The San Francisco 49ers leading receiver this season has been Jeremy Kerley, acquired via trade from the Detroit Lions. He has 26 receptions for 304 yards and two touchdowns, and has been targeted twice as many times as the next closest receiver (46 to Torrey Smith’s 23).
The 49ers are now set to make a quarterback switch, and it is entirely unpredictable whose numbers will benefit and whose will suffer with Colin Kaepernick at the helm. It is possible the deep game looks a little better, but we don’t really know what to expect. Kerley did say he’s ready for Kap’s fastball, offering some amusing comments on that.
The receiver also talked about his time with Rex Ryan in New Jersey. Ryan had said Kerley didn’t like returning punts, but Kerley clarified the difference in that (not transcribed here). Kerley said the punt return scheme sent more people at the punter to try and block punt, leaving less blockers for the returner. Kerley said things are more balanced with the 49ers return game.
On time with Jets and learning about Rex Ryan defense:
Yea a little bit. I think for the most part, Rex, he’s a pressure guy. He always wants to bring something at you, especially when you’ve got a young quarterback, or you just transitioned from a quarterback, he always wants to eat you up. I think now there’s something different, he’s got a lot of guys walking around, linemen on the defense. He’s got different players now, he has quicker, dynamic guys. It should be fun, I can’t wait for it.
On if blitzing means he’ll be a hot receiver:
Yea, yea, something like that. I think though, every time they blitz, we looking to hurt them too. So it’s like, as much as they want to blitz, we’ll keep going at them.
On adjustment between quarterbacks:
Nothing, still catch the ball. That’s it, no adjustment.
On reaction to QB change:
It has nothing to do with me. My job is to catch the ball, like their job is to throw the ball. I don’t care where Blaine put it at, I don’t care where Kap put it at. I’m gonna catch it, that’s what I’m paid to do.
On importance of chemistry between QB and slot receiver:
I think a lot, but being that guy, being in an offense like this where you have an option to do this or do that, you gotta make the right decision, and you gotta gain separation. That’s what guys get paid to do, gain separation to catch the ball. I think Kap has a lot of arm strength, as Blaine did too, so when we gain separation, they’ll do a good job getting the ball to us, and getting the ball to us fast.
On needing to work extra with Kap to gain chemistry:
Nah, not really. I think the good thing about Kap and Blaine is, they always in here, they always talking to you, constantly, constantly. If anything is kinda fishy out there on the field, they’ll get you out to practice, or get to you right then to try and get it hashed out.
On dealing with harder Kap throws:
Nah, man, I’m country. I got country hands, I ain’t worried about that.
On how he toughened them up:
I done broke every finger. So if he breaks one, hopefully it breaks it back in place, the right way. I ain’t worried about it.
On how he broke his fingers:
Doing all kinds of stuff. I jammed every finger, broke every finger. I think Donte Whitner, 2012, broke my finger here, when he played for the 49ers. So I owe him one, yea. I definitely owe him one.
On throwing ball better than QBs in wildcat and if it’s in 49ers game plan:
Nah, I don’t think that’s in the game plan. I always looked at myself as though I was the third quarterback in New York. Everybody always asked me, do you miss playing quarterback, I say, “Man I’m the third quarterback. I know how to spin that thing still.”
On if he competes with Blake Bell for third game-day QB:
Is that who it is? Yea. I got Blake beat, I ain’t worried about Blake.