Dueling quarterbacks get along fine at training camp
EXHIBITION OPENER Aug. 14: Texans at 49ers, 4 p.m. KPIX
SANTA CLARA — We may have our first sign of a rift between 49ers quarterback combatants Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick.
Gabbert confirmed he is a “big-time” fan of country music star Kenny Chesney, who performed at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday night and briefly visited practice before the 49ers got going in their morning session.
As for Kaepernick, whose tastes run more toward rap and hip-hop, he tactfully smiled when asked about Chesney and said, “You know, I met him once. He’s a good dude,” while dodging the musical issue.
That’s about as close as controversy as the quarterbacks have gotten six practices into training camp. They’ve split reps evenly, alternating between first- and second-team, are simpatico in their enthusiasm for coach Chip Kelly’s new system and are publicly espousing the same themes.
During an abbreviated hourlong practice Saturday, the 49ers left the shoulder pads in the equipment room and had a non-contact practice in protective shells.
In contrast to some earlier camp practices where defensive backs were breaking up passes and glued to receivers, Gabbert completed 4 of 6 passes during two team sessions and was 3 of 4 during a seven-onseven period.
Kaepernick, the first man up in the first team session, connected on a deep strike to Bruce Ellington, who broke free against Eric Reid, on the third play, was 4 of 5 during team sessions and also 3 of 4 in the sevenon-seven period.
“I think the more comfortable we get in the system, you start to focus on the details, the little things,” Gabbert said. “Where you put certain balls, versus certain coverages, certain kind of defensive placement. The more reps we get, you’ll see that consistent improvement.”
Kaepernick said it isn’t unusual for the defense to initially have the upper hand during training camp.
“You’re not game-planning for what they’re doing, so they might give you looks that you don’t necessarily install for until you get in to a game week,” Kaepernick said. “There’s some of those things that we’ve been able to adjust to on the fly.”
Conventional wisdom has Gabbert in the lead, in part because he had an entire offseason on the field while Kaepernick was rehabbing from thumb and knee surgeries.
Both quarterbacks quashed the notion of any personal duel, promoting the virtue of competition.
“I go out there and compete against everybody,” Gabbert said. “Against the defense, against Kap, with the other quarterbacks. But I’d say I’m pretty internally motivated. I try and push myself as hard as possible each and every day.”
Kaepernick said, “I’m competing against myself, against the defense, doing everything I can to make sure that every play, I win.”
Since Gabbert at Missouri and Kaepernick at Nevada ran no-huddle offenses in college, Kelly’s up-tempo version hasn’t come as a shock to either man.
“It’s what I did in college, and pretty much every offensive system has a no-huddle section in the playbook,” Gabbert said. “We just do it a lot more. You have more nonverbal communication. We’re still talking, but we just don’t huddle up.”
Likewise, Kaepernick can see similarities to the “Pistol” which made him a passrun sensation at Nevada.
“It’s similar to what I did in college, but a much more developed version,” Kaepernick said. “A lot of things are familiar, passing-game wise. A lot of things are different, but are a lot better than what I’ve experienced in the past. It’s very exciting in a lot of different ways.”
Both quarterbacks said n the use of vertical nets during seven-on-seven sessions proves beneficial when it comes to simulating the kind of throwing lanes available during full team sessions.
Chesney chatted with n Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke in a brief visit.
Safety Jaquiski Tartt n was activated from the nonfootball injury list and participated in the short practice session.
49ers defensive backs n have occasionally gone through drills in boxing gloves, an idea defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil imported from Cleveland.
“A few years ago when the NFL put in the new rule about holding downfield, it seemed like ever play in the preseason was a flag,” O’Neil said. “We started using them with DBs and they liked them so we brought it (here) with us. We’re probably still grabbing a little bit too much downfield, but I think our guys have gotten a lot better through the first week of camp.”