Jerry Rice Exclusive: Hall of Famer Talks Colin Kaepernick, 49ers' Future & More
Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice knows a thing or two about what it takes to win on, and off, the football field.
Rice is teaming up with MetLife Premier Client Group to give people an offensive and defensive perspective on their investments—aspects, like in football, that require the necessary planning, coaching and hard work that are needed to succeed.
But Rice also has a unique insight into what is happening with the San Francisco 49ers, their head coaching situation, quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the future of the franchise.
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The greatest receiver of all time chatted with this author prior to Week 15 about his perspective on the 49ers.
Rice admitted that all the turmoil that has surrounded this team in 2014 has finally started to reveal itself on the field. But he does think that San Francisco can make a positive statement over its remaining three contests and beyond.
On Jim Harbaugh, the Front Office and the Locker Room
Numerous 49ers have backed head coach Jim Harbaugh this year. Offensive guard Alex Boone was one such player who came to his head coach's defense earlier this season, telling reporters to "leave my coach alone."
Yet the whirlwind of speculation and rumors has finally worked its way onto the field itself, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
"I think it’s a wear-and-tear situation," Rice said. "The players have been doing a great job with trying to downplay it. Saying, 'We’re not going to get caught up in what’s going on with Jim Harbaugh—if he’s going to be here or if he’s leaving.' But you can feel it from upstairs."
Front-office disagreements and the difference of personalities between Harbaugh, CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke have had a trickle-down effect—problems that have finally caught up to the players themselves.
Rice stated that it is a distraction for the entire team. But he also acknowledged that the players—especially on the offensive side of the ball—need to recognize their individual roles in everything that is wrong and make the necessary changes.
"It’s not just one individual," he said. "Everyone’s got to buy into it and say, 'Look, we’re not stepping up right now. We've got to do a better job, because we’re letting the defense down.' I think the defense, they have been playing pretty good. They've been holding their own."
Rice also included Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman into that discussion. Regardless of San Francisco's offensive ineptitude lately, both Harbaugh and Roman still have a job to do for however long their respective tenures with the 49ers last.
Can they buy into what the 49ers need to do? Rice thought it an absolute must.
These final games will reveal a lot about what the future of this franchise holds. Previous matchups, and the respective fallout, have already provided enough fuel for the proverbial fire.
But Rice thinks a strong statement from the team down the stretch will be of vital significance for the organization—not just to round out this season, but in 2015 and beyond.
"Go up to Seattle and win this football game," he elaborated. "Make a statement. Say, 'Hey look, it’s been an up-and-down season. It’s been like a roller coaster. But we’re not going to give up. We’re going to continue to fight.'"
When asked about the 49ers' prospects for the remainder of 2014, Rice responded, "They’re in Seattle. Then there’s San Diego and then Arizona. Win those football games. Their destiny is out of their hands. But they've got to win the next three football games and hopefully get help from somewhere else."
While San Francisco's chances are slim at best, statements like these reveal that the team, ultimately, still has work to be done.
Now, it falls on everybody involved with the organization to do all he or she can in the final three weeks.
On Colin Kaepernick
Kaepernick is another one of those pieces where hard work needs to be applied. A rough season, in which Kaepernick's progression has been called into serious question, has boiled over into a number of different areas.
The 27-year-old signal-caller has not exactly been a likable media interviewee. His short, one- and two-sentence responses have already been the target of much debate regarding whether he can be the face of the 49ers franchise.
And Kaepernick's recent shoving of a KPIX 5 cameraman during the Week 14 loss to the Oakland Raiders didn't help much either.
But Rice understood the frustration yet admitted the young quarterback needs to make some changes:
"I got very defensive myself when I first came into the league as a young guy. I felt that if you’re going to write bad things about me, I’m not going to cooperate with the media. And that was the worst thing that I did.
"You guys have a job to do also. After I realized that, I said, 'OK, you know what? Give the media what they want and they’re going to give you what you want.'”
So what does Rice feel Kaepernick can do to improve his image?
"[Kaepernick is] a little frustrated right now. I think he needs to be cooperative and deal with the media. Be a stand-up guy and answer the questions that are being asked. And give the fans an explanation.
"The fans are the people that pay those salaries that these players are making. They’re entitled to an explanation."
There is the argument that Kaepernick is simply not progressing in the way that the organization would like to see. But one has to wonder whether this is a product of the system in which Kaepernick operates, or the quarterback is just not cut out to succeed at this level.
Rice believes that the former is the primary problem. He's not a fan of the current scheme the 49ers are utilizing. Instead, Rice thinks the approach should be what made the 49ers teams of his era so great—the West Coast offense.
"It’s very simple. It simplifies everything. It gives the quarterback options. It gives the receivers a lot of options too."
This type of play-calling is what ultimately will benefit Kaepernick and the 49ers offense in Rice's opinion. Rice is of the mindset that such an approach will assist Kaepernick with easier progressions, and it will greatly assist the quarterback by not forcing him to hold on to the ball for so long.
But the issue with this is that the 49ers aren't likely going to change their entire offensive scheme in one week. Such changes would have to be ushered in by a new regime and under a different coaching staff—one that can grasp San Francisco's incumbent strengths.
On the Need for Speed
Rice had said prior to the 2014 NFL draft that San Francisco needed to pick up a speedy wide receiver during the offseason—someone who could take the top off opposing defenses and open up various plays underneath.
Yet the 49ers had just one legitimate deep threat this season, according to Rice—tight end Vernon Davis.
But the 30-year-old veteran is having the worst campaign since his rookie season in 2006. As a result, San Francisco's offense has lacked that deep threat so desperately needed.
Aside from the seemingly imminent coaching need, Rice felt that this should be the No. 1 priority for San Francisco this offseason.
"You've got to do that," Rice said. "You've got to go after a speed guy―someone that’s going to take that top coverage off, and where if you've got the long throw [you can] throw it deep. If not, you’re able to throw the ball underneath."
The 49ers have been lacking this ability all season. Receiving targets like Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin are hands-on, physical receivers. But they lack that over-the-top speed necessary to pull safeties back into coverage.
As a result, Kaepernick and the offense have widely been forced to make passes into pressure—recent results of which have not been pretty.
The draft is likely the spot where Rice feels the 49ers will find their target in this regard. While he's not exactly sure who the best fit will be, it's a safe bet to assume San Francisco will try to land a promising prospect in 2015.
Rice acknowledged that he thought current Washington Redskins wideout DeSean Jackson was going to sign with the 49ers last offseason.
"[Jackson] could have been that guy who could have really stretched the field and really helped Colin Kaepernick turn into the quarterback that we know he can be."
That possibility is no longer, but the need remains—San Francisco has to acquire a playmaker who can provide deep-threat capability. This is especially important if Davis' 2014 struggles last any longer.
But more importantly, the entire 49ers organization needs to figure out a way to bounce back from this tumultuous phase. It's complicated by the numerous personalities, disagreements and reports that have worked their way down onto the field on Sundays.
Kaepernick has struggled, the offense has been inept and the burden of change now falls upon everyone within the organization to do something about it.
Rice thinks they can.
For more information on MetLife Premier Client Group, visit www.metlife.com.
Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Follow him @PeterMPanacy on Twitter.
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