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He’s one of the most criticized quarterbacks of the decade. His social media accounts are stalked and his life is watched under a high intensity microscope. San Francisco 49ers‘ Colin Kaepernick has no room for failure off or on the field this season.
While the invasion of his personal life is certainly frustrating, Kaepernick and the 49ers have bigger issues to worry about. The team has yet to secure a good insurance policy against the worst case scenarios like injuries to Kaepernick.
The 49ers quarterback depth chart currently consists of Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert and Dylan Thompson, with Gabbert named as the No. 2 man on the roster. But he has done little to earn the No. 2 spot, completing less than 50 percent of his pass attempts during exhibition season. With a statistic like that, it’s hard to imagine him as a starter let alone a backup option. However, head coach Jim Tomsula stands behind Gabbert with claims that in practice and behind closed doors he has made vast improvements.
Sitting third is Thompson from South Carolina. While the rookie went undrafted, he was the top quarterback statistically in his conference in 2014. Thompson has taken the time to try and capitalize on the opportunity he’s been given. During this year’s rookie minicamp, Thompson was the only quarterback on the field.
Tomsula speaks highly of Thompson and his potential as a 49er quarterback. It’s worth noting that Thompson has the advantage of having played with some of his teammates in college. He played with RB Mike Davis, TE Busta Anderson and WR Bruce Ellington during his college career. Chemistry with these three players, however, is not enough to warrant Thompson starting should a situation arise.
The 49ers must put an extreme focus on their quarterbacks this offseason and work vigilantly with them during training camp. Without some major improvements to both Gabbert and Thompson, the 49ers don’t have a “Plan B.” With the 2015 season slowly but surely approaching, it’s imperative that they address this.
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.
