Just when you're ready to write that a quarterback has been off target this spring, he goes and has an excellent practice. That quarterback was Colin Kaepernick, who stood out among the four 49ers passers and had, on the final day of minicamp, by far his best session of the spring (or at least any of the days that were open to the media.)
His top throw, in my opinion, was one to receiver Kyle Williams at the goal line. Going against the first-team defense, all of Kaepernick's targets appeared to be well-covered, including Williams, who was being shadowed by safety Donte Whitner.
But Kaepernick's forte is his arm strength. And he fired the ball over the middle - it went perhaps 20 yards - so quickly that it seemed to surprise Whitner, who probably was in position to knock away another, lesser-armed passer's attempt.
Kaepernick also had a deep pass down the left sideline to undrafted rookie Brian Tyms. The receiver helped make Kaepernick look good by going up and taking the ball away from cornerback Anthony Mosley and safety Mark LeGree, who was trailing on the play.
Perhaps most notable were some of the goal-line throws that Kaepernick threw. The critique this spring is that his passes have lacked touch. But three plays after the throw to Tyms, he hit tight end Konrad Reuland for a goal-line touchdown. Later in the practice, he connected with Vernon Davis on a short touchdown pass at the goal line.
Jim Harbaugh called it a "near-perfect day" for Kaepernick. Harbaugh said the second-year player had one incompletion and that receivers dropped two of his passes during the 2 1/2 -hour session. Kaepernick currently is No. 2 in the 49ers' QB pecking order, although Harbaugh noted that "nothing is set in stone" when training camp rolls around.
Meanwhile, he said that the No. 1 quarterback, Alex Smith, separated himself "even further" from the pack during this week's minicamp.
Odds & Ends
* Harbaugh said 30 players, including cornerback Tramaine Brock, earned perfect attendance this spring. That designation goes to the players who have been on hand for every meeting, lifting session and practice since the offseason program began in April.
• Ted Ginn (lower body) still has not returned to practice, but he was helping to coach some of his understudies during punt-return drills. Those understudies were Kyle Williams, Perrish Cox, A.J. Jenkins and Nathan Palmer.
• Harbaugh said second-round pick LaMichael James, who had to miss OTAs and the minicamp, was expected in today. James will take part in tomorrow's exercises and will be on hand for a three-day rookie minicamp next week, Harbaugh said.
• Harbaugh said he's hopeful that fourth-round pick guard Joe Looney (foot) would be healthy enough to take part in training camp. Looney has yet to take part in a practice. "He's on track; we'll see," Harbaugh said.
• Delanie Walker has missed the last two practices, but Harbaugh said the tight end's situation is not serious. "Delanie's fine," he said. "He's got something he's working through. He'll be fine for camp."
• Harbaugh said he didn't have any vacations planned this summer. However, he is leaving Friday for a week to build houses in Peru. Harbaugh said St. Raymond's Parish in Menlo Park was organizing the outing.
-- Matt Barrows
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