'I'm still the starting quarterback'
Smith says no reason for concern with Rattay gone
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) --- nfl ---
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-- Alex Smith says the San Francisco 49ers have no reason to be concerned at quarterback now that veteran Tim Rattay has been traded.
The 49ers practiced Wednesday for the first time without Rattay, the team's former starting quarterback who was traded Tuesday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after losing his starting job to Smith two weeks ago.--- nfl ---
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Rattay's departure leaves the 49ers with three quarterbacks who have a combined total of just eight NFL starts. Second-year veteran Cody Pickett, 25, is the oldest of that group. Ken Dorsey is 24 and Smith is 21.--- nfl ---
"Being so young, let people talk about us," Smith said. "We know what we're going to do and we know what we have to do. We're going to enjoy the challenge and we're going to get it done."--- nfl ---
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Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft this year, took over as the starter Oct. 9 against the Indianapolis Colts. Rattay started San Francisco's first four games this season after beating out Smith in training camp, but the sixth-year veteran struggled after leading the 49ers to a win over St. Louis in the season opener.--- nfl ---
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Smith threw four interceptions and committed five turnovers against the Colts in his starting debut. The only other San Francisco quarterback with starting experience is Dorsey, a third-year veteran who started seven games last year when Rattay was injured.--- nfl ---
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Coach Mike Nolan said he was reluctant to trade Rattay because of the safety net he provided the young quarterbacks, but ultimately decided the 49ers could get by this season with them learning on the job.--- nfl ---
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"That's the way it is," Nolan said. "It's where we're at and what we're working with. We know the situation. We didn't draft Alex to sit on the bench. We drafted him to play, and the only way he's going to get maturity and grow and learn the things is to play. So that's what we're doing with him."--- nfl ---
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Smith and Kyle Orton of the Chicago Bears are the only rookie quarterbacks currently starting in the league. Smith has been groomed for the starting role since he was drafted. He began training camp ahead of Rattay on the depth chart and started San Francisco's first two preseason games.--- nfl ---
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But the rookie played poorly in those games and Nolan announced Rattay would be the starter. Smith leaned on Rattay for advice and knowledge, but said he doesn't feel any more pressure now that the veteran no longer is around for support.--- nfl ---
"I'm still the starting quarterback, just like I was [before Tuesday's trade]," Smith said. "It was made clear to me before that, barring injury, I was going to be the guy the rest of the season. I was going to get all the [repetitions]. But it will definitely be different now. There will be three of us and obviously we're all pretty young."--- nfl ---
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Smith's backups will have to catch up fast. Dorsey has taken only a limited amount of practice snaps since the season began. Pickett hasn't taken a snap at quarterback since midway through the exhibition season. Both are eager to be moving up in the pecking order.--- nfl ---
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"[The trade] definitely took me by surprise, but it kind of motivates you to go out and work even that much harder because now the coaches have put their trust in you to do a job," Dorsey said. "Because now I'm that much closer to having to be in the game. They entrusted me in a job, and I intend to do that job to the best of my ability."--- nfl ---
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Dorsey was 1-6 as a starter last year during San Francisco's 2-14 season. He was in and out of the lineup as Rattay suffered five injuries in 2004, three of which required surgery.--- nfl ---
Dorsey completed 54 percent of his 226 passes last year for 1,231 yards and six touchdowns with nine interceptions. His 62.4 quarterback rating ranked last in the NFC among all players who qualified for those rankings.--- nfl ---
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"I'm excited about the position I'm in," Dorsey said. "It provides an opportunity for me to be the second-string guy now on a team that I love to play for. That's an exciting opportunity for me. I'm excited for Tim and the new opportunity that he has, and we're just going to move on here from where we're at."--- nfl ---

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