QBs Smith, Bulger have much in common

SANTA CLARA – When Alex Smith ran into St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger at the Super Bowl in February, the two didn't treat each other like division rivals or enemy combatants.

Instead, they sat and talked.

"There's a unique understanding of what the job entails," Smith said Monday of what he described as the "common bond" of being an NFL quarterback. "You kind of learn to appreciate each other."

Smith and Bulger have a greater bond than most. Bulger is one of Mike Martz's most famous disciples. At the time, Smith was just learning how demanding both Martz and his voluminous playbook can be.

"He doesn't set a limit on what we can do and what we can learn," Smith said of Martz. "He's going to push our development."

Smith, who took the first-team repetitions during Monday's practice, is learning his fourth offense in four seasons in the league. But he said he never has had to digest as much so early in the offseason as he has under Martz.

Asked what percentage of the playbook he has learned, Smith said he hoped it was mostly installed. But he admitted he didn't know. He said he got the sense from Bulger and from teammate J.T. O'Sullivan, who played for Martz last year in Detroit, that Martz's offense is always evolving and that a quarterback never finishes learning it.

Fellow quarterback Shaun Hill, meanwhile, said he hasn't hit the books this hard since college. He even has homework – film clips he brings home with him after practice.

"(Martz) will be the first to tell you – if you think you've got it, you don't," Hill said. "So we have to stay on top of it."

Hill led the second-team offense Monday but will get a chance with the first team today. He and Smith likely will rotate throughout this month's organized team activities (OTAs).

No show – Receiver Arnaz Battle was one of three players who missed Monday's optional practice. Battle had not participated in the team's offseason conditioning program but did take part in last month's mandatory minicamp.

Last week, coach Mike Nolan said he expected Battle to show up for OTAs. Monday, he said he hadn't heard from Battle and didn't know why he was absent.

Battle has been working out in the Dallas area. He had been playing the "Z" receiver position behind Isaac Bruce.

O'Sullivan and right tackle Jonas Jennings also missed practice because of private matters, Nolan said. O'Sullivan is expected back today while Jennings should arrive Wednesday.

Rachal starts – With Jennings out of action, rookie Chilo Rachal worked with the first-team offense at right tackle. Rachal said he practiced at tackle upon first arriving at USC but was moved to guard and never played tackle during a game.

The 49ers have little depth along the offensive line and Monday signed Alan Reuber, a 6-foot-6, 307-pound tackle who entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M in 2004.

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