Harbaugh on Vernon Davis: “I’ve seen a lot of improvement in his route running. He looks leaner, too.”

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke to Bay Area reporters in the 49ers’ media tent Sunday morning. Here’s what he said about Vernon Davis, Colin Kaepernick, Marlon Moore, Quinton Patton and Lawrence Okoye .

Q: How has Vernon Davis looked in training camp?

HARBAUGH: Good. He’s looked really good.

Q: When he was drafted in 2006, he was very muscle-bound. Have you seen an evolution in his physique?

HARBAUGH: I’ve seen a lot of improvement in his ability as a football player, his route running. He looks a litter leaner, too. He looks really good. Prime of his career.

Q: Do you think Vernon has to pick up the slack while Crabtree is out?

HARBAUGH: When you lose a great player for a period of time, all players on that particular unit feel it and feel that they have to be better.

Q: You mentioned Marlon Moore before practices began. What have you seen from him so far? What jumps out about him?

HARBAUGH: The way he competes. His knowledge of the system. Smart guy who already is able to play multiple receiver positions. He’s made plays. He’s made eye-popping type of plays. He’s been consistent as well. He’s been consistently good.

Q: What’s Quinton Patton’s health status?

HARBAUGH: He got a jammed finger.

Q: Does the blue jersey mean no passes can come his way?

HARBAUGH: Yeah, I just don’t want to aggravate that.

Q: Was that from a Kaepernick pass?

HARBAUGH: I don’t know whose it was.

Q: Kaepernick showed some nice touch on a couple of screen passes yesterday. Is than an area he’s spent considerable time honing in on?

HARBAUGH: He spends a considerable amount of time on every phase of the game – his training, his film study, his meeting habits. He’s always looking for things on the field to improve. He did have some very nice touch throws yesterday. He made a corner throw that had great anticipation. I thought it was his best throw of the offseason. It was to McDonald on the left, a high-angle corner to him. Standing behind him I could see the anticipation that he had. He threw it two steps before Vance made his break and determined his angle. It was the perfect amount of loft and perfect location on the ball. That one got me fired up. That was the best one right there. Progress has been real good and steady. Encouraging.

Q: How did Lawrence Okoye’s first ever padded practice go?

HARBAUGH: It was good. He was a little bit nervous before practice being in uncharted waters, never had football equipment on. It was impressive that he got the pads put all in the right spots. So, he was off to a good start. The most notable thing is he seems to be a better player in pads, which wasn’t going to be my first thought. His arm length really shows up in the pads. His being able to puts his hands on somebody and lock them out was noticeable.

Q: He mentioned he was nervous?

HARBAUGH: I sought him out and asked him how he was doing. I thought that would be an interesting guy to talk to before his first padded practice. I remember my first padded practice. Pee Wee Football. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Nineteen hundred and seventy-three. So excited to put the gear on that I slept with it all around my bed that night. I did put the thigh pads in wrong, the top part was sticking down and the narrow part was sticking up.

Q: What was the name of your first team?

HARBAUGH: Ann Arbor Junior Packers.

Q: Okoye said, “I’m a little nervous”?

HARBAUGH: That’s what he said, “A bit nervous.” But he acquitted himself very well.

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