SANTA CLARA –- The makeover of Colin Kaepernick was so noticeable, tight end Vernon Davis wondered if his eyes were deceiving him.
“When I saw him yesterday, I didn’t even know that was Colin,” Davis said Friday after the final day of the first week of the 49ers’ offseason program. “Seriously, he was working on his drop-back. ‘Who was that?’ You guys are in for a treat. He looks like a totally different guy.”
Kaepernick spent 10 weeks at the beginning of the offseason in Arizona working on his mechanics with private quarterback coach Dennis Gile. He also spent about one day a week on the mental aspect of the game with two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner.
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“I feel like there’s been quite a bit of change,” Kaepernick said. “Obviously, it’s noticeable. Vernon said something to me right away when we started throwing. But I just want to do everything I can to make sure I’m getting better and doing my part to help this team win.”
Neither Kaepernick nor Davis spoke specifically about the mechanical changes, but Kaepernick said everything he did was aimed at becoming a better quarterback to enable the 49ers to win more games.
Kaepernick completed 60.5 percent of his passes last season as the 49ers' offense sputtered and the team was left out of the playoffs with an 8-8 record. He threw for a career-high 3,369 yards with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, but his passer rating dropped to 86.4.
“You have to be able to change and adapt to be the best player you can be,” Kaepernick said.
When asked what the biggest gains he made, Kaepernick answered, “(I) became a better quarterback. A lot of knowledge picked up. Not just mechanics-wise, but mentally, as far as the approach to the game.”
Per NFL rules, the 49ers’ coaching staff will not be allowed to work with Kaepernick on the field until the third week of the offseason program.
