3 Things We Learned from 49ers OC Curtis Modkins

The San Francisco 49ers offense will have a new look in 2016. Chip Kelly and offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins will be running the show. Modkins met with the media on Thursday in his first official press conference with the 49ers. Here are the most significant notes from the team’s OC.1. There's plenty of collaboration among coachesKelly will call the plays in his up-tempo scheme, but it is sure to be a collaborative effort in the creation of the offense. The head coach has gone on record saying that he wants input from his entire coaching staff, Modkins included. “Chip’s very open-minded. He listens, and my job is to learn what we do and have suggestions and bring things up,” Modkins said. “We want this to be the 49ers offense, not necessarily where he came from or where I come from.” That touches everything from offensive game plans, to which players will fit each role in the system.2. Competition runs deep at offensive line Joe Staley will anchor the 49ers o-line at left tackle for the 10th straight season in 2016. All four other starting spots are up for competition. That includes right tackle, where veteran Erik Pears and second-year lineman Trent Brown are competing along with other players on the line. “I think they both are competing,” Modkins said. “They are not unlike any of the other spots that we have, they are competing. I think both are doing a good job. I think when we get a chance to get into training camp we will have a better idea, but right now both guys are doing a good job.”3. Blaine Gabbert's speed is impressiveGabbert completed 22 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns in Week 16 against the Detroit Lions last season. In particular, the quarterback’s movement in the pocket and speed on a 9-yard run impressed Modkins, who was the Lions offensive coordinator at the time. “I told our guys when we played them last year, I didn’t remember him being that fast and being that athletic, but that’s jumped out definitely,” Modkins said. “He’s been good for us. He’s done a good job. He’s done everything we’ve asked of him. We’re looking forward to seeing that continue and seeing how it shapes out.”4. Thoughts on Colin Kaepernick Kelly and Modkins have both praised Kaepernick’s work ethic in the meeting room as well as the training room in his rehab back to full strength. The quarterback had a trio of offseason surgeries that currently limit his on-field participation to light throwing and mental reps. Even with the progress, Modkins wasn’t ready to put a date on when Kaepernick will be full go once again. “I have no idea. We as coaches, our jobs are to coach who’s out there on the field practicing,” Modkins said. “Whenever they say Colin’s healthy, I’m sure he’ll be there. He’s around us, he’s in the meetings, he’s doing a great job. It’s not up to me when he’s released, so we’ll see.”