Plenty of sweat for coaching staffs

<p>If you thought the 49ers’ defense had a hectic time in the second half of the team’s season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, you should’ve seen their coaches at halftime.</p><p>The Candlestick Park elevator from the press box to the lower concourse was not operating properly at the decrepit stadium. The elevator malfunction forced the 49ers’ coaches to make a mad dash through the stands to meet up with the team during the 12-minute halftime intermission.</p><p>Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky was among the assistant coaches who endured the cardio test. The coaches ran down the second-deck stands to the stairs that lead to the lower concourse. From there, they again ran to through the paying customers to get to the playing field.</p><p>When they arrived on the stadium floor, the coaches still had to cover another 80 yards or so to arrive at the tunnel that leads to the 49ers’ locker room.</p><p>When asked if he noticed his coaches breathing hard, Nolan said, “They’re always panting when they get down there.” </p><p>The Cardinals coaches also were in the same quandary.</p><p>“They were breathing really hard when they came in,” Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “They got there, but they had to do a little bit of running. It’s a good thing that I make them run sprints after practice.”</p><p>Of course, the coaches had to retrace their steps in order to get to back to their perches for the start of the second half.</p><p>Manusky, dripping with sweat, looked as if he’d been drenched from a monsoon when he arrived back in the coaches’ box. Nolan said he did not know about the elevator problems when asked about it during his Monday press conference.</p><p>But Nolan said now he understood what Manusky meant earlier in the day.</p><p>“He said, ‘Get something done about the elevators,’” Nolan said.</p><p>QB conversation</p><p>Quarterback Alex Smith has a fractured throwing shoulder. It was originally considered a non-contact injury to the coracoid process, but that doesn’t seem right, either.</p><p>“In theory, just throwing would be really hard to do,” Smith said. “It’s kind of a freaky deal. They said it couldn’t happen — kind of impossible. So I don’t know if I did do something getting hit. But I cannot remember taking anything even close to a major blow in the preseason. So nothing I can even recall — even feeling anything. So I don’t know.”</p><p>How freaky is it? “As far as I understand, very,” Smith said. “Very, very, very.”</p><p>Smith said Dr. James Andrews has yet to weigh in with his opinion on the matter. Smith could require season-ending surgery, which would likely bring his 49ers career to a conclusion. </p><p>Niners general manager Scot McCloughan said last week that Smith needs to head into the offseason as the proven No. 1 quarterback to be retained at his $9.625 million salary for 2009.</p><p>Veteran quarterback Jamie Martin, 38, who served as a St. Louis Rams backup for five seasons under 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz, is scheduled to take a physical with the 49ers. If Smith goes on injured reserve — a decision is likely today — the 49ers are expected to sign Martin.</p><p>Running back Michael Robinson, who was Big Ten offensive player of the year as a Penn State quarterback his senior season, was the 49ers’ third option Sunday behind starter J.T. O’Sullivan and backup Shaun Hill.</p><p>Confounding stats</p><p>The 49ers turned the ball over five times. They got no turnovers in return. That helps explain why the statistics from the 49ers’ 23-13 loss to the Cardinals were so bizarre.</p><p>The 49ers outgained the Cardinals 291-288 despite running 28 fewer offensive plays. Arizona attempted 19 more running plays, but they netted just 1 more rushing yard than the 49ers.</p><p>“The only stat that matters is winning, and we didn’t win,” Nolan said.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com</p>