After the 2011 season, Alex Smith visited a quarterback consultant to clean up his mechanics. Three years later, it sounds as if another 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, could be making a similar trip this offseason.
Today, Kaepernick said he hadn’t settled on an instructor, but suggested he planned to meet with a quarterback consultant after the season.
“Just working on possibilities right now,” he said.
In 2012, Smith met at USC with renowned former major league pitching coach Tom House, whose list of football clients has also included New England’s Tom Brady, New Orleans’ Drew Brees and Arizona’s Carson Palmer.
In high school, Kaepernick was tutored by former Cal coach Roger Theder, who spent four years as an assistant with the Colts and Chargers. Theder scripted Kaepernick’s drills at Nevada’s pro day before the 49ers drafted him in 2011.
Kaepernick said he’s altered his program every offseason since entering the NFL.
“A little bit here, a little bit there,” he said. “Try to make sure I’m staying on top of the things that I feel like are my weaknesses. I’ll do the same this offseason to make sure I’m better prepared for next season.”
In 2014, Kaepernick hasn’t developed as expected in his second full season as a starter. He ranks 22nd in the NFL in passer rating (85.1) and 24th in completion percentage (60.6). He entered 2014 with a 93.8 career rating and a completion percentage of 59.8.
Kaepernick acknowledged it’s difficult to change mechanical flaws during the season.
“You still look at mechanics — what you can do better — but it’s more of a week-to-week basis,” Kaepernick said. “It’s hard to break habits in-season. You don’t want to completely try to change things because it can throw off everything else you’re doing.”