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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the 49ers in 2012:

Dream scenario (14-2): The 49ers pick up where they left off last season. They continue to force turnovers and protect the football while dictating field position with their dominant special teams. This time, however, the offense has more firepower.

Receiver Michael Crabtree backs up coach Jim Harbaugh's comments suggesting Crabtree has all-time great hands. A rejuvenated Randy Moss strikes fear into secondaries. Quarterback Alex Smith, armed with sufficient weapons, strikes for explosive plays more frequently. The offensive line, stabilized by Alex Boone's emergence as a top young guard, sustains drives on third down and finishes them in the red zone.

Rookie receiver A.J. Jenkins hits stride in December as the 49ers clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs heading into Week 17. Colin Kaepernick throws for 350 yards and four touchdowns in the regular-season finale as San Francisco eliminates division-rival Arizona from playoff contention. Sufficiently rested, the 49ers score a dominating victory over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, delivering San Francisco its first Super Bowl title since the 1994 season.

Nightmare scenario (6-10): The odds catch up to Smith when the Detroit Lions' Ndamukong Suh delivers a controversial hit at the knees in Week 2. Kaepernick isn't ready, Moss loses interest and the offense can't score enough points. Meanwhile, Peyton Manning has the Denver Broncos looking like contenders.

The 49ers realize they were fortunate to have Smith start 18 games the previous season despite taking 51 sacks. They realize how risky it was going into the season without a proven right guard. How hard would it have been to pay one of the veteran options the team considered in free agency? That's a question reporters keep asking, even though none of them said much before the season. The question stings now that Smith is done for the season and Kaepernick is running for his life.

Tough defense and special teams keep the 49ers reasonably competitive. The coaching staff does its best to stabilize the situation. The 49ers compete and steal victories from other teams with quarterback issues. In the end, however, they become the latest team to suffer a hard fall after posting a glittering record the previous season. Rock bottom arrives when Sando notes, again, that the 13 teams finishing 13-3 from 2004 to 2010 averaged 8.3 victories the following season.

Three-fourths of the NFC West wanted a shot at Peyton Manning this offseason.

The Seattle Seahawks' Pete Carroll and John Schneider flew to Denver in a failed attempt to catch Manning before the quarterback departed for Arizona.

The Cardinals met with Manning at their facility.

The San Francisco 49ers then emerged as a surprise finalist for Manning, with Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh flying to watch Manning work out in North Carolina.

Manning was a special case, to be sure, but those teams' interest also reflected on relatively weak quarterback situations in Seattle, Arizona and San Francisco. The position has stabilized within the division since Manning signed with Denver, providing an opportunity to bring in Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. for thoughts on where teams stand.

Mike Sando: Let's begin with the Seahawks, the only team in the division to bring in a new likely starter from the outside. Does Matt Flynn improve the situation?

Matt Williamson: Yes, and that is the best word. When free agency hit, I wasn't huge on Flynn. I thought people would be beating down his doors, and he worried me. I think he's good, not great. I would not use the term 'franchise quarterback' for him. But he improves them and I can't be critical of any team that gets better at QB.

Sando: What limits your enthusiasm on him?

Williamson: His overall talent, his ability to throw the football, his size and strength -- they're all just a little above average. He was a seventh-round draft choice for a reason. You have to keep him ahead of the chains, you need the running game. He doesn't take the team on its shoulders if things fall apart around him. If you manufacture offense, know what he is capable of doing, minimize turnovers, I think you can win a lot of games that way. In the end, he is an upgrade. And they did not spend a fortune for him.

I look at Seattle like the arrow is going up, they are getting better in all areas and they are young. This is a nice signing. Tarvaris Jackson played well and he was injured, and he exceeded my expectations, but that is as good as he is going to play. He is still a liability more than an asset. Flynn can get to a point where he can be more of an asset than a liability.

Sando: You said we've seen the best from Jackson. A lot of people think we've seen the best from the 49ers' Alex Smith as well.

Williamson: I agree. I really think it's going to be Colin Kaepernick's job not far down the line. They are going out and getting vertical guys, guys who can really run. That doesn't fit Alex Smith. Yes, it will open up room for Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, but after a while, people are going to realize they don't have to take away the deep ball. I think Harbaugh wants Kaepernick out there. He wants a guy to use the whole field.

Sando: The contract Smith signed was for three seasons and can max out at $33 million, but the 49ers can easily exit the deal after one or two years and a lot less money.

Williamson: Everyone realized that offense was easy to play against last year because they had no weapons on the outside to scare you deep. Harbaugh knew that, so he was really creative with his big-body personnel, using a lot of six-man line sets, double tights, heavy formations. They did a lot of odd things and had to coach up points. I think he wants more explosiveness for sure and more verticality, and Kaepernick has those traits much more than Smith. They traded up to get Kaepernick for a reason. You don’t use a second-round pick for a quarterback who is very toolsy without looking at him as the starter.

Sando: Smith did go 13-3 last season. He did make the winning plays against New Orleans in the wild-card round. Is the trajectory pointing up on him?

Williamson: Smith minimized the negative plays and will never be any better than he was doing that. He may get more confident, may make a few more throws, but what we saw in that one playoff game will be few and far between. He is an OK player, but has a real low ceiling.

Sando: Cardinals fans are hoping that comment doesn't apply to Kevin Kolb as well. Kolb had trouble staying on the field last season, missing extended period with toe and head injuries. He struggled when he was on the field as well.

Williamson: I look at Kolb like I look at the rookies last year. The lockout, those guys got thrown into the fire in an unfair manner. Any quarterback changing teams, especially a QB with limited experience, never got the minicamps or the things they needed. But man, I didn't like anything I saw from Kolb. I think their quarterback situation is the worst in the league right now, right there with the Browns and the Dolphins and a few other teams.

Sando: Arizona saw enough to pay a $7 million bonus to Kolb, keeping him on the roster. The alternative was heading toward the draft with John Skelton as the only starting prospect. That would have been rough. What about Kolb bothered you the most last season?

Williamson: I just didn’t see anything to get excited about. Didn’t see tools or the willingness to hang in the pocket. Maybe he was just uncomfortable. A couple guys who floundered last season could step up big after having a regular offseason. I just did not see anything. Kolb does not stand as firm in the pocket as I would like. I'd like to see him more willing to take hits to deliver the football.

Sando: Kolb did that well on a deep pass to Larry Fitzgerald at Washington early in the season, absorbing a crushing hit to complete a game-changing pass. But that play was an exception. Kolb did bail from pressure too frequently, and he could not stay on the field.

Williamson: Ken Whisenhunt was used to Ben Roethlisberger, who is the opposite. Kurt Warner is the opposite, too. He would take a hit, let it go at the absolute last second.

Sando: Any discussion about quarterbacks getting hit should include the St. Louis Rams' Sam Bradford. He took 36 sacks in 10 games last season. Bradford has a new offensive coordinator, Brian Schotteneheimer, and a new head coach promising to protect him.

Williamson: I am a Bradford guy who had no problem with their decision not to take Robert Griffin III. The Rams have had as good an offseason as anyone. The more I look at last season -- mix in Bradford's injuries, the bad line, having no weapons -- it was an impossible endeaver. Throw that away. Jeff Fisher is smart and has a history of bringing along guys slowly, of running Eddie George and playing defense. Schottenheimer did a ton of that with the Jets, maybe even too much, but he had to.

Sando: Right. Schottenheimer was trying to take off pressure from Mark Sanchez, at least until last season.

Williamson: Sanchez isn't close to Bradford. My concern with the Rams would be two years from now, if Bradford still does look like the first overall pick, will they take the reins off? Harnessing him back now, I have no problem with that. Win some games, lean on others. But will they allow him to be great when he is ready? They are conservative by nature.

Sando: Shorter term, the Rams haven't done anything to help Bradford in the playmaker department. They've actually gotten worse in that area after losing Brandon Lloyd to free agency.

Williamson: They will end up with Trent Richardson or Justin Blackmon in the draft, but it would have been nice to add some kind of veteran. Maybe Mario Manningham. At least a No. 2 type. They do have a lot of young guys from last year and maybe someone steps up, but it's not real exciting. I would not have paid what Pierre Garcon got, though. Robert Meachem got good money too. St. Louis is not the most attractive free-agent landing spot for a receiver right now. But the team is set up for the long term, at least. They will get a top-10-type stud wideout in the next year or two.

Sando: Thanks for the conversation, Matt. I'll be on the lookout for you next Football Today podcast, which posts right here each week. The next one goes live Monday.

A three-year deal for Alex Smith accomplishes two things for the San Francisco 49ers.

It brings back Smith for at least one more season as the starter. That was the most important thing. There was no sense messing up a good thing prematurely and unnecessarily.

Also, the relatively short contract length and anticipated $24 million value affirms the gap between coach Jim Harbaugh's characterization of Smith as "elite" and how the market actually valued Smith.

There should be no surprises.

There's no way Harbaugh thought Smith, 27, was elite the way Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady is elite. As we discussed during an NFC West chat four months ago:

"Harbaugh knows an elite quarterback when he sees one and there's no way he thinks Alex Smith is elite the way Aaron Rodgers is elite. When Harbaugh spoke of Eli Manning as an elite quarterback, he marveled at things such as arm talent, stature in the pocket, rare physical ability, etc.

"When he refers to Smith as elite, I think he's talking about Smith's ability to carry out his assignments at high level. Those assignments are not as challenging as the assignments truly elite quarterbacks carry out. We'll know pretty soon what Harbaugh really thinks of Smith. The next contract Smith signs will tell us where he stands compared to quarterbacks earning elite QB money."

That next contract has come. We do not know all the details, but we should know an elite quarterback contract even from a distance, and this contract does not fit the profile.

The franchise tag for quarterbacks was worth $14.4 million per season. Peyton Manning signed for $19 million annually Tuesday. Brady earns $18 million per year. Smith will apparently come in closer to $8 million a year, a healthy raise from last season, but not enough to prevent the team from moving forward with Colin Kaepernick in the not-too-distant future.

The frustrating part for a quarterback in Smith's position would be seeing the Arizona Cardinals pay more than $12 million per season for Kevin Kolb, who had hardly played. Seattle just paid more than $6 million per season to Matt Flynn, who owns two career starts.

Of course, Smith himself has benefited from the same backward system, signing a six-year deal for nearly $50 million as a rookie.

Teams are willing to pay more for potential than for a player with known limits. Smith, though he improved last season and could continue to grow as a player, has a more clearly defined ceiling now than when he had not played. It's higher than it was one year ago, at least.

The contract won't mean as much as the 2012 season nears. Smith can proceed as the 49ers' starting quarterback. Harbaugh and Smith can put behind them any hard feelings that might linger from contract talks or the 49ers' pursuit of Manning.

Those hard feelings should not diminish what Smith helped the 49ers accomplish last season as the team went 13-3 and reached the NFC Championship Game. Nor should they stand in the way of future successes.

Time to move on.

Alex Smith and the San Francisco 49ers have little choice, in my view, but to reach agreement on a new contract.

The 49ers, having missed out on Peyton Manning, cannot plausibly go from an overtime defeat in the NFC Championship Game with Smith to a relative unknown behind center.

Smith cannot plausibly leave the 49ers for a situation far less favorable to his career.

Which side has the most leverage? The 49ers have to know Smith will return at a semi-reasonable price before he'll settle for what could be a backup job for comparable money elsewhere.

Smith is running out of elsewheres, anyway.

I think that explains why team CEO Jed York has rather flatly stated that a contract offer remains on the table and the next move belongs to Smith. That strikes me as a rather arrogant view, but it also reflects the situation quite accurately. The 49ers can afford to wait when they know the likely outcome.

Players can't dive back into preparations for the upcoming season until mid-April, so it's not like the 49ers are losing ground.

Getting Smith back will give the 49ers their best shot at winning given the absence of a viable alternative.

The chart compares the numbers for Smith to those for signed NFC West quarterbacks since Week 13 of the 2010 season, when Smith returned to the starting lineup with a strong showing against Seattle. The 49ers could do a lot worse than Smith, in other words.

The other quarterbacks: Rich Bartel, Kevin Kolb and John Skelton of Arizona; Colin Kaepernick and Scott Tolzien of San Francisco; Tarvaris Jackson, Josh Portis and Matt Flynn of Seattle; and Sam Bradford of St. Louis. Not all of them played in games during the period in question. Flynn played for Green Bay. Kolb played some of the games in question for Philadelphia.

Five considerations now that Peyton Manning has told the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans he plans to sign with the Denver Broncos:

• More On Manning

  Peyton Picks Broncos:
  You can call this The Drive Part III: John Elway's determination to get Peyton Manning makes the Broncos a contender again, Ashley Fox writes. Story

  Peyton Manning's decision to play for the Broncos is very bad news for the rest of the AFC West, John Clayton writes. Story

  Manning has a kindred spirit in his corner with Elway as his boss, a big reason why he picked the Broncos, Bill Williamson writes. Blog

  • How Manning fits
  • How good are Broncos?
  • NFL Nation: Bloggers react
  • Mike and Mike: Chris Mortensen
  

  ---

  Tim Tebow Watch:
  Mel Kiper breaks down five teams that may be interested in Denver quarterback Tim Tebow, now that Peyton Manning looks to be the starting QB for the Broncos. Story

  • NFL Nation: Bloggers on Tebow's fate
  • Rumors: Who wants Tebow?
  • ESPN Boston: Tebow a fit for Pats?
  • Vote: Tebow's future in NFL?

  ---

  SportsNation:
  Peyton Manning's pick of a team set Twitter abuzz and drew reaction from several current and former NFL players. Not all (Deion Sanders) were fans of the move. Reaction

  • Vote: Peyton, Broncos a good fit?
  • Vote: Rank Broncos after move
  • Quiz: Broncos QBs since 2000

  More:
  • Fantasy: Broncos WRs gain value
  • Stats & Info: What Manning brings
  • Peyton Manning photo gallery

  Big sighs of relief: Arizona, Seattle and St. Louis no longer must worry about defending against a Manning-led 49ers offense. A healthy Manning would have made the 49ers even more formidable than they were while going 5-1 against the division last season. It's looking like the Seahawks will be the team in the division with the best shot at upgrading their quarterback situation.
• Harbaugh must take lead: The seemingly special bond between 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and 2011 starter Alex Smith could need some repairing. That should not be too difficult if Harbaugh has been forthright with Smith throughout the process. The 49ers, like the Cardinals, will want to define their interest in Manning as a special case unrelated to their incumbent quarterback. Re-signing Smith should be a no-brainer now.
• Smith's only logical option. Smith has made it known he wants to continue playing for the 49ers. Hurt feelings suffered during negotiations and the Manning diversion should not be grounds for divorce. Unless Smith acts hastily out of anger, which seems unlikely given his temperament, the 49ers should now be able to re-sign Smith to a deal that gives them the flexibility to hand things over to Colin Kaepernick in the next couple years if Smith falters. The 49ers did lose some leverage, however, when Manning picked Denver over Tennessee. A deal with the Titans would have pushed Matt Hasselbeck onto the market.
• Forget about Tim Tebow. The Broncos wanted Manning not only because Manning is a great quarterback when healthy, but also because the organization was seeking a Tebow exit strategy. Manning's acquisition provides the perfect cover for Broncos executive John Elway, who has made clear his feelings that Tebow's playing style is not sustainable. I would not anticipate NFC West teams having interest in Tebow if the Broncos tried to trade him.
• Manning not on schedule. NFC West teams do not play the Broncos in 2012. They still face a lengthy list of talented quarterbacks, including Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo and Jay Cutler. Every NFC West team does face the Miami Dolphins, who lost out on Manning, did not sign Flynn and could have a tougher time signing Smith now that the 49ers have lost out on Manning.

It's a relief to have the Manning situation resolved. I was looking forward to the possibility of having him in the division, however, whether with Arizona or San Francisco.

A quick look at where NFC West rookie first-round draft choices stand at roughly the midpoint of the 2011 season:

• Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals (5th overall): Peterson has started all seven games. He has one interception and has not yet upgraded the Cardinals' pass defense. Peterson has had problems with penalties, but he generally wasn't the one in coverage when Arizona appeared helpless against Anquan Boldin last week or, for one play, Mike Wallace the previous week. Peterson has dramatically upgraded the Cardinals' punt-return game. His touchdown was the difference in the team's victory against Carolina in the opener. He scored again as the Cardinals nearly upset Baltimore. It's fair to say the Cardinals might be winless without him.
• Aldon Smith, OLB, San Francisco 49ers (7th overall): Smith has become a legitimate candidate for defensive rookie of the year. He has 6.5 sacks, most in the NFC West and seventh-most in the league. Smith also collected a key safety during a 25-19 victory at previously unbeaten Detroit. The 49ers' 6-1 record and lofty standing on defense work in Smith's favor regarding rookie honors. Smith is improving as the season progresses and playing a more prominent role. He has collected all of his sacks in the 49ers' last four games. He has a realistic shot at double-digit sacks.
• Robert Quinn, DE, St. Louis Rams (14th overall): Quinn improved his standing substantially with a sack and blocked punt during the Rams' upset victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 8. The Rams did not plan for Quinn to start this season. James Hall remains the starter ahead of him. Quinn's performance against the Saints suggests his playing time should continue to increase. I thought Quinn started to come on against Washington a few weeks ago. The Rams haven't scored enough points to create the favorable pass-rush situations that would play to Quinn's strengths, particularly at home.
• James Carpenter, RT, Seattle Seahawks (25th overall): Carpenter has started every game for the Seahawks, mostly at right tackle, but also at left guard. His conditioning was a problem early. Carpenter was making strides, but the last couple games have been difficult. Officials flagged Carpenter for two penalties in third-and-long situations against the Bengals. The trend could continue as the Seahawks prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys on the road in Week 9. Overall, though, Carpenter appears on track as the starting right tackle.

Teams aren't getting much from their second-round picks. Arizona's Ryan Williams is on injured reserve. San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick is the No. 2 quarterback, as expected. Lance Kendricks is playing for St. Louis, but his role has diminished lately. The Seattle Seahawks did not make a second-round selection.

No team in the NFC West and few anywhere have a player as valuable to them as Peyton Manning is to the Indianapolis Colts.

But with Manning lost to the Colts indefinitely following neck surgery, this marks a good time to update the list of "indispensable" players in the NFC West. These aren't always the best players on their teams. They're the players teams can least afford to lose right now.

Thanks to 710ESPN Seattle for the idea. Hosts Brock Huard and Mike Salk were discussing possible candidates for the Seahawks earlier Friday. This was a conversation I wanted to take to the blog.

Arizona Cardinals

1. Kevin Kolb, QB: The Cardinals' entire offseason revolved around upgrading this one position. They liked what they saw from Rich Bartel and John Skelton during the preseason. They hope both look good in the 2012 preseason as well. But they don't want to go through another regular season without a legitimate starting quarterback.

2. Larry Fitzgerald, WR: Receivers can do only so much. The Cardinals went 5-11 with Fitzgerald getting his usual 90 catches for 1,000-plus yards. Still, losing Fitzgerald would hurt more now than in years past because the Cardinals are developing young talent at the position. They don't have Anquan Boldin or Steve Breaston to fall back on. Losing Fitzgerald would deal a strong psychological blow as well.

3. Beanie Wells, RB: Wells has only two career starts. He would not rank among the 10 most accomplished players on the team. But with backup Ryan Williams on injured reserve and former starter Tim Hightower having been traded to Washington, the Cardinals cannot afford to lose their starting running back.

St. Louis Rams

1. Sam Bradford, QB: Bradford answered the durability questions that surrounded him coming out of Oklahoma by taking every offensive snap during his rookie season. Steven Jackson remains the most respected player in the Rams' locker room, but Bradford is most important to the team's success on offense, particularly now that the Rams have better veteran depth behind Jackson.

2. James Laurinaitis, MLB: He's the quarterback of the defense and one of the best young linebackers in the league. The Rams' defense would suffer a great deal from losing other players, including tackle Fred Robbins and either starting defensive end. But Laurinaitis might be the hardest to replace, not just for his ability but also for his energy.

3. Rodger Saffold, LT: This was a tough call. Losing a starting cornerback or even rookie tight end Lance Kendricks would hurt, too. But teams can scheme around holes in their secondaries. The Rams have done that in the past. And Kendricks, though impressive so far, remains an unproven rookie. Left tackle would be the hardest position on the line for the Rams to patch. The offense would change significantly.

San Francisco 49ers

1. Alex Smith, QB: Weary fans are counting down the days til Smith is finished with the 49ers. That is understandable in the bigger picture, but even Smith's harshest critics shouldn't root for the Colin Kaepernick era to begin before its time. The 49ers do not have a veteran backup quarterback on their roster. Losing Smith this early in the season would put Kaepernick in a tough situation. The offense faces enough challenges already.

2. Patrick Willis, LB: As great as Willis has become, the 49ers would also have a hard time playing without defensive end Justin Smith. The team did keep extra defensive linemen on its roster, however. It's easier, in theory, to find 3-4 defensive ends than all-world linebackers. And with Willis set to blitz more frequently this season, the 49ers need him. Larry Grant would probably replace him.

3. Frank Gore, RB: Vernon Davis was nearly the choice here because the team has already lost one tight end to a season-ending injury. But with Braylon Edwards on the team, Michael Crabtree returning from injury and Ted Ginn Jr. reportedly looking good, the 49ers have other options in the passing game. Gore's a huge part of the 49ers' plans for a power offense. The team replaced him better than I would have anticipated last season, however. That's why Davis and Justin Smith drew consideration here as well.

Seattle Seahawks

1. Red Bryant, DE: Opposing coaches tend to take special notice of Bryant's massive frame when discussing the Seahawks' defense. "He weighs around 330 and looks every bit of it," 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said this week. It's an exaggeration to say the Seahawks go from very strong against the run to utterly helpless when Bryant isn't available. It's only a slight exaggeration, however. Bryant combines surprising quickness over short distances with sheer size to make running against Seattle difficult. The run defense collapsed without him in 2010.

2. Russell Okung, LT: I could make a strong case for including Okung atop this list, but the Seahawks have become accustomed to playing without him. Repeated ankle injuries to Okung have at least partially numbed the Seahawks to losing him for stretches. They're expecting him to start against San Francisco and hoping he'll stay in the lineup this time. But the offensive line is going to experience growing pains anyway.

3. Chris Clemons, DE: For years the Seahawks were searching for someone to give them badly needed pass-rush production. Clemons came through with 11 sacks last season despite playing through an ankle injury. I'll rank him third even though tight end Zach Miller would also be tough to replace with John Carlson on injured reserve. Earl Thomas and Marshawn Lynch also come to mind for Seattle.

The San Francisco 49ers ideally would have added an experienced veteran backup quarterback as insurance for Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick.

Of course, the 49ers of the past decade have known better than most the difficulties associated with finding quality at the position.

That explains why the 49ers claimed Scott Tolzien off waivers from the San Diego Chargers. They didn't like any of the available veterans enough to clear a roster spot for one.

Tolzien, an undrafted rookie from Wisconsin, had impressed Chargers starter Philip Rivers with how quickly he grasped the playbook in camp with San Diego. He is what teams generally prefer in their third-string quarterbacks: a quick study willing to put in the work. There simply aren't enough reps or coaching resources for teams to coddle third-stringers, particularly once the season starts.

Tolzien, a bit undersized at 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds out of college, lacks the strong arm and overall physical skills that separate quarterbacks on draft day. But he finished his college career with a 21-5 starting record and was the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm winner last season.

There are no guarantees for Tolzien or anyone else around the fringes of NFL teams' rosters. No matter how much the 49ers might want to develop him, they've already identified Kaepernick as their preferred long-term starter. Injuries or opportunities to land more talented players could lead the team in another direction down the line.

Check here for a complete list of the San Francisco 49ers' roster moves.

Surprise move: Releasing veteran backup quarterback Josh McCown was a mild surprise, not a shocking one. The team sought veteran depth behind Alex Smith and rookie Colin Kaepernick. McCown was on the roster for those purposes and could conceivably return if needed down the line, but the 49ers want to upgrade there if they can.

Keeping sixth-round safety Colin Jones seemed odd on the surface after Jones played sparingly on defense during preseason. He played extensively on special teams, however. Keeping Jones could qualify as a victory for assistant head coach/special teams Brad Seeley. Veteran guard Tony Wragge was let go after the team drafted interior linemen and developed Adam Snyder as an option at center. Keeping only two tight ends on this initial roster was a mild surprise but also a reflection of Nate Byham's season-ending injury. Rookie Konrad Reuland will presumably wind up on the practice squad.

No-brainers: Rookie receiver Ronald Johnson was a draft choice with ties to the coaching staff from his days at USC, but he didn't do enough during preseason to warrant releasing a superior player. Johnson appears to be a candidate for the practice squad. Keeping safety Reggie Smith despite injury concerns also was a smart, predictable move. He was in line to start entering camp and should factor at the position eventually. Backup running backs Anthony Dixon and Kendall Hunter made it, with Hunter as the apparent favorite for the No. 2 role.

What's next: The 49ers will want to add a veteran backup quarterback at some point in the near future. Smith has durability and performance-related concerns. Kaepernick, though talented, does not appear ready to step in as a starter in the near term. McCown knows enough of the offense at this point to come back in a pinch, but the team could sign another veteran for Week 1.

Looking back on three things discussed here before the San Francisco 49ers' preseason game against the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night:

1. Manusky's intentions: Greg Manusky, the 49ers' former defensive coordinator, was on the other sideline for this one. Would he unleash Chargers blitzes similar to the ones New Orleans used to overwhelm the 49ers a few weeks ago? Would San Diego's defensive front dominate the way Houston's did against San Francisco last week? Not in this game. The 49ers' offensive line established a strong running game early, leading to 14- and seven-play touchdown drives on the team's first two possessions. Both teams had their starters in the game during that time.

2. Backup running backs: Kendall Hunter carried nine times for 51 yards in the first half. Anthony Dixon finished the two early touchdown drives with 1-yard runs. Hunter had a 21-yard run. Dixon did his job around the goal line.

3. Overall vibe: The first-team offense finished a mostly rough exhibition season on a positive note. Alex Smith completed 8 of 10 passes for 45 yards. He was not sacked or intercepted. Backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw two first-half interceptions, continuing a rough preseason for him. It's never a shock when a rookie struggles making the transition to the NFL, however. The 49ers were more interested in seeing Smith and their first-team offense function decently. Mission accomplished. The Chargers did not play their starters on offense, so it was tougher to evaluate the 49ers' defense. First-round pick Aldon Smith and free-agent Demarcus Dobbs, both rookies, caused problems for the Chargers' backup offensive front.

Note: I filed this late in the third quarter, figuring the first and third items were covered, and running plays late in the game wouldn't be all that critical.

Looking back on three things discussed here before the San Francisco 49ers' 30-7 preseason defeat against the Houston Texans on Saturday night:

1. Quarterback rotation: Coach Jim Harbaugh bucked convention for the third preseason game by breaking up first-team reps between Alex Smith and backup Colin Kaepernick. The idea made sense, in my view, because Smith’s history suggests injuries or poor performance will lead to a quarterback change at some point during the regular season. Unfortunately for the 49ers, their pass protection and overall offensive performance wasn’t up to standards. This game lacked rhythm from the moment 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks returned the Texans’ first pass for an interception. The Texans got the ball back and played keep-away. Smith and Kaepernick both took too many hits. Both threw interceptions when pressure affected them. We'll presumably see more short timing throws against pressure when the games start counting. Pressure affects quarterbacks and that was the case here. Neither appeared comfortable. Kaepernick was off-target on a couple throws to Delanie Walker. Kaepernick averaged 3.3 yards per attempt on 16 passes. Smith averaged 2.8 yards per attempt on six passes.

2. Stadium safety. Team president Jed York, appearing in the 49ers’ television broadcast booth during the game, used the word "anomaly" to describe the shooting and general violence that marred the team’s home game against Oakland last week. York said he hung out with fans, including longtime season-ticket holders, before the game. He also said there were no plans to resume preseason games between the Bay Area rivals.


3. Snap counts at center. Jonathan Goodwin took over for Adam Snyder early in the game. I wasn't able to watch them closely while monitoring multiple NFC West games. Goodwin did not appear to be at fault when the Texans stuffed a third-and-1 run in the first half. What did you see from Goodwin in particular? I saw Tony Wragge playing center in the second half.

Three things to watch for in the San Francisco 49ers' preseason home game against the Houston Texans at 8 p.m. ET:

1. Quarterback rotation: Jim Harbaugh plans to give backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick snaps with the first-team offense. It's possible starter Alex Smith could reenter the game for some situational work. Harbaugh wouldn't be the first NFL coach this summer to take that somewhat novel approach. Kansas City's Todd Haley did it against the St. Louis Rams on Friday night. Harbaugh's thinking is sound. There's a good chance Kaepernick will play at some point during the regular season. Smith has played all 16 games only once in a season. Kaepernick should be better for his work against an opposing first-team defense.

2. Stadium safety: Security should be tight at Candlestick Park one week after a shooting injured two outside the stadium. Here's hoping this is one angle requiring little followup after the game. There should be no bad blood between fans of these teams.

3. Snap counts at center. With three NFC West games overlapping Saturday night, I'll be hard pressed to count snaps for Jonathan Goodwin and Adam Snyder. We're getting to the point, however, where the starting offensive line would ideally come together for the season. The assumption early in camp was that the newly signed Goodwin would replace David Baas, who signed with the New York Giants in free agency. Snyder has previously spent his career at guard and right tackle. Goodwin signed a three-year, $10.8 million contract with a $2 million signing bonus and $1 million salary this season. Snyder's deal averages slightly less annually. It calls for $2 million in salary this season. The salary disparity between the two isn't significant enough to force one player into the lineup over the other.

Jim Harbaugh's decision to let San Francisco 49ers rookie Colin Kaepernick work with the starting offense in the third preseason game makes so much sense.

Making that type of move in a regular-season game would constitute jerking around the starter. That would make little sense in the absence of a performance-based reason.

In this case, Harbaugh wants to see how Kaepernick and other select backups perform against another team's starting unit. That is exactly what a lot of us would like to see for players at various positions throughout the division.

Harbaugh thinks the experience could better prepare those backups for regular-season action if called upon down the line. At quarterback, Alex Smith will start and play perhaps two series. Kaepernick could then come into the game for a stretch before yielding to Smith. Coaches always reserve the right to adjust their approach should circumstances dictate, but I see no real downside for the 49ers.

Smith appears clearly established as the No. 1 quarterback at this point. Giving some first-team reps to Kaepernick should not significantly undercut Smith's short-term job security. Harbaugh, as a longtime NFL quarterback, understands the dynamics of the position.

This seems like a logical move and an example of a coach willing to defy convention when it makes sense to him. And if Kaepernick looks great, we'll have lots to talk about on the blog. I'm all for that, too.

An attempt at perspective regarding San Francisco 49ers-related happenings:

• The 49ers and Maybin: The Buffalo Bills released Aaron Maybin at least in part because he wasn't a good fit for a 3-4 defense. The 49ers run a 3-4 defense. Not all 3-4s are created the same. Perhaps the 49ers could find a spot for Maybin. It's easy to see why Maybin would want to play for the 49ers. He and 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman were roommates at Penn State. Maybin, Bowman and 49ers tight end Vernon Davis grew up in Maryland. Side note: Maybin was the 11th player chosen in the 2009 draft. The 49ers used the 10th pick that year for Michael Crabtree. Update: Rule out Maybin.
• Separation at quarterback: So, starting quarterback Alex Smith has tightened his grip on the job over the past couple days. It's an upset if Smith isn't the starter for Week 1 of the regular season. As a former quarterback, coach Jim Harbaugh should know when a quarterback needs a boost. Smith might have needed one after a rough preseason opener and speculation over the 49ers' intentions for the position amid news that Daunte Culpepper worked out for the team.
• No deal yet for Culpepper: Taking a look at Culpepper opened the 49ers to easy ridicule. Were they really desperate enough at quarterback to consider a 34-year-old UFL passer whose last NFL snap came during the 2009 season? Yes and no. The team would like to add a veteran backup before the season. Doing so wouldn't necessarily affect the team's broader plans for the position. The 49ers know they can wait on Culpepper. Other teams aren't rushing out to sign him. In the meantime, the team can consider its options.

Any Buffalo Bills fans out there with thoughts on Maybin?

The San Francisco 49ers were the only NFC West team to play just two quarterbacks in their first preseason game.

They are the only team in the division looking for a third quarterback.

How much quarterbacks play during preseason can mean more than how well they seem to play under what are often unusual circumstances with little application to the regular season.

Preseason snap counts are especially precious during this abbreviated NFL offseason. That helps explain why St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo indicated he might schedule his starters to play longer in the second preseason game, making up for time lost. That might also explain why the 49ers weren't going to waste preseason snaps on quarterbacks not yet in their immediate plans.

The charts break out quarterback participation by NFC West team, including non-penalty snaps, quarters, drives and drive results.

The Arizona Cardinals' Kevin Kolb drove his team to the Oakland 1, where the Raiders stuffed Beanie Wells on a fourth-and-goal play.

The second chart breaks down participation for No. 2 quarterbacks in preseason openers. Columns remain ordered by team (Rams, 49ers, Seahawks, Cardinals) for easier comparison with the other charts.

The third chart covers third-string quarterbacks (Rams, 49ers, Seahawks, Cardinals).

Cardinals fourth-stringer Max Hall also played in the first week of preseason. He took five snaps and led one touchdown drive.

I've included the final chart breaking down snap percentages by quarterback for those wondering whether their team's starter played too much, too little or the right amount in the opening week.

My impression watching the Seahawks was that Tarvaris Jackson, having played only two series, needed a little more time to get going. While he did play the lowest percentage of his team's snaps among NFC West starters, he logged one more snap than Kolb. Seattle quarterbacks ran more snaps overall, strengthening the perception that Jackson was hardly out there at all.