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The unlikely quarterback battle between No. 1 overall draft pick Alex Smith and career journeyman Shaun Hill will be determined early in the 2008 preseason.
49ers coach Mike Nolan says that each man will get extended playing time in the two preseason games, in the hopes of picking one to be the regular-season starter before the third exhibition contest.
It’s unclear whether one will have extended playing time in one of the two games and one will get the extended look in the other, or whether each will play a half of both games. It’s also unclear whether Nolan will leave the starters on the field for more than the customary one or two drives in the first two exhibition games.
The news also means that performance during training camp practices will be a factor in the decision. Apparently, the work of both players during the extensive offseason program has yet to yield a frontrunner.
Still, despite the ugliness that unfolded last year between Nolan and Smith, it’s hard not to think that the guy who was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft has the upper hand, and that Hill would have to significantly outplay Smith in order to get the job.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:33 am
In the few games that Hill played at the end of last year, it looked like he did outplay Smith. Hill could end up being this year’s Derek Anderson. But you have to wonder what Smith could do with some continuity, I think he’s had a different offensive coordinator every year he’s been in the league.
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July 11th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Significantly out play Smith’s career 63.5 quarterback rating?
I dunno…
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July 11th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I can only hope that 49ers have realized that Smith is a bust and they move on quickly. But the optimist in me thinks he could have a good year under Mike Martz until he leaves next offseason and Alex Smith has yet another offensive coordinator.
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July 11th, 2008 at 8:58 am
who cares..
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July 11th, 2008 at 9:09 am
It’s dollars and cents. They are not going to pay a 1st overall pick to ride the pine after this long.
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July 11th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Wow, if the Niners are at a point where they have these two are “battling it out” for the starting QB position, they are in deep doo-doo either way. For heaven’s sake, sign a real QB.
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July 11th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I have to agree with RobJH. Smith has had a new offensive coordinator every year he’s been in the league. The Niners front office needs to stop looking for the quick fix and go for some continuity. The quick fix won’t work. The franchise didn’t decline overnight, and won’t return to glory overnight. Are you listening John York?!
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July 11th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I’d say for the simply fact there is even going to be an open competition between a no-name and the first overall pick a few years ago, the Bust label can officially be applied to Smith at this point. Nolan might as well have said the job is Hill’s.
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July 11th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Hill played a half against a not so good Minnesota defense, a game against the Bengals and their bend but don’t make plays defense, and one half against Tampa’s first stringers, in which SF was down at the half. He went on to beat TB after they fielded their second string defense. This was all after Ted Tollner was hired to help Jim Hostler call plays.
Smith managed to go 2-1 before his injury, despite the debacle that was the Hostler offense (before Tollner was hired). People are quick to forget that he still managed to lead the team in a comeback win in the final minutes against Arizona, despite having Darrel Jackson drop a 40 yard TD pass in the end zone and Arnaz Battle fumbling after Smith threw his second of what would have been a winning TD pass. If either one of those guys hangs on to the ball, 49ers’ fans aren’t calling for his head quite yet. He also kept the drive alive after scrambling for 30 yards on 4th and 1. For some reason, people can only remember Smith playing horribly through two games with a separated throwing shoulder, and they seem to think it wasn’t a big deal. It was a Grade 3 separation!!!
By the way, every report out of Mini Camp and OTAs has said Smith has clearly outperformed the other QBs.
… oh and FailCat, just for you, I looked up the passer ratings for the first 5 years of a Hall of Fame QB’s career:
30.4
59.7
64.1
54.5
55.2
… He was the top overall pick as well.
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July 11th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Mike Nolan’s not sweating because he’s wearing a black suit in 95 degree heat. It’s because his butt is on the hot seat. If he gets this decision wrong, he could easily follow in Dennis Erickson’s footsteps.
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July 11th, 2008 at 11:13 am
If you watched Smith play the only 3 games he was healthy, its obvious he will be the starter. Although Hill won his only two starts, he is clearly the backup due to his limited capabilities.
Smith will have to blow it pretty bad to let Hill get a chance to take snaps.
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July 11th, 2008 at 11:16 am
oh no you did NOT just compare that scrub to Terry Bradshaw.
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July 11th, 2008 at 11:17 am
If Martz can stick around for more than one season as OC, Smith will be the man in this offense. If Martz leaves to become a HC after this season, Alex Smith is in serious trouble.
What Martz is planning, is that the Niners finish 5-11, but the offense ranks in the teens, and the Niners fire Nolan and promote Martz as the HC.
What Martz fails to realize is that there’s another guy, Mike Singletary, that is in line for the HC job too. This team has mess written all over it, in crayon, pencil and ink.
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July 11th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I hope Shaun Hill gets the job. I remember expecting the Bengals to whoop the 49ers, and all of a sudden, Hill is throwing 200 yards, throwing a TD and running for a score. Doing more to help his cause than Smith ever does.
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July 11th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
“oh no you did NOT just compare that scrub to Terry Bradshaw”
No… he compared their QB rating over the first 5 seasons. I’m hoping Smith isn’t done yet…
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July 11th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Looking back at post-SB Marc Trestman/Derek Loville years and what worked and what didn’t, I feel the problems as more the coordinator changes and the ineptitude of Jim Hostler. Norv had everything going in the right direction, then everything hit a brick wall. I have never seen a team so inept on offense with any QB (Kordell, Tony Banks, Quincy Carter, etc.)…and I think most would have to agree that Smith was on an upswing (though still learning) with Turner.
Hill might be the second coming of Brady ;-), but I am more likely to attribute his brief success to Ted Tollner coming on board, for the simple fact that Dilfer was absolutely miserable as well before Tollner. And I do not think Dilfer can be defended behind “Smith got all the practice snaps” excuse. The high regard given to Dilfer since he announced his retirement solidifies my position that it is the offense, not Alex Smith that is the root cause.
Should Nolan be blamed? Sure because he stuck by Hostler, but I also feel Nolan deserves another chance. I do not agree with all people screaming for his head. Erickson and the GM (whose name I have finally forgotton…damn I remembered Donahoe!!) were running this franchise like a joke IMO.
The team is still a mess, but there is some promise on D (losing Manny Lawson early hurt a lot and likely put more pressure on the secondary making Clements look like an overpaid blunder in free agency). Teams in the dumps don’t have depth and all the key pieces need to be in place to help get to the next level. I am praying Martz can turn Vernon Davis, Frank Gore and Isaac Bruce to a point of realizing their potential and getting the offense on track. Of course it’s still Martz and I am afraid of his possible ulterior motives as well and future consequences for Alex and the team’s continuity.
I just wish they sucked a bit less so we had more games on TV and be better informed…but above is my personal take on things.
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July 11th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
E nasty & Rob Jh are right about Smith playing for a different OC every year. That is Nolan’s fault. I beleive Nolan had final say in operations and essentially acted as the team’s gm even though the Niners actually had no official gm until Mcloughan was appointed this past offseason. Mcloughan was the personnel VP, and he still likes Alex. Nolan is the idiot who allowed Micheal McCarthy to walk after the first season to coach Green Bay. Even if you want to give him a pass for not locking up McCarthy for a two or three year deal( which seems like the reasonable move to make when you have a 21 year old rookie franchise #1 overall pick qb with the weight of the franchise on his back) why the hell didn’t Nolan then decide to not cover his bases and get Norv locked in for a minimum of two seasons if he wanted the job. At the time of when Norv signed, he was very susceptible to a contract move like this.
Nolan let two solid OC’s walk and he gave the reigns to a guy that had never called a game on any level as an OC. to make matters worse, Hostler was a defensive coach some 5-7 years prior to this promotion.
Nolan set up Alex for a very impossible situation. On top of that, alex skills sets are more suited for the west coast offense that McCarthy runs any way. The Niners and Nolan basically did every thing wrong with Alex all the way up to Noaln questioning his toughness last year after it was obvious he was hurt.
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July 11th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
nolan hiring Martz as the OC was also a horrible move. Martz needs fast talented and savy receivers to run his offense. all he has is an over the hill Issac Bruce.
Vernon Davis has a hard enough time running one routes. He is now going to be asked to run 100% option/ hot routes where he will be asked to make the read along with the QB at the snap of the ball. Vernon will have to read where the coverage rolls or where the safety is playing, and act accordingly. I think it is safe to say that this is way too much to put on to Vernon’s plate. He is not a “smart” player in any sense of the words.
Bryant Johnson is a hired gun who has shot bebe’s most of his career. Ashley Lelie is garbage. Jason Hill was never even activive last season.
On top of not having the WR core to pull of this offense, the line will be asked to take 70-80% 7 step drops in passing plays. This is a line that already gaave up 50 plus sacks last season, and lost one of their better players in Justin Smiley in UFA to the dolphins.
Martz like to send 4-5 recievers out every time, and his schemes allow players to come free forcing the QB to get rid of the ball or make the defender miss. Sacks will be going up almost for sure.
After Hill gets hit in the spine again, and Smith breaks again. The QB will be JT o’sullivan. He at least knows the offense as it is JT’s 3rd year in the offense under Martz. Hill and Alex are in their 1st season off this complicated offense.
The Niners will be selecting in the top 5 next year for sure.
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July 11th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
dick v: I cannot remember one instance where a coordinator offered a head coaching job gets blocked by either their current head coach or their contract. Even under contract, Nolan would have let them interview and take the big chair. It almost happened with Singletary. I guess it has to be a complement to Nolan that all his coordinators (except Hostler) are getting head coaching consideration. Maybe Nolan is next to be branded “genius”!! HA!
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July 11th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
dick v,
calm down… do you seriously think mccarthy and turner weren’t signed for longer? an nfl head coach cannot keep his assistants from accepting head coaching offers from other teams.
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July 11th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
*****“oh no you did NOT just compare that scrub to Terry Bradshaw”
No… he compared their QB rating over the first 5 seasons. I’m hoping Smith isn’t done yet… *****
Did he take into account that Smith throws about 85% of his passes within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage and that Bradshaw was a downfield passer? Did he consider the fact that compared to Bradshaw’s days, today’s rules put pink chiffon skirts on QBs and WRs?
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July 11th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
pdx niner and big m, assistants can and do get blocked from being head coaches by signing contracts that require them to fufill the whole term. the tampa bay buccaneets do not allow assistants to leave that are Under contract. Lane kiffin tried to lure one of his fathers prodiges away in the offseason and he was made to look foolish. I know that both Al Saunders and Mike mrtz signed contracts that they had to honor with the redskins and lions, respectively, in the 06 offseason.
Nolan is an idiot. York was even a bigger moron for letting him run the team. he is a horrible head coach, and he had no business acting as the gm or head of operations. Mcloughan is in charge now, but Nolan has already ruined their QB.
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July 11th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
big m they were signed for longer, but theyshould have made one prefferably the first one honor the contract. oh well they didn’t . Smith was a bust and the niners are going to be a loosing team for the 6th straight season: four of them under that idiot Nolan. why do you niner fans want to defend nolan. he has proven to be an idoit time and time again
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