SANTA CLARA — In a refreshingly gregarious media session Wednesday, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick talked freely about the need to attack the Seattle Seahawks “a different way,” with playoff elimination staring his team in the face.

As Sunday’s rematch in Seattle fast approaches, attacking the Seahawks (9-4) differently would seem to be a must for the 49ers (7-6) after they’ve lost four of the past five meetings. And no less an authority on 49ers offense than Jerry Rice is trumpeting that cause.

Rice hasn’t liked what he’s seen from a feeble offense (18.8 points per game in 2014). This season’s emphasis to boost the pass offense has backfired. Rather than pin that on Kaepernick’s down year, Rice is critical of the current wide receivers in an organization where he built his 49ers legacy from 1985-2000.

“I look for separation, and I’m not seeing much right now,” Rice said Wednesday in a phone interview. “It makes it easier for a quarterback when he can see separation from defensive backs where the quarterback can throw the ball.

“Everything is so confined. They need to spread the offense out and get the wide receivers wide where they can win one-on-one.”

Last season ended in Seattle with a doomed matchup between Michael Crabtree and Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, who tipped a Kaepernick pass that Malcolm Smith intercepted in the end zone to seal the 49ers’ 23-17, NFC Championship game loss.

Kaepernick insisted then and now that he made the right decision but not the right throw.

“I mean, once again, if I throw that ball a little bit further, we go to the Super Bowl,” Kaepernick said. “It’s not something I regret. I just have to throw a better ball.”

Bad throws resulted in Kaepernick getting intercepted twice by Sherman on Thanksgiving night, in a 19-3 rout by the visiting Seahawks. Kaepernick took the blame, but Rice said the intended receivers — Brandon Lloyd and Stevie Johnson — could have helped more.

“His accuracy is not always going to be there,” Rice said of Kaepernick. “As a wide receiver, when the ball is not going where it needs to be, you have to be a defender. In the Seattle game, there were a couple interceptions there. The ball was off line, but as a receiver you’ve got to get in there and break it up.”

While Rice made the media rounds promoting MetLife financial planning, he wasn’t the only Pro Football Hall of Famer critical Wednesday of the 49ers’ overall offense. Bill Parcells, a mentor of 49ers general manager Trent Baalke, didn’t hold back on ESPN’s “Mike and Mike In The Morning” show.

“I think Kaepernick is right at the crossroads right now,” Parcells said. “He’s showed he can do something. I don’t think he has a real good supporting cast right now.”

The 49ers have scored 17 points or less in six of their past seven games. Injuries have forced them to field their most inconsistent offensive line in Harbaugh’s four seasons. Tight end Vernon Davis hasn’t had a touchdown catch since the season opener.

Then there’s the rebuilt receiving corps. Anquan Boldin and Crabtree have been backed up by Stevie Johnson, Brandon Lloyd, Bruce Ellington, Quinton Patton and Kassim Osgood. Boldin is 103 yards shy of becoming the first 49ers receiver to have consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since Terrell Owens (2002-03). Crabtree hasn’t had a 100-yard game, and Johnson hasn’t had a reception in two of the past three games.

Rice said they need a “fast, young guy” to stretch the field and give Kaepernick another deep threat beside Davis.

Boldin did earn rave reviews from Rice for his physical, fiery, tough-catch ability. Added Rice: “I don’t know if he’ll put up the numbers to get in the Hall of Fame. But I love him as a football player.”

As for Crabtree, Rice said: “He has got to get going. He’ll have to develop and be more explosive. When the ball is not where it should be, make the difficult catches, make those look easy and make the quarterback look good.”

Kaepernick’s line has been far from good in five career starts (NFC championship included) against the Seahawks: 77 of 146 for 820 yards, with three touchdowns, nine interceptions and two lost fumbles.

“Their defense is great,” Kaepernick said. “They do a lot of things well. And it’s always good competition out there. You have to be able to rise to those occasions.”

For more on the 49ers, see Cam Inman’s Hot Read blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/CamInman.