Offseason Getting Shorter and Shorter

Quarterbacks Alex Smith and Shaun Hill are expected to be ready to take part in the 49ers' offseason program, which is ALREADY scheduled to begin March 17. Both players are coming off surgeries. With new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, the competition for the starting job begins early. Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft, will have to earn the position this offseason. Therefore, the competition for 2008 should be fierce from the get-go. Hill was scheduled to be a free agent, but the 49ers signed him to a three-year, $6 million contract that included a $1.95 million signing bonus. If he hits all his playing-time and performance incentives, his deal would be worth $11.5 million over three seasons.Hill underwent surgery the first week of January on a broken and dislocated right index finger. He played with that injury late in the season and still managed to give the 49ers their best quarterback play of the season. Hill completed 68.4 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and one interception in 2.5 games. The 49ers won both of his starts.The 49ers got off to a 2-1 start with Smith healthy. But he sustained a separated right shoulder in Week 4, missed two games and was ineffective when he tried to return to the lineup.Moreover, Smith and coach Mike Nolan publicly feuded. Nolan said Smith's poor play had nothing to do with his shoulder injury until Smith broke his silence and admitted his shoulder was injured. Several weeks later, Smith underwent season-ending surgery.The rehabilitation from Smith's surgery was expected to last three months. When the offseason program begins, it'll be a little more than three months since his surgery. The 49ers will likely work Smith back slowly to ensure he will be ready for the minicamps, organized team activities and training camp.Smith and Hill will compete for the starting job.

The team will also look to add a No. 3 quarterback with the club expecting veteran Trent Dilfer to retire. Dilfer did not play in 2006 because Smith took every snap from center. Last season, Dilfer struggled mightily in his backup role. He completed just 51.6 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and 12 interceptions. One reason Hill is looking forward to playing for new offensive coordinator Martz is because he sees similarities in his game and another quarterback who thrived under Martz. Hill said his style is a lot like Rams quarterback Marc Bulger."I play the same kind of game he does," Hill said. "He has a quick release. He doesn't have the strongest arm in the world, but he gets the ball out on time and in rhythm." The 49ers own the No. 29 draft pick in the first round, and so far they have 16 or 17 players ranked with first-round grades. They usually have 20 to 22 players ranked as first-round talents.The club had yet to assign grades to quarterbacks, defensive ends and wide receivers, so they appear to be in good shape as far as getting a player they like with the No. 29 pick. The 49ers have selected two players in the first round both of the past two seasons.