In an offseason full of changes for the San Francisco 49ers, the most critical X-factor remains the development of quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Tight end Vernon Davis says that project is off to a good start.
"You guys are in for a treat," Davis told reporters Friday, per the team's official site. "He looks like a totally different guy."
Kaepernick has spent the offseason with Kurt Warner, the former MVP signal-caller who is aiming to develop the athletic fourth-year arm "into a guy who can be more comfortable in a quarterback position."
"I just want to do everything I can to get better and do what I can to help this team win," Kaepernick said Friday, adding that he was "very excited" to work with new Niners offensive coordinator Geep Chryst.
Kaepernick set career highs in passing yards and rushing yards last season, but we were hoping the 49ers would bring in new voices to help grow the young passer. Instead, they promoted Chryst from within as part of an underwhelming coaching overhaul that saw Jim Tomsula replace quarterback guru Jim Harbaugh.Â
Under plenty of pressure to keep the Niners successful, Tomsula has spoken highly of Kaepernick this offseason as one of the hardest working players on the roster.
"He took something good and made it better," Tomsula said Friday.
Kaepernick's $10.4 million base salary for 2015 became fully guaranteed last week. That's still an affordable price tag for a franchise passer with plenty of promise, but Kap's year-to-year status tells us plenty about how the team views him.
His determination to improve is unquestioned, but Kaepernick is under the gun to show much more than what we saw during a 2014 campaign that netted the lowest passer rating of his career. The heat is on in San Francisco.
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