Count San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis as the latest to be impressed by the reincarnated Colin Kaepernick. And raise the bar of expectations on Kaepernick for 2015 just a tick higher.
Both ESPN.com and SFGate.com are reporting on Davis gushing about the new and improved 49ers quarterback after the two spent time together during a workout last week.
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"I didn't even know that was Colin," Davis said to laughter Friday at Levi's Stadium. "No, seriously. He was working on his dropback and I was just, 'Who is that?'
He added: "You guys are in for a treat. He looks like a totally different guy. I think it was really genuine and I think he's just a class guy. It shows that he's humble, for him to go to someone and work on his craft and get better. And it shows that his approach to this game, he's just relentless. He just wants to be great and I respect that. And that's another reason why I'm in this building today."
EXOS Performance quarterback trainer Dennis Gile and two-time NFL MVP quarterback Kurt Warner both have talked about significant changes in Kaepernick's approach to the spot after working with the two for the previous 10 weeks in Arizona.
Kaepernick's offseason goal was to become a more comfortable - and better - pocket passer.
Gile said that Kaepernick's throwing motion is totally different. Warner said the Niners starter had shown more touch on his shorter throws and talked about the need for Kaepernick to think like a quarterback first and an athlete second.
Only Warner has sent any kind of warning about whether Kaepernick will trust his newly learned skills when he's under duress next season or whether he will revert to relying on his vast athletic skills - which allows him to make a big play now and then but also contributed to his worst quarterback rating of his three years as the starting QB in San Francisco.
It's likely that new 49ers offensive coordinator Geep Chryst, who was Kaepernick's quarterbacks coach last season, and his other offensive teammates will be asked to comment on the "new" Kaepernick as well.
But is it in Kaepernick's best interest for them to mimic Davis' sentiments? The result likely would continue to raise expectations for a franchise that finished just 8-8 in 2014 and has a rookie head coach trying to navigate the team back to its status as one of the NFL's elite clubs.
The team lost running back Frank Gore but did add running back Reggie Bush and wide receiver Torrey Smith. That only makes Kaepernick more of the leader on offense because of his time with the Niners.
If Kaepernick doesn't have a good 2015 season, the 49ers could consider releasing him in the offseason and freeing themselves of the remaining $100 million left on his contract over the next five years.
Do you think the 49ers should rave in the offseason about Colin Kaepernick's newly acquired pocket-passing skills? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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