If, as coach Mike Singletary said, there was no leader in the 49ers’ quarterback competition when training camp began, there certainly is no leader after the first eight practices.
Both quarterbacks are executing the 49ers’ offense infinitely better than a year ago when they seemed paralyzed by offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s system. (The starting job went to J.T. O’Sullivan, who simply had a better grasp of the offense a year ago at this time.)
In the practices this summer . . . Shaun Hill has been throwing more underneath passes – and completing a high percentage of them. And Alex Smith has been throwing the intermediate and deep ball with a nice touch and precision.
Hill struggles with the deeper passes, while Smith is not as pin-point with his accuracy on the shorter throws.
I wrote earlier today that Smith has placed himself in position to win the job. By the same token, Hill has done well enough to do the same. It will all come down to the exhibition games.
Here’s what Singletary was asked today about Smith’s development:
Q: Is Alex Smith a different quarterback than what you’ve seen since you’ve been here?
Singletary: “I don’t know about different. I think he’s maturing. I just think that’s the best word I could use. He’s maturing as a quarterback.”
Q: Two of the knocks of him in the past is his decisiveness and ability to get rid of the ball quickly. Is he getting rid of the ball quicker?
Singletary: “I think there are a number of things, both he and Shaun . . . I think [quarterbacks coach] Mike Johnson’s doing a great job. [Offensive coordinator] Jimmy Raye’s doing a great job working with him, talking with him, working on their footwork and just knowing that that ball has got to come out. It’s all about timing. The coach is doing a good job and the players are receptive, both quarterbacks. It’s paying off.”
Q: How do you see that Alex has matured?
Singletary: “I think body language. I think command of the huddle. I think when guys do things wrong, it’s like: ‘Hey, this is what we did wrong. Let’s get that right. OK, let’s go.’ Instead of making a mistake and looking back at the coach and seeing what he has to say. I think that’s just a maturation factor, to me.”
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The bottom line is a decision has not been reached. Both are playing well enough at this stage to win the job. Hill would still have to be considered the favorite, based on the success he’s had in his 10 starts – all of which came since Smith’s last appearance in a regular-season game.
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CRABTREE UPDATE: There’s nothing new to report. The sides are still far apart in the general philosophy of what draft pick Michael Crabtree should receive. Should he get money slotted for the No. 10 pick? Or should he get money approaching what a top-five pick should receive?
If the 49ers stray from the slotting procedure, it could spell long-term consequences for the organization and upset the system – however flawed it might be – for the rest of the NFL.
Crabtree is living in the Bay Area, but there has been no progress made on contract talks. Wouldn’t you think he would want to be on the field practicing against the Raiders in Napa in two weeks?
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Signing status of first-round draft picks
1. Lions, QB Matthew
6 yrs, $72 million, $41.7M guaranteed
2. Rams, OT Jason Smith, Signed July 30
5 yrs, $62 million, $33M guaranteed
3. Chiefs, DE Tyson Jackson, Unsigned (camp opened July 31)
4. Seahawks, LB Aaron Curry, Unsigned (camp opened July 30)
5. Jets, QB Mark Sanchez, Signed June 11
5 yrs, $44.5-60 million, $28M guaranteed
6. Bengals, OT Andre Smith, Unsigned (camp opened July 30)
7. Raiders, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Signed July 30
6 yrs (voidable to 5 yrs), $38.25-$54 million, $23.5M guaranteed
8. Jaguars, OT Eugene Monroe, Unsigned (camp opened Aug. 2)
9. Packers, DT B.J. Raji, Unsigned (camp opened July 31)
10. 49ers, WR Michael Crabtree, Unsigned (camp opened July 28)
11. Bills, LB Aaron Maybin, Unsigned (camp opened July 25)
12. Broncos, RB Knowshon Moreno, Unsigned (camp opened July 27)
13. Redskins, DE Brian Orakpo, Signed July 30
5 yrs, $15.4-$20 million, $12.1M guaranteed
14. Saints, CB Malcolm Jenkins, Unsigned (camp opened July 30)
15. Texans, LB Brian Cushing, Signed Aug. 1
5 yrs, $14-18 million, $10.435M guaranteed
16, Chargers, LB Larry English, Signed July 31
5 yrs, $13.55-17.95 million, $9.9M guaranteed
17. Buccaneers, QB Josh Freeman, Signed July 30
5 yrs, $13.5-$36 million, $10.245M guaranteed
18. Broncos, DE Robert Ayers, Signed Aug. 3
5 yrs, terms not available
19. Eagles, WR Jeremy Maclin, Signed Aug. 4
5 yrs, terms not available
20. Lions, TE Brandon Pettigrew, Signed July 31
5 yrs, $12-$14.6 million, $9.4M guaranteed
21, Browns, C Alex Mack, Signed July 25
5 yrs, $11.3-$15.175 million, $9.265M guaranteed
22. Vikings, WR Percy Harvin, Signed Aug. 2
5 yrs, $12.05-14.25 million, $8.425M guaranteed
23. Ravens, OT Michael Oher, Signed July 29
5 yrs, $13.8 million, $7.82M guaranteed
24. Falcons, DT Peria Jerry, Signed July 30
5 yrs, $10.35 million, $7.55M guaranteed
25. Dolphins, CB Vontae Davis, Signed July 31
5 yrs, $10.2-13.3 million, $7.345M guaranteed
26. Packers, LB Clay Matthews, Signed July 30
5 yrs, $9.925-$13.275 million, $7.105M guaranteed
27. Colts, RB Donald Brown, Signed Aug. 2
5 yrs, $11.235-$12.835 million, $6.845M guaranteed
28. Bills, C Eric Wood, Signed July 29
5 yrs, $9.3-$12.3 million, $6.575M guaranteed
29. Giants, WR Hakeem Nicks, Signed Aug. 1
5 yrs, terms not available
30. Titans, WR Kenny Britt, Signed Aug. 1
5 yrs, $10-12.25 million, $6.527M guaranteed
31. Cardinals, RB Chris Wells, Signed Aug. 1
5 yrs, $9-11.8 million, $6.345M guaranteed
32. Steelers, DT Ziggy Hood, Signed July 25
5 yrs, $8.7-11.3 million, $6.1M guaranteed
(Contract numbers cited were obtained through a number of credible media reports, as well as information obtained through NFL sources .)
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