by John HickeyIf there is any kind of rivalry among 49ers quarterbacks, it's not showing itself at a time it might be expected.Alex Smith, out since Oct. 24 when he suffered a separated left (non-throwing) shoulder, certainly won't be back this week and it may be some time after that before he's ready to go.
During that time, Alex Smith says he will help his backup, Troy Smith, in any way he can.
"This is an opportunity for him,'' Alex Smith told csnbayarea.com. "Opportunities come at different times, and it can be awkward and difficult. But I'm not going to backdoor him or slight him or not give him help if I can. No question. I'm not that type of guy.
"In the long run, Troy's success has nothing to do with mine. I think you can look at it now that we're potentially competing, but it's a time like this where you see what kind of man you are.''
It's at a time like this, with Troy Smith having engineered a win over the Broncos a week ago Sunday in London, that a changing of the guard can occur. The 49ers only have two wins, but the leaders in the NFC West, Seattle and St. Louis, only having won four times, the 49ers can at least hope they aren't out of it with half a season to go.
San Francisco scored three fourth quarter touchdowns with Troy Smith at the helm in Wembley Stadium, so he's got a leg up on keeping the job if he can continue to produce.
"I prepare for the worst and hope for the best,'' Troy Smith said Monday in preparation for facing the Rams Sunday at Candlestick Park in what now looms as a huge game for San Francisco, and almost as big for St. Louis.
"It's kind of boring and the same week-in and week-out, but that's what I do. I try to stay even keel. You never want to put yourself in a situation where you get into an extreme high or an extreme low.''
After the Broncos' game, in which he hit on 12 or 19 passes for 196 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, Troy Smith was challenged by coach Mike Singletary not to be a "one-game guy.'' As of Monday, however, Singletary has not told either quarterback of his plans for the position the second half of the season.
For his part, Alex Smith, who went through Monday's session without a helmet, said he just wants to get back to the point where he's healthy enough to compete for the starting job again.
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