Players eager to unwrap game plan

<p>SAN FRANCISCO — The offensive players acted like kids on Christmas Day when the game plan was distributed in preparation of the 49ers’ first meaningful game of the season.</p><p>Quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan immediately thumbed through the pages to find the pass plays that offensive coordinator Mike Martz had installed for today’s season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.</p><p>Many of the 49ers’ other offensive players also cracked open the game plan, unsure of what exactly “Mad Mike” would have in store for them — and the Cardinals’ unsuspecting defense.</p><p>“It’s definitely exciting to see what’s in it,” receiver Bryant Johnson said. “We just have to be good with it.”</p><p>The 49ers last season had the worst offense in the NFL. Under offensive coordinator Jim Hostler, the 49ers averaged just 13.7 points a game — tied for the lowest in franchise history. They rushed for the fewest first downs in team history, and they were sacked a franchise-worst 55 times.</p><p>Coach Mike Nolan fired Hostler immediately after the season, admitting that he never should have promoted him from quarterbacks coach after Norv Turner left to become head coach of the San Diego Chargers.</p><p>Enter Martz.</p><p>Nolan enlisted the help of Martz, considered one of the brightest offensive minds in football, to help save his job. Martz found himself in the unemployment line when Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli fired Martz following the season due to philosophical differences.</p><p>Nolan begins his fourth season as 49ers head coach with a 16-32 record. In order for Nolan to return for a fifth season, he will likely need a dramatic improvement from the offense.</p><p>Nolan is placing his trust in Martz, who is placing his trust in journeyman quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan, winner of the training-camp competition over Alex Smith and Shaun Hill.</p><p>There is little doubt Martz runs the offensive show. Nolan is involved closely with defensive coordinator Greg Manusky in piecing together the defensive game plan. Martz has autonomy on the other side of the ball.</p><p>“To be honest with you, I’m not going to dabble into that area,” Nolan said. “From a philosophical standpoint, that is my area. But the other things, that’s Mike’s area of expertise. I trust him to do a great job.”</p><p>O’Sullivan makes the first start of his six-year NFL career one year after first teaming up with Martz with the Detroit Lions. O’Sullivan’s journey has taken him to New Orleans, Green Bay, Chicago, Minnesota, New England, Carolina, back to Chicago, Detroit and now San Francisco.</p><p>O’Sullivan said he does not see this starting assignment as the culmination of his story, only the beginning. His goal for today’s game?</p><p>“To win and play well — move the ball, score touchdowns,” he said. “(To) do whatever we have to do to win this game. That’s my only expectation.”</p><p>The expectations of the offense have increased this season with Martz in control. He made it clear from the moment he was hired in January that he plans to feature running back Frank Gore as the central figure in the team’s offense. Gore is as outwardly excited as any player on the team with the prospects of the season.</p><p>“I’m excited about this season,” Gore said. “In coach Martz, I know we have a great leader. What I love about this offense is I know that teams won’t be able to stack eight or nine men in the box. There are going to be a lot of lanes. I’m going to be moving around. It’s going to be fun seeing me run around.”</p><p>The 49ers’ offense figures to be an ever-changing spectacle, as O’Sullivan found out last season as the Lions’ backup quarterback. Martz’s offensive playbook is constantly evolving from week to week.</p><p>“It never stops growing,” O’Sullivan said. “Coach Martz is never going to put us in a box and say, ‘That’s all we are going to do.’ Whatever he thinks we can handle, he is going to give us.”</p><p>And so far, it appears as if Martz believes this collection of players can handle a lot.</p><p>“I don’t have a preconceived notion of where we should be,” Martz said. “I just wouldn’t put a limit on it. I’m excited about this group.</p><p>“It’s a talented group with great character. They’re very unselfish and their work ethic is really good so there’s really probably nothing they can’t accomplish. They just don’t know that yet. It’s a step-by-step process and I just wouldn’t put a limit on it or a seal on it. We’ll just have to see how good we can be.”</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.</p>