Josh Johnson 49ers

Josh Johnson 49ers, Who will win the battle to be the 49ers’ backup quarterback: Colin Kaepernick or Josh Johnson? Pose the question to Roger Theder and it’s like asking the former Cal head coach and NFL assistant which of his three grown children he loves the most.

A renowned quarterback guru who lives in Orinda, Theder, 72, trained both Kaepernick and Johnson during their high school careers and has since remained in contact. Johnson, an Oakland native, has returned to the Bay Area and worked with Theder in the summers during his four-year NFL career as a backup with the Buccaneers. Theder scripted Kaepernick’s drills at Nevada’s pro day prior to last year’s draft.

So back to the question: Colin or Josh? Not surprisingly, Theder can’t pick a favorite. “I don’t know,” said Theder, Cal’s head coach from 1978-81 who spent four seasons as an assistant with the Colts and Chargers. “They are both very talented. It would be a toss-up for me which guy would be the better quarterback.”

Theder began working with Johnson when the 49ers’ newly signed quarterback was a sophomore at Oakland Technical High School. He was among those who recommended Johnson to Harbaugh when the 49ers coach was in his first year at the University of San Diego.