Kaepernick’s arm has yet to bother Seahawks

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In last season’s loss to Seattle in the NFC Championship Game, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick rushed for 130 yards, the second most by a quarterback in NFL postseason history.

Kaepernick averaged 11.8 yards a carry, had the longest run by a quarterback in playoff history (58 yards), and his wheels wowed one of the NFL’s best players. A few days after the game, Seattle’s All-Pro safety Earl Thomas expressed his admiration.

“He can even separate from players in the secondary,” Thomas wrote on his blog. “… He has such long strides, it causes you to misjudge his speed. It doesn’t look like he’s running that fast. But once you get close to him, his stride is so long, he’s just running away from you.”

Unfortunately for the 49ers, Kaepernick’s right arm hasn’t inspired similar praise in his four career starts against the Seahawks.

Consider these numbers in advance of Seattle’s visit to Levi’s Stadium on Thursday night: Kaepernick has three touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 54.0 passer rating in his career against the Seahawks, whose defense ranks first in the league. Against the rest of NFL? Kaepernick has 50 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and a 96.7 rating.

Kaepernick’s last quarter against the Seahawks was his worst as he committed three fourth-quarter turnovers in the 23-17 NFC title game loss. His last miscue was an ill-advised pass to Michael Crabtree in the right corner of the end zone that was tipped by cornerback Richard Sherman and intercepted by linebacker Malcolm Smith.

In the offseason, Sherman mocked Kaepernick’s game-sealing decision in his appearance on “America’s Game: 2013 Seattle Seahawks,” a one-hour NFL Network show documenting the Super Bowl season.

Colin Kaepernick (7) was tackled and fumbled the ball by Seattle's Michael Bennett (72) but the 49ers retained possession in the second half Sunday January 19, 2014. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 to win the NFC championship and a trip to the Super Bowl at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington. less Colin Kaepernick (7) was tackled and fumbled the ball by Seattle's Michael Bennett (72) but the 49ers retained possession in the second half Sunday January 19, 2014. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the San ... more Photo: Brant Ward / The Chronicle Photo: Brant Ward / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Kaepernick’s arm has yet to bother Seahawks 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Kaepernick “thought that was gonna be a touchdown, too,” Sherman said. “That would have been his (fourth) touchdown in three years against the Seattle Seahawks. So that would have been a feat. But it was his seventh interception against the Seattle Seahawks.”

Sherman, of course, also had less-than-flattering postgame words for Crabtree, whom he termed a “mediocre receiver.” Ten months after his verbal shots, however, the Seahawks didn’t make Sherman available to 49ers beat writers on a conference call this week. Meanwhile, Crabtree declined an interview request in the locker room Tuesday.

That has left Kaepernick as the only primary character from the game-deciding play to speak this week. Not surprisingly, Kaepernick didn’t bare his soul when asked for his thoughts on Sherman.

“I don’t have any,” he said. “I’m worried about what we’re doing.”

In Thursday’s meeting between 7-4 teams, with its huge playoff implications, it will be interesting to see if the 49ers employ a game plan that leans heavily on Kaepernick’s legs. Because it exposes Kaepernick to more hits, it’s typically a strategy they save for the do-or-die postseason.

In the playoffs, for example, Kaepernick has rushed for at least 62 yards in four of six starts. He’s topped that total in just four of his 34 regular-season starts.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was asked if he expected to see Kaepernick on the move Thursday, given the stakes.

“We always have respected his ability to run and for their scheme to showcase that,” Carroll said. “It’s always been a very good part of their offense. When you know they have it, you always have to be prepared for it, regardless of what time of the season it is.”

As Thomas can attest, there’s no question about Kaepernick’s legs, but there’s been plenty of discussion in the Bay Area this season about whether he’s made the appropriate improvement as a drop-back quarterback.

Last week, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh insisted Kaepernick was one of the most “dynamic pocket passers” in the NFL, a dubious statement at this stage of Kaepernick’s career.

On Thursday night, however, Kaepernick can add legitimacy to his coach’s claim if he finally solves Seattle’s secondary.

Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch

Struggling vs. Seahawks

How Colin Kaepernick has fared against Seattle — and the rest of the league:

Against Seattle: 61-of-117, 699 yards, 3 TDs, 7 interceptions, 54.0 rating

Record: 1-3

Against rest of NFL: 629-of-1,031, 8,336 yards, 50 TDs, 15 interceptions, 96.7 rating

Record: 27-9