Posted By: Nevyn (01/08/2008 12:34:27 PM)
Comment: I can't imagine Ashley Lelie making the team this year anymore. Starting him outside the top 3 on the depth chart already indicated how much (little) Martz was determined to use him as a weapon, and the fact that he isn't even out there competing during this crucial time has to make him completely expendable. 4th, 5th, (6th) are receiver positions for young up and comers, not veterans who can't crack the top 3 and miss camp.

Posted By: Indiana Jim (01/08/2008 12:33:21 PM)
Comment: Drew, you make a very good point. What you say about Hill could also be true, and putting O'Sullivan in there gives Alex a chance to see what it's supposed to look like, maybe.

Posted By: favoritesun (01/08/2008 12:19:40 PM)
Comment: playoffdrought is totally right (see his comments below). Also, does anyone else see a mid-season Nolan firing with Martz replacing him? I'm not totally sold on Martz either, but I'd rather take a guy who's audacious and "coaches to win" as opposed to a coach (Nolan) who coaches to "not lose."

Posted By: Rosss (01/08/2008 12:17:14 PM)
Comment: this is getting ridiculous.

Posted By: Eddie D. (01/08/2008 12:16:07 PM)
Comment: Nolam is the master of the FLIP FLOP! Remember when he came to SF guns blazin, Talkin bout WIN THE WEST! Now he says lets take it one baby step at a time...he should have flip floped that attitude and started with baby steps, leading to Win the West NOW! Remember when he chose Hostler as OC and how he made it sound like such a smart and logical move?? Listen to him now! Don't get me wrong, I have supported Nolan since day 1 (kind of...flip flop), and he was the right man for the job 3 years ago. He and McNasty have done their job, and cleaned house leaving little dirty work to the next guy (MArtz), but Nolam will NEVER take this team to the promised land. He is a mediocre coach at best, running a mediocre at best football team...Thanks Nolan, You don't have to go home, but you got to get the f- outta here!

Posted By: dave in boise (01/08/2008 12:16:04 PM)
Comment: All this speculation and it's only been a week. This is a clear indication that the fans have lost faith in Nolan. I can only hope the team has not followed this line of thinking as well.

Posted By: drew (01/08/2008 11:57:53 AM)
Comment: I agree with Randy that Martz is the person who is parsing out the QB reps. According to the reports, Hill said it was Martz who pulled him out because his arm appeared fatigued as it was not hurting and he hadn't asked out. There is no evidence that Martz is not completely in control of the offense so far in camp. I suspect that Hill is displeased and concerned because, he suspects and I agree (as Beerows suggested last night), that Martz' pulling him aside and inserting O'Sullivan means Martz is materially displeased with Hill's progress and is now privately evaluating Smith and O'Sullivan as likely the top two. Consistent with bringing O'Sullivan in and Martz' prior comments about him. Frankly, I see this as progress and the beginning of the real sorting of the QB depth chart. Finally, I think it is important in the locker room for Smith to win this job, if at all, on the field and not look like he was favored and the competition false. I suspect that is the reason for Nolan's "flip flopping" on a 2 or 3 man competition. Oddly this year, Nolan is seeking to protect the team's view of Smith rather than "undermine" it. Smith will win, if at all, without any appearance of favoritism.

Posted By: Nick (01/08/2008 11:56:17 AM)
Comment: Fire Nolan now! He's an arrogant idiot.

Posted By: Phil B. Castaic Ca. (01/08/2008 11:45:07 AM)
Comment: Just another bone head move by Nolan,but what no one is saying is after this year is, if we do good then Mike Martz will move on and then we start all over again, or we have a bad season we will get a new head coach and start looking for a new QB as well.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (01/08/2008 11:35:58 AM)
Comment: As weird as it sounds, this makes sense. Smith is the only guy who should be taking rest periods,as he is coming off surgery. Nolan is going to F this up as well in the next press conference. I am no longer watching the Bachelor, I am waiting for the next time Nolan opens his mouth

Posted By: Chris in SLC (01/08/2008 11:32:05 AM)
Comment: What the F!?!?!?

Posted By: Indiana Jim (01/08/2008 11:26:59 AM)
Comment: GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!

Posted By: johnP (01/08/2008 11:19:49 AM)
Comment: "In a make or break year for Nolan, Alex, etc, do you really think Nolan would be that stupid to override Martz's decision?" Stupid people do stupid things. That's the definition of stupidity. The answer to your question is: Yes.

Posted By: Eddie D. (01/08/2008 11:13:15 AM)
Comment: Martz took this job knowing it offered the best opportunity to become a HC, and possibly resurrect our franchise, and his career/legacy...Who better than to follow in the footsteps of the GREAT BW...He's another Offensive Guru who thinks outside the box to make plays. He's already admitted to wanting to be a HC again. He's been masterminding this from Day 1. And, bottomline is we can't afford to install another offensive scheme next year. I am a 49er FAITHFUL, but IMO, realistically our offense this season will be inconsistent, while showing flashes of brilliance. We'll be lucky to go 8-8, and there will be many reasons to point the finger at our Dictator, Nolan

Posted By: PDX Mike (01/08/2008 11:07:45 AM)
Comment: In his quest to be fair to the QB's, Nolan is not being fair to the team. A mediocre QB that is prepared is better than a good QB that is unprepared. Unfortunately, it looks like we will get three mediocre QB's that are unprepared because of this competition. That only hurts the team ability to win. Think of the team coach; this QB fiasco is hurting everyone.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (01/08/2008 10:50:07 AM)
Comment: Eddie D.- Sure. Nolan has admitted he lacks expertise in offense and Martz is the guru here. In a make or break year for Nolan, Alex, etc, do you really think Nolan would be that stupid to override Martz's decision? I can tell you this- If Martz disagreed with this, we would have heard about it already. Martz is probably the one pushing for JTO, while Nolan is the spokesperson here... Simple really...

Posted By: Dirk (01/08/2008 10:49:23 AM)
Comment: If Nolan is digging his own grave Martz cannot help but become the next HC. No need for him to mastermind anything.

Posted By: Eddie D. (01/08/2008 10:38:53 AM)
Comment: Randy - Don't get it twisted...Nolan makes the decisions, do you really beleive that he would defer to Martz or Sullivan? Did Napoleon defer to his assistants? Fact is Nolan is digging his own grave, and Martz is masterminding his promotion to head coach. 'Nuff said!

Posted By: JeffM (01/08/2008 10:30:20 AM)
Comment: I look forward to the comments from the coach saying that the 3 man QB competition has always been in full swing, etc, etc

Posted By: Glenn in UK (01/08/2008 10:27:20 AM)
Comment: Thanks for the continuous updates, Matt. Although I do wonder how my fellow 49ers fans manage to read something different than what is written by you. "There is some thought this morning that Alex Smith might get some rest today" hardly says it is fact - and the question mark on the title emphasises that. I am one of those that still hopes Smith comes through, because I don't want people to be able to say our #1 pick was a bust - but ultimately, I want the best QB on our books playing when the season starts, and winning games. Whatever process is necessary to get to that point.

Posted By: kem99 (01/08/2008 10:22:36 AM)
Comment: If Alex's shoulder/arm is bothering him coming off the surgery, then fine, let him sit out a practice. That is not what this sounds like, though. This sounds like part of the "plan"(?) to get JTO more reps while remaining "fair" to Hill. Afterall, if Hill had to sit out a day and a half, guess its only fair that Smith should have to sit out a day and a half. This sounds to me that after a week of admittedly ragged play by the offense, Nolan is hitting the panic button to see if JTO might be a better immediate option. I think he knows if he does not win early, he's toast even if they are better at the end of the year. Nolan is essentially willing to sacrifice Smith's greater potential (which he may not end up being around to see) in hopes of eeking out an extra 13-10 win early in the season. I guess what they say is true...if you have 2 (or 3) starting QBs, you really have none.

Posted By: AF (01/08/2008 10:22:01 AM)
Comment: Randy in SR, I think most of here certainly think that Singletary DOES indeed know more than Nolan about running both a team and an offense. Just compare how and where they both learned the trade, that will tell you all you need to know. And he certainly can't know less, that is for sure!

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (01/08/2008 10:16:04 AM)
Comment: mv49ers- Who said Nolan made the decision? How do we know it wasn't Martz and Tollner wanting to give more reps to O'Sullivan? You think Singletary knows anything more about offense than Nolan, let alone how to run a team? LOL! It's not even preseason yet! http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/uploads/ disney-chicken-little-sky-falling.jpg

Posted By: mv49ers (01/08/2008 10:07:44 AM)
Comment: This is such a stupid move by nolan taking away the reps from our STARTER! Nolan is stubborn he doesn't want to give the job to alex because everyone is expecting him to take the job anyway. Martz is offense is hard enough and he still has the luxury of giving our third stringer reps with the first team!! i was a nolan supporter last year but now i can't stand him! HE NEEDS TO GO! SINGLETARY AS OUR INTERIM COACH!!!

Posted By: Pete in New hampshire (01/08/2008 10:06:24 AM)
Comment: The angst level of many of my fellow fans here about the qb situation and the silly coach almost matches my own, but it's just the first week.

Posted By: twoz (01/08/2008 9:51:13 AM)
Comment: If anyone needs a rest its Alex. Did Hill or O'Sullivan have shoulder surgery in the off-season? No. Hill needs rest because he's not used to throwing so much, but he's a QB, he should be used to it. My guess is that its all just a ploy to get O'Sullivan some looks just so everyone can be sure he ISN'T in the running.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (01/08/2008 9:47:33 AM)
Comment: This has Martz written all over it (although the whiners will blame Nolan). He's realized that Alex Smith has no confidence in himself, no leadership abilities and is non-functional while trying to learn this offense. I won't be surprised if O'Sullivan becomes our starter. He has experience in Martz's system, looks decent and at least shows some command of the huddle. Plus, the team wants to win now and O'Sullivan probably gives us the best chance to do that (At least this year).

Posted By: Jonas Ymir Jonasson (01/08/2008 9:45:20 AM)
Comment: I totally agree with playoffdrought in is comments

Posted By: Jonas Ymir Jonasson (01/08/2008 9:43:59 AM)
Comment: Let Alex rest, this is getting strange, why would they wanna rest Alex. I just don ´t understand Nolan anymore

Posted By: playoffdrought (01/08/2008 9:43:45 AM)
Comment: This is O'Sullivan's 8th NFL team...8th!!! Does Nolan really think he discovered the next great grocery-bagging QB MVP!!! You put Alex Smith in there and give the guy a freaking chance to learn this complex offense!!! You sink or swim with Alex, plain and simple. Hill and O'Sullivan are career backup's for a reason. I feel sorry for Alex that he got drafted by such a career-killing coach - the poor guy has never had a chance to become an NFL QB. Aaron Rodgers should thank his lucky stars he ended up in GBay instead of SF. This offense is going to be a mess again this year.

Posted By: AF (01/08/2008 9:42:48 AM)
Comment: Why would Smith need rest??? Is his shoulder sore? Or is this just more games by Nolan?

Posted By: Willy Wonka (01/08/2008 9:39:37 AM)
Comment: Hurry up and fire nolan he would be great to run my umpa loompa football team

Posted By: heymatt (01/08/2008 9:28:39 AM)
Comment: the circus continues

Posted By: sanman49er (01/08/2008 9:28:13 AM)
Comment: First