San Francisco 49ers: Why Shaun Hill is the Only Choice for Quarterback

Throughout this current offseason, 49er fans everywhere have been nitpicking at the different issues facing their team. Whether it be arguing about the hiring of offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, or analyzing the importance in the return of fullback Moran Norris, each and every aspect of the team has been fully scrutinized.

But no matter how well newcomer Dré Bly fares in the secondary, or how many sacks Parys Haralson racks up, or even how many yards Frank Gore totals rushing the football, it will be all for naught unless San Francisco gets quality play at quarterback.

The quality play the 49ers are looking for will come from Shaun Hill—and only Shaun Hill.

Now most fans feel as if the argument between Alex Smith and Shaun Hill has been beaten to death. However, despite the fact that Hill is presumed to be the clear favorite to win the job, a healthy portion of 49er faithful still argue that Smith should be given another chance.

Injuries aside, Shaun Hill has put up better statistical numbers while playing in just 13 games compared to Alex Smith's 32.

In those 13 games, Hill has thrown for 18 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Alex Smith has thrown for just one more touchdown (19) despite playing in 19 more contests.

To be more concise, Hill has thrown for touchdowns in 7.6 percent of his career completions while Smith has thrown for touchdowns in just 4.4 percent of his career completions.

In 367 career attempts, Hill has averaged just one interception for every 40 throws. Alex Smith on the other hand averages one interception for every 14 throws.

Hill averages 195.9 passing yards per game, Smith averages just 146.2, Hill's career quarterback rating is 90.5, Smith's is 63.5.

Nearly all the passing statistics favor Shaun Hill as the better quarterback, but quarterbacks are said to be measured by wins, not statistics.

Well in that case, Hill is 7-3 as a starter, while Smith is 11-18.

How 'bout a recap? After two categories in comparing the quarterbacks, Shaun Hill is up 2-0 on Alex Smith.

Perhaps those who argue in favor of Smith feel that the former No. 1 pick has more heart and is better in the clubhouse.

However, Smith has yet to make a significant play or a significant statement to the media that has shown his heart or leadership ability. On the other hand, Hill managed to show his on national television.

As seen in the article photo, during Monday Night's showdown in Arizona, Shaun Hill fought for a first down after losing his helmet. In the middle of the second quarter, facing a 3rd-and-11, Hill took the ball himself, ran for about 10 yards before taking a brutal hit that knocked off his helmet, Hill then dove helmet-less another two yards for a first down.

With plays like this, Hill has already garnered respect inside the locker room, and it is obvious that the 49er offensive line wants him to win the job. 49er lineman can say all the right things about being comfortable with either quarterback but clearly they prefer Hill, as Alex Smith has never handed the ball to one of his lineman after scoring a touchdown.

For all you hockey nuts who still continue to follow the San Jose Sharks, the comparison between Smith and Hill can be related directly to Patrick Marleau and Jeremy Roenick.

When it comes to who hockey fans would prefer to have in the prime of their careers, the overwhelming majority would prefer Jeremy Roenick.

Why, you may ask? Because like Hill, Roenick does not give excuses for poor performance and is always willing to put the team's well-being before his own.

Marleau, on the other hand, came out with the fact that he played through a knee injury in the playoffs. The Sharks winger didn't use it as a direct excuse but he also could have chosen not to release the information.

Even though Marleau and Roenick were both prolific scorers during their respective top seasons in the NHL, Roenick has that leadership factor that Marleau has been lacking.

Although both Shaun Hill and Alex Smith have the athletic ability to play quarterback in the NFL, Hill clearly has the demeanor that teammates want to see out of their leader.

After factoring in the heart and leadership aspect of an NFL quarterback, Shaun Hill is now up 3-0 on Alex Smith.

The only category that Alex Smith could possibly win when comparing him with Hill is the pure athleticism factor. Smith has averaged 3.9 yards per rush in the NFL and Hill has only averaged 3.3 yards.

But 49ers hall of fame quarterback Steve Young averaged 5.9 yards per rush and won one Super Bowl, and Joe Montana averaged 3.7 yards per rush and won four. And fans who watched Montana will argue that Joe was just as effective at scrambling as Young was.

Since quarterbacks are measured by wins, then Smith being a bit faster with the legs does not really equate to much of anything, especially considering the fact that the most memorable scramble for the 49ers over the last five years belongs to Hill.

All the evidence of who is a stronger NFL quarterback lies with Shaun Hill and if the former career backup had the same edge in statistics over an equal amount of games to Smith, the 49ers would have already declared him their starting quarterback.

In other words, the only reason that there is going to be a competition at the quarterback position is because Shaun Hill hasn't proved he can perform for an entire season.

The notion that Hill shouldn't be named the starter because he has yet to play for a whole season is absolutely ridiculous.

This is not Major League Baseball, this is the National Football League. In baseball, players with little experience can put up incredible statistics because the other more established opponents are not familiar with their unique styles.

For example, a rookie pitcher can go 7-3 to start his career with a era of 2.50 but after the hitters in the league figure him out, said pitcher's career may fizzle out before it ever materializes.

In football, a quarterback can't fool defensive backs by throwing a curveball. Plus, a defense does not gain nearly as much valuable information on a quarterback each time they play against him. For the most part, a quarterback either has the innate ability to perform at the position or doesn't have it.

Shaun Hill has it.

If Alex Smith's career numbers were of those from a mid-round draft pick, there would be no quarterback competition in training camp, it would be Shaun Hill's job.

That being said, the 49ers organization does not want to see their former No. 1 overall pick end up a bust.

However, for the betterment of the team, the earlier Shaun Hill is named the starter, the better.

A popular saying amongst the NFL during training camp is that "when a team thinks they have more than one quarterback capable of starting, it really means they have zero".

For the majority of the last few seasons, this has been true about the 49ers. But, San Francisco can and ought to make a statement by changing the way they handle quarterback position.

The 49ers ought to give the job to Hill immediately. Hill clearly deserves the job with his performance from last season.

Naming Hill the starter will give him 100 percent of the reps with the first team which will go along way in building chemistry with the number of new offensive players on the 49ers this season.

Not only will it build chemistry, but it will enable Hill to learn offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye's system faster than he would if he were giving up reps to Smith.

The importance of understanding the system cannot go overlooked as last season J.T. O'Sullivan won the job mostly due to his familiarity with former coach Mike Martz' system. Both Smith and Hill were handcuffed in competing for the starting role and having to learn a complex system that O'Sullivan was already familiar with.

In the back of everyone's minds, including Singletary, Raye, rest of the 49ers players and the fans, Hill is going to be the starter come the regular season.

Since Hill is bound to be the starter after the apparent "competition" during training camp, it would be extremely beneficial to name him the starter now, in order to start establishing an identity on offense inside coordinator Jimmy Raye's system.