49ers' Smith says his shoulder is OK after first practice

SANTA CLARA - Last season, Alex Smith and Mike Nolan were at each other's throats. This year, they're hugging.

The two shared a quick embrace Friday following the 49ers' morning practice as Nolan stepped away from his media session and Smith was on the way to his. The gesture, of course, was made for the benefit of the assembled reporters and cameramen.

Still, it signaled a break in the cold war the two waged in 2007. Smith accused Nolan of undermining him in the 49ers' locker room, while Nolan sniped about Smith taking his complaints public.

"He and I have joked about it a lot, talked about it a lot," Smith said. "Right now, we're at the point where we're comfortable with it."

The hug also was symbolic of the sea change Smith has undergone in the last few months.

Smith participated in his first practice since undergoing surgery in December to repair his separated throwing shoulder. It also was his first practice under new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, Smith's fourth coordinator in as many years.

Also, it was the first time since his rookie season that Smith entered a minicamp competing for the role of starting quarterback. He lined up with the first-team offense during the morning practice. Shaun Hill, who was undefeated in his two starts last year, was the first-string quarterback in the afternoon practice.

Nolan also said free-agent acquisition J.T. O'Sullivan, a former Jesuit High School and UC Davis star, had a shot to win the starting quarterback job. Because O'Sullivan played under Martz in Detroit, he is familiar with the coach's style and system and doesn't need as many repetitions as Smith and Hill.

"J.T. O'Sullivan, as I told him this morning, is in the mix," Nolan said. “He is competing with those other two.”

Smith's performance Friday was understandably mixed. He hit some passes. He was off target on others. And it was obvious all of the 49ers' passers needed to work on timing with their receivers, most of whom were going through their first practice with their new team.

Smith said his arm felt fine during the morning practice and that coaches did not tailor their play-calling for Smith's shoulder. He said the longest pass he threw was probably 35 to 40 yards and he does not feel comfortable with a deep pass.

"It felt good," he said. "Right on schedule with how I'm supposed to be."

In fact, Smith said he was more worried about his footwork than his right shoulder. The bulk of the quarterbacks' work so far with Martz has involved scrapping their old mechanics and starting over with new, more precise, techniques.

"Feet, body, posture, shoulder, eye - everything," Smith said. "All that stuff is getting coached."

Hill said the new mechanics were aimed at improving the quarterbacks' balance so that they can get more of their body behind their throws.

"It's a work in progress," he said. "I'm not really where I need to be."

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