Programming note: For comprehensive 49ers coverage, watch SportsNet Central tonight at 7:30, 10:30 p.m. and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
SANTA CLARA – Statistically, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has not been better than he was during the seven games he started to end the 2012 season.
But 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Kaepernick is making progress in a couple of key areas.
“I think at times he’s playing better than he’s ever played, without question,” Roman said. “I think there is a play here and a play there that he’d like to have back. But I think he’s commanding the offense extremely well.
"And I definitely think he’s moving through his progressions in a good way. He’s making some clutch throws, too."
Roman cited the 49ers’ game-winning 75-yard drive against Washington on Sunday, during which Kaepernick completed all four of his pass attempts for 55 yards. One of his passes was a 29-yarder to Anquan Boldin.
“That last drive, that ball he got in there to Anquan, that was just a great throw and catch,” Roman said. “You don’t see those. You look around and keep looking, but not a lot of guys can put that ball in there in that situation. It was a great play.”
Kaepernick is completing 61 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions and a passer rating of 92.0. In 2012, Kaepernick completed 62.4 percent of his attempts with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.
The 49ers have yet to find a level of consistency on offense in 11 games, entering their critical NFC West matchup Thursday against the Seattle Seahawks.
“I think our best football is ahead of us,” Roman said. “At times we’re playing like we want to play. Some drives end based on one play or one thing that happened.
"I think we’ve been pretty successful over the course of time doing what we want to do, but we have to eliminate that one play in a series that puts us behind the Eight Ball in a down-and-distance standpoint or end the series before we want to end it.”