A Call to Arms

SANTA CLARA -- Alex Smith and Shaun Hill sat down in the spring to have “The Talk.” They’ve been good friends for two years. Although they both play quarterback for the 49ers, there had not been any direct competition between the two men.

Until now.

Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft, finds himself in a battle to hold onto his job against Hill, a seventh-year pro who was undrafted and has never opened an NFL season as anything other than the No. 3 man.

The competition for the starting job began Friday on the 49ers’ practice field. Smith worked with the first unit in the morning practice, while Hill took his turn with the No. 1 offense during the afternoon session.

Smith appears to have a lead in the competition, based on his physical tools. Both players performed relatively well on the first day of practice, completing roughly two-thirds of their passes. Smith tossed one interception while Hill was picked off three times during 11-on-11 work.

“When I get in there, I’m competing against the other team,” Hill said. “I’m competing against the 11 guys on defense with the 10 other guys on my side. I’m not competing against Alex.”

On Friday, when Smith made a nice pass, Hill was quick to throw a compliment his way. Smith returned the favor when Hill made a nice play on the practice field.

That is all part of the agreement. Smith and Hill have sat down and joked about the quarterback competition. But they also agreed to remain good friends through what could be a difficult time.

“Whichever guy is playing better, he’s going to be what’s best for this team,” Hill said.

This competition is nowhere near as contentious as the last great 49ers quarterback controversy of nearly two decades ago: Joe vs. Steve. Still, Smith admits he wants to reclaim what he has come to recognize as belonging to him.

“It’s been my huddle for a few years,” Smith said. “I’ve got to get back in there and make it happen.”

The stakes are extremely high for Smith, who is in the fourth year of his original six-year, $56 million contract.

Almost all of the $24 million in guaranteed money has been paid, with the last of it coming with a portion of his base salary for this season. This will be Smith’s last opportunity to prove to the club that he is worth his scheduled $9.625 million salary for 2009.

“There is enough talk about potential and capabilities,” Smith said. “It is about coming out here and consistently playing well.”

Hill became the people’s choice when he played 10 quarters of solid football late in the season after Smith and backup Trent Dilfer were injured. Hill did not attempt a pass in his first five NFL seasons.

“Being there and doing that does help with the comfort level when you step into a huddle,” Hill said. “I can step up and say something to them and be a vocal leader. It probably helps with that.”

But before either player can step into the huddle to run Mike Martz’s new offense in the regular season, one has to win the job in practices and during the exhibition season.

“There are definitely high stakes,” Smith said of the daily practices. “Every day is going to count. We only have two weeks before our first game (Aug. 8 against the Raiders). Every single day is going to be evaluated. When you come out here, you can’t have an off-day and lose focus.”

Coach Mike Nolan said he has no timetable for making a decision, though clearly the club would like to be settled at the quarterback position prior to the third exhibition game, Aug. 21 at Chicago.

“I’d like to make it (the decision) today,” Nolan said. “But I also want our best quarterback to win the job.”

For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at 49ers.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com