Antoine Bethea says Colin Kaepernick is doing a great job of “not telegraphing where he’s going”

SANTA CLARA – Here are selected quotes from Antoine Bethea’s Friday morning press conference in the 49ers’ auditorium.

Q: Patrick Willis is gone, Justin Smith is gone, Ray McDonald is gone, but NaVorro Bowman might be back. How different is the defensive front going to look to you?

BETHEA: Of course it’s going to be different, you just named three great players, possible Hall of Famers. So of course it’s a loss. But then again, NaVorro is coming back. I haven’t played with him personally but just being a fan of the game and seeing how he played the game, I’d love to see him in front of me. And then the young guys up front that are going to step in. Getting Glenn (Dorsey) back. Ian (Williams), (Tony) Jerod-Eddie – we have some guys who are capable of doing a hell of a job and holding up the front. I’m just excited to see those guys out there.

Q: There has been a lot written about Colin Kaepernick, him adjusting his stance and getting the ball out quicker. Did you see that in spring? Was there less telegraphing for you about where the ball is going?

BETHEA: Yeah, that was something that stuck out to me. During OTAs I could tell he worked on his craft, and I know it’s going to help the team out. He’s going to get better and do whatever he needs to do to lead this team. Without him, we’re not going to go far. He’s our leader. I’ve seen him progress – I’m not even going to say ‘progressed’ – he just switched some things up that he thought he had to improve on, and that’s what he did.

Q: Something that stood out, you’re talking about a quicker release?

BETHEA: Not even that. Just not telegraphing where he’s going. That’s a key thing for a quarterback. He did a great of that during OTAs.

Q: When you’re back there and looking at the quarterback, are you looking at his eyes, his feet, his hips or…?

BETHEA: Of course you want to get a jump on his eyes, but the good quarterbacks, they’ll look directly at me. You really can’t always tell where they’re going to go. Their job is to look at me to keep in my position so I can’t get a bead on the ball. You kind of look at the shoulders. Eventually they have to get to where they’re going. As a safety, I’ve got to get a great job on them. But sometimes you have some quarterbacks who just stare down their receivers. They’ll just cut one half of the field off which just makes it easier for the defense.

Q: The way Kaepernick throws, his mechanics, do they look dramatically different to you?

BETHEA: It’s subtle. Colin is a great quarterback. Everybody, even myself, I do things each year to better myself, whether it’s getting lower in my backpedal, working on my first step coming out the break – there are subtle things as a pro, you’re going to look at yourself and critique your game. You want to better yourself. That’s what he did. It wasn’t any drastic change to make him this different type of quarterback. He just was improving his game, which all great players do.

This article has 15 Comments

  1. OT. Here’s something on Vernon picked by by PFT:

    “Vernon Davis said he feels “faster, more explosive” than he did last season.
    “Right now, I feel like a rookie,” Davis said, “been taking care of myself.” Davis blames his struggles on a number of factors, including coaching and the players. He’s since fired a financial advisor who talked him into holding out for more money last offseason. Now 31 and coming off the worst season of his career, Davis has a chance to bounce back as a seam-stretcher and red-zone threat.”

    1. His coach last year has moved to defense so maybe that will help Vernon. He’s fired the “little devil” that made him go for more money. I wonder which players caused him a problem last year — the QB might have given him alligator arms.

      Even with the self pity, I hope he finds a way to play again.

  2. I’m sure VD is feeling spry after hearing Kam Chancellor hired his financial advisor. With respect to Mr. Betheas’ comments regarding Kaepernick, I think he raises some good points but unlike some on here, I’m expecting incremental improvement at the art of quarterbacking, not exponential. I think that will go a long way to the success of the team….

    1. Yup. First thought that popped into my head when I heard about Chancellor’s contract issue… “Vernon must be glad to hear that.”

    2. Razor,

      Agreed, incremental improvement in CK’s craft will likely result in big gains on the field. I just don’t think he was that far away from being a very good QB.

  3. 10 things Kaep should do on Sunday 1-17-14
    1 Run the no huddle with quick snaps to negate the crowd noise.
    2. Always put a MIM and read the defense’s reaction.
    3. Fake a handoff or pitch, and roll out the other way to befuddle the defense.(Practice pump fakes to freeze the safeties).
    4. Invite the blitz and roll away from blitz or complete Quick pass.(Swing pass to Bush).
    5. Take advantage of D speed by doing counters, misdirection and reverses.
    6. Look off the safeties by facing one way while looking in the other direction. (rotate head 10 to 15 degrees).
    7. Consider Time Outs to be precious, and saved for the last 2 minutes (of each half. Do not waste time).
    8. Shake hands, win or lose. Read IF by Rudyard Kipling.
    9. After the game, go to the Niner fans and give autographed hats.
    10. Get the ball in FG’s (running backs) hands as much as possible.

    1. Half the things you listed or more have to do with play calling from the coaches. How can Kaep do anything about that since he’s supposed to do these things?

      I like Bethea, probably a little annoying that every question in his interview was about other players.

      1. Well, I hope Kaep and his coaches can get in sync.He will be implementing those strategies so Kaep is intimately involved in the offense, and needs the flexibility to be able to change at the line of scrimmage.

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