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Posted by MadRussky on 2008-08-04 07:30:45
Ninersâ€TM Smith content to wait his turn in QB line
By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
Aug 1, 8:06 pm EDT
Buzz Up PrintSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP)â€"Alex Smith suited up to watch practice Friday. While Shaun Hill and J.T. Oâ€TMSullivan led the 49ers through a workout, the former No. 1 draft selection did a few drills and then stood off to the side, still not sure what role heâ€TMll play when the snaps count.
Yet after three losing seasons, 30 starts and one embarrassingly public blowout with coach Mike Nolan, Smith claims heâ€TMs content to wait his turn while the 49ersâ€TM staff sorts out its unusual three-man quarterback competition.
After seven days of heavy throwing in camp, Smith actually was grateful for a chance to rest his surgically repaired right shoulder. Though Hill and Oâ€TMSullivan got all the action Friday, Smith says heâ€TMs getting plenty of chances under Mike Martz, the fourth offensive coordinator of his career.
â€oeItâ€TMs a ton of fun,” Smith said. â€oeI donâ€TMt know why any quarterback wouldnâ€TMt want to be a part of this. (Iâ€TMm) much more comfortable now than the first few days, thatâ€TMs for sure. … This is the most throwing weâ€TMll do at any time. To blow it out in the first few weeks would be dumb. When your pitch count is that high, itâ€TMs time for a day off.”
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Smith, Hill and Oâ€TMSullivan all have an opportunity to win the starting job, Nolan proclaimed earlier in the summer. He said it again Thursday when he justified his decision to rest Hillâ€TMs weary arm by putting Oâ€TMSullivan to work with the first-stringers, even though Smith and Hill had taken every practice snap to that point in what logically seemed to be a two-man duel.
â€oeFor me, itâ€TMs no different,” Smith said. â€oeIâ€TMm still going to try to take advantage of the reps I get out there. Obviously, there will be a difference with three guys instead of two, as far as the numbers go. Other than that, whether youâ€TMre competing against one or two guys, that really doesnâ€TMt change my mind-set.”
Many NFL teams might consider the Ninersâ€TM three-man competition to be an unconventional arrangement. Most coaches prefer to give their top two quarterbacks most of the practice time, particularly with a new offensive coordinator during the important installation days of training camp.
But Nolan never has been one to bow to convention, particularly in the treatment of his quarterbacks.
â€oeThat was in the plan all along, as far as how to get these guys some rest,” Nolan said. â€oeNaturally, itâ€TMs his turn now. I am confident that we have three quarterbacks we can win with. I feel very good about that, but the competition obviously is still going on.”
Smith and Nolan had a lengthy public disagreement about the state of Smithâ€TMs arm last season, with Smith eventually going public with worries about his own health even while Nolan insisted nothing was wrong with his quarterback. The two clashed again later in the year when Smith lashed out about Nolanâ€TMs locker-room disparagement of his toughness.
Those wounds seem healed now, partly because both men realize they could be gone next year if they canâ€TMt end San Franciscoâ€TMs string of five consecutive losing seasons. When Martz was hired to revive what was the NFLâ€TMs worst offense in both 2005 and 2007, Smith and Nolan both embraced the chance for a fresh start.
Martz hasnâ€TMt passed much of a public judgment on any of his new quarterbacks, but Smith clearly is eager for the chance to play for a proven offensive coach. Smith, a flailing rookie in 2005, had his only respectable NFL season in 2006 under Norv Turner before struggling last year with rookie coordinator Jim Hostler, who was fired.
Smith spends several hours most days in film study, picking up nuances of Martzâ€TMs schemes. He thinks the practice schedules and the heavy throwing workouts are part of an overall test by Martz, who wants to see how his quarterbacks handle an avalanche of new information.
â€oeWhat you realize about this offense is itâ€TMs constantly evolving,” Smith said. â€oeWeâ€TMre always putting new things in, looking to change things and getting better and better. Thereâ€TMs so much detail that goes into this, and Iâ€TMm just getting more and more of it.”
BY, you signed up for another year? You think I should come back?
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- MadRussky 2008-08-04 07:30:45 (64 views)