The starter at QB? O'Sullivan joins the fray

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers' only minicamp ended Sunday with quarterbacks Alex Smith and Shaun Hill having received the lion's share of work with the first-team offense.

That, however, will change when the team assembles next month for organized team activities (OTAs).

Coach Mike Nolan said the one thing that was clear from the minicamp was that J.T. O'Sullivan deserves a shot at starting.

"Probably the biggest impression that I got out of the quarterback position is that it is probably going to be a three-man race rather than just two," Nolan said. "I think J.T. O'Sullivan … is going to be in the thick of it."

Asked what he liked about O'Sullivan, a former Jesuit High School star who later played at UC Davis, Nolan cited the quarterback's familiarity with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's system. O'Sullivan worked under Martz last season in Detroit.

"So he's a little crisper than the other guys because he's had a year in it," Nolan said. " … But I like his demeanor and I like his ability just to make a play work. That's important."

Nolan's comments were made just moments after Hill and Smith ended practice with several sloppy passes. Each quarterback had four chances inside the 20-yard line. Hill threw three interceptions, all to safety Michael Lewis. Smith was intercepted by cornerback Marcus Hudson. Some of the passes were bobbled by receivers, but neither quarterback looked sharp.

"At the end, I thought it just got a little sloppy," Nolan said. " … That is the urgency and detail that I'm talking about. You can't have that."

Nolan said he and his offensive coaches will consider a three-man rotation during OTAs, which begin June 2. By training camp, however, Nolan said he wants to have a better of idea of who his starter might be because there won't be enough practice repetitions to divide three ways.

"We have that decision to make (by) training camp as far as who's going to take a little more reps, who we're leaning toward at that time," Nolan said. "But those preseason games are going to be important."

Banner year

The "Win the West" banner that has hung at the entrance of the 49ers' locker room has been taken down, symbolic of the new motto – "One at a time" – Nolan is trying to instill in his team.

"Whether that be one practice, one rep or one day, that creates a sense of urgency to do things now," Nolan said. "Things don't take care of themselves."

Nolan installed the "Win the West" banner during his first season in San Francisco. On it were the helmets of the three other NFC West teams with red X's through them.

Full back

Running back Frank Gore went through the minicamp weighing 224 pounds, about 12 pounds above his playing weight.

Gore said he plans on losing that weight over the next month in his hometown of Miami, where his workout regimen includes sprinting up hills while pulling a truck tire.

About the writer:

• Read Matthew Barrows' 49ers blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.