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NFL Breakout 2015: 49ers Need One From Colin Kaepernick

By Erik Lambert

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Sep 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) signals a play in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Based on what happened to the San Francisco 49ers over the course of just the past few months, it shouldn’t be a surprised they topped a list by NFL.com for the offseasons that didn’t go according to plan.

"“The 49ers have endured quite possibly the most painful offseason in modern NFL history. Two of their best defensive players, Chris Borland and Patrick Willis, retired. Willis was rounding out his prime years, while Borland just finished a more-than-promising rookie campaign. Oh, and then star right tackle Anthony Davis retired at 25, which was followed by veteran defensive end Justin Smith, quite possibly one of the only experienced players who could have held San Francisco together amid all the stress. Frank Gore, another veteran leader on Smith’s level, bolted for Indianapolis, a move that will encourage the 49ers to dip into a promising young core of backs but also force them to find new leaders. The chain of explosive news was set off by a bitter divorce between the team and coach Jim Harbaugh, who is now the head coach at the University of Michigan. Almost overnight, a roster overstocked with talent will have to find a way to survive in an increasingly brutal NFC West.”"

Indeed suddenly a team that was considered a Super Bowl contender two years ago is suddenly sinking like a torpedoed cruise ship, almost to the point that some believe they’ll be in contention for a top 10 pick in the 2016 draft.

It’s becoming hard to see them getting back into the thick of things in that division, at least not without somebody stepping in to pick up the slack in terms of production and leadership.

That is where Colin Kaepernick comes in.

In the midst of all the losses, the 49ers have quietly given the young quarterback an intriguing cast of weapons.  If ever it was hoped that he could turn the corner and become a true quarterback and less of a runner, then 2015 would be it.  The arrival of Torrey Smith along with veteran Anquan Boldin and youngsters like Quinton Patton, Bruce Ellington and rookie DeAndre Smelter give him options outside while Vernon Davis remains a factor at tight end.

Sure, San Francisco will still run the football but if they want to regain their status as contender then the time has come to take the training wheels off their $100 million quarterback.

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