"I don't think it's accurate to say that about Alex," said Nolan, referring to the "bust" label. "I have a lot of confidence in Alex. I think he's matured a lot this year. I'm encouraged by the things he's done. He was very upbeat and positive in our meeting today. He's optimistic about his possibilities of really being a good quarterback."

Smith was the first draft pick of the Nolan-Scot McCloughan regime. It was the selection that many thought would eventually define their tenure together.

"I don't see it as a problem," Nolan said. "We want to play the best players who give us the best chance to win. Alex has a lot of ability and a lot of potential and I think he's going to be a very good quarterback in this league. He's just not there at this point."

--O'Sullivan has lived a nomadic existence in the NFL with nine stops, not including a spring in NFL Europe, during his first season seasons. After his stellar career at UC Davis, O'Sullivan travels have taken him to Chicago (2002-'04), Green Bay ('04), Chicago ('05), Minnesota ('05-'06), New England ('06), Carolina ('06), Chicago ('07), Detroit ('07) and, now, the 49ers.

"At the surface, you have to say flat-out, 'I don't agree with your opinion,'" O'Sullivan said. "Really, that's what it comes down to. Their job is to evaluate talent in this league and make decisions who are the best players for their teams. And I don't agree with it, for one reason or another. It ends at that.

"I don't think it's a thing of trying to prove people wrong. This is a game, when all is said and done, about competing against yourself and putting everything you can into it. If you do anything besides that you're cheating yourself."

--Nolan will again wear suits on the sideline for home regular-season games. He has been approved to wear a shirt and tie for road games, but would have to wear a Reebok jacket over the tie. When told that he would be sporting a "Mister Rogers look," Nolan said, "You just talked me out of it."

--Nolan said he likes having four exhibition games and does not want to see that number shrink. He said he can still evaluate personnel and get the team ready for the season opener with four games. With fewer games, there would be more emphasis on just getting the team ready.

BY THE NUMBERS: 6. The number of offensive coordinators the 49ers have employed in the past six seasons.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm expecting him to do some great things. The receiving corps is a little banged up, so he's got a perfect opportunity to do great thing. I think it'd be a perfect opportunity for me, too" - Retired WR Jerry Rice said of rookie Josh Morgan.