49ers still looking for answers at QB

By Jeff Dickinson  |   Monday, August 11, 2008  |  Comments( 6 )

San Francisco 49ers
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San Francisco’s opening preseason game against the Oakland Raiders last week was a chance for the 49ers to answer some important questions regarding the 2008 season.

The biggest question obviously centers on which of San Francisco’s three quarterbacks is going to win the starting job. It was hoped by 49ers head coach Mike Nolan and millions of fans that one of San Francisco’s signal-callers would distance himself from the other two against the Raiders.

Unfortunately, Nolan and everyone else will have to wait another week.

The Raiders won the game 18-6, but wins and losses don’t mean much during the preseason. What matters for the 49ers is how their quarterbacks perform in trying to grasp Mike Martz’s new spread offense.

None of San Francisco’s QBs had a particularly good night against the Raiders. If you had to pick a winner among the three, it would be pretty difficult. Alex Smith had the fewest turnovers, but he also threw for the fewest yards (51).

J.T. O’Sullivan, who started the game, had the best completion percentage, going 5-of-8, but he also turned the ball over on his last two drives (one interception and one fumble). Shaun Hill threw for the most yards (83), but he had a pick and the lowest completion percentage (50).

Suffice it to say, Nolan and Martz are still searching for their starting quarterback.

There were also additional areas that were less than stellar for the 49ers. The Raiders held San Francisco to 70 yards rushing and only 2-of-11 on third-down conversions.

There were some positives from the opener, though. San Francisco’s defense held the Raiders to only 98 yards passing. Moreover, the O-line surrendered just one sack and the offense had nine first downs through the air. Another bright spot for the 49ers was the play of rookie wide receiver Josh Morgan, who caught four passes for 68 yards.

In more good news, the 49ers bolstered their defense over the weekend with the signing of two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Takeo Spikes. He and Patrick Willis will give San Francisco a solid pair of LBs.

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About Jeff Dickinson

I have been writing and editing professionally for 18 years. I spent the first three years of my career as a sportswriter for a daily newspaper in Alabama and got to cover sports and get paid for it! It was great until I got married and then it wasn't too much fun being away from my wife every ...
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