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Hill Has A Chance To Make His Mark

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 21, 2007

Updated: 12/21/2007 12:22 am

TAMPA - Alex Smith could use a healthy shoulder to lean on.

The first pick in the 2005 NFL draft entered the 2007 season eager to prove his dynamic progress last season was no fluke.

Instead, the 23-year-old former Utah standout finds himself sidelined following shoulder surgery, while journeyman quarterback Shaun Hill faces the Bucs on Sunday.

Smith's relationship with Coach Mike Nolan became strained midseason, and now Nolan can't say enough about Hill, who completed 21 of 28 passes Saturday night while leading San Francisco past Cincinnati 20-13 in his first NFL start.

"Hill did an outstanding job last week," Nolan said of the 27-year-old undrafted free agent, who did not throw a pass in four seasons with the Vikings. "Shaun's an instinctive player. I guess you could say he's similar to Jeff Garcia in that he's got good vision, he gets rid of the ball quick and he has the ability to keep plays alive."

Smith, who had right shoulder surgery a week ago, suffered through a miserable rookie year with the 49ers, throwing one touchdown pass and 11 interceptions for a 4-12 club in Nolan's initial season.

Last year was markedly different as San Francisco improved to 7-9 with Smith taking every snap and improving his passer rating 34 points to 74.8

Big things were expected from Smith and a young NFC West club on the rise in '07, and the 49ers opened 2-0 before an eight-game losing streak buried them and left Nolan facing a precarious future.

Hill's performance against the Bengals was encouraging as free agent addition Darrell Jackson emerged from a season-long slumber with eight receptions.

"Shaun Hill brings an aggressive style of play," said the former Tampa Catholic star, who was acquired in an April trade after spending his first seven NFL seasons with Seattle. "He's not scared to make a mistake because you can always come back with a good play. He walks with a swagger, talks with a swagger and everyone has responded. It's fun to go out there and make plays for him."

If Hill enjoys another solid effort Sunday against the NFC's top-rated defense, the 49ers will be pressured to re-sign him for 2008.

Smith retains a big upside, but he and Nolan became alienated after Smith suffered a separated shoulder against Seattle in Week 4.

According to a report in the San Jose Mercury News, Smith said Nolan attempted to undermine him in the locker room by telling Smith's teammates he was using his injury as an excuse for ineffective play.

"Obviously, there was a lack of communication at one point early in the season," Nolan acknowledged this week. "Although we were talking, as far as the exact things being said and how someone felt about certain things, we need to do a better job. But things are fine now - there's no change in our relationship, as I see it."

While Nolan and Smith try to overcome their differences, Hill senses an opportunity.

"We know a little bit more about Shaun Hill now," said Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks. "He's a very athletic player. That's a very impressive game last week he put on tape."

Smith was off the board when the Bucs picked Cadillac Williams with the fifth choice in the 2005 draft, but Coach Jon Gruden was an unabashed admirer, praising Smith's intangibles and success in Urban Meyer's spread attack at Utah, where Smith went 21-1 as a starter.

Now Gruden is preparing for Hill, whose improvisational skills make him dangerous to defend.

"I wouldn't say he Hill is a guy that's going to run 50 yards on you, but he can create with his legs and he has a great sense of bodies and congestion around him," Gruden said. "He's able to keep plays alive, and that's a real strength of his."

Reporter Ira Kaufman can be reached at (813) 259-7833 or ikaufman@tampatrib.com.

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