Why Starting O'Sullivan Makes Sense

In the first preseason game, it looks like the 49ers will play O'Sullivan against the Raiders' first team, Alex Smith against the second team, and Shaun Hill against the practice squad players in the fourth quarter. Given the current situation, this move makes perfect sense.

While Smith has shown glimpses of strong play in camp, he is still working on learning his fourth offense in four years, and what he needs most is familiarity and confidence with whatever offense he is running. Throwing him in against the Raiders' first team defense (which is solid from what I hear), seems unwise until he is fluent with the Mike Martz's complex offense.

Putting either Smith or Hill against a first team defense creates a higher risk of both injury and degradation of confidence. Starting O'Sullivan, who is experienced and comfortable with Martz's system, gives the first team offense the best chance to succeed. And if the first offense succeeds, it brings a lift to a team that likely suffers from self-doubt after a disappointing (5-11) 2007 season.

Most teams do not put much stock into preseason, but we have a squad that needs every bit of momentum. If O'Sullivan moves the offense up and down the field against the first team defense, it does wonders for team chemistry and morale.

Nolan can't stress enough that their is no set pecking order for the three QBs. I suspect that Smith is still at the top of the pecking order. He will likely get the first crack at the starting job unless O'Sullivan or Smith can display clear superiority.

Many fans are down on Smith after he got injured early in 2007 and looked horrible in the games that he tried to play with a damaged shoulder.

But as coaches watch him in camp, they notice that he still has the perfect build (in other other words, he looks the part) and the strongest arm of the three. He is also very studious about a game, and he may have a chance to be solid if he were allowed run the same offense for a couple of years in a row.

Smith was injured in 2007, looked decent in 2006, is still in his early twenties, and never had the benefit of playing with one offensive system for more than one year. With those four points, one could make a case that Smith still hasn't had a real shot at success, and therefore, still has a lot of upside.

Keep in mind: in my first post about this QB competition, I picked Smith to win the job. Although O'Sullivan has taken the lead, Smith has enough time to catch up. And of course, being a first round pick does not hurt his chances. Also, the front office may put pressure on the coaching staff to give Smith another try, since they paid him so much money.

Whoever wins the job will be under a ton of pressure. As soon as the starting QB has a few bad games, fans and critics will be calling for one of our backups to get a chance. We are setting ourselves up nicely for one soap opera of a season.