QB O'Sullivan isn't a starter 'quite yet,' 49ers coach says
By Daniel Brown Mercury News
Article Launched: 08/17/2008 08:00:15 PM PDT


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San Francisco 49ers quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan, #14, throws the ball... (JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO)«1»
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The 49ers' quarterback competition lives on, at least for another day.

Coach Mike Nolan announced Sunday night that there was "no decision yet'' about his starter for the season opener or, for that matter, for Thursday's third exhibition game against the Chicago Bears.

Nolan and his staff spent the day watching game film of the 49ers' 34-6 victory against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday.

J.T. O'Sullivan, the presumed front-runner, threw for 154 yards in one half and led two touchdown drives.

But the game film apparently failed to deliver the final scene of the quarterback saga.

"Not quite yet,'' Nolan said.

Instead, there were more hints • mostly more praise for O'Sullivan.

The quarterback played smarter than he did during the exhibition opener against the Raiders a week earlier, Nolan said. Against the Raiders, O'Sullivan had an interception and a fumble when trying to do too much.

Against the Packers, Nolan noted a few occasions when O'Sullivan resisted the temptation to take a risk.

"When you're competitive, you want to win every down, and that's a good thing,'' Nolan said. "But some downs you have a better chance than others. ... He's the kind of guy that corrects himself."

Alex Smith completed 5 of 12 passes for 62 yards in the third quarter. Shaun Hill was 2 of 5 for 21 yards in the fourth quarter.

O'Sullivan has had the bulk of repetitions with the first-team offense in recent practices


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and has started both exhibition games. That prompted a question Sunday about whether all three quarterback candidates are getting a fair shot.

"I feel good about what we're doing from a repetition standpoint,'' Nolan said.


Rookie wide receiver Josh Morgan continued to push for a starting role with five catches for 114 yards against the Packers, including a 59-yard touchdown pass from O'Sullivan.

Nolan said it's "too premature" to say whether Morgan has surpassed Bryant Johnson, who is sidelined by a hamstring injury, on the depth chart. "There's still a lot of time left,'' he said.


Tony Wragge played well for a second consecutive game at right guard, raising the question of what happens when David Baas (pectoral muscle) returns around the end of this month. "If nothing else, you have to feel good about the depth inside at guard,'' Nolan said.


Right tackle Jonas Jennings might have suffered a broken knuckle, but the X-ray results were unknown.



Newly acquired linebacker Takeo Spikes participated in eight plays. He appeared to blow an assignment on tight end Donald Lee in the end zone, but Nolan said the coverage belonged to the safety and the cornerback.

n Zak Keasey and Moran Norris remain neck and neck in the starting-fullback race, Nolan said.

Contact Daniel Brown at [email protected]

• http://www.mercurynews.com/sportsheadlines/ci_10232475

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