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Could Jeff Garcia make Colin Kaepernick a better quarterback?

By Brian Spaen

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is looking to improve his mechanics after what’s become a very disappointing season for him. A former quarterback that’s familiar with the team would love to give him some insight. Could it be the key that brings Kaepernick back to success?

In an interview with CSN Bay Area, former 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia expressed his interest in working with the current starting quarterback. Similar to Kaepernick, Garcia received plenty of criticism and had to overcome large odds to be an NFL quarterback. But Garcia was able to achieve success and played in the postseason with the 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The most interesting portion of the interview was in comparing the similarity between Garcia and Kaepernick. Obviously, the current starter has more speed and overall athletic ability, but Garcia explains why this could be a problem.

"“Now, he can make 95 yards with his feet, which is a great advantage. But it think there are a lot of similarities of being able to throw on the run and move the pocket and being able to stay within the pocket and move just slightly to buy time. Those are key factors and those are things I was able to do throughout my career.”"

Kaepernick struggled as a passer this season completing just 60.6 percent of his passes. That’s good for 24th in the NFL. It was very noticeable when the 49ers would play with a spread offense.

Being a pocket passer is clearly a weakness for Kaepernick right now. He thrived by being a gunslinger and using his legs as a primary weapon in the zone read option.

While the offensive line didn’t help in the number of sacks Kaepernick took this season (51 this season compared to 55 in his first three seasons combined), Garcia says that quarterbacks can still try to read defenses better and improve on their decisions. By looking at the tape, he would go over what Kaepernick did right and wrong — most importantly, the current quarterback’s struggle with checking down receivers.

"“There’s the process of going through the progressions from the No. 1 receiver to the No. 3 or 4 receiver and throwing a catchable ball. Not everything has to be thrown through the target. It has to be in a position where it’s catchable and easier and more effective for your players to get your hands on the ball and run after the catch.”"

Garcia went 2-4 in his six postseason starts. Both wins were against the New York Giants, and his final start was against them in a loss with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007. Kaepernick has already had more success in the postseason, but he shouldn’t just overlook the offer. Garcia has had the experience when it comes to improving someone’s game having his own issues in taking off with the ball early in his career.

San Francisco’s former quarterback is also very eager to get back in the NFL. He’s been a quarterbacks coach in the CFL this year, but he clearly has an eye for working for the professional football league in the states. Not only would him working with Kaepernick improve his stock for future coaching jobs in the NFL, but it could give the 49ers a more efficient quarterback.

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