Hill named 49ers' 2009 starting QB
Article & photos by Andy Lopusnak of Bay Area Sports Drive Magazine
August 25, 2009

San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary announced that Shaun Hill will be the team’s starting quarterback when the regular season opens in two weeks ending an anti-climatic QB controversy between the undrafted signal caller and the former 2005 number-one overall selection, Alex Smith.

Hill was unquestionably the frontrunner for the job after helping then interim head coach Singletary get the permanent job after going 5-3 as the team’s starting QB over the last eight games of 2008. Smith missed the entire 2008 season with a shoulder injury and has never lived up to his top-pick status.  

In eight NFL seasons, Hill has compiled a 7-3 record as a starter, all with the 49ers, including an undefeated 5-0 record at Candlestick Park. The journeyman quarterback began his NFL career in 2002 with Minnesota appearing in just one game during his four years for the Vikings. In 2006, he came to San Francisco and didn’t play in any games that year. After six seasons, Hill had less than ten snaps but the 49ers’ QB woes in 2007 gave him a late season chance to start. He went 2-0 as the starter to close the 2007 season. However, Hill’s 2007 success didn’t translate into a starting nod under new offensive coordinator Mike Martz in 2008 until the team fired head coach Mike Nolan. After just one game under Singletary as the interim head coach, Hill was named the starter for the rest of the season.

“It has been quite a ride,” said Hill after Monday’s practice – his first as the team’s 2009 starter. “I almost made it through my whole sixth season without taking a snap in the league. And now here I am with the opportunity to start for one of the most storied franchises in the NFL, a franchise that has had great quarterbacks throughout its history. I’m very honored to have this opportunity with the 49ers.”

Two games into the preseason, the 49ers are the worst passing offensive unit in the NFL. Neither Hill or Smith have done much so far. Hill got the starting nod in the opener vs. Denver and Smith took the reigns against the Raiders. Both were wins, but not won by either QB. In the preseason, Hill has completed five-of-nine passes for 61 yards and has been sacked three times. Smith has completed half of his passes (eight-of-16) for 63 yards (that’s a measly 3.9 yards per attempt) with one touchdown, one interception and has been sacked once. All might not be lost for San Francisco as the 49ers do have the top rushing game, averaging 205.5 ground yards per game in the preseason. Of course the 49ers receiving corps has been pretty depleted with top-pick Michael Crabtree still unsigned and Isaac Bruce hasn’t played a single down in the preseason. Bruce was the team’s top receiver last year. In fact, the top three receivers from last year haven’t caught a pass this preseason (Bryant Johnson is now with Detroit and Frank Gore has played just one series without any catches).

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