Kaepernick Kicks Off Training Camp

Here is the transcript from yesterday with Colin Kaepernick.

How are you doing, Colin?
"Good. How are you doing?"

So you've been here since Monday, what's kind of been the vibe as far as working with the young guys and what have you seen so far in those three days that you've been here?
"Like you said, we're just working. Trying to get ready, trying to move in the right direction this year."

We talked to the safeties, starting safeties, they said that one thing that they had noticed from you was that you weren't tipping off your passes at all in the spring. Was that something when you went down to Phoenix that you were emphasizing, not telegraphing and figuring out ways to kind of keep everybody on the defense guessing?
"Once again, it's just trying to be the best quarterback I can for this team. Whatever work I need to do I'm trying to do."

All that work you put on down in Arizona, is it stuff you have to think about still? Or is it just kind of second nature now going through all the OTA's and camps?
"No. Once you're on the field, you're playing. You're not worried about anything other that doing your job to help your team."

TE Vernon Davis said that he fired an advisor who was pushing him to just focus on getting a new contract and it took a lot of weight off him to just focus on football. Have you noticed a focus with Vernon right now to get his game back and have a big year?
"Vern's a hard worker. He's going to do everything he can to help this team win and he's shown that every year he's been here."

LB NaVorro Bowman came back and practiced during the offseason in mini camps, but is there something when you see him out there doing the conditioning tests with you that kind of hits home about the reality of his comeback getting close?
"Definitely. He has a well-known presence on the field, something everyone respects. They respect how hard he works. The time and effort he puts in and ultimate the way he plays this game. So, it's exciting for this team to have him back out there."

What's offensive coordinator Geep Chryst saying about the offense that needs to reverse the trend? Last year, you guys were only 25th in points scored. What's he saying as far as what you guys need to do to reverse that trend?
"Just to execute. Doing the things we are supposed to do on offense and go out and make plays."

What are you most excited to see from head coach Jim Tomsula's first training camp and the way he operates?
"We'll see how it goes. I'm looking forward to it. Tomsula's been someone that's been great to me since I've been here. Never acted any different towards me now then he did when I first got here, which I something I greatly respect about him."

What do you like about some of the changes that have been made for this training camp?
"We'll find out the changes as we go. We really don't know what's going to happen moving forward but we're here to work, we're here to try to win."

The later practices and how he's kind of willing to work with the players, is that something you had input in?
"He's constantly talking to players, trying to do what's best for this team, what's best for the players and what's best for the organization."

What are you looking forward to the competition to round out the receiving corps and the battle for the third spot?
"Just looking forward to seeing how they compete. Ultimately, it will be the coaches decision how that shapes up and it will be the players decision by what they do in this training camp."

How does this year's offense play to your strengths?
"It's another opportunity to go out and make plays. We have a lot of weapons on offense that we could use and looking forward to seeing how that pans out for us."

How about your individual strengths? Your individual talent, skill set, so to speak.
"It's a team game. That's all we're worried about is trying to win as a team."

Obviously, how a game is called is one thing but just picking up the playbook and being through the offseason, are there any nuggets that you can pull out about how the offense is different than a year ago? I mean, is it a new offense?
"It is a new offense. There's a lot of things that are different. There are some things that are the same. You'll see those things when the season comes."

In terms of the schedule, coach Tomsula was telling us morning meetings when everyone is fresh, some time in the afternoon to weight lift, practice, then go back to meetings. Is that a good format for being able to come off the field and go back in the meeting and go over what just took place?
"Once again, he's setting up a schedule situation that's best for the players and best for this team, so everything he does moving forward is with that mindset."

What quarterback, past or present, do you make a point of studying film of and kind of learning, gleaning things, adding to your tool box?
"I watch a lot of different quarterbacks."

Any specifically?
"The biggest thing is I watch myself. What I need to improve on, what I can go different."
​
I ask because working with Kurt Warner and trying to add some things to your skill set there, there's no specific quarterback though that you look at?
"Once again, I look at myself more than anything. What I have to do better."

You never think of a running back as someone who's easy to throw to, but RB Reggie Bush has more receptions than any other running back in the league right now. Is he a guy that presents a good target to throw to? Is he easier to throw to out of the backfield than other tailbacks you've work with?
"Yeah, I would say he's easy to throw to because of his skill set. What he's able to do, they way he can move and his natural ability. A very talented player."

That's an aspect that's really been, it seems like, lacking from this offense is the backs out of the backfield, screens, swing passes. Is that an area that you paid particular emphasis to, to try to improve this offseason?
"We put a lot of particular emphasis on a lot of things. We're just trying to become a better offense all around."

But can you address that specifically?
"That was the question, that's the answer you're going to get."


* Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers