Vernon Davis: 'I Want to Get Better; I Want to Win'

Twenty-six catches. Two hundred and forty-five yards. Two touchdowns. Nine point four yards per reception.These numbers would be acceptable to any young tight end looking to make an impact in the National Football League. To Vernon Davis? The statistics represent career-low numbers across the board. The San Francisco 49ers tight end experienced a down year in 2014. There's no denying that. So what is the nine-year pro doing to rectifcy the situation? For starters, Davis has put a greater emphasis on the offseason strength and conditioning program. A season ago, Davis skipped the offseason program in search of a new contract. Davis has since tabled such contract distractions. The team's first-round draft pick from 2006 explained his newfound approach to reporters last week. "I’m here this year because I want to get better," Davis said. "I want to win. I want to develop some chemistry amongst my teammates and get to know guys. There are a lot of new guys here and you just never know when this game is over for you."As Davis went on to point out, the sudden retirements of Patrick Willis and Chris Borland helped crystallize what Davis wanted out of the game. "Patrick Willis put everything in perspective for a lot of guys around here with him retiring," Davis said. "That just gave me some insight and it put a good taste in my mouth as far as my approach towards the game and just giving this game all I can give it and taking it one day at a time and give it my best." Davis said he's been running routes with Colin Kaepernick after voluntary workouts. The 49ers tight end was pleased with his quarterback's progress following an offseason in which the fifth-year passer worked with Kurt Warner in Arizona. "He’s just trying to get better, same as me," Davis said. "I’m just trying to get better. Every year that we come back here we want to improve on something. And he’s improving on whatever it is that he wants to improve on." The tight end-quarterback relationship also appears to be growing this offseason. But it goes beyond that. Davis said the positivity is team-wide right now. "The energy around here is fantastic," Davis said. "Guys don’t want to leave. I mean I’m here. I’m still here. Normally I’d be out of here, but I just feel some great energy and working with the guys has just been great. Just being back here, it’s been a little while since we’ve all been together. I’m just having a great time here just learning as much as I possibly can from the new staff and just taking it all in and just enjoying it."