JT O'Sullivan's recent moderate success (96.3 rating, 1 td, 1 int) has served only to make the 49ers qb situation murkier. What we know: Alex Smith is gone (thankfully), JT O'Sullivan is a free agent. What we do not know: Is JT O'Sullivan the qb who can finally make the 49ers call off our search for a savior at quarterback? Or is he merely a decent player filling in until we find the franchise player we need. The niners really have 3 realistic scenarios for qb.
Scenario #1 : JT succeeds and is resigned. The biggest measure of the success would be a playoff spot. The Niners, at 1-1 (could be 2-0 if we didnt have so many turnovers against the Cards), are still obviously in contention and could possibly steal the division with a 9-7 record (the niners probably will not challenge for a wild-card spot if they falter in the division, with all 4 nfc east teams appearing strong). If JT can achieve this big yet possible goal, he would have at least earned another year at the helm. However, if the niners some how make the playoffs despite JT (he falters, yet gore and the defense have pro bowl type seasons and carry the team), the niners would then need to continue searching for a new qb (much like the bears the past few year with grossman, where he is the weakest link of a usually solid team). That leads to the next scenario
Scenario #2: JT fails and is let go and a qb is drafted. God forbid JT flames out and is not re-signed next season, the niners can hope to find a future qb in the draft. It appears as though the premier qb prospect in the 2009 draft is Georgia’s Matt Stafford. He has a big arm and is playing against near-nfl quality defenses in the SEC. He has a big arm and tons of potential but has not been an amazing college qb. Another big-name prospect at qb is tim tebow. He has all the numbers, awards and championships in the world, but I do not see him as a great nfl qb. He appears to be a cross between alex smith (quick handoffs, rollouts, play-action type passed based out of urban meyer’s spread) and vince young (explosive run-pass type qb who has dominated in college). That combo does not sound like someone I would draft with a high pick. For the 49ers to be successful in the long term, no matter who is at qb, the o-line must be better. The best solution would be for the niners to draft a huge lineman (RT is a weakness with jonas Jennings always being injured) then pick up a player like Mark Sanchex (prototypical nfl size at 6’3 with a big arm who has worked in a pro-style offense at USC, which also meant practicing against a pro-type D) or Chase Daniel (reminds me of Drew Brees, makes good choices, can make all the throws, scrappy, also a lot like Jeff Garcia). This would then hopefully solve 2 problems at once.
Scenario #3: Sign a free agent qb. If JT fails and the team does not want to draft a qb, they are not going to have a lot to work with in the 2009 free agent crop. With Jeff Garcia, Kurt Warner, Kyle Boller, Rex Grossman, and Kyle Orton leading the pack, it appears as though the answer is not going to be found next year through free agency. By the niners drafting a qb next year in the 2nd round or later, they would be giving themselves a chance at a cheaper gamble then a 1st round plunge. They would be able to throw that new qb into the fire and see how he does. If he succeeds, fantastic. If he fails, the niners will be in position to sign one of the great qbs in the 2010 class. Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Jason Campbell, and others lead a strong qb class (assuming these players make it to free agency as their teams can still extend contracts). If the niners sign one of these players and paired him with Gore, a solid WR core (which is going to get better with Morgan and Johnson maturing), an improving o-line (assuming good drafting next year to replace Jennings), and an exciting and potentially dominating defense led by Willis, the niners could realistically challenge for an nfc crown within a few years.
