Matt: How did Alex Smith look at practice today? I would imagine he would be a bit rusty ... but am curious to know if his superior arm strength made the offense function better today. Thanks

smith did good in OTA and TC. as a matter of fact, hill and smith both did well, so i wouldn't be surprised at all if he looked good in practice. but it's during "live bullets" that smith faltered.

I, too am curious as to how Smith threw today. More importantly, did you see anyone else getting reps at offensive guard? Our offensive line is just killing us. I'm convinced that the bay area has the 2 worst offensive lines in football. How could our coaches be so mistaken. How can we be physical as an offensive line if we can't block anyone.
My prediction is that with the addition of Crabtree and our lack of success running the ball in the first 5 games, that our philosophy will change a bit. I think we are going to throw a lot more after the bye. We have to make use of the 35 receivers that we have on the roster.
We learned last week what it means to use the element of surprise. Atlanta went away from the run and killed us with the pass. You can't allow a team to study your offense and not change it up some.
The houston game is huge for us and our questioable offensive line!

yea, both qbs were horrendous in the preseason games, not just smith.

and about hill being sore after getting hit all game, that's not going to be something new for him as long as he's camping in the pocket. last year he was wildly successful when there was a breakdown to flush out of the pocket and find bruce or vd in an empty spot. I understand why they might want to keep him in the pocket, but he's getting smacked around like a little kid and won't last the rest of the season at this rate.

I love that vd is getting those big seam routes, but of late, there just isn't enough time for that route to develop anymore. one solution is using vd's impressive blocking skills for pass protection again, not just run blocking. or at the very least, get a chip in before you run the route, the tackles really need the help in a bad way.

if superior arm strength meant anything in today's NFL then Jamarcus Russel would be an MVP....so please...

...get it through your heads...ALEX SMITH SUCKS. He always "looks good in practice". But based on in game performace, he's just lucky to be on an nfl roster. Hill sucks too, but his decision making is what keeps him as the starter.

There are so many Alex Smith haters on this blog that I have to wonder if some of you WANT him to do bad. Do any of you realize what it would do for this franchise if Alex could become "the guy" he was drafted to be?
That's what takes this team to the next level. Sometimes I don't understand why 49er fans root against him, and just me, a lot of you clearly root against him and take pleasure in watching him falter. Its odd. Its in all of our best interest that he doesn't suck and maybe, just maybe, is a late bloomer like half the QB's in the NFL INCLUDING our own Shawn Hill.

I don't hate alex smith, my thing is why settle for mediocrity? why? Alex will never do good as a 49er. He may be a decent backup for another team but he neeeeeds a change of scenery just like we need to move on. He's a 1st pick bust, and it's ok to accept that, i have. Everyone keeps refering to Alex in 06 who was mediocre at best (16 td's 16 ints is mediocre i dont care how you tweek it)....Now are you gonna tell me he's better 3 years later?

Hell no, he's regressed if anything.

I don't hate alex smith, my thing is why settle for mediocrity? why? Alex will never do good as a 49er. He may be a decent backup for another team but he neeeeeds a change of scenery just like we need to move on. He's a 1st pick bust, and it's ok to accept that, i have. Everyone keeps refering to Alex in 06 who was mediocre at best (16 td's 16 ints is mediocre i dont care how you tweek it)....Now are you gonna tell me he's better 3 years later?

Hell no, he's regressed if anything.

I love what Hill has done for us the last few years, he has won games for us which no other QB has done recently … but you can’t argue that Alex Smith is the more physically gifted QB. Hill throws wobbly floaters and cannot throw to the sideline with any zip.

I wonder if teams are finally starting to figure out how to neutralize Hill and make him play to his weaknesses, the deep ball or the deep out route. Smith is not in the same class as JaMarcus Russell, please. Russell has no work ethic and is a true bust, while Smith has gotten a raw deal from the start. I still support Smith and hope that he can succeed one day.

Our future at WR is Crabtree, Morgan, and Brandon Jones in the slot. This could be a formidable WR corps in a few years, but they need a guy who can air it out. As much as I love Shaun Hill, he is not the guy to air it out. Regardless, no QB can succeed until our O-line plays better or gets upgraded via the draft/free agency.

thats the same thing tampa bay fans said about S.Young........

so now you are comparing alex smith to a HOF??????

I don't even know what to say...

I don't think any 49er fan wants Alex Smith to fail...but how many times do we have to go there before we give up on the guy?
I want to like him, I really do...I've met him, and he's a nice guy. But time and again he has disappointed on the field.

Ugh!

He hasn't been on the field in two years so let's not make a judgement until we see him in real action again. Maybe he'll be the same or maybe he'll surprise us. It would have been informative to see him play at the end of the Ram game or the Falcons game when the outcome was already a given.

Oneniner, your right lets compare him to steve young. He needs to go sit behind a "Joe Montana type" for four years before starting so he can become a HOF, since we do not have a HOFer for him to sit and learn behind lets be like TB and trade him to NE or IND for a 2nd and 4th rounder next year. I would love to get that for him. Especially with next years heavy draft class. Doubt anyone would pay it though.

Then the A. Smith saga could be behind us and we could focus on drafting a new potential franchise QB.

We would be absent one A smith and either a "onepatriot" or a "onecolt" if that were to happen.

Ya shaun hill has one....against bad teams or teams that were not good at the time like the jets last year. 2 of his four losses were blowouts...so don't get to excited about the guy...

for real?? you mean his ability to take a sack, or throw to the ground, or even throw out of bounds? oh yeah good point awesome decision making. forgot about all those great traits.

we need a whole organizatioal change where some one comes in a xets up a system and then find players that fit that system...head coaches are measured by the coaches that are around. Why is every one so happy about the team being 3-2. Of the three teams that they beat one was really bad an the other two were not up to their playing potential. I really don't see how this team is any different than the last couple of years. The offensive personal was better than then it is now. So they have regressed as a team. Until they make changes and actually know what they are doing it is not going to change. Offensive philosphy has to change, drafting philoshpy, coaching philosphy, WASTING TIMEOUTS TO TELL PRO PLAYERS THEY NEED TO PLAY BETTER, give me a break!!!!!!!!!!! What an embarrasement to a once smart, progressive franchise.

OH CRAP! Here come the Alex Smith lovers again. Lets try this one last time. Alex Smith looks DYYNOOMITE! in practice. When are you people going tp give up on him? Flat out. HE IS A BUST! Jamarcus russel has superior arm strenght. How is he doing? 49ers540 is the life partner of oneniner. Why dont you two take a hike? Sucks the Raiders arent any good, because Im sure you fairweather fans would jump ship. Shut your pieholes and support or abort your team.

Its simple if you cant complete a 10 yard pass you cant make it in the NFL. Quit hoping on a dream.

That is so true.

"Its simple if you cant complete a 10 yard pass you cant make it in the NFL. Quit hoping on a dream."

So far this year:
Alex Smith 0 passes completed over 10 yds
Shaun Hill 37 passes completed over 10 yds this year!!!

The statistics dont lie. A. Smith is just a dream....

LOL! LOL!! LOL!!! Comparing Alex Smith to Steve Young now! EH!? Why not say Alex Smith to Joe Montana? Or Tom Brady? Or Dan Fouts? Or the Mannings? Both Peyton and Eli? How about Joe Namath? Or Roger Staubach!? LOL!!!
Oh my God! Just say he is Jesus Christ and be done with it!! LOL!!!

All Right! The week isn't even half over and they've got to me!
TOP_CAT? Skeebers? I'm jumpin'ship!
I now believe that the 49ers will NOT win another game! MS doesn't know how to win! He NEVER played on a winning team! He never coached, even assistant coached on a winning team! MS is a loser! I hate he doesn't wear a suit! All his coaching staff should be fired! The whole team disbanded!
Sell the team to Rush Limbaugh! Hire a Joe Thomas relative as GM!
Cut Shaun Hill! Trade Nate Davis! Better yet! Put Davis on the Practice Squad and let some other team have him! Let Alex Smith be the starter, then we can all blame MS when he runs to the sideline 85% of the time and throws the ball out of bounds! Get rid of Justin Smith! He's a loafer anyway! Sell Patrick Willis to Dallas! Give Spikes his walking papers for being so negative about this team! What the hell do we need Gore for? Anybody got an answer?
MS needs to carry just ONE receiver! Petition the NFL to move up next years draft to this weekend! Trade every draft choice for one offensive lineman that can play every position on the line!! At once!!
I've had it you guys! That's it! I'm moving to Detroit to be a winner with the Lions! Or maybe to Oakland to dress up as a Raider fan! And a REAL WINNER!
Oh by the way? Can anyone spare a piece of cheese?

Hi Matt, All this Smith negativity over and over again. The guy had Urban Meyer and Mike Nolan as his coaches, spread offense and no offense respectivly. When he was coached by Norv Turner he began producing and then he was injured for two years. Of course we expected a great deal from the #1 pick but all I say is let's judge him on the field when he gets the chance. Many QBs go through trials and tribulations, Johnny U was cut by the Steelers and played semi-pro until he got another shot. The point is he was given another shot.

Hill has done very well considering he has been sacked 16 times so far. 3rd most in the NFL.

P.manning(2), E.Manning(2), D. Brees(4), T. Brady(5), M. Ryan(2) have been sacked a total of 15 times combined.

See a trend here? Get an O Line that can protect a passer and then you might actually have a QB that can make plays on a regular basis.

Shaun Hill is pretty good at the conservative game management thing. What he absolutely can't do is lead a rally when they're down by two scores or more.

I'd like to see Nate Davis put in the game when they need to abandon ball control and take some chances downfield.

At the very least, Davis should've been put in to give them a chance to get the ball to the end zone during the Hail Mary at the end of the Minnesota game.

OH! Now Smith is Johnny U.!!?

The 49ers are an average team,at best, being coached by a great motivator who may not have a second move. "Snagging" Jimmy Raye was a big tip-off to Singletary's future moves. Their biggest problem is that the guy who's supposed to be in charge (I think) is a GM who's way over his head and has not built anything better than an average team after being in two very important jobs for 5 or 6 years.
The team needs some real NFL experience in the front office. Without it, it will take a miracle for the 49ers to get back to winning a Superbowl.

Yeah because he didn't rally us against the rams last year when we were down by two scores..... That couldn't have been real. There must've been some other underlying factor ....right?

He also didn't come from 2 scores down against the redskins to win last year either..... Just a pipe dream I guess.

Dang he sucks only 2 come from behind when down by 2 scores last year? out of 8 starts only 2 comeback's like that??? Hill sucks!!! Even if he did ONLY HAVE 4 chances last year to come back when down by 2 or more scores he sucks since he could only do it 50% of the time!!!

He also did it against MIN this year. Unfortunately we got farve'd out of that win!!

.....the whole point of drafting a 1st round QB is to invest in the growth of a player...

....A. Smith has shown a huge growth from day 1 to before he got hurt - nobody can dispute this

No matter how much you dont want to face it...

...the TRUTH is ........the talent on the 4-12 team which A.Smith took to 7-9 is way less than what S.hill is playing with.

The fact that our QB can't throw the ball down field to our young dynamic receivers should be driving all of you nuts.....

....J.Morgan calling a deep pass from the Hill a punt - What other proof do you need that the WR's aren't happy

cmon...we finally have WR's and we refuse to them....this is an outrage!!!!

remember this guys....

Brandon Lloyd, Rasheed Marshall, Marcus Maxwell, Jason McAddley, Johnnie Morton, Antonio Bryant, Bryan Gilmore, Taylor Jacobs, Brandon Williams

I don't think any of them is currently starting on any team in the nfl......except A. Bryant

If you were a true Niner fan - you used to love this guys, you used to root for them,......Now you don't disagree they suck.....

You know who made them look good in your eyes, yea, guess who = A.Smith......

Hope Ulbrich can keep his head together (pun). He owns one of the best sports nicknames (Brick) & his photo will always be on the 9ers 10-year wall.

Football is a team sport, folks. Trying to blame the offensive woes on one person is silly. The offensive problems are spread out among OC, OL, WR's and QB.

It is also fascinating to see what a difference one week makes. Last week, the 3-1 49ers and MS were riding relatively high. One putrid humiliating loss later, and they are the pits of the world. I'll reserve judgment on that until after a few more humiliating losses. But I am still hoping I don't have to.

Buck up boys and girls, Rome wasn't built in a day.

LOL! LOL! LOL! Do you work at a Comedy Club? You're HILARIOUS!!
"Smith back to pass! He is running to the right sideline! As he goes out of bounds he throws the ball out of bounds! Fourth down"
"Smith back to pass! Davis is wide open down the middle of the field! Smith's pass is over Davis' head and intercepted again!"
That's about the way it sounds listening to the games Smith has played in since he became the 49ers
#1 FAILURE!

After hearing Quinn is selling his house & could be on the trading block, what are the chances we at least take a look at him? Not that he's guaranteed to be a solid starter, but he's got the physical tools and could only be an upgrade. Especially coupled with the fact it's obvious the Browns aren't overly high on him, and I heard La Canfora say he might be got for a 5th rounder it seems like an option worth exploring at least. Not that a castoff from the Browns would be someone ensured to be a long-term solution, but Edwards did a lot better after getting out of Cleveland....

I don't see either Alex or Shaun as our future QB...I do see Nate Davis, though. The kid has all the tools...size, mobility, strong arm, moxy. He just needs to learn the offense...and if Singletary can avoid throwing him out there like Nolan did with Alex, he'll keep him on the sideline this year. I'd expect Davis to win whatever QB competition takes place next off-season. He's got far too much upside to ignore...and I think he'll be the starter next season. It's also possible they'll sign or draft another QB...meaning Alex may not even be in the equation. I think Hill stays on as a b/u.

Just watched the replay of the game, threw up and decided to post this.
1. Shaun Hill is definitely hearing footsteps.
2. Chilo Richal is now a backup guard.
3.Vernon Davis is afraid to go across the middle where any linebackers are. 4.Vernon Davis could be our new starting guard.
5. Tony Pashos is not the answer at tackle.
6. Mark Roman is never in position to make a play.
7. Patrick Willis is the best linebacker in the NFL, PERIOD!!!!
8. The rest of the back 7 on defense except for Shawnte Spencer and Takeo quit last week.
9. We need to zone block on offense.
10. Shawn Hill is making terrible decisions on his reads.
11. Shawn Hill is not going through his progressions, WHEN HE HAS TIME!
12. Shawn Hill has to give his receivers a chance to make a play on the ball.
13. Glen Coffee really is a rookie!!
14. Where is Charles Haley when you need him!
15. We can't and won't play any worse than we did against Atlanta, again this year. I guarentee it.

to oneniner - "....J.Morgan calling a deep pass from the Hill a punt - What other proof do you need that the WR's aren't happy"

you know what i call that? and what singletary call that? and what most people say to that? morgan should have caught that pass no matter if the ball was spiraling, floating, punted, kicked off, shot-put, lobbed, or shot from a canon. he's paid to make catches. he's a nfl player! the freaking ball landed right into his bread basket, and he's not man enough to own up on it?? what an a-hole to blame someone else when he's the lame-butt that should have caught it! singletary went ballistic when morgan try that excuse. i'm a coach and if any of my players made that kind of excuse, i would bench his lard-butt!

all that shows me is that morgan is immature and need some growing up to do.

Uhhhm once again. It doesn't matter who your coach is or how many o.c. You've had. If you can't throw the ball accurately 10 yards down the field.... You can't make it in the NFL. And the year turner was there he had a pro bowl running back. 1 h.o.f. Qb has a rough begining and you want to hope Alex is going to have the same outcome? Like I said quit hoping on a dream. Hill has one bad game and here you Alex smith fans come. It's this simple no.1 pick gets beat out by a career pine rider. Hmmmm either the forty niners love to waste their investments or Alex just isn't good enough to WIN!!!!

I usually don't stick up for oneniner but ryski, Brekkon & Terry,

You guys are boneheads. All oneniner was saying was that Young & Unitas had similar beginnings to the NFL where they didn't have success early in their careers. So either you guys can't read or can't comprehend the meaning of oneniner's post. Which is it? Bottom line it doesn't matter anyways at this point if the O-line can't block agreed?

Alex Smith may have the better arm strength, but he always looks like a deer in the headlights when the ball is snapped. Given our sad state of an offensive line, I don't think it would be a very smart idea to even think about him standing behind center. What good is better arm strength when all he is going to do is throw it out of bounds?
Personally, I think we should trade him to Dallas for some better looking cheerleaders.

...@F49er - trying to explain to them is like talking to a table....they love twisting my comments...

@jiordan - i give you credit - you are a true niner fan - I can't even force myself to re-watch the game....

F49er, Have you read 1niners past posts? He isnt just saying that. He truly believes Smith is one of those players.

Ok so here is the difference between A. Smith and Steve Young.

Walsh saw youngs potential and traded for him. No one has seen potential in alex smith nor sought a trade.

It really is as simple as this.....

Smith was given a chance in traning camp and preseason to seperate himself from Hill.

Smith did not do that. So this "bad QB" (Hill) as oneniner calls him, out performed or at the very minimum performed as good as A. Smith and oneniner wants alex to be starter?

Actually oneniner has even gone as far saying A. Smith out performed Hill in the preseason and training camp.

Talk about crazy!!! If that were the case he would be starting.

A. Smith was given a chance and failed.... miserably. If he had the right skills he wouldve won outright with no question.

but alex has had like 10 coaches in like 2 years!!! But alex is soooo smart, he graduated in like 1 year!! But Alex made so much progress in 06, he was 7-9!

I'm tired if all these alexecuses....

After first week of exhibition:
Coach Mike Singletary did not announce a leader -- or any preference whatsoever - in the great 49ers Quarterback Competition of 2009. And most impartial onlookers can't say that one quarterback distinguished himself over the other in the exhibition opener Friday night.

After first raiders practice:
Shaun Hill had a better day than Alex Smith, but not enough to make much of a difference in the quarterback competition. It's still tight. This game Saturday will be significant for Smith.

After 2nd raiders practice:
Shaun Hill is showing signs of taking hold of the quarterback position. The offense just seems to move better with Hill at the controls.
In [Matt's] opinion, Hill is starting to inch ahead in the quarterback competition. Perhaps, I'm even downplaying it. Hill might actually be taking a commanding lead based on how he seems more at ease in unfamiliar, unscripted activities - such as these practices against the Raiders.

Prelude to Exhibition game:
I've written in the past several days that Hill has seemingly taken the lead in the quarterback competition. It's an observation that has been supported by team sources with whom I've spoken. But the door has not slammed on Smith.
If Smith plays well tonight against the Raiders, he might extend the competition to the wire. If Hill clearly outplays him, it is possible coach Mike Singletary will make a decision sooner than later

Exhibition #2:
Smith's stats are awful: 3 of 8 for 30 yards and an interception. The throw wasn't great, but Morgan should have caught it.
This is very odd. In the middle of the drive, Shaun Hill takes over at QB. Why not let Alex Smith finish the drive?
Shaun Hill did not do much to stand out, either. He completed 3 of 7 attempts for 20 yards

Decision:
Hill has beaten out Alex Smith for the starting job, coach Mike Singletary announced just moments ago. Hill, 29, will make the first opening-day start of his eight-year NFL career.

Singletary said he, offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye and quarterbacks coach Mike Johnson were in agreement on the decision. Singletary cited Hill's consistency and leadership, as well as his solid play at the end of last season, as the reasons for his decision. At the same time, Singletary said he was very impressed with what he saw from Smith this summer and feels good about having him as the No. 2 quarterback to open the season.

But Hill took began to take a sizable lead in the competition with his play Tuesday and Wednesday against the Raiders during the four joint practices, team sources said.

i'm happy that shaun hill is our starting qb. he has poise, leadership, good field of vision, fast release, overall football smarts. i'm surprise that the niners are even 3-2 with the OL we have. running for his life almost every time the ball is snap, it gets frustrating. i was just reading about aaron rodgers over there with the packers. he leads the league in getting sacked (20 times!) and they only played 4 games! they're 2-2. i consider rodgers a qb that will be great someday. you can tell he's good because even with all these sacks, he still manage to get the team to 2-2. i know the defense is plays a big role too, but we all know the qb has the most responsiblity. he has to guide them to the wins.

same with shaun hill. from the 2 games in 07, to the second half of 08, and the present, hill still manages to keep winning even if he consistently impersonate the road runner. so i'm happy to see him finally get a starting role on the team. i wish him all the luck.

alex smith - i haven't given up on him. i know he had it rough from the very beginning. i wonder how he would be if he had time to sit on a bench like rodgers and slowly progress along. smith was always a winner in high school and college. and i think he can be in the nfl. if ever hill goes down, and smith take over, it could be a resurgence for him. i still don't know if staying on the niners was a good move for him, but all and all, he might come back better and wiser.

Brandon Lloyd, Rasheed Marshall, Marcus Maxwell, Jason McAddley, Johnnie Morton, Antonio Bryant, Bryan Gilmore, Taylor Jacobs, Brandon Williams
You know who made them look good in your eyes, yea, guess who = A.Smith ha ha ha name 1 dynamic reciever on the niners right now. Antonio Bryant is better than anything we have right now. And Lloyd made smith look great with all of his jump, dive circus catches he made because the ball was so poorly thrown he had to leap 10 yards to make them. I have to think oneniner is really Alex smith himself. Do me a favor alex ehm ehm I mean oneniner get out of the # 11 box you live in. Your ehm ehm excuse me again. He's not any good. Bust, bustola, bustiny, buster. Get the point.

Can you say holmgren? I think young York is savy enough to pull that trigger..

Well said brotha. My thoughts as well. They have 8 big tail telling games this year. Arizona twice" I don't think they're gonna fold", the vikes, falcons, colts,bears, packers, eagles. Now so far they are 1-2 should be 2-1 if it wasn't for some crappy taunting call and a miracle. Let's see how the final 5 go. If they can go 4-4 out of those games. Then we might have something special in the making here boys. Unless hill gets hurt and smith takes over the team. Then it's a wrap!

Holmgren's record without Brett Favre?

Average at best.