex smiths on MY team

Jim Harbaugh probably only coach in the NFL that doesn't snap start the veteran.

as long as they're on that frank goar grind, it doesn't matter

This.

Smith is due back next week, right? I would be shocked to see that switch.

Smith wasn't cleared to play this week from a concussion. So it is uncertain if he would be able to play. Most likely he would be good to go...

I could see Harbaugh telling the team doctor to make sure Smith isn't clear to play Sunday. The dude is a freak that way.

Matt Maiocco ‏@MaioccoCSN
I asked Alex Smith about his concussion symptoms. "They don't want me talking right now," he said as he walked out of the locker room.
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45m Matt Maiocco ‏@MaioccoCSN
Jim Harbaugh on QB: "We'll see. I usually tend to go with the guy who has the hot hand. We got two quarterbacks who have a hot hand."
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52m Matt Maiocco ‏@MaioccoCSN
49ers TE Vernon Davis: "I felt like somebody took the handcuffs off me."
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implied racism

save for the first drive kaepernick looked pretty good against the rams, looked great today, and in the reps he's had during the regular season in the wildcat or whatever u wanna call it looked good. plus he's harbaugh's guy.

smith has to be a huge dog to start sunday healthy or not but you won't hear anyone say he's being benched in favor of kaepernick. week from Sunday obv a different story

Give Kap one more week and then make the decision.

I'm snap starting Kaepernick. Dude was throwing amazing balls, and just looked way more capable than Smith.

The only argument for Smith is veteran/playoff experience and we all remember how that ended last year.