49ers' Lelie facing fairly long odds

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Aug 27, 2008 | by Daniel Brown

SANTA CLARA -- Mike Martz is not a fan of the word "fair." Someone used it Wednesday in asking about Alex Smith and the 49ers quarterback situation.

Martz, the 49ers offensive coordinator, reacted as if someone spit in the Gatorade jug.

"Let's get this straight. There's nothing fair about this league. All right?" he snapped. "If you establish yourself as an incredible player "... that's just the way it goes. There's nothing fair about this game. Understand that, first of all. OK?"

Martz was talking about the quarterback battle, but you can bet wide receiver Ashley Lelie's ears perked up.

Lelie faces an uncertain future heading into Friday night's exhibition finale against the San Diego Chargers. He missed virtually all of training camp with a calf injury. Other receivers quickly capitalized on his absence. That means Lelie isn't guaranteed a roster spot after Friday's game, despite a career average of 17.2 yards per catch -- the best mark among active NFL receivers.

Fair? There's nothing fair about this league, OK?

Lelie, in his seventh NFL season, understands.

"I just need to show that I can play, you know?" he said. "I just need to basically show that I've grasped the offense pretty well and that when I get my opportunities, I can make plays."

With the quarterback question out of the way last week, the spotlight shifts to Lelie and the rest of the wide receivers.

Coach Mike Nolan said the team would keep five or six receivers when final cuts are made Saturday. Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson, Josh Morgan and Arnaz Battle look like sure things. That leaves a small window for the other six receivers on the roster: Lelie, Cam Colvin, Jason Hill, Dominque Zeigler, Jerard Rabb and Robert Ortiz.

There is also the question of who starts. Johnson and Battle have been limited by injuries, although Battle had two catches for 33 yards in the exhibition opener. Morgan has been terrific, but Nolan has held back on giving him the starting job.

The patchwork nature of the exhibition season has left little time to develop the chemistry and timing required in Martz's system.

"We've been behind the 8-ball there and that's hurt us,'' Martz said. "We need that desperately."

Choosing the right receivers is pivotal for an offensive coordinator who keeps everyone on the depth chart busy.

Surprisingly, quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan said he wasn't overly concerned about the ongoing job fair at receiver. He said all that's required of him is to get the ball to the right spot -- no matter which receiver happens to be there.

"I don't look around to see who's in the huddle and who's at what position. That's not how this offense works," O'Sullivan said. "It's based on what coverage we see. The ball goes to a certain spot. I'm throwing it where it has to be. It doesn't matter who it is."

Will it be Lelie? Hailed as a deep threat, he was disappointing in the 49ers' moribund offense a year ago, managing just 10 catches for 115 yards and no touchdowns in limited action.

But he thinks he can offer something the 49ers need. Lelie has 21 career receptions of at least 40 yards.

"Definitely," Lelie said. "I feel I can stretch the field with my speed and being able to catch the ball."

Note: Morgan won't play Friday after missing practice all this week because of an illness. Four other players were declared out: returner Allen Rossum (chest contusion), guard Adam Snyder (ankle), tackle Jonas Jennings (hand) and safety Keith Lewis (chest). ... Nolan said the starting unit would play one series to one quarter against the Chargers.

Contact Daniel Brown at dbrown@mercurynews.com.