49ers audible: 3 QBs in race
O'Sullivan competes with Smith and Hill
By Daniel Brown
Mercury News
Article Launched: 08/01/2008 01:34:03 AM PDT


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From right, San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks, Alex Smith (11), Shaun Hill (13),... ( Paul Sakuma )«1»
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A week into the 49ers' quarterback debate, the team is no closer to an answer.

In fact, part of Thursday was spent clarifying the question.

Is this a two-man race or three?

J.T. O'Sullivan took all of the snaps with the starting offense for the second consecutive day. O'Sullivan - and not top contender Alex Smith - again stepped in to replace Shaun Hill, who was ordered to rest his weary throwing shoulder.

Asked if the opportunity is a chance for O'Sullivan to get back in the race for the starting job, Coach Mike Nolan objected to the question.

"J.T. has been in it," Nolan responded. "He's not back in it. He's been in it."

That came as a surprise since O'Sullivan's playing time had been scant at best during the first five days of practice. Hill and Smith alternated between the first and second units; O'Sullivan didn't take a single 11-on-11 snap.

Adding to the fuzziness is that on the opening day of camp last week Nolan answered a question about the quarterback candidates by saying, "I'm pulling for both of them."

A follow-up question asked if it was a two-man battle.

"I think it's fair to say that, but J.T. O'Sullivan has to stay ready," Nolan said. "But from a repetition standpoint, there's no way of getting around that two guys are going to take more of the reps."

With Hill's shoulder soreness knocking him out of action, the 49ers found a way to look behind Door No. 3.

O'Sullivan stepped into team


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drills Thursday and completed 8 of 10 passes while demonstrating a feel for Mike Martz's offensive system. (The former UC-Davis star was paired with Martz while with the Detroit Lions last season.)
O'Sullivan played down the hubbub over his practice time.

"To me, the competition doesn't change how I approach any situation," the six-year veteran said. "It's about me getting better, me preparing as hard as I can and performing when my opportunity comes."

This opportunity came abruptly. For the purposes of training camp, the 49ers carefully divvied up repetitions for Smith and Hill as a way of making sure each player got equal time with the first team.

Hill's time off happened to come on the days he was scheduled to operate as the starter.

So why not just have Smith, the former No. 1 draft pick, step in with the first unit?

"We're doing it in a fashion that keeps it fair," Nolan said. "If (O'Sullivan) is going to replace somebody's reps, he'll take those reps."

Nolan said he was unsure when Hill could resume a full workload, but the quarterback sounded confident that he would be back soon. Hill described his shoulder fatigue as "normal" soreness for this time of training camp.

"The coaches know it's a little tired and they felt like I needed a rest," Hill said. "So that's what we did. Looks like we'll be ready to go now."

Nolan has been accused of a callous attitude toward injuries, but he gave no hint that the sore shoulder would count against Hill in the final evaluation. The coach said practice, preseason production and history would be key factors.

"As I said in the spring and I'll continue to say it, it is a battle between three guys," Nolan said. "Again, J.T. O'Sullivan still has less reps, but he had an opportunity to get some, so he got them.

"But this quarterback position is open. They're competing for it, as I said all along."




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Contact Daniel Brown at dbrown@mercurynews.com

• http://www.mercurynews.com/sportsheadlines/ci_10065236

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