The battle for the 49ers QB position gets tougher as
mini-camp progresses. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
On Friday, the 49ers held their mini-camp session with two practices. There was one practice set for the morning and one later in the afternoon. The most notable change in the practices were the quarterbacks under center. Both quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Alex Smith got chances to run the first offense in practice. Smith took the team in the first practice while Hill ran the second one.
Obviously, Hill already has the advantage in the position battle with his recent history with the team. But let's not forget that Smith has been throwing the ball real well during the OTAs and could very well win the starting job if he stays consistent in his throws.
During Hill's session with the first team, he was picked off by Allen Rossum on a pass intended for Vernon Davis. Hill then got right up to Davis and told him that he was not pleased at what he just saw. Either Davis didn't make an effort to break up the pass or he ran the wrong route.
But such leadership has already given Hill the lead in this race to the finish line. I am very sure that head coach Mike Singletary would be very pleased at the leadership role that Hill has displayed.
Smith has shown signs of being a leader, but nothing to the extent that Hill has given the team.
However, what's been going smooth for Smith was his throws. It's clear that he has fully healed from his off-season shoulder surgery and he is hitting his receivers nicely.
But when it comes down to it, he has yet to give at "Singletary-like" attitude on the field. It might come down to that when it is time to make a decision on the quarterback of the season. It would make sense to favor Hill right now, but Smith still has a lot of time to show that he is more than just a quarterback that can throw. He has to show that he can lead as well.
Comments
Everyday in OTAs Smith has thrown at least 1 INT, multiple INTs in back to back days as well, his passes have sailed, hit the ground, been wildly off, and with just 1 day of Smith practicing OK, he has now all of a sudden done nothing but played great and his arm is just lights out, on the money and amazing accurate?
smith throwing well is not what i have heard thus far? and they both have been picked alot. either the DB's are playing good ball or the throw / rtes are not quite there. for all of you who have never played football, there is always alot of picks during practice though--at all teams.
shaun hill is 7-3 as a starter, and as far as i'm concerned he should be the starter on game one. It's all speculation and b.s until then.
When shaun hill plays, he displays patients in the pocket, he's very accurate, and does not make bonehead mistakes. he only has 10 starts in his career, but has proven that he has what it takes to win games.
If the 9ers run game is on track this year, shaun hill will not be forced to try and win games himself. He can just concentrate on managing, Leading, and not messing it up. with that, i think he'll prove to be one of the top qb's in the NFC. get back at me by this yrs end
I really want alex smith to be given a fair chance, and i do believe that he will one day lead this team. but for now the man is shaun hill, he moves the chains, and for a team that could not do this under alex smith, you gotta go with Hill. HE MOVE THE CHAINS LADIES AND GENTLEMAN.
ALEX HAS A DRIVE 2 WIN GAMES when he was surrounded w nothin an Norv was OC he played good less chane of sack n smith very mobile EVER1 doesnt see S HILL s WEAK arm he cant throw bullets n Smith can if smith has hill backn him up he'll play great
Smith has at least shown much improvement from what he has been in the past two years. Then again, he is healthy for once.
Both Hill and Smith have played somewhat evenly in the OTAs but it seems that Hill has given himself the best chance to win the job at the moment.
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