Posted By: jgwindsor (13/08/2008 11:43:54 AM)
Comment: when martz was first hired he was excited about smith....or is he also a smoke blower? i can't believe he is ready to discard smith so quickly...wouldn't be much of a QB coach in my book....and if he really doesn't think he has a QB that can run his offense (and you have to believe in your heart of hearts he really doesn't think jto is the answer either...meaning he is still has smith as his preferred QB of this group) then why wasn't a young veteran QB brought in that had quicker releases two weeks ago....so in my book if martz is now pyramiding jto then i have to say that martz has really bungled his first assignment. I am just not ready to go down this path just yet...but i will if jto is made #1 because it is clear to me he is not all that. but what do i know....hell with that, i know a lot maybe not so much back in 1976 when i first started rooting for this team.

Posted By: jgwindsor (13/08/2008 11:23:35 AM)
Comment: As a fan, sure i am nervous... I don't mind JTO getting the early reps with first team since basically the 1st team receivers are MIA. I am just wishing that the Oline is really starting to get acclimated to the martz schemes and provide the protection that is always suspect in his schemes. That will be my major focus in the greenbay game. I have read some comments i agree with, both for and against smith. I don't see smith as a leader of men of various backgrounds and this was what i alluded to before when i spoke about a dark and rainy night in austria when i happened to catch smith after the draft on the late night show i think with jay leno. He was very mousy. Also agree he hasn't really had the best of fortune if fact it was lacking. 1st year thrown out on the field with no targets and a number of dropped balls that would have gotten him a 300 yrd game or two as well as 200 yrd games. 2nd year we have to admit he improved....and if that improvement could be coupled with this years proposed defense would the expectattion be satisfactory for fans...not my call...maybe for this fan the answer is yes, because i think that with the nfl game speed knowledge he has now there improvement would be significantly better leading to more TDs and redzone improvement. 3rd year he still started off serviceable and that was all about gameplanning and he did carry the team a bit in the arizona team so that was the spark i was looking for. After that the year was tumultous and even a veteren QB would be hard pressed to handle that. Look farve with all his veteranship had two bad years before last year. (i hear it now...farve's worst year is twice as good as smiths best year). Now we are here in season 4....I still am rooting for our mousy leader because i have seen him play and my impression is that he does give the 9rs their best chance to win regular season games. If we do not play Smith and then don't intend to then management's decision to ratify the rest of smith's contract looks pretty boneheaded. But this also makes me believe that smith cannot be counted now at this juncture, i don't care how much martz has to say about it. ok this is too long...but i still believe smith is still be groomed to take this team over not jto. hopefully martz is working with smith's mechanics as well Go Oline

Posted By: jgwindsor (13/08/2008 11:23:31 AM)
Comment: As a fan, sure i am nervous... I don't mind JTO getting the early reps with first team since basically the 1st team receivers are MIA. I am just wishing that the Oline is really starting to get acclimated to the martz schemes and provide the protection that is always suspect in his schemes. That will be my major focus in the greenbay game. I have read some comments i agree with, both for and against smith. I don't see smith as a leader of men of various backgrounds and this was what i alluded to before when i spoke about a dark and rainy night in austria when i happened to catch smith after the draft on the late night show i think with jay leno. He was very mousy. Also agree he hasn't really had the best of fortune if fact it was lacking. 1st year thrown out on the field with no targets and a number of dropped balls that would have gotten him a 300 yrd game or two as well as 200 yrd games. 2nd year we have to admit he improved....and if that improvement could be coupled with this years proposed defense would the expectattion be satisfactory for fans...not my call...maybe for this fan the answer is yes, because i think that with the nfl game speed knowledge he has now there improvement would be significantly better leading to more TDs and redzone improvement. 3rd year he still started off serviceable and that was all about gameplanning and he did carry the team a bit in the arizona team so that was the spark i was looking for. After that the year was tumultous and even a veteren QB would be hard pressed to handle that. Look farve with all his veteranship had two bad years before last year. (i hear it now...farve's worst year is twice as good as smiths best year). Now we are here in season 4....I still am rooting for our mousy leader because i have seen him play and my impression is that he does give the 9rs their best chance to win regular season games. If we do not play Smith and then don't intend to then management's decision to ratify the rest of smith's contract looks pretty boneheaded. But this also makes me believe that smith cannot be counted now at this juncture, i don't care how much martz has to say about it. ok this is too long...but i still believe smith is still be groomed to take this team over not jto. hopefully martz is working with smith's mechanics as well Go Oline

Posted By: Matt (12/08/2008 10:06:07 PM)
Comment: I don't have a problem with JT O'Sullivan as our starting QB, but Nolan sends seriously cryptic messages that he expects people not to "read into." If he just was up front about everything this wouldn't be such a fiasco. For example, "Just trying to get better prepared for some of the things going forward, that's all, a little more continuity." What does that even mean???

Posted By: Mike in HMB (12/08/2008 6:18:49 PM)
Comment: Hi Matt you watch the practices can you tell me if JT really looks that much better than Alex. I see the stats you put up on each QB and don't see a huge difference between them. Watching the game Fri I thought Alex looked comfortable in the pocket. I just don't understand how JT became the starter so fast. Thanks

Posted By: riq roq (12/08/2008 5:22:28 PM)
Comment: Well it's official. I saw it on ESPN and the NFL channel. The niners save 25 mil if alex doesn't start. Why cant they just be real and say thats what they are doing.

Posted By: Bill Edmondson (12/08/2008 5:07:35 PM)
Comment: I learned all I needed about Mr. Smith once when he'd been declared healthy after an injury. Responding to an interviewer's leading question whether he felt ready to get in there and take charge, he said, "Well, yes and no." haolefisherman

Posted By: HossIsNotBright (12/08/2008 4:18:23 PM)
Comment: Hoss I think the anti alex crew bases everything on the fact that Alex has not played one good game in 3 years as a started as well as the fact that he doesnt do anything well and the 50 other reasons Niner4Life pointed out. Nolan and Martz have to get Smith ready??? Your an idiot.. the guy is a grown man and 1st pick in the draft, this is the nfl not pre school he has to get himself ready and he has to perform he's not a puppet that the coaches control magically and make him play like crap, HE plays like crap..... Now to talk numbers, Alex has NEVER in 3 seasons thrown for 300 yds... LMFAO!!! That's historically pathetic! not only that he went 16 straight games without hitting the 200 yard mark!!! I haven't seen anything that pathetic on any level of football. But oh yeah what's the excuse now, Oh I know, Nolan told Alex he doesnt want him throwing over 200 yds because he will kill Alex's family if Alex throws for alot of yards... Get real and grow up, you sound like a bunch of 10 year olds, face reality stupid and open your eyes

Posted By: scasmflop (12/08/2008 4:16:09 PM)
Comment: Ok, so Smith has looked great in some Seattle games and pretty mediocre in most others. He has obviously been brought into a bad situation that has been horrible for his development. We can whine all day about those bad breaks, but in the end Smith is still mediocre now because he hasn't been able to hurdle what is in front of him. Here's my beef...if you are going to replace him, bring in someone legit. Don't bring in a perennial practice squad/3rd stringer have him win the job with nothing but a horrible mistake-ridden preseason showing under his belt. If Smith is really that bad, then let him show that he's that bad in a game instead of handing it off to Zak Keasey over and over. I don't want to hear about how O'Suck might be something based on a few practice sessions either as he's had plenty of time in this league to prove what he is capable of. If he hasn't become something yet, this horrible 49er offense that has wasted any potential Smith had is not the place he will finally thrive. Also, please no lame theories about how they are secretly sparing Smith the rough early schedule until he kicks in later. If that was at all in their thoughts they would be all up front about that strategy in their comments in order to salvage any shred of confidence Smith has.

Posted By: Niner4Life (12/08/2008 4:11:30 PM)
Comment: Man it's funny that people on here talk about Alex like he is 8 years old and Nolan is his daddy and needs to baby little Alex... The guy is a grown man and the number 1 pick in the freakin draft, how about some accountability. How about 1 td 11 ints in year one, 16 tds 16 ints in year 2 (with a 1,790 yd rusher you should be able to throw 25 tds in your sleep since every defense is focused on the run game) and 2 tds and 4 ints in year 3, maybe that sheds some light on why JT is starting. I think the coaches and Alex's teammates have seen enough of the Alex Smith blooper reel. Having 4 offensive coordinators of course is far from ideal but offensive coordinator changes has nothing to do with not being able to throw an accurate screen pass, not being able to Ever hit a wr in time (he throws behind the target every time, holding the ball longer than any qb in the league, and having a bigger windup than any MLB pitcher you have ever seen, not knowing how to throw to a spot aka timing pattern, not being able to get rid of the ball to a wr under pressure instead he takes his eyes off the field and gets in the fetal position or getting the ball stripped from his tiny hands should I continue? These are things that are taught to qbs IN HIGH SCHOOL.. If you don't get it by year 4 in the nfl you are never going to get it....... By the way, for those of you that think Alex is going to flourish on another team put down the base pipe because you are a lunatic. Alex Smith will NEVER be good in the nfl on ANY TEAM and I will put money on it. Why is JT starting? Maybe because Alex Smith has never played well for 4 quarters in one game ever after 3 seasons in the league you simpletons... Alex does not have the respect of his coaches or teammates and if any of you on here actually follow the niners you have heard nearly every offensive player over the last 3 years take a shot at Alex. Just look at the guy, listen to him talk, look at his body language after every bad play he makes (which is every play) and you honestly think this guy can lead a group of grown men coming from different backgrounds, personalities and ethnicities??? If you think that I have a bridge I'd like to sell you. The coaches know he sucks, his teammates know he sucks, every defense that plays us know he sucks, all national media knows he sucks. The only people on earth that thinks Alex is good are a few kool aid sipping gypsies on here that simply are not living in reality... Open your eyes the guy is garbage and does not belong in the nfl he just hit the lottery and had the dumbest organization in football picking 1st that year otherwise that guy is dropping to the 3rd round. No way other teams would have taken him over Aaron Rodgers and Jason Campbell who both played in legit college football programs and conferenses, not some bum that just handed off in high school and ran an option offense in a non competetive garbage college conference. Good job stealing 24 mil Alex.

Posted By: Hoss (12/08/2008 4:00:21 PM)
Comment: The anti-Alex crew bases everything on the fact that Alex has not put up big numbers. But that is heavily dependent on receivers, O-line and play calling. I mean, he hasn't been able to throw a high number of passes per game, so of course he has low yardage. Look at the game last week. Alex drives them inside the 5, and Nolan/Martz call a run on third and three. A run to Zack Keasey no less. I still think Alex has the skills to be good. There's a reason O'Sullivan went to Davis and has bounced around. Nolan loves it, but being "competitive and fired up" only gets you so far (see his bizarro backward lateral). If Nolan and Martz can't get Smith ready to be the starting QB by at least the third regular season game, that's on them, not Alex.

Posted By: Edubb (12/08/2008 3:32:56 PM)
Comment: Matt, I understand that you have to play the QB that gives you the best chance to win but if JTO ends up starting Nolan and Scott M.'s eye for talent doesnt look to good. They drafted Alex #1 and they gave Hill an extension last year. Now you bring in a guy with even less experience than the both of them and he is getting all the first team reps, I would say those are horrible personnel decisions.

Posted By: Mario Rocha (12/08/2008 3:32:16 PM)
Comment: Matt: I have some questions regarding the qbs "competition". The past 3 seasons Alex Smith lived in the comfort zone, he had a coach in the 2nd string qb (Dilfer) and never a real competition at his position. This year he is under a supposed competition, but I dont know if Nolan-Martz wanted to put pressure on him and try to get the best of the guy or they found in the TCs that Alex had no soul/heart to be the team leader. Since OTAs we had heard that it will be a fair competition for the 3qbs, but as i can read from your note, JTO had more opportunites than Hill, Smith the fewest. Why Nolan/Martz dont take the shot with JTO and stop the circus or give Alex-Hill the same opportunities (be more consistent with their own words)?

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (12/08/2008 3:31:25 PM)
Comment: Time to man-up ladies and support your team. The season is upon us... We are The Faithful for a reason. All this whining and blind hating is getting old. This place has more whiners and haters than the 49erswebzone. Either support our team this year, or STFU already. Some of you fans wishing for a bad season so Nolan gets canned are no fans at all. Damn, will the real Faithful please stand up?

Posted By: Who Cares (12/08/2008 3:19:14 PM)
Comment: Mark my words... The Starting QB for the Niners is not on the roster yet. He will be cut soon and become the starter....Trent Green

Posted By: Matt (12/08/2008 3:17:36 PM)
Comment: Matt, Is Mark Roman really gonna be the starter this season over a potential playmaker like Goldson?

Posted By: chris (12/08/2008 3:17:28 PM)
Comment: I'm not sure why so many people are whining that we should fire nolan for going with JTO. Everything seems to point towards this being a directive coming from Martz. I remember back a month or two when everyone was saying how nolan should stay out of choosing the QB and let martz do it. I hope those aren't the same people complaining now.

Posted By: Neener (12/08/2008 3:16:36 PM)
Comment: Matt, did you see the clip on Sportscenter today?? Everyone is calling for the 49ers to name JTO as the starter. They are supporting ANY Martz protege and comparing him to Bulger and Warner. Can Martz work his majic with JTO? He is by far the least physically dominating QB in our controversy/competition. I am not sure how I feel about all this. Nolan just pisses me off right now. Even on Sports center he spoke his typical stuff. "Move my mouth, and pretend I am saying something meaningful, while actually not saying anything at all"...he should go into politics. The fans want answers, and a plan.

Posted By: riq roq (12/08/2008 3:12:54 PM)
Comment: Mike Nolan is a fake as was the Erickson regime before him. They are the product of an NFL that rotates about 8 top teams and allows 24 others to be sparring fodder. They use words like "rebuilding", They undermine themselves by allowing coordinators to be stolen in the middle of the night. Players like T.O. and Vick get thrown under the bus as a distraction from the "pay to play" media. I love this game but am saddened by all the crap. I guess I wasnt complaining when we won 5. Nope. But it sucks now and i am ashamed at how obvious it is. Eddie, where are you? we need u. the NFL needs u.

Posted By: jb (12/08/2008 3:10:40 PM)
Comment: well here is how i think we are gonna be able to tell whats going to happen! Wait and see tomorrow, what the rotation is gonna be....If it's true that nolan is getting JTO caught up on reps and waiting for AS to get more comfortable in the offense-then I see whoever is with the One's tomorrow is going to be the starter Sept. 7th. Unless play or injury dramatically changes things thats how its gonna be.... on a side note- for those of you that are posting here just as a release valve to yell at nolan please choose somewhere else to post....I think Matt works his tail off to give us honest up to date blogs of what is going on, and I think our response posts should be a little more grown up to show him some respect....I get tired of reading all of that nonsense I can't imagine how he must feel. There are plenty of other sites for you to post that kind of talk, heck start your own thread on one of them and then keep going there!! thanks Matt, keep up the good work!!

Posted By: York Please Please sell the team (12/08/2008 3:07:28 PM)
Comment: Look if we even think that the niners are going to be good under the Yorks you are just delusional. NoWinlan will leave and then so other so so coordinator will come in a suck for 3 years. We need to aks the NFL to force a sale and we need it done ASAP.

Posted By: John (12/08/2008 3:07:27 PM)
Comment: Matt, I know that they brought in both Bruce and Johnson to start, but is there anyway that Morgan works his way into the starting line up, the kid seems like he has been a beast at a position the team needs a playmaker at?

Posted By: Detroit Niner (12/08/2008 3:03:05 PM)
Comment: Believe me I know: JTO is our backup. Smitty will be the starter because of his cap number alone but this is not helping his psyche at all. He's our best chance to succeed. Gore can't take 9 man fronts again. Both Nolan and Martz's names are on the line. If they both fail, they will be hard pressed to get future gigs. Martz flammed out pretty bad here in Detroit. If you look at both Det and SF: Kitna/Smith - EDGE DET; Williams/Jackson EDGE - DET; Johnson/Battle -EDGE DET; Jones/Gore - EDGE SF. He had more offensive talent in Detroit fellas and could not get it done. This season he's got WRs that have suited up yet, a QB with his head coach in his head, a TE that has serious and a solid back. Martz is good but is he a miracle worker??

Posted By: REB (12/08/2008 2:57:15 PM)
Comment: Despite what appears to be playing favorites while denying it, it appears that Alex is consistently behind on crossing patterns. If he can't get ahead of the break as Martz requires he's never going to lead this style of offense. I think he should have been benched until the second season in any offensive scheme when he was drafted. Of course a #1 position, combined with Nolan's desperation made that impossible. I fear that if he doesn't start this year his career may never take.

Posted By: Alex Smith (12/08/2008 2:56:24 PM)
Comment: A Big THANK YOU to the San Francisco 49ers Organization for making me a MULTI-MILLIONAIRE and setting me up for the rest of my life and without injury. I gave you guys everything I had and I hope you can appreciate that. See you on the beaches of Southern California. I'll be the one with the great tan, the Ferrari, and the 10 hot Southern California b*tches on my arm. Thanks again, Alex!

Posted By: Dude (12/08/2008 2:55:15 PM)
Comment: You cant compare Smith to Rodgers, Rodgers didn't play he sat and watched Favre. Smith got thrown in with the wolves. Smith hasn't shown he has it. I don't understand the sudden Smith love.

Posted By: BHF (12/08/2008 2:54:07 PM)
Comment: Matt, enough of the meaningless QB issue. What's really happening with the wedge buster competition this afternoon?

Posted By: 949er (12/08/2008 2:53:32 PM)
Comment: Matt - Today, Nolan said that JTO is getting more 1st team reps now to equalize each QB's starting reps since the beginning of training camp (i.e., because JTO initially did not get 1st team reps). However, your stats belie that position. Have you asked Nolan for an explanation?

Posted By: mike in MD (12/08/2008 2:53:13 PM)
Comment: Matt..how's Joe Staley's foot doing, has anyone asked or know anything on if it's fully healed? Did it effect him on the Raider game? Thanks & keep up the great work. You know we all appreciate your timely & accurate reporting.

Posted By: Evelbob41 (12/08/2008 2:52:05 PM)
Comment: Niner fans. Time to purchase a Red #14 jersey. Its crystal clear. Barring injury- It's JTO's job. Hard to imagine that Alice Smith sucks so hard that he has allowed a journey man QB-a dude that has been on 8 different teams (Bears twice)-to take his job. If I knew it was going to go down like this, we should have gone after Favre. What a joke. MM- What is Alex Smith's 2008 cap figure? I imagine it is pretty steep. Even Norv wouldn't be that dumb to pick up AS' price tag. Hell! If this is the case- just cut him loose. I'm tired of all the shenanigans.

Posted By: Matt (12/08/2008 2:50:05 PM)
Comment: I still hold onto the hope that the only reason JT gets the majority of reps with the first team is so that the rest of the offense isnt held back by a qb(Smith/Hill) who isnt capable of running all the plays but when they can(next week or the week after)one of them(Smith in all seriousness) will get plugged into that offesne without a dropoff in the amount of plays they can run and the quality of snaps being taken. Anyone with half a brain knows that Smith is the better qb and that he gives SF the best chance to succeed, even if he isnt as knowledgeable as JT in Martz' offense. I'll take a limited Smith over a well versed JT any day of the week, specifically sunday.

Posted By: oneniner (12/08/2008 2:49:29 PM)
Comment: THIS CAN'T BE PRODUCTIVE OR BE A POSITIVE ----"The quarterbacks, meanwhile, appear to be entirely in the dark. They say they usually learn who will be taking the first-team reps when they arrive in the morning. Asked about how the repetitions will be handled from this point on, Hill, who has had no first-team repetition this week, said, "I really have no idea. I kind of wish I had a little more light on things." But he and Smith said they try not to let doubt affect them on the field. "The more you dwell on something like that, the more you think about it, the worse you're going to be," Smith said.".....HOW CAN THEY NOT THINK ABOUT IT?

Posted By: papa (12/08/2008 2:48:53 PM)
Comment: How did Smith get so good all of a sudden?? The best he's ever been so far is from average to pathetic. Blame it on having 4 OC's, the Oline, small hands, the "stars", whatever. Let him sit for awhile, I'm sure we'll get our fill of him before the season is over.

Posted By: oneniner (12/08/2008 2:47:41 PM)
Comment: WHAT IS GOING ON IN NINERLAND ---"Mike Martz, however, has a slightly different take on the matter. "We're just trying to get him caught up, rep-wise, with the rest of the guys, really," Martz said. "With the same amount of reps as the other guys, what can he do? And see where he goes with it." But doesn't O'Sullivan know the offense better than Smith and Hill? What does Martz mean by 'caught up?' "It's pretty easy when you think about it," he said. "'Caught up' in terms of practice. Right now he can know the entire offense, but if he doesn't practice, you can hardly expect him to play well in games.""

Posted By: Detroit Niner (12/08/2008 2:43:43 PM)
Comment: This has to be the most ridiculous thing Ive heard in quite awhile. You know, just give Alex the keys and let him drive the car. If he crashes by Week 4, the sit him and put in somebody else for crying out loud!!!! Aaron Rodgers looks like the TRUTH. Nolan, I want you to work this think out but it does not look good. I saw someone post something for Marty-Ball. That might not be a bad idea.

Posted By: ninerbob (12/08/2008 2:42:53 PM)
Comment: I don't think Carmazzi can be in that category, he was a first rounder. Druckenmiller, well we will never know how good Plummer would have been if he had Mooch at the beginning of his career. Smith is done with this team. The other guy that runs a 49er blog just convinced me of that on KNBR. I wonder if we can get a conditional 7th rounder for him?

Posted By: Big M (12/08/2008 2:41:07 PM)
Comment: Haha, wow I guess I missed that. I feel like an idiot. Thanks for the response, Matt.

Posted By: Oliver (12/08/2008 2:40:50 PM)
Comment: We are doomed for another year. Why oh why didn't we can Nolan and take Cam Cameron. He ran Norv's system which is the only proof of a coherent Niner offense in the last 5 years, whilst also maintaining chemistry on the DEF side (Manunksy and he were on Schott's staff in SD) - a friggin no brainer in my mind! Instead we have a pair of egomaniacs in Martz and Nolan with no clear QB and ANOTHER offensive system... Sigh.

Posted By: Dino (12/08/2008 2:39:34 PM)
Comment: Matt, in your response to Steve below, you said that you're trying to follow what's happening. What is happening? How can Nolan go from saying that JTO is ahead this morning and then taking it back. You should tell him that the fans on your blog are sick of his BS. Wasn't he taught not to lie? Maybe you should tell him that it's not OK to lie.

Posted By: Kelseyville9er (12/08/2008 2:32:49 PM)
Comment: So if Smith is let go, would he be thought of in the same breath as Druckenmiller and Caramazzi?

Posted By: http:// (12/08/2008 2:22:59 PM)
Comment: "He has better command of the offense. That's why he's taking the reps." well doesnt that make him better then the other 2 and make him the front runner? is this guy stupid or does he just think we are

Posted By: Bryan from Mt View (12/08/2008 2:07:36 PM)
Comment: Matt, Do you get the feeling that Nolan and company feel at lot of pressure to win the next preseason game or is it business as usual?

Posted By: What the Suck (12/08/2008 2:04:10 PM)
Comment: As much as I think Smith is a far better QB I guess we'll just have to hope for the best if JTO is the starter. I don't think he will last long though... few games maybe.

Posted By: Big M (12/08/2008 2:02:22 PM)
Comment: Matt, remember when there were 15 practices left and Nolan said the reps would be divided equally? The fans don't get a chance to say anything to the coach, but is anyone going to call him out on that, along with the other things? I know everyone is afraid to be in his doghouse, but someone needs to start calling him out and holding him accountable. Where is Scotty M in all of this?

Response: Thanks for reading the blog. That was addressed in this post. --Matt M.

Posted By: Big M (12/08/2008 2:00:03 PM)
Comment: Before he was "further along" in the offense, he was performing similarly to the other QBs. Now, they are letting him gain more chemistry and get more reps with the first team so that he can continue to get better than the other two. It will be hard for Smith to outplay JTO in this rotation, espcially when he's throwing to guys fighting for a practice quad spot.

Posted By: marco from stockton (12/08/2008 1:55:44 PM)
Comment: Three QBs competing means only one thing, none are good. The Nolan firing watch has officially started and we are not even in the regular season. Another losing season, that will be six straight! Let's go for 7 OC in 7 years! It's the Owners' Folks, they will be 2-8 after this season.

Posted By: David (12/08/2008 1:49:23 PM)
Comment: This is frustrating to say the least. If he wants JT to be the starter, that's fine but why is he calling this a fair competition? I think that's the thing that irks me the most. Does he "really" think this is fair to Hill? Or Alex? I'm fine with them making the QB decision as they obviously know a ton more than any fan would - but come on, quit flat out LYING to us Nolan. It's not letting any great secrets out of the bag if you tell us who the starter is going to be. That's all I ask. Just be honest and quit feeding us crap about it being a fair competition between all 3.

Posted By: Zed Rational (12/08/2008 1:48:59 PM)
Comment: Prospector: Last year, Martz promoted O'Sullivan to second-string behind Kitna. (If Kitna were here, O'Sullivan would still be second string.) O'Sullivan is here because Martz wanted him here; that makes O'Sullivan "Martz's boy."

Posted By: Joe from Erie (12/08/2008 1:45:29 PM)
Comment: Hold on everyone. This afternoon is a special teams practice, so this will be Alex's turn with the ones. From an initial point, I can understand why JT whould get the starter reps. You want the offense to improve by practicing with someone who knows the offense well. Alex is having trouble grasping things smoothly and this would give him time. The problem is he isn't getting quality reps to improve. He only had nine throws in 11 on 11 today. It was real bad with Hill getting reps also. He has to throw to scrub receivers like Rabb and Ortiz. In the game, they couldn't protect him. They aren't doing anything to catch him up and improve his confidence. The worse thing is Nolan isn't just explaining things how they are to everyone. JT knows the O and is starting for now until Alex catches on. Instead it's vague contradicting statements that angers the fans and confuses the players. That has to be affecting the players and the sloppy practices also. They don't know what's going on. There are probably many players that support Alex and are angry just like last year. They can't say anything because the dictator will crush them. We will end up with a divided unmotivated team again. 4-12 here we come

Posted By: Steve (12/08/2008 1:35:17 PM)
Comment: Matt, the blogs (your and the other Matt) sound pretty upset that you guys (the press) are not getting the inside info. Do teams normally provide you all with all the details of their training camps or is this camp very different from the other 31 teams?

Response: I am not upset about anything. I'm just trying to follow what's happening. --Matt M.

Posted By: Indiana Jim (12/08/2008 1:33:56 PM)
Comment: So what you appear to be saying is the Quarterback Competion has been less than "fair?" It has, at the very least, been inequitable.

Posted By: oneniner (12/08/2008 1:28:36 PM)
Comment: ""Our goal as a team right now is to be 1-0," Nolan said. "We'll worry about two after that. Our target right now is to prepare for the first game. After that, we'll go from there."".........I CALL B.S.........Hey MATT - Is Martz still working alot with Smith? Or has he been abandoned?

Posted By: mike in MD (12/08/2008 1:27:07 PM)
Comment: Nolan & Scott scouted & did the research on Smith. Both ultimately didn't have enough knowledge about Offense to have made that decision but I still support McCloughan who will learn to get the necessary expertise to not make that same mistake if Smith doesn't work out. (Enter Tollner & Martz as a start.) At the time Nolan was the acting GM who overruled Scott who was the VP of Player Personnel. The choice of Smith fell entirely on Nolan & the way he set up Smith with the pieces & coaching/mentoring system around him. Nolan as we now know was WAY OUT OF HIS LEAGUE HERE.

Posted By: Who Cares (12/08/2008 1:13:22 PM)
Comment: Who ever scouted Smith should be fired. Even his college coach said that things need to be perfect for Alex to succeed. We haven't had a decent QB since Garcia left and I didn't like him.

Posted By: prospector (12/08/2008 1:13:22 PM)
Comment: Was JTO Martz's boy when he was 3rd string in Detroit for Martz?

Posted By: Tenacious D (12/08/2008 1:12:42 PM)
Comment: Matt, Can you tell us if Martz is still working alot with Smith? Or has he been abandoned?

Posted By: Go JTO (12/08/2008 1:10:04 PM)
Comment: You really think Nolan leaving would change the QB situation at all? JTO is Martz's boy right now, not Smith.

Posted By: DanCan (12/08/2008 1:09:32 PM)
Comment: I'm for whichever QB gives the team the best chance of winning. But given the edge JTO is getting, Martz/Nolan's call on 4 and 3 vs. the Raiders, when Smith was in, seems weirder every day.

Posted By: michael manuel (12/08/2008 1:08:54 PM)
Comment: Mike nolan needs to get a clue .. jt osol who is a no name no skill have waste of time ......... smith is more mobile has a bigger arm and is more accurate then any body else they have ......... why pay a butt load of money to sit on his duff.... rollin with nolan no because i dont know whats rollin that that small head of his ... he is more worried about wearin a suit to the game then to pay attention to the fact that jt stuggled like a high scholl student against the pitiful horrible raider defense jt sucks face it nolan get a clue martz pull your heads out of the lower regain

Posted By: MC (12/08/2008 1:07:19 PM)
Comment: Matt, Is it insulting to you and the other beat writer's intelligence when Nolan so brazenly feeds you this BS over and over? It's like listening to the Iraqi Information Minister:

Posted By: Darren (12/08/2008 1:06:58 PM)
Comment: O Sullivan SUCKS! Get rid of him, then get rid of Nolan the choir boy wanting him to start over Smith. Please, by the Bye Week, I want to hear Nolan has been sacked and Singletary or Martz take over! IN exhibition, you do not train to lose. You either win the games or your season is shot!

Posted By: Dude (12/08/2008 1:06:36 PM)
Comment: Its time to get behind J.T.O. Alex is a bust. He panics, hes indecisive, hes suppose to be mobile but takes sacks, he throws behind receivers, he doesn't make anything out of nothing. Ive grown impatient of Smith. Stop using excuses, Alex just doesn't have it and Martz sees it.

Posted By: http:// (12/08/2008 1:03:14 PM)
Comment: Every web site I scour for Niner news now whenever I see Nolan's picture or any of his quotes it just makes me SICK. How he became the head of this team turned out to be such a huge CON, he's such A DAMN FRAUD!! I almost can't take it anymore but know we have to live with this idiot for another year. I hate posting this but it's so damn true & I have to let it out. Somebody throw some mercy to us for having this clown. That's enough, got to get back to reality & hope for the best for this team 'cause I have to remind myself it's still way to early yet. And it REALLY IS. Sorry for the bash but I just had to in order to keep my sanity for the obvious that Nolan maxed out his limitations as a HC CLEARLY by the end of last season, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

Posted By: Go JTO (12/08/2008 1:02:56 PM)
Comment: Zed Rational, it could be worse. There was a Packers fan who was quoted on the radio stating "I'd rather lose with Brett Favre than win with Aaron Rodgers."

Posted By: Gutless Leader (12/08/2008 12:55:36 PM)
Comment: Matt, could you tell Mike Nolan that we're not stupid. It's obvious that they're wanting JTO to have the job. Nolan needs to own it and to stop being so wishy-washy. That's just frustrating and poor leadership.

Posted By: The rest of the NFL (12/08/2008 12:55:11 PM)
Comment: Not sure what all you guys are upset about. Alex Smith has sucked his entire NFL career. Enough with the Alexcuses. He is being outperformed by a below avg QB. That is why he is 2nd string!!! SNAP OUT OF IT!!!

Posted By: Zed Rational (12/08/2008 12:55:06 PM)
Comment: LOL! Our starting quarterback has a good practice and the team's fans get angry. I always thought it was good news when our starting quarterback looked good.

Posted By: Lorenzo (12/08/2008 12:39:31 PM)
Comment: Today when you interview nolan, please ask him how can we think smith has a chance to start and there's a qb battle if no one but o'sullivan gets the reps. ask him about when he said from that point on each will get 5 reps with the ones two's and threes. So after today it's alex's time with the ones.

Posted By: stackracks (12/08/2008 12:36:38 PM)
Comment: fire nolan he sucks!!! we need schotenheimer he has a proven track record of maken losers to winners!!! NOLAN SUCKS!!!!!

Posted By: Matt (12/08/2008 12:34:56 PM)
Comment: ITS PRACTICE! So far in a game he's thrown an Int, Fumbled and done one of the dumbest things you can do, lateral backwards for a 9 yard loss. We're talking bout practice. Practice.

Posted By: 49ersKing (12/08/2008 12:33:55 PM)
Comment: Embarassing. Fire Nolan! I am no longer rollin with nolan! Nothing like endorsing one of the worst QB's on the team to be the starter. He never ceases to show his "knowledge for the game".

Posted By: Giovanni Carmazzi (12/08/2008 12:32:52 PM)
Comment: The kid can play. Let the kid play.

Posted By: Go JTO (12/08/2008 12:31:19 PM)
Comment: Is this where the JTO bandwagon starts? Let's go JT!

Posted By: AZ9er Fan (12/08/2008 12:28:42 PM)
Comment: Gotta love Nolan... GO SMITH!!!