When asked about San Francisco's quarterback situation on Monday, Niners head coach Mike Singletary responded: "We've got a ways to go. Alex [Smith] and Shaun [Hill] have to continue to compete, not so much against each other but against the best quarterbacks in the league, because that's what it's going to take to win."I read that as saying that both QBs need to improve between now and the season, but that neither is guaranteed the starting job. Niner insider Kevin Lynch of SFGate.com had a much more definitive take on the declaration.
It's an interesting comment, and may mean that in his mind, the quarterback competition is over and Shaun Hill is his starter. When asked about Alex Smith, Singletary said he thought he was healthy but rusty.Personally, I'm not really sure how you make that leap from what Singletary said. Still, that said, I wouldn't blame Singletary if that was indeed what he thought. Smith has been nothing short of a total bust since being the No. 1 overall pick out of Utah in 2005.
Hill, meanwhile, somehow slipped behind J.T. O'Sullivan on the 49ers' depth chart last season, but eventually earned a place as the team's top signal-caller.
In Hill's eight 2008 starts, San Francisco posted a 5-3 record -- a mark that really should have been one game better. For the season, Hill threw for more than 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns, against just eight interceptions. They're not Kurt Warner numbers, but they're certainly respectable.
With O'Sullivan (and former offensive coordinator Mike Martz) out of the picture, San Francisco selected Ball State quarterback Nate Davis in April's draft. Even under the best of circumstances, though, Davis is probably a couple years away from starting, leaving San Francisco to choose between Hill, off a solid 2008, and Smith, off a year on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
Whether or not we all pick out a hidden meaning in Singletary's answer, the logic behind believing Hill was start in Week 1 of 2009 is sound. At the moment, he seems to be the best QB option on San Francisco's roster.
h/t: Rotoworld
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-19-2009 @ 6:34AM
buddzkmk420 said...
I've been a 49ers fan for over 20 years, and to be honest I think Shaun Hill is a great fit. Considering the fact that we drafted Glen Coffee and also have Frank Gore, I believe we'll be a more primarily running team however with the addition of Michael Crabtree the air will be an option as well. What we need is not a big arm or big playmaking QB, we need a QB who simply does not make mistakes, and Shaun proved that last year.
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5-19-2009 @ 1:09PM
ladubbz45 said...
49ers for life!
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6-13-2009 @ 8:11AM
The Dad said...
It's unfair to call Alex a "total bust", considering he spent his time on the field getting pounded into the ground by every defense he faced. If there had been any pretense of an offensive line to work with, his career may have been entirely different.
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7-12-2009 @ 9:31AM
sonsofwalsh said...
Niners fan for more than 29 years, so it shames me to see us in this current predicament. Considering the ovrall talent level that we are used to enjoying...from Owner/GM/Coaches/Players/Offensive Scheme, it is a crying shame that we are essentially debating who is the better of the "bottom of the pile" QB's on our current roster. Unfortunately Alex Smith has to be labeled a bust, and I am quite certain that the regime that drafted Smith would have derailed Aaron Rodgers career as well had we drafted him (we should have traded out of that damn spot!). Shaun Hill is a journeyman (and no Rich Gannon) so his upside is limited (severely), but it seems we have no choice but to go with him, for the sake of consistency at the position. Alex easily is more skilled physically, but since losing Norv Tuner as OC his confidence is shot....but I hope he proves me wrong. I will forever be a WCO offense disciple, so it hurts even more that we've adopted the digit system for the sake of simplification, but with what we have at the QB position (and an old school coach) we really have no choice.
Damn Mark Sanchez...we should have sold the farm to get you.
Hire Gruden as OC!!
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7-17-2009 @ 3:27AM
claytor said...
Well, when you look at it, Hills numbers projected over a full 16 game season wouldve been over 4,000 yds, 26 tds, to 16 ints.
Thats pretty respectable, Rodgers like numbers, so there you have it.
Another thing i find funny...Hills working with the same talent Smith did, yet has quite a bit more success....and yet hes still not a bust?
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