Rattay best for the job

Rattay, on the other hand, has thrown for nearly 200 yards, completing 13 of 19 passes in the process, and has connected for three touchdowns.

Even more telling than the stats, however, is the general demeanor of the team when the two guys are in there. It looks like the Niners' offense has no confidence when Smith is under center. There is no room to run for the running backs and the opposing defenses are putting pressure on the young Smith. Add to the fact that Smith is over- or under-throwing receivers and it's no wonder the Niners are having problems moving the ball. How many times did Smith and the Niners face 2nd-and-10 or 3rd-and-10 Saturday night? Not too many quarterbacks can be successful in that situation.

Compare that with Rattay, who appears to come into the game brimming with confidence and the rest of the team seems to feed off of his aura. And why shouldn't he be confident? After watching Smith and the offense sputter, Rattay can't do any worse.

I've always felt Rattay can be a decent quarterback. He put up eye-popping numbers at Louisiana Tech in college. His main problem is remaining healthy after a 2004-05 season in which he suffered major injuries on three separate occasions.

Granted, Smith and Rattay may not be facing the same defenses. Playing with the first-string team, Smith is seeing an opposing team's first-string defense. Playing with the second string team, Rattay may be playing against second stringers. But Rattay is doing what a front-line guy should do against the second string - he's shredding the opposition.

Head coach Mike Nolan wants Smith to be the starter, and with a $49 million contract, he should be given every opportunity to win the job. But Nolan, in the back of his mind, has to be pleased with the way things are going right now. By all but announcing Smith is the starter, he has lit a fire under Rattay, who is showing what he's got. So go ahead and let Smith get the bulk of the work with the first-string offense in practice. Let Smith start the final two pre-season games. He needs all the work he can get. But the Niners are sitting pretty with a more than competent "back up" in Rattay. You think the Chicago Bears or New York Giants might like a guy like Rattay right now? The Bears lost starter Rex Grossman for the year with a broken ankle and the Giants are concerned about soreness in Eli Manning's throwing elbow.

The Niners might actually benefit by taking a page from the College of San Mateo football team's quarterback situation: Every week, the Bulldogs' starting quarterback job is up for grabs and the one who performs the best in practice during the week gets the start Saturday. In the end, the better quarterback moves to forefront and puts a stranglehold on the job.

The Niners should do the same. Smith probably has more talent, but Rattay has more experience. Until Smith's talent and potential takes over, Rattay's experience gives him the edge.

It should also give him the starting quarterback job.

Nathan Mollat can be reached by e-mail: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102. What do you think of this column? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.