Last week, after reviewing the win over Philly, I wrote that quarterback Colin Kaepernick is playing better than last year. The assessment might strike some as strange, since Kaepernick’s statistics don’t pop. Nevertheless, In the 49ers’ 22-17 home win over Kansas City, Kaepernick’s maturation continued.

Kaepernick appears to be looking at the game with new eyes. Last season, he left open receivers all over the field after checking his primary target and then deciding to run his way into a sack or a gain. This year, Kaepernick is getting to second and even third reads, despite spotty pass protection.

He also seems to be controlling more of the game from the line of scrimmage, which can be good and bad. Sometimes Kaepernick out thinks himself, which can result in a delay of game or a time-out. However, in the win over Kansas City, even that improved.

The 49ers seem to be taking advantage of Kaepernick’s vision, by putting more receivers out into the pattern. Often, Kaepernick will fake a handoff and drop back seven steps. Last year, the 49ers would max protect with seven or eight players blocking and two or three receivers out in the pattern in those situations. This year, four or five receivers are out into the pattern off of play-action and a deep drop.

Kaepernick also seems to be less concerned about getting hit after he throws. Even under duress, he’s still looking down the field. That is not to say that Kaepernick doesn’t lapse into old habits such as running out of the pocket too early, or running himself into trouble.

However, more often, Kaepernick is getting out of trouble after a missed block or missed blitz pick up. He’s starting to make plays by scrambling away from a free blitzer that most quarterbacks simply could not make.

Kaepernick is still failing to spot open, particularly backs Bruce Miller and Frank Gore, which occurred three times against the Chiefs. But this is happening far less often.

Yet Kaepernick’s passer rating of 91.3 ranks him 17th among starting quarterbacks, and according to ESPN’s QBR, he is 22nd.

Part of it is due to pressure. The 49ers offensive line has never been great at pass protection, but this season it has been worse because of injuries to right tackle Anthony Davis, the holdout of Alex Boone, and the poor start by Joe Staley. According to ESPN’s advanced sack statistics, Kaepernick is ranked 25th.

Also, Kaepernick is so versatile, he struggles in knowing what to do and when. His arm strength allows him to make absurd throws. His legs allow him to gobble up yards with each gallop. So he can run; he can fire a pass; he can run and then throw; he can throw off balance; he can move in the pocket re-set and then throw. The question is, which of these varied options should he use on a given play?

That’s why it will likely take longer for him to develop as a quarterback than say, Andy Dalton or Alex Smith. Kaepernick simply has a much more expansive skill set.

The good news is Kaepernick is making progress on harnessing his immense talent. It’s also a reason why 49ers fans should be optimistic about the team’s development this season.