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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Bold Predictions for Training Camp

By Peter Panacy

Sep 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) take the field for warmups prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) take the field for warmups prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) walks on the field before the start of the game against the St. Louis Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) walks on the field before the start of the game against the St. Louis Rams at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: Colin Kaepernick Recaptures Starting Quarterback Role

If the season were to start tomorrow, all signs are pointing to Blaine Gabbert getting the starting job at quarterback in 2016.

It makes sense. Fellow QB Colin Kaepernick was still recovering from offseason surgeries during San Francisco’s OTA sessions, so Gabbert was receiving all the first-team reps. And, according to NFL analyst Mike Silver (h/t Dan Hanzus of NFL.com), Gabbert was the “heavy favorite” to land the starting gig under center.

Not so fast.

First, let’s set up the context, according to NFL.com’s Conor Orr:

"Occam’s razor suggests that we should have been wary of a Kaepernick-Kelly resurgence the moment we first typed the sentence Colin seems to be the perfect fit in Kelly’s system. We want to believe this because we still associate Kelly’s offense with a mobile quarterback. We also want to see Kaepernick’s career revived in the worst way after being treated to one hell of a run during the Jim Harbaugh era."

2015 was Kaepernick’s worst season. And it was also Gabbert’s best. But the two’s numbers weren’t wholly different. True, Gabbert had a moderately better passer rating (86.2 to 78.5) and had a marginally higher completion percentage (63.1 to 59.0), but the 49ers’ 2015 schedule did ease up a bit in the latter half after Kap had already been benched.

Simply put, Gabbert’s best numbers weren’t exactly overwhelmingly better than Kaepernick’s worst.

So will that open up the door for Kaepernick to reclaim his spot atop the depth chart?

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It’s worth the argument. And it might be what happens at the tail end of training camp.

Let’s go with this bold prediction and assume Kaepernick turns things around in 2016 under head coach Chip Kelly.

The process won’t be easy, and Kaepernick will have to do more than just prove he’s a good option to start under center.

Next: 5 Best 49ers Position Battles to Watch in Training Camp

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.