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Colin Kaepernick will be the best NFC West quarterback in 2015. That may seem like a bold prediction, but there is a reason for it. While some players kick back during the offseason, Kaepernick spends his time working out with Kurt Warner and developing new techniques.
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has been highly criticized since first earning the starting job in 2012 after former quarterback Alex Smith suffered a concussion. Kaepernick would go on to lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012, but the team would fall to the Baltimore Ravens in a close matchup that came down to three points and one play. In the following year, the 49ers would again fall in a tight game during the NFC Championship to their rivals, the Seattle Seahawks.
Both games came down to a single passing play, and the responsibility for both losses was assigned to Kaepernick and has followed him around ever since.
Skeptics and critics say often that Kaepernick is not a championship winning quarterback and berate the 49ers for the contract they have given him. However, it is highly possible that Kaepernick being grossly underestimated is just the push he needs. In 2015, we could see the tuned up and explosive quarterback take over the NFC West.
Kaepernick has been working vigorously under the 49ers quarterback coach Steve Logan this offseason. Logan has been evasive lately when asked what role Kaepernick will take on as a quarterback, running or pocket, and has implied that Kaepernick will identify as neither and both at the same time.
Logan has been working on Kaepernick’s judgement on what plays to make and his reaction time in making those decisions. He has also been concentrating on pocket passing, mechanics and reading the defense vigorously.
The latter area was one of Kaepernick’s weaknesses. If Kaepernick can perfect these skills and implement him for the 49ers, the quarterback will be a force to be reckoned with and could give all the other NFC West quarterbacks a run for their money statistically.
Imagine a 49ers team where Kaepernick can not only run away with the ball for major plays, but can read and confuse the defense, make deep and lethal passes and throw with accuracy and sharp judgement. These things sound like a lot when put together in one sentence, but in reality, without perfecting all of these skills, Kaepernick was still only two plays away from a Super Bowl title in 2012 and NFC Championship in 2013.
The NFL isn’t ready for Kaepernick this season, but they’ll have to get ready.
Kelsey Kay is a San Francisco 49ers analyst for Rant Sports. Follow her on Twitter @kelseyykayyy, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.
