Shortly after the comments were made, Tomsula jumped in to praise Kaepernick as one of the league's top signal-callers in recent years. The new 49ers coach commended Kaepernick for spending time this offseason at a sports training center in Phoenix, where he worked with Super Bowl MVP quarterback Kurt Warner.

Tomsula stressed that Kaepernick's initiative should be celebrated.

"He took something good and made it better," Tomsula said.

Kaepernick, for his part, said his focus was on improving and that being resistant to change, even with his throwing motion, was not an option this offseason.

"You have to be able to change and adapt to be the best player you can be," he said. "I just want to do everything I can to get better, and do what I can to help this team win."

San Francisco's quarterback estimated that his workload wasn't greater than previous offseasons, but that his attention to detail was the highest it has ever been.

"I feel like there has been quite a bit of change," the quarterback said of his mechanics. "Obviously, it's noticeable. Vernon said something to me right away when we started throwing."

Kaepernick and Davis aren't allowed to work with their respective position coaches just yet. They'll be allowed to get on the field with them until the third week of the team's nine-week offseason program. For now, the players will resort to meeting with their coaches in the classroom so they can pick up the offensive scheme being installed by coordinator Geep Chryst.

When Kaepernick does get a chance to work with Chryst and his new quarterbacks coach, Steve Logan, there should be a considerable change in how Kaepernick looks and plays.