Offense showing signs of renewal

Even if the 49ers’ offensive showing Saturday came in a meaningless exhibition game, it was still a welcome relief from the futility of recent seasons.

“Unlike a year ago or even the past three years, we’ve had a lot of flashes (this summer),” 49ers coach Mike Nolan said Sunday, a day after the club’s 34-6 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

“Whether in training camp or practice against the Raiders or even in our preseason game against the Raiders, we’ve had a lot of spurts and flashes of good stuff. (Saturday) night we put it together more often than we have up to this point. So I’m encouraged by that.”

Quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan threw for 154 yards in the first half, including a 59-yard touchdown pass to rookie Josh Morgan. With Alex Smith and Shaun Hill at quarterback in the second half, the 49ers added a touchdown and two field goals. (The 49ers also scored on Allen Rossum’s 67-yard punt return.) There have been many times throughout training camp when the 49ers’ defense overmatched the offense.

Some practices have been marred by the 49ers’ inability to get lined up correctly on offense, false starts and overall ragged play in the passing game. But Saturday’s game provided the first tangible clues the 49ers have the ability to be significantly improved from the unit that ranked last in the NFL with just 237.3 yards per game a year ago.

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz has installed a complex offense that requires a lot of attention to detail. That is part of the reason he said he decided to call plays Saturday from the sideline. It is easier to communicate with his players from the field, he said.

The 49ers gained 233 total yards in the first half against the Packers, nearly matching last year’s regular-season average.

“Most importantly, it builds confidence in our players,” Nolan said. “We have, as everyone does in training camp, good days and bad days. This offense, as everyone in the league has witnessed, is an extremely good offense. And Mike Martz does as good a job as anyone in the league, if not better. So I’m confident that it’s getting better all the time.”

Nolan said there has been no decision about the starting quarterback for the regular season. The 49ers open on Sept. 7 against the Arizona Cardinals.

O’Sullivan appeared to solidify his edge as the No. 1, though. He threw one interception when trying to force the ball to tight end Vernon Davis, but O’Sullivan also took the cautious approach on a couple plays outside the pocket.

“He continues to do a good job,” Nolan said. “I thought his decision-making was very good. I thought he played well yesterday.”

O’Sullivan has worked exclusively with the first team since Aug. 6. He has also started both exhibition games, while Smith and Hill have gotten their game action with the reserves.

When asked if he has a fair reading on what Smith and Hill can do, Nolan answered, “I feel good about what we’re doing so far from a repetitions standpoint, and playing time as well.”

The 49ers’ pass rush is another faulty area last season that has shown tremendous improvement in the first two exhibition games. The 49ers have recorded eight sacks in the first two games, including six against the Packers.

“At no time do you want to sit back and say, ‘We got that fixed,’” Nolan said. “We still have a lot of work to do, but there are a lot of encouraging things that are happening. There are a lot of encouraging things that are happening.”

Justin Smith’s versatility is a big key to the 49ers’ defense. He played 16 snaps on Saturday and lined up in five different positions: right defensive end (six snaps), right outside linebacker (four), right defensive tackle (three), left defensive tackle (two) and left defensive end (one).

For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at 49ers.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com