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This offseason in San Francisco has offered a lot of hope for 49ers fans, but a big question mark remains at the quarterback position where Alex Smith, Shaun Hill and J.T. O’Sullivan are battling for the starting spot. With OTAs and minicamps complete, it looks like Alex is finally proving why the Niners took him #1 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft. Head coach Mike Nolan said:

“(I’m seeing Alex) do things that I haven’t seen him do before, in practice or in games. Alex is very athletic. He probably has the strongest arm of all the guys. He’s really intelligent. Now he’s got to go in there and put in four quarters and move the ball consistently and make plays he should make.”

Coach Nolan isn’t tipping his hand as to who his favorite quarterback is just yet, but it’s pretty clear that Alex has the early advantage. With newcomers like Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson and DeShaun Foster on-board as a supporting cast (not to mention Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and new OC Mike Martz), any of the three QBs will have a greater chance for success than ever before. Certainly, we’re not talking about the second coming of Joe Montana or Steve Young here, but Alex Smith is poised for a breakout season.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle, Photo: Newscom

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Alex Smith Taking Charge in San Francisco

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

In Arizona, wide receiver Bryant Johnson was the team’s third option behind Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. In free agency, he was seeking to become any other team’s second receiver. And he accomplished just that today by signing a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers where he’ll most likely start opposite Isaac Bruce. Add do-it-all RB (and leading receiver) Frank Gore plus receivers Darrell Jackson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle to the mix, and the 49ers have a ton of offensive potential. Of course, the key word here is potential. Darrell and Ashley were disappointments in ‘07, but Arnaz (who might just “battle” for one of the top two spots) more than held his own with 50 catches for 600 yards and five TDs.

So, the 49ers haven’t exactly assembled a dream team of available free agents, but they sure have upgraded last year’s promising roster. I spoke with TE Vernon Davis just a couple weeks ago and he was excited about the offensive improvements at that point — new OC Mike Martz, Isaac, RB DeShaun Foster and OL Justin Smiley. I think the Niners have met their wide receiver needs (they also have speedy Jason Hill who was hurt for much of last season) and can now focus on other positions in the Draft — unless, of course, they get a tremendous opportunity with the 29th pick in the first round.

I think the most interesting part of this upcoming season for San Francisco will be the quarterback competition between Alex Smith and Shaun Hill. Alex was drafted to be the face of this team, but he’s in serious danger of losing his starting spot without being injured in the process. In fact, my money is on Shaun Hill coming into camp ready to lead this team. Last season Shaun completed almost 70% of his passes in three games. He had five TDs with only one INT and a 101.3 quarterback rating. He’ll be entering his seventh NFL season (with NFL Europe experience) and could be primed for a breakout season with the additional weapons around him.

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Bryant Johnson Agrees to Terms With 49ers

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Since he signed his new contract with the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago, you’ve no doubt heard the rumors that former St. Louis Rams wide receiver Isaac Bruce wants to wear Jerry Rice’s #80 during his time with the Niners. Ok, he didn’t exactly come out and ask for it, but he didn’t deny he wanted the number he wore for 14 seasons with the Rams. Which just happens to be #80.

The first thing that surprised me was that the number was still available. But, it’s true. Jerry Rice’s #80 has not yet been retired by the Niners. The greatest wide receiver to ever play the game. And his number is available. Well, it’s “available” — but who has the gall to actually ask for it? I know a few players who would take it without a second thought, but they don’t play for San Francisco. Isaac Bruce does and the possibility was there. Ike’s a great wide receiver and will probably be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday, but in my opinion, it would’ve been sacrilege. Not only do you not ask for Jerry Rice’s #80, you don’t even think about it. Well, my contact with the Niners, director of Media Relations Aaron Salkin, answered all questions today by saying:

“Isaac Bruce will not be wearing No. 80. We are leaving it in honor of Jerry Rice’s legacy.”

Good. I feel better. You feel better. And that’s the end of that story.

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Isaac Bruce Won’t Wear #80 With Niners

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Vernon Davis is covered with tattoos and muscle. He looks like a professional bodybuilder. So he fit right in at the site of our interview, the 2008 Arnold Sports Festival Expo. With his shirt off at 6′3″ and 252 pounds, it’s pretty obvious he’s carrying single digit bodyfat. That’s why Under Armour has him wrapped in chains dragging heavy tires around in their commercials. He looks like some kind of sculpture.

Vernon also plays football for the San Francisco 49ers, owners of a colossally disappointing 5-11 record last season after being hyped as a team to watch in ‘07. I even predicted they would make the playoffs. Nevertheless, they finished at or close to the bottom of the NFL in nearly every offensive and defensive statistical category. Amidst the turmoil that was a forgettable 2007 campaign, tight end Vernon Davis emerged as the star the Niners thought he could be when they drafted him with the sixth overall pick out of the University of Maryland in 2006. Vernon more than doubled his rookie season totals catching 52 passes for 509 yards and four touchdowns. “I’m a lot more comfortable with the NFL now,” Vernon revealed. “I feel like I’m a veteran now. I know the game. I know what to expect. I know what I should do. And I know that I’ve gotta be accountable and step up and make plays when my number’s called.”

Yet somehow I feel Vernon has only scratched the surface of what he’s capable of. The future is his and the future is exactly where his focus is. Vernon and the 49ers have forgotten last season. “We’ve already put 2007 behind us,” he said confidently. “We’ve already made some nice moves picking up Isaac Bruce and DeShaun Foster. Now we’re just trying to get things rolling. We’re trying to get things together, get to the playoffs and make it to the Super Bowl.”

So much for short-term goals, but such is life in the NFL. Every season begins with hope and every team has a shot at being the best, including the Niners. San Francisco already boasts a talented core with two quality QBs (Alex Smith and Shaun Hill), a Pro Bowl-caliber RB (Frank Gore) and a bunch of good defensive players led by Patrick Willis and Nate Clements. Incoming are a slew of free agent acquisitions (namely the aforementioned DeShaun Foster and Isaac Bruce, as well as Allen Rossum and Justin Smith) that are primed to turn things around. Plus, new O-coordinator Mike Martz brings his wide-open offensive philosophy to the Bay area. “In this system, you have so much flexibility within the numbers that you can be creative with a guy like Vernon Davis,” Coach Martz told the San Francisco Bee in January.

Vernon is entirely ready for the changes and is hoping to contribute even more in 2008. “I’m excited about the new guys,” he said, “but I’m also excited to get more involved in the passing game as I think I should be. I’m ready to help this team win as much as I can. Coach Martz called me when he first got the job and said how he was also excited to get things moving.”

That process begins now and for Vernon, it begins in the weight room. While it might appear that Vernon’s physical prowess is simply good genetics, the truth is he works his tail off all year to stay in the best shape he can. But Vernon’s workout program changes from in-season to off-season. “When I’m not playing football, I lift harder but I don’t run as much as I do during the season,” he explained. “Then I’ll take two days out of the week to focus on my skills — catching the football and things like that.”

Fueling his physique as a member of Team EAS, there are certain products Vernon’s got to have in his nutritional arsenal. “I don’t think I can live without the Myoplex® shakes or Muscle Armor™ because both of them are vital to my health,” he said. “I feel I need those to not only get ahead on the football field but also to get ahead in life.”

Visit Vernon online at his official MySpace site or his Team EAS page.

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EMQB Interview: Vernon Davis