Shaun Hill is going fight for his starting job.
(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
So much for that quarterback battle this off-season. But since the 49ers now have added two more quarterbacks to their roster this past weekend, I really don't know what to make of this whole situation.
Before the NFL Draft, the only quarterbacks on the roster were Shaun Hill, Alex Smith and Damon Huard. Huard was expected to be the veteran backup and didn't really seem to factor into the off-season battle for the starting quarterback position. It looked like it would just be a battle between Hill and Smith.
But with the selection of Nate Davis in the fifth round and an undrafted free agent signing of Kirby Freeman, there now are five quarterbacks on the roster.
Quite simply, it will more than likely still be a Hill versus Smith battle, but how willing are the 49ers going to give Hill the benefit of the doubt with all these other quarterbacks on the roster.
Based on experience alone, Huard, Smith and Hill should be the only quarterbacks battling for the starting job. But if somehow the two rookies impress during training camp, how should the 49ers handle the situation?
Last year when Mike Martz ran the offense, we thought that Alex Smith would have the best shot at the starting job. He would eventually lose it in the preseason to J.T. O'Sullivan, a pre-determined winner in Martz's eyes. That move did not turn out well as O'Sullivan would turn the ball over seemingly every possession he had.
Can the 49ers wait until the preseason again to determine their starting quarterback? It would be better if they name their starter during training camp and commit to that individual.
Statistically, it would be the team's best interest to invest in Hill to start the season. With his record 7-3 as a starter and his fantastic finish last season, Hill should be the starter.
Smith doesn't look like he has fully healed from off-season shoulder surgery and throwing him into the quarterback mix could be a huge risk. However, if the team feels that he is ready, then they should.
My only real concern for the team is the timetable of their decision. A quarterback controversy that lingers into the preseason might not be the best thing for the 49ers in their quest to win the division title. Not having a leader decided might prevent less time for the team to get accustomed to a quarterback's tendencies.
However, maybe waiting to the very last minute might just work. A couple seasons ago, the Jaguars waited to the very last minute to determine their starting quarterback. In a battle between David Garrard and Byron Leftwich, coach Jack Del Rio released Leftwich after their final preseason game. It was a shocker, but the Jaguars would finish 11-5 that season.
The 49ers could go that route, but they might end up with a very bitter second string quarterback. That is something we will just have to see this off-season.
Right now, even though there are five quarterbacks on the roster, it looks like it's still going to be Hill vs. Smith. The only real question right now is not only who, but when will the decision be made?
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