Selling Shaun Hill short?
Our early projections have Shaun Hill as the 22nd ranked quarterback. Fantasy leaguers worry about the loss of Mike Martz in addition to the easy schedule on which Hill feasted down the stretch. 49ers management, especially GM Scot McCloughan, has given Hill no respect, constantly trying to replace him with flashier options.
Is everybody selling Shaun Hill short?
When I mentioned to Gregg that I wanted to do a blog post on Hill, he was quick to point out that almost everything we've seen from him under Martz is now irrelevant. Despite the 49ers' claims to the contrary, the Jimmy Raye offense doesn't look like one that will create a lot of passing yards.
So what does Hill have going for him?
Easy schedule or not, Hill finished directly behind Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner as the ninth best fantasy quarterback from the time he took over as the Niners' starter in Week 10 til the end of the season. Not to be overlooked, one of the worst wide receiving corps in the league got markedly better this offseason. Michael Crabtree immediately becomes the top weapon on the passing game, explosive sophomore Josh Morgan is fully healthy, Brandon Jones is around for depth, and Jason Hill is showing flashes.
Even more impressive is Hill's performance in San Fran versus the team's other quarterbacks the past two seasons. While throwing up an eye-popping 90 passer rating, 64.0% completion rating and 18/9 TD/Int ratio, Hill has directed the 49ers to a 7-3 record in 10 games. Over the same time span, all other 49ers quarterbacks have combined for a 5-17 record.
Upon further reflection, I've moved Hill to a high-end QB2 in my own rankings. Is he deserving of more respect than he's been receiving?
Comments
No, you can't have him as a high end qb2, because he may be a qb2 on his own team. Right now he is too uncertain. Perhaps as the season gets closer, but now he is just a flier
Posted by: Kirby | June 5, 2009 09:21 PM
You don't really believe Alex Smith has a chance to win the starting job, do you?
Posted by: Wess | June 5, 2009 10:15 PM
The lack of comments show how disrespected he is. I think he is kind of like Jeff Garcia, a nice solid QB who is a good leader and will win games yet the team is always lookig for hs replacement. Alex Smith hasnt shown anything and that was before he had surgery on his throwing arm, Nate Davis isnt even close to bein NFL ready so this is Hill's job and I think will be a very solid QB2.
Posted by: Tim | June 5, 2009 10:46 PM
Alex Smith, probably not but at the same time I would have thought Smith would be cut and not making the money he is.
Someone in the 49ers likes Smith, whoever does probably is constantly talking about how he was decent the year norv turner ran the offense. Their offense is going back to that, etc...
I think some team is going to sign Vick this year, and even though the 49ers are saying not them it seems like a real possibility.
If the 49ers were making the best decision it would be Shaun Hill. It has been almost ten years since I would defer to the 49ers and assume they would make the right choice.
I think he is a good but risky qb2 with upside but I would want to be sure a guy was starting before gambling too high on him. I say about 21st right now qb. If he is assured of starting that can jump to qb 14 or 15.
Posted by: Kirby | June 6, 2009 04:33 AM
I live in the bay area. He is THE starter. He will be THE starter in 2009. A Smith has no chance(barring a Hill inj) of being the starter.
He does present value (at the right price, 16 rd and later in a 12 teamer). I would gladly have him as a high end QB 3 in leagues that allow u to carry more than 16 on ur roster
Posted by: Interested Observer | June 6, 2009 01:43 PM
Kirby,
That's pretty much my line of thinking. I think he'll be about Top-14 or 15 by the time people are holding drafts.
Oh, and the guy in the organization that really loves Alex Smith is the GM. The guy who drafted him at No. 1 overall and desperately wants him to succeed.
The numbers say Alex Smith has posted two of the worst seasons of all time in his three years of playing.
Posted by: Wess | June 6, 2009 01:46 PM
IMO, Hill has what Smith never could get, the confidence of the team. Smith practices like a champ but plays the game like a chump.The comparison of Hill to Garcia by Tim is on the money.
Posted by: joe400e | June 6, 2009 03:31 PM