QB guru tutored 49ers backups Kaepernick, Johnson 49ERS Ex-Cal coach can't pick a favorite

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Who will win the battle to be the 49ers' backup quarterback: Colin Kaepernick or Josh Johnson?

Pose the question to Roger Theder and it's like asking the former Cal head coach and NFL assistant which of his three grown children he loves the most.

A renowned quarterback guru who lives in Orinda, Theder, 72, trained both Kaepernick and Johnson during their high school careers and has since remained in contact. Johnson, an Oakland native, has returned to the Bay Area and worked with Theder in the summers during his four-year NFL career as a backup with the Buccaneers. Theder scripted Kaepernick's drills at Nevada's pro day prior to last year's draft.

So back to the question: Colin or Josh? Not surprisingly, Theder can't pick a favorite.

"I don't know," said Theder, Cal's head coach from 1978-81 who spent four seasons as an assistant with the Colts and Chargers. "They are both very talented. It would be a toss-up for me which guy would be the better quarterback."

Theder began working with Johnson when the 49ers' newly signed quarterback was a sophomore at Oakland Technical High School. He was among those who recommended Johnson to Harbaugh when the 49ers coach was in his first year at the University of San Diego.

Harbaugh has a thing for Theder's quarterbacks: Former Sacramento State quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, a pupil of Theder's, was in San Francisco's training camp last year and was recruited by Harbaugh at USD.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) before an NFL preseason football game against the Oakland Raiders in San Francisco, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) before an NFL preseason football game against the Oakland Raiders in San Francisco, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011. Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close QB guru tutored 49ers backups Kaepernick, Johnson 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

Harbaugh didn't get Bethel-Thompson, but he did get Kaepernick in the second round of last year's draft. Theder began training Kaepernick when he was a freshman at Pitman High in Turlock (Stanislaus County).

Theder says both Kaepernick and Johnson have three prized qualities: intelligence, toughness and arm strength. He gives the nod to Kaepernick when it comes to work ethic. After being drilled by Theder in high school and Harbaugh at USD, Johnson "changed a little bit when he went to Tampa," Theder says.

"I think what Jim is looking for is that work ethic, and I think Josh lost that a little bit at Tampa," Theder said. "He's got it back now because he knows what Harbaugh expects. And Colin's always had that great work ethic. So I think that's going to be the deciding factor as far as which guy is the better quarterback."

Naturally, Theder, like a proud father, is a bit biased when it comes to his guys.

Which one, Johnson or Kaepernick, will win the battle to be the Niners' backup? Theder thinks both are capable of beating out Alex Smith for the starting job.

"I think both of them could, yes," Theder said. "I think they're both very talented - much more talented than Alex. I'm an Alex Smith fan. I just think Colin and Josh are both very, very talented kids."