KNBR Conversation: Jerry Rice, former 49ers wide receiver

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An edited transcript of a conversation between Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice and KNBR’s Brian Murphy and Paul McCaffrey.

Murphy: What do you see when you see the 49ers right now?

Rice: The offense right now is not getting the job done. If I was the coach, and (Jim) Harbaugh to me is an exceptional coach, but if I was the coach I would go back to the West Coast offense. Go back to it, spread everybody out, let those receivers run routes, and use that timing where the quarterback doesn’t have to hold onto the football so that he can get the ball out of his hands. With the read option in the first year with Colin Kaepernick, when he took over, he was more of a running quarterback. But he’s not running the ball as much now, and I think defensive coordinators catch up.

McCaffrey: So when you’re watching the 49ers in the last two games — Kaepernick has thrown four picks. Maybe his vision is not where it should be, but is it also that the receivers are not getting the separation they need? When he does throw to the 49ers’ receivers, it seems like it’s in awfully tight coverage and maybe he’s forcing balls in. Do the receivers need to do a better job for him?

Rice: It’s very important to get separation. Now if he doesn’t put it exactly where it needs to be, then all of a sudden there’s an interception and as a receiver you’ve got to convert into a defensive back. I watched a couple of those interceptions and I said, “Hey, you’ve got to be a defensive back and do whatever it takes for you to not let that guy get that interception.” If you have to get a penalty or something like that, pull him down or interfere with him or whatever. But the most important thing is that you cannot let him intercept that ball.

Murphy: Do you think Colin can be that accurate? Accuracy seems to be a big problem. Do you think that’s something he can fix?

Rice: I think right now he’s putting pressure on himself to make plays, to make the incredible throw. I think Colin is a good quarterback, and with the right system, the right players around him, and players that really have bought into the system also, they can win football games.

Murphy: You’ve said in the past that you think Harbaugh is gone. You still think he’s gone after this year?

Hall of Famer Jerry Rice says Colin Kaepernick can find success in the right offense. Hall of Famer Jerry Rice says Colin Kaepernick can find success in the right offense. Photo: Stephen Lam / Special To The Chronicle Photo: Stephen Lam / Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close KNBR Conversation: Jerry Rice, former 49ers wide receiver 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Rice: You know, I don’t know. I don’t know, to be honest with you. But I think this is something that could have been taken care of early in the season, because it really wears on the players. They don’t know what’s going to happen, they don’t know if Jim Harbaugh is going to be the head coach, they don’t know if he’s going to move on or whatever. So we’ll have to wait and see, but from all the rumors that are going around — not really getting along that well with the GM, also with Jed York — I think he might be moving on.