2008 Outlook: Quarterbacks

as we get closer to the 2008 season, we'll take a look at what I think about the 49ers' projected roster and how each position looks. starting with the signal-callers, and the surprising (somewhat) leader of the Niner offense...

QBs

1.) JT O'Sullivan (Starter) - the former sixth-round pick from UC-Davis (used to live 15 mins from Davis... there is NOTHING THERE to do!) well, this was a surprise... yet, it wasn't. something early on told me that Alex Smith wasn't going to do as well in the Mad Martz' system that everyone thought that he could eventually show. sorry, but I thought, albeit not too strongly, that O'Sullivan was a favorite of Mike Martz in Detroit and that he would get every opportunity to showcase his one advantage coming over here... knowledge of the system.

then I saw him throw. O'Sullivan's biggest quality is decisiveness; something that Smith really never showed any knack for in his three previous years in San Francisco. like any QB in the Martz system (see: Warner, Kurt or Bulger, Marc) a QB needs to make a decision about whether or not the progressions are there... quickly. O'Sullivan goes downfield, but he was able to "dump" to sure receivers more often than not when his first couple of options were gone. O'Sullivan also is a little more emotional, which the team responds well to.

now, does this mean I think that he's the next Warner or Bulger... not quite. but I think he can be a solid QB for a team in desperate need for one since Jeff Garcia walked out the door a few years ago. he's going to need to limit some of the small, seemingly 'out of nowhere' mistakes that he makes (i.e. poor throws that lead to interceptions) but I think he's going to get more comfortable.

2.) Alex Smith - well, appears as though Smith has finally been moved to the side; 3 years of working with him are now being shelved, partly because he couldn't excel in the system and partly because there are so many jobs on the line this season. but Smith shouldn't shoulder all of the blame here. he's not quite a "bust" yet, altjhough he is heading down that dirty, dusty trail... I am not the type of person who says "told ya so" (well, maybe I am), but I called to myself for Aaron Rodgers.

that aside, I don't think that Smith is a terrible QB; he's just not picking things up quickly. If Smith were drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round in the draft, this would obviously not be an issue. since he was a #1 overall pick, there's a little more scrutiny involved. for his part, Smith's abilities (or lack thereof, depending on how you look at it), were not there for Martz's offense. there is a larger problem I noticed, and I probbaly am not the only one. he doesn't lead his receivers; often times it appears as though he was "late" in a throw, when in reality Smith throws the ball where his receivers are. NOT where they are headed... he's trying at times, but you can tell when he overthrows people that his timing has still not evolved from college. is this fixable... to a degree, sure. it can be worked on... but Smith may be done in the crimson and gold.

3.) Shaun Hill - Paging Shaun Hill... paging Shaun Hill... what happened? you went from being the Niner darling late last season to a virtual afterthought in this quarterback battle. but it's not all your fault; you were doomed form the beginning. you are an improviser, and the new offense does not really allow for a lot of leeway for "improvisation". you go through your reads and make a pass... and your accuracy isn't the best. but don't worry, I think you'll be the primary backup before the season is through...

tomorrow, it will be the RBs and FBs