Russell is ready, but Smith faces challenge

JaMarcus Russell and Alex Smith entered the NFL under similar circumstances as highly touted quarterbacks drafted No. 1 overall with the task to rebuild once-storied franchises from the Bay Area that had fallen on hard times.

Going into their first meeting in the exhibition opener between the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders tonight, their situations couldn't be much different.

Russell will start for the Raiders in front of the home crowd at the Coliseum, beginning his first full season as Oakland's franchise quarterback after a rookie year marred by a lengthy contract dispute.

A full season of Russell at quarterback gives the Raiders hope that they will reverse a five-year losing trend. Russell has impressed in offseason workouts and practices but he needs to show he can do it in games now.

"They want to see it on the field," he said. "We go through it in practice every day. That's the presence that a quarterback has with his team and I think it's coming along."

Smith will begin the game on the bench, watching journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan take the first snaps for the 49ers. Smith is locked in three-player competition for the starting job in San Francisco with O'Sullivan and Shaun Hill.

O'Sullivan will play the first quarter and possibly into the second before handing the reins over to Smith. Hill will finish the game out for San Francisco.

Thomas tries to fit in: Zach Thomas understands the perception some people have after his abbreviated final season in Miami, though he doesn't agree with it.

"They labeled me with that, as prone for concussions," he said. "Everybody just thinks I'm some guy out here that's punch drunk, running around."

Now Thomas looks forward to the opportunity to prove them wrong.

If he seems confused at times during the Dallas Cowboys training camp, that is because Thomas is trying to learn and adjust to a new defense.

"I wouldn't be here if it was going to be a problem," Thomas said.