Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Colin Kaepernick has endured his fair share of criticism over the offseason. The 27-year-old quarterback seemed to regress during the San Francisco 49ers‘ paltry 8-8 season last year. Now that the team is under new management, Kaepernick must prove himself capable of still being the franchise QB in 2015.
Following the conclusion of the 2014 season, Kaepernick joined MVP Kurt Warner at EXOS training center in Phoenix, AZ in order to work on his weaknesses and improve his presence in the pocket. “Colin, starting on the first day he was with us, changed his narrow base to a wide base and never looked back,” Said Dennis Gile, quarterbacks coach at EXOS.
When Kaepernick returned to 49ers headquarters in early spring OTAs, the difference in the young quarterback’s mechanics were seen as a dramatic improvement from a year ago. Kaepernick’s throwing motion appeared to be more compact and with a shorter range of movement. In short, he now throws more like a football player than a MLB pitcher.
Not only has Kaepernick upped his game but, he also got a few more weapons over the offseason. One of the 49ers’ glaring issues was the absence of a dependable deep threat after tight end Vernon Davis became a non-factor in 2014. To prevent that from happening again this year, San Francisco enlisted the services of speedy veteran free agents Torrey Smith, Jerome Simpson, and Reggie Bush.
During the team’s mandatory minicamp earlier in the month, Kaepernick and his new receivers options began to develop a lasting chemistry. The 49ers’ quarterback connected with both Smith and Simpson on several deep balls during 11-on-11 drills. Also, Bush and Kaepernick looked in sync during check-down progression drills — an option rarely used by the young quarterback on passing plays last year.
With all that is going right for the 49ers’ signal caller so far, Kaepernick will still be entering a make-it-or-break-it season. With all the strife in the offseason, a new coaching staff and the exodus by some of San Francisco’s most prominent players, it may be too much for Kaepernick and the 49ers offense to recover from in such a short period of time.
Then again, being labeled an underdog is nothing new for Kaepernick and the 49ers. The only question will be if Kaepernick can rise above the distractions and carry the offense well into the playoffs this 2015 season.
James Forsythe is a 49ers Beat Writer at www.RantSports.com. You can Follow him on Twitter @9erJim or add him to your network on Google.
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