Posted By: pa-ninerfan (12/08/2008 4:52:30 PM)
Comment: I have to come out and say it...I was "rollin' with nolan" when he was hired, a new fresh face for the franchise. He does truly know how to judge character and build a team. His greatest flaw, however, is that he is so paranoid of what people think that he cant seem to give a straight answer...EVER! All of this "speaking in tongue" bs and beating around the bush for fear of saying something he doesnt want to, only makes him appear even more hapless than the shortcomings of his team. Yes, JTO has a better command of the offense (One might say that comes from playing second fiddle for a year and learning by watching a veteran) anyway, this QB smokescreen or whatever the heck it is is simply wearing down loyal fans who are already growing tired from years of futility. I'm not ready to give up on nolan yet, nor am I throwing in the towel on alex, but alex has had to learn 4 systems in 4 years while nolans coaching job is annually whatever he wants it to be. With that being said, I am giving alex a longer leash to improve at his craft, but nolan is zip tied to a post and is merely a couple losses from being shown the door. McCloughan should have remained in his position with nolan being hired as gm. Then they could have hired a competent head coach who knows how to strategize and make decisions during the course of a game. Nolan is a good guy who just seems to be in over his head. It was a stand up move to shelter singletary by not promoting him to defensive coordinator "before he was ready" but the cruel fact is that he may have only succeeded in keeping his eventual replacement from leaving the team. If nolan isnt at least.500 thru 6 games(modest, I think...) It may be time for a change...but that is just the opinion of a disgruntled loyal fan.

Posted By: walt (12/08/2008 3:14:52 PM)
Comment: Well someone has to be the leader I guess seeing how Nolan has been totally unable to lead his team anywhere but to the bottom pile...

Posted By: Phil (12/08/2008 2:14:54 PM)
Comment: FIRE NOLAN NOW!!!!!!

Posted By: Joe Montana (12/08/2008 12:51:22 PM)
Comment: Frank, how long does it take to "learn" how to throw on target to a moving receiver? If he can't do it after all the years he has been a QB, what make you think he has a chance to learn? The guy has no feel for the game. Yes, JTO had a couple of bad plays, but he looks a lot better out there than Smith. Smith is who he is at this point. Even though he is supposedly fast, he has no escapability. He can make decent throws to stationary guys. Get him on the run or make him throw a timing route-- forget it.

Posted By: P'Nelly (12/08/2008 12:33:07 PM)
Comment: Nolan says JTO is the leader...that means Alex will start. They are testing Alex, to see if he can dig down and fight. Martz ain't no dummy, his next HC gig depends on this. C'mon Alex, jam it down Nolan's throat...Go Niners!

Posted By: DC9er (12/08/2008 12:31:08 PM)
Comment: Toby, Okay, I'll own that, I was rushing and just went down the list on NFL.com. I won't lie. You're right, he didn't go over 300 yards. With a high completion percentage though, that's by design. There's a point where the QB does what he's told, and he's been held back. I'll be more careful next time. Can you find any stats on attempted downfield passing? If I recall, it was primarily dink and dunk stuff. This might have something to do with the yardage, and the TDs

Posted By: Frank (12/08/2008 12:26:49 PM)
Comment: Wow, most of the comments are pure hysteria. Most of us have 10%, at most, of the facts. And yet people are unbelievably comfortable making dire predictions and announcing motives. I am a Smith supporter, but I think it is clear he has not won the job outright. His tendency to throw late and behind the receiver is enough to keep him on the bench. Working with the #2 O gives him ample opportunity (ie, large # of reps) to learn and improve his timing and to begin leading the receiver. If and when that happ[ens he becomes the #1. Right now, by the slimest of margins, JTO is ahead as his timing is better and he leads the receivers. At this point we can all hope he calms down and stops with the desparate decisions. Without those, he clearly outplays Smith in the last game. The job is there for the taking - for all of them, actually, but paticularly for Smith. I am disappointed to learn he is still underthrowing and throwing behind receivers. If he cures that he will make at least an adequate NFL QB. If he doesn't, he won't.

Posted By: Toby (12/08/2008 12:20:01 PM)
Comment: DC9er - If you are going to put things down and pass them off as stats, at least get them right. You have your weeks all jacked up (they played the Raiders in week 5 at home, not on the road in week 9; you say week 10 was the Eagles, NO, week 10 was on the road in Detroit). It's hard to take you serious when your facts are wrong. And while you are correct with his TD numbers in those handful of games, why don't you also point out that he never passed for 300 yards, only accounted for 2 or more touchdowns in 4 of the games that season (which means in 12 games he put up 1 or 0 TDs)

Posted By: Chuck (12/08/2008 12:13:57 PM)
Comment: hey matt has anyone tried to interview Martz about the QB's? You never get a chance to interview him? Plus I read that Bruce spoke wonders of Alex Smith in some article, forgot which one, anyone know anything about that?

Posted By: oneniner (12/08/2008 12:09:30 PM)
Comment: this has to be the funniest page ever on instant 49ers....indiana jim - "This would be enough to piss off GHANDI!"....ha ha ha ha.....yu guys are killinn me...

Posted By: Moses (12/08/2008 12:07:59 PM)
Comment: JTO the starter? I'm thinking 5-11 with a full house-cleaning this off-season with the outside chance that if we finish with a Top-10 or better defense that Manusky gets an interview.

Posted By: IL Giacomo The Great (12/08/2008 12:07:40 PM)
Comment: At least JT has heart...that's more than I can say for the other 2. If our defense can keep us close in most games and JT doesn't have too many turnovers we could actually eke out some wins this year and end up close to .500.

Posted By: oneniner (12/08/2008 12:07:17 PM)
Comment: jed...there has to be more....u left out "moore" and cody pickket....lol...lol

Posted By: DC9er (12/08/2008 12:07:11 PM)
Comment: Matt, Has Smith had anything to say about this? Has he looked frustrated, or upset? I'm not usually a big fan of loud-mouthed players, but I think the team might benefit from him stepping up and saying something.

Posted By: http:// (12/08/2008 12:06:56 PM)
Comment: Jed..lol, your cracking me up. Somebody should google Nolan's e-mail address & you should send that to him.

Posted By: Chico John (12/08/2008 12:05:13 PM)
Comment: Matt: This morning there were two articles I read by other 49er writers who both said yesterday was the worst offensive practice they have ever seen. The day I went to Santa Clara the second week of practice,I watched a pathetic offensive display. The game Friday night did not surprise one bit. We need a quarter back that has the ability to make plays. Mike Nolan is incompetent when it comes to them. The Alex Smith fiasco last year and playing Trent Dilfer when he sucked proved that game after losing games. There are quarterbacks available right now, Culpepper, Griese, etc., so trade Smith now: Minnesota and the Falcons need someone. Smith will never be successful under Nolan. I don't look forward to another dismal season with maybe 6 wins tops, we need new leadership, the 49ers are very soft under Nolan.

Posted By: Nolan_Is_Not_the_Decider (12/08/2008 12:04:24 PM)
Comment: WAIT. Nolan isn't making this decision, he's going along with Martz who loves JTO as his QB (even if he hasn't told KNBR or Matt or you and even if the whole Bay Area idolizes A.Smith, he doesn't care). Martz knows that if the offense performs, A.Smith will be forgotten. That's why he is Mad Mike. Look at Warner, Bulger and Kitna, they were all rejects he made into all stars. Fans are fickle (case in point: The truth is that Montana, Garcia, TO and Peterson were written off as soon as they were left). What has A.Smith done for you? Nothing, and guess what, if the Niners win with JTO, Smith will be forgotten within weeks.

Posted By: Eddie D. (12/08/2008 12:03:11 PM)
Comment: JTO-hhhhNOOOOOoooooo...Strap on your seatbelts ladies and not so gentlemen, we are in for a LONG ROLLER COASTER RIDE...HOLMGREN SAVE US!!!

Posted By: FloridaFan (12/08/2008 12:02:56 PM)
Comment: At least our defense, on paper, is much improved and we can look forward to rooting for them. At this rate, they will also have to score most of our points. It looks like our defense and special teams will outscore our offense this year. Matt, once a starting quarterback is named, do you think we will have a preseason game with all of our starters (Bruce, Johnson, Gore) playing at least one quarter together or are we just going to wait to the Arizona game to see if all of this mess of an offense actually works together?

Posted By: Chuck (12/08/2008 12:00:47 PM)
Comment: what was looking like a potentially good season is now looking like another CRAP season after all this QB "competition" O'Sullivan (guy doesn't deserve his own nickname intial) is good with timing but under stress, apparently he freaks out. Smith did the better out of the 3 QB's yet Nolan doesn't like him because of timing issues, which to any person with common sense, comes with repetition! Everyday the season looks like a disappoint even more. P.S. - i'll eat my words if O'Sullivan is lights out during season..

Posted By: 4th and 49ers (12/08/2008 11:57:22 AM)
Comment: It doesn't matter who the QB will be, he's got no one to throw to. We'll be seeing alot of 4th and 49ers

Posted By: Gopal (12/08/2008 11:55:36 AM)
Comment: Did the 9ers ever consider signing Byron Leftwich?

Posted By: DC9er (12/08/2008 11:53:45 AM)
Comment: week 9 2006 at oakland rating: 120.5 3 tds week 10 at the Eagles 84.8 1 td and 293 yards, 60% completion ratio week 11 at the Chargers92.7 64 percent completion and two tds week 12 at the Seahawks 104.2 66 percent completion, 3 Tds. JTO will never post numbers like that, and they're not even that good! That was the first year for Smith in that System BTW. wait, how about every one of the seven wins in 2006. He won those games. They lost when Gore led the team in attempts. They won when alex got scoring opportunities. It's just that Nolan is a wimp.

Posted By: ancientniner (12/08/2008 11:42:02 AM)
Comment: I keep hearing @ the Seattle game. Does anyone have first-half stats? I don't remember a single game where Smith had four good quarters. And this business about JTO being a career backup? Unlike politics, this is a game of merit. The QB is the most important position. Play bad, as we saw all last year, and no matter how good your defense, you'll lose to mediocre teams. Nolan chosing his QB based on politics? Come on, if the QB were equal, maybe, but if he repeats 2007 he'll never head coach again, except maybe Div II.

Posted By: Jed (12/08/2008 11:40:49 AM)
Comment: Plenty more. Sept. 07: Jonas is my capt. Dec. 07: Jonas is a cancer. Sept. 06: Gore is our short yardage guy. Oct. 06: Robinson is our guy, Gore fumbles too much. Nov. 06: Gore is our guy. Nov. 06: Baas is backup center, not a guard. Dec. 06: Wragge is backup center, Baas is a guard. Oct. 07: no team offered ENOUGH for Kwame Harris. Feb. 08: Kwame walked for nothing. Sept. 07: we think Brandon Williams will take the next step. Oct. 07: Williams cut, Beer Man Lewis signed. Dec. 06: Fields stuffs the hole. Feb. 07: Aubrayo Franklin fills a need. Nov and Dec. 07: Fields plays ahead of Franklin.

Posted By: Jake (12/08/2008 11:39:49 AM)
Comment: Matt, How long before the players are fed up with Erickson, I mean Nolan???

Posted By: Dallas Fan (12/08/2008 11:39:35 AM)
Comment: really stupid decision. But what do you expect from Nolan who has no clue about offense. Nolan has really ruined Alex Smith. I just hope Alex can get an opportunity some where else. But I am afraid Nolan has ruined him for good. Nolan is more concerned about his ego and not the good of the team. It will ultimately cost him his jopb.

Posted By: vince (12/08/2008 11:38:36 AM)
Comment: JTO is the leader alright... in turnovers! he couldn't even over take John Kitna last year...yeah the Kitna who played for the bengals and seahawks, a career 76 rating who had 20 ints. with 18 touchdowns. Smith is going to have a hard time trying to look good the next few games throwing to Ortiz??? and zeigler?? and handing the ball of to Keasey...poor kid doesn't have a chance. I give JTO 2-3 games before he self destructs and Smith comes in. Hopefully though he has some confidence left. Nolan definitely would score a 2 on the wonderlic test.

Posted By: MonsterLove (12/08/2008 11:34:47 AM)
Comment: Matt, how long before Nolan is fed up with Woods, I mean Lelie.............

Posted By: DC9er (12/08/2008 11:31:32 AM)
Comment: um... no. JTO is playing with the first team. These players are going to get better results than the 2nd team. JTO threw 3 picks. In his second year in the system. If A. Smith threw three picks in a practice in his SECOND YEAR in a system, people would be calling for his head, and rightfully so. Anyone who calls this competition fair is out of their minds. Alex Smith did better in the Preseason Game. He has had similar stats in practice as JTO. With less than half the experience, with the second team. These are the facts you JTO and Nolan supporters are ignoring.

Posted By: Paul (12/08/2008 11:28:57 AM)
Comment: Matt, From what I have seen none of the quarterbacks have put it all together yet. Smith holds the ball too long and throws behind his receivers a lot. Do you think that once he learns the offense better that those issues will straighten themselves out. It shoudln't come as a surprise that JTO is ahead of the other two QB's since he already has a year in the Martz system. The bigger question is will the other two catch up to JTO at some point?

Posted By: Cadlestickbob (12/08/2008 11:28:03 AM)
Comment: I think Nolan is saying what he has to say to get through camp. Obviously the fall of Smith is newsworthy, and Nolan might just be trying to soften the story and his reputation. On the other hand anyone of our QBs will have to start for the niners this season. What is clear is that Nolan is tired of the QB situation and his inconstant reports are telling of the inconstant performance at QB. Nolan is in a bind , and regardless of the vast improvements he has made in the defense and through drafts, he is on borrowed time as a head coach. If the offense improves this season Martz gets all the credit, if the defense performs as intended Manusky or Singletary will reap the credit. Nolan is done, cause hey what has he done for us lately.

Posted By: Go Green (12/08/2008 11:24:58 AM)
Comment: Before someone jumps off a bridge, listen to the interview. Nolan is very very Non-committal to JT and stated as such. The beat reporters (Yes, you Matt) have seized the opportunity to pick out select quotes and turn the team into a soap opera all in the name of Blog hits.

Posted By: oneniner (12/08/2008 11:20:21 AM)
Comment: BOI49er - " this looks like an election in a communist country.".....ha ha ha ha......you guys are killing me with yur comments....keep it coming

Posted By: SFJay (12/08/2008 11:18:48 AM)
Comment: I have already posted this under a previous topic but I want to keep highlighting who our "starting" QB really is. O'Sullivan has never been anything more than a #3 QB in his 6 year career. He has been with 9 teams (4 were on the practice squad) not including his stints in Europe. Even with Martz last year he was #3 behind Kitna and Orlovsky. His career stats are 13 of 26 for 148 yds with 1 TD, 2 INT, 3 sacks and 1 fumble lost providing an outstanding QB rating of 48.2. So he spent one year with Martz as the #3 after being shuffled all over the NFL and now he is all of a sudden qualified to take the reins? Sorry but I am not buying it. This is a joke and if this is Martz' doing then he needs to pull his head out of his arse and quit living in the glory days of his short success with the Rams. You only get a Kurt Warner once in your career, I feel like he is trying to make another Kurt story come true. Martz has been riding off that success since those days has yet to regain anything near that. This whole QB "controversy" is an absolute joke and we are going to be in for a long year if O'Sullivan is the best option we have at QB, or at least the option who gets the job. I still think we should sink or swim one last year with Smith. The thing that really gets me in all of this is that we are even in this position that our QB situation is such a mess that a guy like O'Sullivan is our "best" option.

Posted By: SF_Dan (12/08/2008 11:18:17 AM)
Comment: LOL. This whole string of posts is making me laugh. All the fans with blinders on - JTO threw a pick in a preseason game. Get over it. He's outplaying Smith every day. Smith three FIVE freaking picks yesterday. Nolan and Martz and everyone who reports on the team are not idiots - they all say the same thing. JTO is WINNING THIS JOB

Posted By: BOI49er (12/08/2008 11:15:14 AM)
Comment: No one can complain about a competition. This is football. But it's not a competition if it's not fair, and this looks like an election in a communist country. If a new unattached offensive minded head coach were to take over, say Fossil, what do you suppose the chances are he'd start JT over AS? Nill? I've been a fan since my father used to take me to Kesar Stadium in 1961, and I've never rooted against the 9ers. Now I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better for them to lose in the hope Nolan goes before we lose Smith before he ever gets a chance with coaching and a stable offense, and an environment not so hate filled. This young man does not deserve this, and neither do we.

Posted By: Eddie D. (12/08/2008 11:14:09 AM)
Comment: Nolan ryhmes with NO WIN

Posted By: whinners4life (12/08/2008 11:13:35 AM)
Comment: McCloughan already has a master plan, right Matt? Here's what 9er management and media can not talk about - Nolan will be fire at the end of the season, McCloughan already has his next coach picked out --- Holmgren. It will be McCloughan, Holmgren, and Martz. The defense will be set, the offense will finally put it in gear. Unfortunately, we have to wait 1 more year.

Posted By: papa (12/08/2008 11:13:09 AM)
Comment: Good for Nolan and the rest of the staff. When you had the worst offense in the NFL (and maybe of all time) last year it's time to take drastic measures. Be patient, Martz will fix this messed up offense.

Posted By: DC9er (12/08/2008 11:12:59 AM)
Comment: Dean, it was not out of context. Have you listened to what Nolans says in the past? He never EVER says what he means. The proof is in the pudding. JTO gets the first teams snaps, and I mean all of them. He's already picked JTO. If he comes out and says that, all hell breaks loose. Because JTO sucks. and everyone knows it, Saints, Packers, Vikings, Patriots, Panthers, Lions. You mean Nolan is right, and they were all wrong? Sorry. Our team is gonna blow as long as Nolan runs it. The only context you need for Nolan is this "Assume he's talking out of both sides of his mouth"

Posted By: I <3 BJs (12/08/2008 11:11:36 AM)
Comment: I forgot what I was gonna say.

Posted By: Indiana Jim (12/08/2008 11:09:41 AM)
Comment: This may be a grand scheme to awaken the sleeping giant of Alex Smith's ego and confidence. The only way to respond to this crap is to SHOW IT on the field. He did better than the other two against the Radiers, and with every other snap in a game scenario he has to play the best football of his life. This would be enough to piss off GHANDI! Is Nolan smart enough to make a scheme like this? No. But Martz is.

Posted By: dfsh (12/08/2008 11:09:22 AM)
Comment: coach sullivan stinks!!!!!!! if we got rid of him we would have a offense if we had a offense we would have a team

Posted By: Dean_Idiot (12/08/2008 11:08:31 AM)
Comment: In defense of Matt, the quotes are aren't of context, just the only thing that Nolan said that was not clearly political posturing. The thing with Nolan is that he gives good lip treatment to everyone, but his actions speak louder than his words. For example, Nolan will never say that Hill is no. 3 b/c he had a camp arm. Nolan will never say that Smith is no. 2 b/c his lack of confidence in him to lead the team. So Dean get a life.

Posted By: oneniner (12/08/2008 11:08:16 AM)
Comment: good stuff...lmao...Jed...really enjoyed that....I am sure you are missing some more.

Posted By: itsmechris (12/08/2008 11:07:25 AM)
Comment: So is this whole mess really a facade to dump Smith and get rid of that big contract?

Posted By: Jenkins (12/08/2008 11:07:24 AM)
Comment: Isn't that a bummer for beat writers, Matt? When you cover the team day in and day out, and then Nolan spills his guts to the morning show.

Posted By: Jed (12/08/2008 10:58:52 AM)
Comment: Nolan in Aug. 05: Alex gives us the best chance to win. Sept. 05: Rattay starts. Oct. 05: Rattay trade. Oct. 07: Hostler is doing great. Nov. 07: Tollner is a consultant. Oct. 07: Dilfer gives us the best chance to win. Dec. 07: guess Shaun Hill should have had more reps in camp. Feb. 08: Shaun will compete with Alex. Aug. 08: Shaun who? Jan. 07: Brandon Moore deserves a contract. Sept. 07: Derek Smith is my guy. Dec. 07: maybe Derek lost a step. Aug. 08: Moore cut. Jan. 07: Moran Norris deserves a contract. Nov. 07: Moran who? Aug. 07: Taylor Jacobs had a strong camp. Oct. 07: Gilmore returns, Jacobs cut. Apr. 07: Darrell Jackson will be our top WR. Apr. 08: Jackson released. Don't get too comfortable, JT. "[Dick Nolan] was no lightweight . . . And yet his son is a @#$%& dunce."

Posted By: oneniner (12/08/2008 10:57:59 AM)
Comment: Scotty/Yorks would fire Nolan before they cut A.Smith......too much money for sum other team to reap the benefit

Posted By: Jake (12/08/2008 10:57:48 AM)
Comment: Matt, Why was Alex Smith even brought back? Why pay him the roster bonus?? More than likely he is going to be cut before the season now, this makes no sense. This is why the 49ers are and have been the laughing stock of the NFL since 2003. Has there ever been a BIGGER FALL from the TOP than the San Francisco 49ers??? Nebraska Football??? Rome????

Posted By: niner (12/08/2008 10:56:50 AM)
Comment: Please Eddie take over the team again.

Posted By: oneniner (12/08/2008 10:55:46 AM)
Comment: Obviously A. Smith has a lot of fans in ninerland.......If O'Sully messes up once in the next game, niner fans will Boooo him....this is going to be fun.

Posted By: Rich, DE (12/08/2008 10:54:31 AM)
Comment: "At this point"

Posted By: Pat (12/08/2008 10:53:09 AM)
Comment: Matt, do you have a feel who you think the players want to start? It was always said that if Nolan went with a guy that the players didn't think was right, that it would undermine Nolan.

Posted By: steve (12/08/2008 10:51:30 AM)
Comment: nolan is an idito. First he puts the competition in favor of Hill, Simth beats him so he trys JTO. JTO sucks so he doesn't give smith a chance to score...hmmm I have lost all faith in Nolan

Posted By: nick (12/08/2008 10:51:27 AM)
Comment: nolan always lies and contradicts himself

Posted By: Dean (12/08/2008 10:49:59 AM)
Comment: Matt, I have listened twice to the Nolan interview and wonder if you keep a straight face when you write your blog? Nolan was very complimentry of Alex and gives JTO the nod only because of his familiarity of the system, nothing new. In addition he says Martz, Tollner, McCloughan and himself are all on the same page when it comes to the position, scoop the KNBR Morning Show and go behind the scenes. I enjoy your writing but expect better of your blog than just out of context quotes.

Posted By: sro_pet (12/08/2008 10:48:57 AM)
Comment: Might this be a blessing in disguise for Smith? Looking at the sched, no matter which QB starts, people will be clamoring for his head after a losing first half of the season.

Posted By: Will (12/08/2008 10:47:14 AM)
Comment: Interrogative: (I've been watching "Generation Kill") I know this is deep future speculation, but what do you think the chances are of Alex Smith out-lasting Nolan with the Niners? I'm not anti-Nolan at all, but the thought of not giving our #1 pick and big $$ young QB a shot at running the new offense has me hurting. If this doesn't work out, could Nolan be gone at the end of this year and Alex get a shot in a new regime? Please check your crystal ball...

Posted By: oneniner (12/08/2008 10:46:55 AM)
Comment: i heard the rams are about to cut Trent Green.....

Posted By: Goal-Line-Stand (12/08/2008 10:45:39 AM)
Comment: Why do people sound all hurt and surprised that JTO is going to be the starter? Martz brought him here from Detroit specifically becuz he knows the offense. Alex will be 'the guy' at some point this season, but he is non-functional in this system right now. So why would you start him? I think it makes a lot of sense to kick-off the season with a QB who knows the system, while Alex gradually picks it up. Everybody should just CHILL.

Posted By: oneniner (12/08/2008 10:45:38 AM)
Comment: superdave - is 100% accurate .....at least we know who is starting QB....now to wait till game 4, when Alex would be back starting, and nolan will look stupid as usual......Coach Nolan is a total moron if he thinks O'sully is gonna win games.....i dont care how much of the martz offense he knows, the guy is a career back-up....i cant believe Nolan is going to end his coaching career like this.......i guess desperate times call for desperate measures

Posted By: DC9er (12/08/2008 10:45:23 AM)
Comment: Smith had the only third down conversions in the 1st half of the preseason game on Friday. He was also the only QB to take care of the ball. He drove them down the field, and got them within scoring range, and was thwarted by play calling. Change two play calls and Alex Smith is our Hero. He is our clear choice for number one QB, and this whole charade is over. . JTO might look better, but after a year in the system, he doesn't look THAT much better. I've never disliked a coach as much as Nolan.

Posted By: Jeff (12/08/2008 10:45:12 AM)
Comment: I'm all for JTO over Smith. Its a lot easier to teach JTO not to make bonehead mistake than to teach Smith how to throw a pass.

Posted By: http:// (12/08/2008 10:32:35 AM)
Comment: If Parcell's was VP Football Ops here or even a beat reporter he would have walked up to Nolan a long time ago & b**** slapped him a loooong time ago. We're so tired of this ridiculous talking in circles. Just give a damn straight answer for once would ya??!! Nolan, you really can't assume that people are that stupid..c'mon dude, get real.

Posted By: Who Cares (12/08/2008 10:32:10 AM)
Comment: What convinces everyone that Alex can get the job done?

Posted By: 5Niner (12/08/2008 10:17:32 AM)
Comment: Didn't they pay Alex the option bonus this March to keep him this year? Now you're going to sit him, that can't sit well with the Yorks. Or am I offbase and Smith was going to get that money anyway (ie guaranteed). Hopefully Smith is not cut before the season and has a chance this season to prove Nolan wrong, thus proving Nolan's ignorance and costing him this position. On another note, Gruden will love picking Smith up to be his QB of the future behind Garcia at only 24 years of age. Wow, the rich could get richer and the poor....

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (12/08/2008 10:15:20 AM)
Comment: How can you tell Nolan is lying? (his lips are moving). He hasn't made a decision yet, don't parse his words. He has, like always, left wiggle room. He has just said JTO is in the lead for the starting position. That gives him enough room to go to Hill or Smith when JTO tries to throw back across the field fading away into double coverage...oh wait, he already did that. He really isn't being fair with the rep division, though, treating JTO as the starter. Any QB for the 9ers should act like they are on the hot seat. Nolan is going to have happy feet and yank them at any given time. Watch. JTO out, Alex in. Alex out, JTO in. Hill in, JTO out. It's the Nolan 2-step. Martz justs wants consistancy.

Posted By: Billy (12/08/2008 10:14:55 AM)
Comment: George Bush ran the Rangers better than York/Nolan run the 49ers! That's saying alot!

Posted By: dude-fremont (12/08/2008 10:09:45 AM)
Comment: I don't really care who the QB is as long as he puts the ball in the end zone, and win games. If that's J.T.O then so be it. Hey he might end up being the next Warner or Bolger we don't know. Alex Smith has shown little. He has had 2 good games. He plays scared. so if J.T.O is the guy we as Niner fans need to get behind this guy.

Posted By: Matthew Crandall (12/08/2008 10:08:03 AM)
Comment: Damn you all to Hell Mike Nolan!!! give me Smith or give me death!!!!

Posted By: http:// (12/08/2008 10:06:06 AM)
Comment: superdave- Go back and read the Pressdemo archives, AS said all along he was fine, he was young and made a mistake, Nolan's mistake was not to regognize it and pull him. Try to move on....

Posted By: Andrew from Rishikesh (12/08/2008 10:05:11 AM)
Comment: Hi Matt, Does Nolan think he's fooling anyone with this charade. Smiths' salary for next year will be 9.625 million. There is no way he gets it. I think they cut ties soon. And the interior defense looks soft once again. Maybe the Ravens have a 3rd or 4th stringer to plug in.

Posted By: Aaron (12/08/2008 10:03:45 AM)
Comment: Matt, you've talked in the past about how you have a job to do and the players/coaches have a job to do and sometimes those two jobs are in conflict with each other. In the case of this QB competition does it get frustrating the way it has been handled from a media standpoint? On the one hand you and Bee Rows and others are keeping track of who is leading the first team, and with there being a wide discrepancy you asked about it. "Oh no, nothing to see here, move along move along." When less than 24 hours later Nolan goes on the radio and says "JTO is the leader" does it make you pull of the road and let out a scream or something? Do you take that at all personally? Obviously he didn't have a problem saying anything, he just didn't necessarily want to tell you (or Lynch, or Brown, or Bee Rows, etc).

Posted By: http:// (12/08/2008 10:02:29 AM)
Comment: Sell Yorks NOW - You have to become the majority share holder of the team in order to sell it, save your pennies!

Posted By: Coop (12/08/2008 9:58:49 AM)
Comment: Matt, do you thank God that you cover a team with a head coach like Nolan? The guy should have been a politician the way he has mastered the art of flip-flopping. If it is a QB competition (as we've been told for 6 months), then give every guy an equal chance in practice and preseason gametime.

Posted By: superdave (12/08/2008 9:55:15 AM)
Comment: I am a season ticket holder since 1989. I have never been so disheartened and sickened by what I am witnessing. Alex is being punished for standing up to coach Nolan when Alex was foolishly thrown under the bus by the coach, and with his teammates afraid to back him for fear of being

Posted By: heymatt (12/08/2008 9:54:48 AM)
Comment: Matt, does it seem as if Alex Smith is just NOT picking up the offense as quickly as we all hoped? I think everyone expected it would take him and even Hill some time to pick up Martz's complex offense, but was there some sort of ultimatum he was given by Nolan? I can't see how Nolan/Martz could be so shortsighted to put so much stock in JTO, just because he knows the playbooks. We've seen what Smith could do when healthy, and under an OC worth a damn (see SEA games from 2 seasons ago), but instead they want to put their weight behind a career bench QB?

Posted By: Sell Yorks NOW (12/08/2008 9:54:44 AM)
Comment: How do we get this team sold ASAP. MoWinlan should have been fired last year. This decision just shows Barlow was right Nolan is a Nazi...Kind of like Bush just stay the course and if you disagree I will have you fired,

Posted By: PT Barnum (12/08/2008 9:54:38 AM)
Comment: Indiana Jim- "You're a clown!" :-)

Posted By: Dean (12/08/2008 9:51:40 AM)
Comment: Matt- Isn't it true that JTO was said to be ahead all along due to his prior experience in the Martz system? Slow morning there at 49er HQ?

Posted By: Brad (12/08/2008 9:51:31 AM)
Comment: Fire Nolan.

Posted By: Jason (12/08/2008 9:51:29 AM)
Comment: Bout time Nolan speaks the truth. Though I am not sure it is what I wanted to hear. I re-watched the game last night on NFLN and while neither QB looked great, it was pretty clear the Alex has the better skills and feel for the game. JTO's interception was a joke, even if Foster did break off his route, he was still double covered. JTO had no business throwing that pass. And his fumble was caused by him carrying the ball like a loaf a bread in traffic. And the lateral, if steps up in the pocket there is a clear lane to the first down. Alex was far from perfect. His incompletions were bad throws, but both were made while on the run (one to left), but he showed a much better feel for the pocket and moving away from trouble. Plus his throws to a familiar target (Battle) were spot on. I would think that given work with Hill, Morgan, etc he would be just fine. Oh well, 2-14 here we come!

Posted By: Indiana Jim (12/08/2008 9:51:02 AM)
Comment: Of course it's not like Nolan is saying anything NEW. We knew O'Sullivan was "leading" the competition. Now it's on Alex to do something spectacular in the preseason.

Posted By: roncab (12/08/2008 9:50:07 AM)
Comment: At least a decision is being made. Might not the decision I felt is the right decision. But a decision all together. I hope they let Alex test the market to let him get on another team.

Posted By: Indiana Jim (12/08/2008 9:49:31 AM)
Comment: Na na na na... na na na na... Hey Nolan... goodbye.

Posted By: Samra (12/08/2008 9:48:52 AM)
Comment: Nolan is shooting himself in the foot if he doesn't start Alex Smith this weekend against Aaron Rodgers. It was very logical draft day to draft Aaron Rodgers if he wanted a west coast offense, however he went with his gut feeling and drafted Smith and by not starting Smith this weekend he admits that he is a failure. I would have preferred to have Sean Payton or Mike McCarthy as the head coach.

Posted By: Matt (12/08/2008 9:46:27 AM)
Comment: Is Nolan blind? JT throws a int, makes a loses a fumble and does a lateral thats only been eclipsed by Reggie Bush in the Rose Bowl for stupidity and yet he's the "leader"? What is this guys problem. Smith drives this team down to the goal, faced a good deal of pressure from horrible oline play and shows that he is the better qb and yet Nolan is giving him the shaft. Nolan is screwing this team up. Pure and simple. The guy reads too much into practice and doesn't account for gameday play. Thats why we had to deal with Dilfer for half a season and only a career ending injury got Shaun Hill into the game, even though anyone with common sense knew that there was nothing happening with TD and that they needed to see what they had in the other qbs.

Posted By: heymatt (12/08/2008 9:45:02 AM)
Comment: set sail for fail.

Posted By: Dino (12/08/2008 9:44:53 AM)
Comment: Nolan proved once again that he is in fact a weasel. First, he says don't read anything into the fact that JTO is getting more reps and now he says JTO is in the lead. I actually heard that conversation this morning. Is he not going to give A. Smith a fair shot? BTW didn't J. Hill pull a groin during this time last year as well?

Posted By: DaveInDavis (12/08/2008 9:44:12 AM)
Comment: UGH