"Solving the riddle of Vernon Davis."
It's a quote from a story Matt Miaocco put up today. It focuses on how the Pack are likely to deal with Vernon, and it moans about how he isn't getting as many touches as he used to.

I have another quote, this one from Vernon, that's been playing over and over again in my head:

"They took away my routes."


I get stuck on that one because I've never heard a big time, star receiver say something like that. And to make it worse... he's said it twice.

Vernon's done a lot to change the opinion I had of him early in his career. When he arrived... I thought drafting him was a major reach... I thought he was an immature jerk... I didn't think much of him as a blocker... and I sure didn't think much of him as a receiver.

But he has grown up... he has become a team leader... he has become a stout inline blocker... and as a receiver -- if he's not a natural, he's worked like a dog to become a competent receiver.

But again... "They took away my routes"???? This is your 7th year as a starter!!! Are they taking away your favorite routes? Run a different route. Are they focused on three or four particular routes? Use it against them. Set it up to look like one route, and break it off! Talk to your QB! Practice something else! DBs work hard to take away all receiver's routes... but the good ones don't allow it!

Beyond the obvious... Jerry Rice never said anything like that -- Jeez-Oh! J.J. Stokes never said anything like that.

I like Kaepernick's response to the worried questions from the media about Vernon not getting as many catches as he used to. "I throw to the guy who's open."

Just like Joe did. Just like Brees does, and Rodgers does. Having a "favorite" receiver isn't necessarily a good thing.

If defenses want to put their best guys on, or double team guys like Vernon Davis and Randy Moss... I'm all for Kaepernick helping Mike Crabtree have his "break-out" season as a receiver.

And if they start doubling Crabtree? I'll bet Vernon gets a few more passes thrown his way.

But that complaint... that, "They took my routes away" thing has me wondering again about just how valuable Vernon is to the team.