Kaepernick not concerned about job security

Although San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick may be in the midst of the biggest slump of his career, the 27-year old veteran stated Wednesday afternoon that he’s not concerned over the future of his job.

“I don’t play for job security. Whether football’s here or not, I will be fine. I go out, I play to win. I’m not worried about job security when I step in this building.”

Questions regarding whether Kaepernick will retain his job as the starting quarterback of the 49ers,for this season and beyond, have begun to emerge after the signal caller has failed to take command over a struggling offensive unit.

Kaepernick himself has been the main source of scrutiny for the 31st ranked offense in the NFL, having thrown five interceptions in the last two games while failing to give his receivers a chance to make plays down the field with arid throws.

Across his two-game skid, Kaepernick has completed 22-of-44 passes for 227-yards and zero touchdowns, while being picked-off five times for a passer rating of 36.05 percent.

The frustration over the team’s recent struggles seemed to come to a head during Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers, as wide receivers Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin were both seen to be frustrated by poor throws and bad reads on Kaepernick’s part.

Kaepernick defused the possible tension on offense Wednesday, stating that he is constantly speaking with his receivers to try to resolve issues on offense both during the game, and during the week’s preparation.

“We’re trying to figure out timing out. How we want to run routes. Get on the same page with some of those things because there were times that we’re not on the same page. And those are things that we’re working to fix.”

But Kaepernick has been infamously known to be a man of few words. And while speaking to his receivers may help to squash the personal tension on offense, the quarterback stated on Wednesday that he plans to fight through these struggles the only way he knows how to by putting in work.

“It’s a combination of everything. Whether it’s film. Whether it’s talking to the receivers. Whether it’s talking to our running backs. Whether it’s making sure mentally I’m going through the plays. It all has to be a contribution to getting out of this.”

Should Kaepernick continue to struggle, the decision on whether or not he will continue to start appears to fully rest in Jim Tomsula’s hand’s, as the first-year head coach of the 49ers stated on Wednesday that he has “100-percent” control over Kaepernick’s role in the lineup.

This may be good news for the fifth-year quarterback however, as Tomsula continued to offer Kaepernick his full-fledged support, stating that there will be no competition from backup QB Blaine Gabbert to possibly usurp him as the lead gunslinger of the 49ers.

“There’s not a competition. … I understand that position’s different. It’s the most important position in all of sports. I got it. But, also with me and the philosophy of coaching, when guys come in, when I send guys on the field at other positions that I’ve coached, as a starter you have to go in, you go in and you play. … I want a confident man, just full-bore ahead at that position. I believe it’s critical. And I believe in the quarterback. I believe in him. I believe in Colin Kaepernick.”

This week’s matchup against the Giants may be just what the doctor ordered for Kaepernick and the 49ers aerial attack, as New York ranks dead last in passing defense, giving up an average of 316.3 yards per game through the air.

 

---

Follow @SFBay and @ShawnWhelchel on Twitter and at SFBay.ca for full coverage of the San Francisco 49ers.