Looking Back: Did Jim Harbaugh Make the Right Decision in Benching Alex Smith?

     It's been a couple weeks since the 49ers bowed out to the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. I do not believe Colin Kaepernick played poorly in the game, but he didn't play up to his full potential either. Now, the purpose of this brief article is to determine whether Jim Harbaugh made the right decision in benching Alex Smith for Kaepernick. To put it simply, Jim Harbaugh did not make the wrong decision because I do not think the 49ers would've won the Super Bowl with Alex Smith at quarterback. However, I do believe the 49ers would've still beaten Green Bay and Atlanta with Smith under center. Basically, I believe whoever was at quarterback for San Francisco would've lead them to the Super Bowl anyways. That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean the 49ers would've beaten Atlanta with Smith at quarterback. In conclusion, Jim Harbaugh made the right decision for this season by benching Smith for Kaepernick, although I believe it really didn't make much of a difference. This question will still be asked in the coming seasons as we find out whether Kaepernick is the real deal or simply a one year wonder.

What are your thoughts on the Smith/Kaepernick debate?