Quaterbacking debate

So by now, everyone has seen Nolan's post-war plan for selecting a Quarterback. Essentially, he's saying that the deadline for the decision is the third pre-season game. This goes against earlier statements indicating the team wants to go into training camp with a starter. Barrows gave that statement a little flack this morning, and reasonably so. But is there genius lurking behind the delay?

Here's why Nolan's doing the right thing in waiting to name a starter. As anyone who's seen these two quarterbacks play can tell you, Alex Smith looks good on paper and in practice; Shaun Hill doesn't. Hill looks good in games; Smith doesn't (usually). If the decision to name a starter were made based solely on OTAs and training camp, the nod would obviously go to Smith. In six years in the NFL, Hill never distinguished himself in practice. In fact, he was destined for a career as a 3rd stringer until he had the opportunity to start last year. Only after those performances was he in the running for the permanent starting job. So the only way the team can truly evaluate Smith v. Hill is by considering game situations. According to Maiocco,

Nolan intimated that Smith and Hill will start one game apiece before the third practice game.

If the team is actually giving Hill a shot to start, that's the only reasonable thing to do.