The 49ers returned to their original San Francisco homeWednesday for a spirited practice before 9,000 fans at Kezar Stadium.
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With only a few days left until their first preseason game of 2016, the San Francisco 49ers apparently chose to give one of the two competitors for the starting quarterback position a “Rest Day” – at least according to the 49ers PR department.
Offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins, before practice, echoed coach Chip Kelly’s earlier depiction of their ideal quarterback: one who excels with accuracy, decision making and the ability to lead the team. He missed nearly all of the team’s offseason workouts recovering from three offseason surgeries and lost a ton of muscle mass in the process (picture of a very skinny Kaepernick here).
“They’re not going to get hit in any of our training sessions and there’s no quarterback in the National Football League or even college that probably gets hit in practice”, Kelly said.
Based on the chatter coming out of Santa Clara already, the starting job is Gabbert’s to lose.
Gabbert was slightly more accurate in team drills – he completed 10 of 12 passes while Kaepernick was 8 of 11 – but Kaepernick attacked the end zone more often during a red-zone drill, throwing for three touchdowns to none for Gabbert. “It’ll be a lot more two-back formations, stuff we need to see to get ready for the season”. He’s done all we’ve asked him to do so far. “I’ve done it in the past a couple of times with the Patriots and once with the Ravens”.
Kaepernick said he plans to play in Sunday’s game and also expects to get a start this preseason and time with the first-team offense before Kelly chooses a starting quarterback for the regular season. “You don’t really get the reps of live action and that violent motion when you are practicing in the offseason”. He sat out much of offseason work before getting cleared for training camp.
“I’m going through that process now”, Kaepernick said on Friday. He did not throw during Thursday’s session, which coach Chip Kelly called a planned day off to rest that arm. That’s a pretty scary thought, and it may give the edge to the 28-year-old QB.
The 49ers’ coaches have said their young defensive backs must get accustomed to avoiding contact with receivers beyond five yards of the line of scrimmage.
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