--Quarterback Alex Smith appears to have fallen behind J.T. O'Sullivan in the battle for the starting job along with Shaun Hill, although coach Mike Nolan insists it remains even. "I keep them all alive still. Until I say differently, I'm going to keep them all alive," Nolan said. "I like all three quarterbacks, I can't stress that enough. I feel good about all three of them. Alex (Smith) obviously is a starter, a healthy starter anyhow, at seven and five and Shaun (Hill) last year in his two starts he had he was 2-0. So I know they both can win games. I feel confident in both of them. J.T. is the newest product to what we've got, so I'm getting a longer look at him."
--Coach Mike Nolan is still experimenting with which defensive player he wants to be equipped with the radio device this season. In the exhibition opener, safeties Michael Lewis and Keith Lewis received the radio calls from the sideline.
But linebacker Patrick Willis, who played every defensive snap last season and is emerging as a team leader, might get his chance, too.
"All of our safeties have worn it in practice, so they are used to the sound in their helmets," Nolan said. "Patrick at some point could have one. For right now, I would rather leave him alone. Some of our veteran safeties handle a lot of information very well. I just don't know Patrick well enough right now."
--Second-year outside linebacker Jay Moore recorded a sack and two tackles behind the line of scrimmage while working with the 49ers' No. 3 defense. But he also missed some assignments and that might prevent him from working his way up the depth chart, Nolan said.
"I was just pleased that he is making progress from a year ago and that he made plays," Nolan said. "But what are your negative plays and how much did they hurt us? Not that they hurt us bad, but at the same time you are looking at the overall game someone has. I'm not looking to change the depth but it is nice to see he has the ability to make some plays."
--In 2005, Jonas Jennings coined the phrase "I'm rollin' with Nolan." Three years later, Jennings made it sound as if he's not rollin' so much anymore.
Nolan has been frustrated with Jennings' inability to remain healthy. Jennings took a one-week leave last season, and Nolan placed Jennings on IR last season despite Jennings believing he had time to return after ankle surgery.
"He knows how it is," Jennings said of Nolan. "He knows and I know, and that's good enough for me. I'm not bringing that out. It is what it is. He's the head coach and I'm the player. That's it."
This season, Nolan moved Jennings to right tackle. Jennings admits he is not happy with the decision, but has vowed to be a "team player."
"We had a very good relationship for the better part of three years," Nolan said. "Last year, the episode we ran into did a little bit of damage, but not enough. He and I still communicate regularly. He knows me very well because we had a good relationship. I know Jonas well, and Jonas is a good player. He's important to our football team. He knows I feel that way."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "(I'm) just trying not to get into that, as much as possible. It's easy to get sucked in and get pissed. Obviously, they have things they're doing upstairs, and that's the way it's going to be done. All I can really worry about are my reps and what I need to do" - QB Alex Smith on whether he should have lost his starting job due to last season's injury.
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