Despite all of the rumors regarding trades, no one has lost any confidence in Colin Kaepernick heading into the 2015 season. The upcoming year is viewed as a crucial one for the San Francisco 49ers quarterback after an 8-8 finish last year. Many have begun to wonder if Kaepernick is really the player that will get it done for the franchise, but according to his top playmakers, the quarterback is looking better than ever.
After ESPN's John Clayton reported that the trade talk around Kaepernick will begin to heat up if he starts to struggle this upcoming season, several 49ers are speaking out in support of the quarterback. According to offensive coordinator Geep Chryst, Kaepernick is playing with full confidence and the improvement is starting to show on the field. The team is looking for the quarterback to be more comfortable throwing and not just running which appears to be happening.
"H e's playing with a lot of confidence," Chryst said, via CBSSports.com. "I think he's having fun playing football. I think it's awful important to him, so how do you catch the right balance between, I'm serious here and it's still great to be with my teammates? There's a serious side to Colin about working hard. There's a side where he'll get on people if we're not operating, and then there's that side where you feel confidence and you see within his demeanor - that's a positive."
His teammates certainly feel the same way. Newly signed Torrey Smith spoke highly of Kaepernick saying that he might be a better quarterback than Joe Flacco. That is certainly high praise since the 49ers need both Kaepernick and Smith on the same page in 2015.
"Joe (Flacco) has a great arm, probably the strongest arm in the league, but Kap's is something different with that velocity," Smith said, via the team website. "I don't know how to explain it, but it's something different. He's doing a great job. Ya'll aren't out there, but some of the throws he made yesterday were ridiculous."
Several veterans are certainly hoping Kaepernick can take them to the promise land this season. Reggie Bush signed with San Francisco in hopes that a Super Bowl trophy would follow. Anquan Boldin is thinking the same thing as he enters his 13th season. The receiver is entering the final year of his contract and is not worried about the future.
"I'm not into that," Boldin said, via the Mercury News. "I'm not one of those guys that, 'I need ...' I'm going to play this year, and we'll see where we're at. It's not a big deal to me. They know where my heart is, and I know the same for the organization."
Kaepernick is on thin ice whether people will admit it or not. The quarterback must improve and show he can be a pocket passer as well as a rusher. If that does not happen, the trade talk will continue and likely become true.
