49ers' new offensive coordinator Geep Chryst has a lot on his plate

SANTA CLARA - As the 49ers training camp opens, the team’s new offensive coordinator is not about to declare that his playbook is a Bible for instant success and an undefeated season and free beer for the entire upper deck at Levi’s Stadium.

Geep Chryst knows better.

“The thing is, we’re not in a position right now to boast or brag or tell the world what we’re going to do,” Chryst said earlier this week at team headquarters. “We’re not. We have to go to work. And we have to earn the respect of each other and our teammates. And then we’ll go out and try to take care of business.”

By any measure, Chryst will be a significant part of that business. His promotion from 49ers quarterbacks coach to coordinator was not the sexiest headline in a tumultuous offseason. But now the actual football begins. Chryst’s role will come into sharp focus.

He’s a convivial guy who loves talking shop, which fans should enjoy. Chryst’s predecessor, Greg Roman, was an earnest grinder but sometimes gave the impression that he was trying to find the formula for nuclear cold fusion. Chryst has simplified the 49ers’ play calling. He’s a strong believer in team chemistry. He grew up with the game. His dad was a coach at Wisconsin, where young Geep played Wiffle ball and tag inside Camp Randall Stadium. Then he went off to play linebacker at Princeton and earn an Ivy League degree before starting a coaching career that has spanned 22 NFL seasons with five different teams.

This background means that Chryst can converse on lots of subjects. But in Monday’s wide-ranging discussion, the most interesting territory concerned a familiar topic: Colin Kaepernick. The 49ers’ quarterback had Chryst as a position coach for the past four years.

“I’m anxious to see Kap,” he said, “because I think he’s anxious to show people where he’s at and where he can take his game.”

To no one’s shock, Chryst is a Kap fan. In addressing the perception that the quarterback “regressed” last season, Chryst first outlined Kaepernick’s remarkable career progression from rookie backup to meteoric starter who came within seconds of reaching two consecutive Super Bowls in 2012 and 2013.

“And then last year,” Chryst said, “you’re playing with some different sets of challenges. There was more change within the offensive line than he had experienced the last couple of years. How does that affect your production as a quarterback? You’re behind more often in games. How does that affect your production as a quarterback? I cite the fact that we had six touchdowns nullified by penalty. You plug that back into his formula, he really wasn’t ... he didn’t regress off his line as much as perceived. But now you have to deal with, ‘Hey, Kap, what’s up, how come you’re wrong?’??”

It is true that Kaepernick did have his best individual statistical season in 2014. But the offense frequently looked disjointed. The team’s 8-8 record reflected it.

“Which is also a great lesson to learn,” Chryst said, “that you’re only as good as walking off the field in victory.”

So Chryst doesn’t buy the idea that opponents have cracked the Kaepernick code and figured out how to stymie him?

“No,” Chryst said. “Football is a team sport. And I can show examples of where Kap was at a disadvantage because his team wasn’t playing as well as it was around him in other games. But part of the challenge of playing quarterback is to overcome that, rise above that, figure out a way to win with the people that are currently around you.”

Kaepernick must do that fast. The 49ers offense can’t afford another disjointed offensive season, especially out of the gate. The defensive unit’s turnover has been enormous. The offense will have to carry more of a load. Fortunately, some new offensive additions, including wide receiver Torrey Smith and running back Reggie Bush, give Kaepernick a few more toys to play with and enjoy.

“Torrey, when he was with Baltimore, made some beautiful vertical plays,” Chryst said. “We’ve got to figure out a way for Kap to read his body language, to gauge his speed. That’s the fundamental stuff you do in training camp. You want to get to game day and say, ‘Hey, we’ve gotten much better at throwing the deep ball.’ But really it starts fundamentally this week.”

At his various job stops, Chryst has had the opportunity to work with a fascinating array of good and bad quarterbacks: Jake Plummer, Josh McCown, Boomer Esiason, Ryan Leaf, Erik Kramer, Jeff Blake, Alex Smith - and even Jim Harbaugh, in his final seasons with San Diego. How does Kaepernick fit in with those people?

“Well, he’s got a unique skill set,” Chryst said. “If you want a cookie-cutter quarterback, Kap’s not going to be the first one you’ll pull out. But … Kap’s taller. Kap’s just as smart as any of these guys. Kap’s got as strong an arm as any of these guys. Kap’s faster than any of these guys. So you start checking these boxes ...” And?

“He stacks up right there with all those guys,” Chryst said. “Now he just needs the experience -and the optimism that this is his year. This could be his greatest year yet. And what a great thing to think about on the doorstep of training camp. He’s worked hard. And I think that’s exciting for all of us. Because he is motivated to make it his greatest year yet.”

This was not Chryst bragging or boasting, understand. Although it might have been him thinking wishfully. In July, that is permitted. Required, really. Chryst’s offense bears watching. It will be no problem finding people to do that with No. 7 is behind center.