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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Jim Harbaugh watched how Colin Kaepernick handled himself when things didnt go right for the San Francisco 49ers, and that told the coach plenty more about his second-year quarterback with all of three NFL starts to his name. Enough that Harbaugh is sticking with Kaepernick under centre -- for now, anyway -- as his team gears up for Sundays home game against the Miami Dolphins at Candlestick Park. "Just a winning quarterback performance in tough circumstances," Harbaugh said Monday. "In the evaluation, I thought Colin played well, did a lot of really good things, made some good decisions. ... I thought some real positives to take away from his performance." Yet Alex Smith isnt out of this mix yet, either. Another sub-par performance by Kaepernick could have Harbaugh going back to the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick for the final December push toward the playoffs. The reigning NFL coach of the year is leaving every option open down the stretch. A day after a 16-13 overtime loss at St. Louis, Harbaugh accepted the blame for the fourth-quarter pitch that was fumbled by Kaepernick and led to Janoris Jenkins 2-yard fumble return for a touchdown and ensuing 2-point conversion that tied the game. Harbaugh didnt call the play, but relayed it through the headset to Kaepernick. "Responsibility-taking starts with me on that option play that resulted in the nightmare scenario," Harbaugh said. "Position of the game that where I should not let that play be called. So I take responsibility for that." At 8-3-1, the Niners are prepared for a challenge from the Seahawks (7-5) in the NFC West after Seattle won in overtime at Chicago on Sunday. The teams play at Seattle in the second-to-last game on Dec. 23. Everybody around San Francisco is looking for a strong finish by a team that has set its sights on the Super Bowl since moments after last years near miss: a 20-17 overtime loss to the eventual champion New York Giants in the NFC title game. "Youre mad to the point where you dont really feel anything right now," linebacker Patrick Willis said Sunday in St. Louis. After this weeks home game with Miami (5-7), San Francisco also must travel to New England in another daunting road task. The 49ers are certainly frustrated with the way their two games against the Rams wound up after a 24-24 tie on Nov. 11. "We expect to execute," left tackle Joe Staley said. "We didnt execute. Late in the season we shouldnt be having games like this." David Akers missed another key field goal in what has been a difficult stretch for the kicker. His 51-yard attempt with 4:16 remaining in overtime went wide right, only three weeks after he missed left on a 41-yard try also in overtime against the Rams. While Akers was listed on last weeks injury report with a pelvis issue, he looked fine during practice from as far out as 50 yards. Harbaugh expects him to play against the Dolphins -- even after the team brought in a couple of backup options for tryouts last Tuesday. Akers, who set an NFL single-season record with 44 field goals in 2011, has made only 15 of his last 24 attempts. "Well see what his health status is this week, but all indications are hes working through something," Harbaugh said. "Hes kicked well in practice. Hes kicked well in games. I thought the one that he hit in the ball game that was missed was well hit. It just didnt go in." Harbaugh will call on all of his players to improve during practice this week and challenge each other, saying "we dont lay it on anybodys particular doorstep." "Its a tough loss," he said. "Its one you wake up this morning, and that gut-wrenching feeling is still there. The positive things are we still have a quarter of the season to play. Four games, were in position to control our own destiny and bounce back. Certainly a bit of an edge, I would expect, because we all take responsibility we didnt get it done this week." Notes: Harbaugh said he met with defensive end and special teams regular Demarcus Dobbs regarding his arrest Friday morning -- on his 25th birthday -- for suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana possession. Harbaugh said Dobbs is expected to be available for Sundays game after he didnt travel for the Rams game. "Thats a situation were handling internally," Harbaugh said. ... Harbaugh said he had no update on the shoulder injury sustained by WR Mario Manningham. Cheap Jerseys From China . The 30-minute production features Howard, Stoughton, Martin, and Koe drafting a new third, second, and lead. The mixed teams will compete for $100,000 in prize money during The Dominion All-Star Curling Draft Show Presented by Pintys this weekend live on TSN from Casino Rama in Rama, ON. Cheap Jerseys USA .S. Open semifinal more than an hour late Saturday, after heavy rain and a tornado warning. http://www.dancewithmeusa.com/hot.html . -- The London Knights and the Shawinigan Cataractes will be coming from opposite directions when they collide in the final of the Mastercard Memorial Cup.METZ, France -- Seventh-seeded Gael Monfils of France made a successful return after several months out with a knee injury, beating Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the Moselle Open on Tuesday. It was the 26-year-old Monfils first match since he lost to American player Brian Baker at the Open de Nice in May. The former Metz champion hit 21 aces as he won in a little more than an hour to set up a match against either countryman Nicolas Mahut or Daniel Brands of Germany. Earlier, eighth-seeded Nikokaly Davydenko of Russia overcame a shaky start to beat Mischa Zverev of Germany 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. Davydenko had his serve broken three times in the first set against Zverev, who hit seven aces in the match.dddddddddddd Davydenko stepped things up in the second set and converted his three break points. He next plays either Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu or Gilles Muller of Luxembourg. Also, Clement Reix beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in an all-French match and next meets defending champion and top-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. In other first-round play, Ivo Karlovic of Croatia won 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) against qualifier Kenny de Schepper, Vincent Millot of France beat Igor Sijsling 6-4, 6-4, and Frenchman Benoit Paire won 6-1, 6-4 against Xavier Malisse. ' ' '