49ers Notebook: Vernon Davis, Colin Kaepernick need work on chemistry

Immediately after catching six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in Colin Kaepernick's first start on Nov. 19 against Chicago, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis gushed about the young quarterback's play -- even comparing him to New England's Tom Brady.

"Felt like somebody took the handcuffs off me. It was great," Davis said. "It was great just contributing to this offense. Because that's all I want to do. I don't care about the statistics and things like that. I just want to contribute and be a factor in winning ball games."

Four games, four catches and 29 yards receiving later, Davis is singing a different tune.

"(Alex Smith and I) had to build that chemistry that I would be in that spot when I need to be, Davis said. "That's something that me and Kap don't have right now, but we're working on it."

Kaepernick overthrew Davis twice in the 49ers' 41-34 win against New England on Sunday and when reminded of it Tuesday, Davis could only shutter.

"I get chills when I think about it, but we can talk about it," he said. "One thing I learned in the beginning when I first got here, everyone was talking about being on the same page as the quarterback.

"You and Alex Smith, you have to develop that chemistry, that bond. That's something me and Kaepernick don't have right now."

Their inability to get in sync isn't reserved for Sundays. Davis said Kaepernick had been overthrowing him in practice too.

"Every time I walk past Kaep, I'm always reminding him, 'Kap, Kap, take your time on me. I'm not as fast as you think,'" David said. "It's fun. It's interesting, because it's like starting all over again, especially for me."

Davis didn't come across as negative or necessarily frustrated, but as someone giving an honest evaluation of where things stand between him and Kaepernick at this point. He complimented Kaepernick's demeanor in the huddle, especially after the Patriots erased a 28-point deficit to tie the game at 31 in the fourth quarter.

"He had this will-to-win attitude. His demeanor was on another level," Davis said. "His mind was clear. He was ready to win. He was talking. He was getting guys in the huddle. Telling guys to run back and get lined up. He was just a complete champion in that game, and that's what we expect him to be."

While Davis has been noticeably absent as a receiving threat, wide receiver Michael Crabtree's game as elevated with Kaepernick as the starter. Over the last three games, he's been targeted 34 times and has 23 catches for 301 yards during that span.

For him, adjusting to a new quarterback has not been a problem.

"Crab is a pretty good route runner. He's getting open and Kap is finding him," Davis said. "He's been running a lot of slants and quick dump offs. It depends on what your routes are."

Goodwin not worried about center exchanges: San Francisco C Jonathan Goodwinwasn't overly concered about the four fumbled exchanges between him and Kaepernick against New England due to the cold, rainy conditions Sunday.

"I definitely think (the weather) makes it tough," Goodwin said. "You have a slick ball and things like that. I know they were saying there is some video of it, so we'll look at it. Being that I hadn't had any issues with it in good weather, I'm not overly concerned about it. It's something that, of course, I hate that it happened and I'm glad that we recovered."

As Goodwin fielded questions Tuesday, Kaepernick walked by a tried to take the blame.

"Don't ask Goody about it, it was my fault," he said as he walked by.

To which Goodwin responded: "50-50, husband and wife," he said. "Of course, he's the wife."

Follow 49ers reporter Kyle Bonagura on Twitter @CBS49ers and @KyleBonagura.