Kaepernick: “I was taught to throw on the run when I was nine years old. It’s just natural to me.”

SANTA CLARA — Colin Kaepernick spoke in the locker room Thursday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department.

 

Well, I guess the idea would be that if there’s any sentimentality towards this possibly, probably being the last game at Candlestick. Do you have that and want to take one final look and say thanks old building?

“I think for us, we want to leave Candlestick with a win. That’s what we’re worried about.”

 

You grew up a 49er fan, Bay Area fan. Was it a place that you always thought, ‘Oh God, I’ve got to go there. I’m going to freeze my butt off’? What kind of place was it for you?

“I was a Packers fan growing up, so don’t quite have the same memories.”

 

When you were in Turlock, did you grow up either watch the San Francisco Giants as a kid or the 49ers?

“Not at Candlestick. I hadn’t been.”

 

What was your reaction when former WR Terrell Owens had ‘The Catch 2’ against your Packers?

“That haunted me for a lot of years.”

 

When you look at the Tampa win, overall would you say that was your best game of the season?

“As a team?”

 

No, as you personally. Just in everything, your decision makings and being able to execute.

“It’s hard to say. I feel like it was a good game for me and helped up get the win.”

 

We just talked to LB NaVorro Bowman and a lot of your teammates think this team is peaking at a good time. Do you feel that things are rolling right now, that things are flowing for this team offensively?

“I feel like we’ve put some wins together and we feel good about what we’re doing and that’s what we want going into playoffs.”

 

What does TE Vernon Davis do that continues to amaze you, if anything, with the way he’s brought it this year?

“He makes plays. That’s the biggest thing to say about Vernon.”

 

What do you expect from the Atlanta defense?

“They’re going to bring everything they have. Played them last year and had a comeback on them. They’re going to come out ready to play.”

 

Everyone is talking about the play, that third down play that your threw to WR Michael Crabtree. How designed was that? How free-lanced was that? Can you talk about what went into that?

“They had a blitz coming. They had one more than we could pick up. So, for me I ran away from it and Crab made a great play.”

 

With the Falcons being 4-10, they were in the Championship Game with you guys a year ago, but their window’s closed for this season. Your window obviously is opening up. Do you guys think about just the reality of, ‘We’ve got to take advantage of the situation right here and now because next year we could be like the Falcons right now’?

“We don’t ever want to be in that situation, but we know we have to take advantage of the opportunity while we have it.”

 

When you talk about Vernon, I think everyone knows the mismatch he can be, but what does he do in the running game blocking-wise that a lot of people don’t see because he’s out there on that field for almost as many snaps as you. He plays more than any other skill player.

“He’s physical. He does a lot of things for us in the run game. He gives us a lot of opportunities to get [RB] Frank [Gore] into open space.”

 

Head coach Jim Harbaugh said you’re the best quarterback at rolling out to your left and throwing. How did you develop that skill-set? What really helped you grow in that area?

“I was taught to throw on the run when I was, I think, nine years old. So, I think doing it for so long, it’s just natural to me.”

 

Playing baseball be a part of that?

“I guess could be a little bit.”

 

You don’t throw pitches on the run.

“No.”

 

A lot of those plays Sunday play broke down and a lot of free-lancing and some of that was kind of absent earlier in the year. And with Crab back, what goes into that chemistry where you’re able to locate Crab on the sideline after the play breaks down and that relationship you guys have?

“Well, I think him and [WR] Anquan [Boldin] both have a great feel as far as where openings are in defenses and finding them.”

 

I know that players take it one game at a time, but when you look at a tough loss in the playoffs, do you expect Atlanta to come in sort of with a little chip on its shoulder, something to prove even though they are 4-10, to come back? Is that something you need to be aware of on Monday?

“That’s exactly what we’re expecting.”

 

You ever met former QB Brett Favre?

“No, I haven’t.”

 

Is he someone you grew up watching his arm strength? How did you, I guess, take his game and incorporate in what you do?

“I loved his game. He played with a great passion. He played having fun. You could tell he loved the game and that was something I always admired.”

 

What’s colder, playing at Candlestick or playing in Reno?

“Reno.”

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