In his first practice this season as the 49ers’ designated starting quarterback, Colin Kaepernick looked ready to go.
“He did a good job today,” wide receiver Torrey Smith told reporters. “I think it’s a good start to the week. I think he was sharp. … We made some big plays. He was consistent.”
Being sharp and consistent certainly are the traits head coach Chip Kelly will be looking for Sunday when Kaepernick and the 1-4 49ers take on the Bills in Buffalo.
Under Blaine Gabbert, the starter for the team’s first five games, the 49ers passing game was lackluster. Kelly is hoping Kaepernick can show the strong arm and big-play ability he displayed in 2012 and 2013. He started to decline in 2014 and then lost his job to Gabbert in 2015.
In his lone action in this summer’s exhibition season, however, Kaepernick performed well, completing 11-of-18 throws for 103 yards while also rushing for 38 yards.
Now, Kapernick says he’s eager to take the reins Sunday and show what he and the offense can do against the Bills.
“It’s a great opportunity to go out and win some games,” he told the media. “That’s ultimately what the goal is.”
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But can Kaepernick magically transform into the player he was before he began his slide in 2014? Some have doubts.
Greg Cosell, senior producer for NFL Films – an analyst who pores over game film – said on KNBR this week that Kelly made the right decision in promoting Kaepernick, because the 49ers passing game wasn’t clicking with Gabbert. Cosell said he saw open routes that Gabbert simply wasn’t seeing or connecting on.
But he added that Kaepernick’s fundamentals and passing accuracy haven’t been good. Cosell said Kaepernick also will need to show more range as a passer in Kelly’s offense than in the past, because many of the throws are short, requiring more touch.
“You don’t throw a 100 mph fastball,” he said.
Yet he thinks Kaepernick could be a big improvement if he has changed his approach under Kelly and a new coaching staff in a different scheme. It’s impossible to know, he says, because Kaepernick hasn’t been seen competing except for the one summer exhibition.
“Very often, when you change the voice in your head from a different coaching staff, things can click,” said Cosell. “We’ll see if that’s the case.”
