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What They're Saying: San Francisco 49ers

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The Washington Redskins (3-7) on Sunday travel to Santa Clara, Calif., where they'll take on the San Francisco 49ers (6-4) in Week 12 action at Levi's Stadium.

This week, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Colin Kaepernick spoke to the Washington, D.C., media via conference call about the upcoming matchup with the Redskins.


San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh: On if quarterback Robert Griffin III looks like a different quarterback now than in 2012:
"No, no. I've always had great admiration for Robert's talent, his execution, his effort – tough guy. He's good in so many areas. I continue to see those things on the tapes that I'm watching now."

On the similarities between Griffin III and 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick:
"I never like to compare two players or two teams or really two anything. Whenever you start comparing, somebody or something always gets diminished."

A look back at some of the top images in games played between the Washington Redskina and San Francisco 49ers.

On teaching athletically gifted quarterbacks to become better pocket passers:
"Colin's extremely gifted, extremely talented throwing from the pocket and throwing on the run out of the pocket, as is Robert Griffin – extremely talented throwing from the pocket, extremely talented throwing when he's outside the pocket. Those are very good attributes."

On the difficulty in training a quarterback with legs to pass instead of run in certain situations:
"I don't have the entire quarterback coaching list in front of me. Right now we're focused on today's practice and our expectations are very high for that – to have a great day of work today."

On what he believes he can take advantage of in the Redskins' defense:
"We're still looking there in that area very closely and it's difficult. It's a Top 10 defense and we will do our best to try to find out what plays will work."

On the return of linebacker Aldon Smith:
"It's good. Aldon has been with the team. He's been working out, practice, lifting weights – err, not practice – meetings, workouts, etc., so he's been around the facility but the joy of being out at practice with the teammates playing football, that's recognizable. I can see that on his face and his eyes. He's having fun doing that. That's been great."

On calling plays that keep the quarterback safe:
"We really don't want to go into [that] in terms of what we do schematically, how much we attempt to run the quarterback or the running back or what intentions we would have with receivers, etc. That would be terrific information if we could get that from our opponent. Hopefully you understand and have patience with understanding with why we wouldn't talk about those kinds of things."

On how much more cognizant he has become of the beating a mobile quarterback can take after watching Kaepernick play over the last four seasons:
"I don't know how cognizant."

On linebacker Chris Borland and, historically, what linebacker he embodies:
"I don't know. That's a great question. What I do know is that anybody who's watching football right now – whether they're other football players or coaches or just fans – anybody that's watching the game of football and has watched Chris play, they've got to be saying, 'Who the heck is that guy?' He's doing a fabulous job. He's playing at a very high level."

On what he remembers from last year's matchup with the Redskins:
"A lot of things."


San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick: On how well his transition to becoming more of a pocket passer has been:
"I think it's something I can constantly improve on. It's always a work in progress."

On why it's a work in progress and on what he can improve:
"Everything, there is never – I don't think there's ever been a quarterback to play a perfect game so you can always improve."

On if it is tough because you game reps can't be simulated in practice:
"No, it's just you're always working, always trying to get better."

On comparisons between him and Robert Griffin III:
"I haven't really watched him too much."

On why the read option is important to him:
"I mean, all that is up to the coaches. I just run the plays that are called."

On much it helps to be in the same system for four years:
"Very."

On what the biggest challenge is to being a consistently dynamic quarterback:
"I mean, once again, it's always a work in progress. Just try and constantly get better."

On speaking to the media:
"To me, I answer the questions that are asked. Everything else isn't my job."

On how much he needs to protect himself as a quarterback:
"It's very important. You're not much good to you team if you're on the sidelines."

On the challenges in becoming more comfortable playing from the pocket:
"Once again it's a constant work in progress, something you just have to do."

On the Redskins' defense:
"They are a very good defense, very multiple defense. We're going to have to be able to attack them a lot of different ways."

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