SANTA CLARA – Arm strength? It really only comes in handy when you're throwing a Hail Mary.
That was Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington's take on the importance of a powerful arm, but it easily could have come out of 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill's mouth as well. Both quarterbacks have had to battle the notion that their throwing arms are substandard in the NFL.
"In this league, you have to be able to throw the ball down the field," Pennington said this week. "How hard it is, is meaningless, I think. I think timing, accuracy, understanding when to take the shot, when not to take the shot and being able to move your football team – that's most important."
And in those qualities, both quarterbacks have excelled this season.
Pennington has thrown 12 touchdown passes against six interceptions and has a solid 93.7 passer rating. Hill's numbers, meanwhile, are 10 touchdowns, four interceptions and a 95.5 passer rating.
Hill acknowledged that when he watches Pennington, he sees a version of himself.
"He's always been kind of one of my favorite guys to watch," he said. " … He's always been kind of underappreciated and underestimated, and the guy just goes in and wins."
Sack attack – Linebacker Parys Haralson has 3 1/2 sacks in the last three games and leads the team with seven total. That's the most by a 49ers defender since Bryant Young finished with eight in 2005. At his recent pace, Haralson could become the first 49er to record double-digit sacks since defensive end Andre Carter had 12 in 2002.
The key? Actually being on the field. Since Mike Singletary took over the team at midseason, the 49ers have stuck to a 3-4 defense more than they did under Mike Nolan.
The result is increased playing time for Haralson, the team's weakside outside linebacker. The return to a 3-4 also seems to be working well for defensive end Justin Smith, who was held without a sack in Weeks 6 through 12 but who has two over the last two games. Smith is second behind Haralson with five sacks on the season.
Returner returning – Allen Rossum has been back practicing punt returns this week, and Singletary hopes he can handle those duties Sunday against the Dolphins. Punt returns have been tricky over the last two weeks, as the three 49ers who have that experience – Rossum, wide receiver Arnaz Battle and cornerback Nate Clements – have been injured.
Battle, who returned to the lineup to return punts last week, may have come back too soon. He aggravated the foot injury that had kept him out of the previous four contests and is questionable for Sunday's game.
Clements has practiced every day this week but with a hard cast protecting his broken right thumb that would prevent him from handling punts.
Rossum, meanwhile, is coming back from an ankle injury suffered Nov. 23 against Dallas. Singletary, however, said Rossum might be limited to punt returns. Michael Robinson and Delanie Walker, the coach said, would continue to return kickoffs.
Injuries – Rookie wide receiver Josh Morgan is ready to return to the lineup after missing the last four games with a groin injury. Singletary said Bryant Johnson, who caught a touchdown pass against the Jets, would start ahead of Morgan at split end.
Read Matthew Barrows' 49ers blog at www.sacbee.com/ninersblog.
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