Should Shaun Hill Get More Love?

By Scott Dryden, 49ers World

Niner fans wonder what off-season moves the team can make. Can they trade for Donovan McNabb or Derek Anderson? How about signing Matt Cassel or even bringing home Jeff Garcia? Some fans might think the 49ers should spend their money elsewhere particularly if Shaun Hill continues to play the he has. This guy is good, but is he "Franchise QB" good? Who knows where he'll finish in passer rating and touchdown to interception ratio or completion percentage, but if it's anywhere close to where it is now (94.3, 7 td's, 3 int's, 60.3 completion percentage) I would expect many to call for him to be the team's starter for 2009.

I will say this much for him. Shaun Hill COULD be the QB the 49ers want. How many quarterbacks in the league could post a passer rating that high with an offensive line that doesn't protect well and a receiving corps that lacks a impact player? If Hill played for the Cowboys he'd probably be a MVP candidate. In the second half against Dallas, Hill looked a lot like Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Both excel at moving in the pocket, both can make the impromptu play and both have the confidence of their teammates. In leading the 49ers to two fourth-quarter touchdowns against Dallas, Hill had one stretch where he completed five straight passes for 87 yards, including the two scores. On three of those passes, he was pressured, but was able to either move out of the pocket, or slide away from pressure and throw. He had completions of 22, 30 and 18 yards against a defense that was warding against the long pass. With more seasoning and time as a starter, he's the type of quarterback who could get better. Also consider that in five of his seven appearances, he has compiled a rating of over 100, and in his first start, his completion percentage of .815 set an NFL record.

If Shaun Hill was Alex Smith, given the expectations there were for him, fans would be hailing the coronation of another proficient 49ers quarterback. It is a tough situation to be in for Hill, and I'm not discounting what he has accomplished with yet another garbage 49ers squad; he's 3-2 playing for this year's mess. I still firmly believe rather than signing or trading for a QB, that the future is in a 2009 draft pick, but as a fill in til that guy to be named later is ready, Hill might be a perfect fit.

His humble beginnings, (six of his first seven seasons spent mostly as a third quarterback), less than artistic style (even running back Frank Gore says Hill plays ugly) and lack of support from offensive coordinator Mike Martz (he remains enamored with O'Sullivan) has conspired against Hill. But if Hill continues to play well, the 49ers should concentrate their off-season spending energy on getting talent to surround him - but focus future QB needs on a smartly used '09 draft pick.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------