San Francisco 49ers training camp update: QB battle continues
Apparently, the San Francisco 49ers impressive 34-6 preseason victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night did little to settle the team’s three-way quarterback battle. J.T. O’Sullivan started for the second time in as many games, but has yet to be named the 49ers’ official signal caller. O’Sullivan will get the nod again on Thursday in Chicago to be followed by Alex Smith and Shaun Hill. As of this week, head coach Mike Nolan maintained that all three quarterbacks remained alive and under consideration to start the opener against Arizona. But, with two preseason games left, O’Sullivan has to be looked upon as the favorite with Smith and Hill on the outside.
49ers Preseason Game Notes:
The 49ers exploded for 34 points to ease the fear of doubters who worried that this team might settle for scoring three points at a time. O’Sullivan played the first half with the first unit and went 8-for-17 for 154 yards and a 59-yard scoring strike to receiver Josh Morgan. The rookie out of Virginia Tech has become a go-to target for O’Sullivan and an unexpected training camp surprise. Morgan had five catches for 114 yards and one touchdown. Except for an interception, O’Sullivan played serviceable and found his passing touch after an errant start.
Smith appeared in the third quarter and went 5-for-12 for 62 yards. He guided the team to 10 points and showed better accuracy this week. Hill played minimally and went 2-for-5 for 21 yards.
San Francisco exhibited a stout defensive attack against Green Bay by collecting six sacks, mainly against quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Ray McDonald, a second-year man from Florida brought pressure early and got to Rodgers twice. Justin Smith, the team’s big defensive free-agent acquisition had a half-sack, while Tully Banta-Cain added two sacks. The 49ers’ strength is in their linebackers and cornerbacks, so a consistent pass rush would take pressure off the team’s backfield.
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The QB Controversy Continues:
While Nolan isn’t ready to announce a starter, the decision could come as soon as after San Francisco’s game against Chicago. With two preseason games to go, O’Sullivan has to be the favorite and probable choice, but Smith might have a slim shot. In a perfect world, Nolan would start Smith, which would validate the team’s decision to draft him with the top pick in 2005 and ease the burden of his hefty contract.
Nolan has stuck with Smith for three seasons only to have that relationship push his coaching career in San Francisco to the brink of extinction. Nolan must win this year. If a journeyman quarterback from UC Davis provides him the best shot, he’ll go in that direction.
In all fairness to Smith, he’ll play under his fourth different offensive coordinator and offensive scheme this year. But, for a player in his fourth year, his errant passes have become inexcusable.
Unfortunately, the 49ers appear to have three quarterback duds, three players for the present, but none for the future. Smith could still factor into the team’s future plans, but his game is rigid and not instinctive and lacks the creativity the great ones seem to have. The knock on Smith when he came out of Utah was that he was a system quarterback. And maybe, during his fantastic junior season he simply ran Urban Meyer’s system to perfection.
One wonders if offensive coordinator Mike Martz ever believed in Smith or Hill and needed O’Sullivan as insurance if his suspicions panned out, which they did. O’Sullivan played under Martz last year in Detroit and from the start has grasped the 49ers’ new system the best.
For now, the 49ers have three possible quarterbacks, though all signs point to O’Sullivan, but with Nolan coaching for his life, don’t count out an audible at the last minute.
49ers Notes:
Running back Frank Gore’s light workload continued against Green Bay. He had six carries for 29 yards and will form nice duo with DeShaun Foster.
With injuries to San Francisco’s main receiving threats, Morgan has stepped up and should receive significant action during the year. The 6th-round selection is a physical player who really goes after the ball. In the 49ers’ first preseason game against Oakland, Morgan caught four passes for 68 yards.
Zak Keasey is in the midst of a fierce battle with Moran Norris to start for the 49ers at fullback. Waived 10 times during his short NFL career, Keasey became a special-teams force with 12 tackles, including four in one game. But, after spending parts of three seasons on practice squads, Keasey is no longer eligible for that role and has to make the roster. If the 49ers choose Keasey, they’ll have a quicker more athletic fullback in the backfield as opposed to Norris’ battering-ram style.
By Jim Bucci
ProFootball-fans.com San Francisco 49ers Correspondent