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Dilfer isn't there just to be a mentor to Smith
Veteran quarterback says his job is to help the team win games

49ers notebook

SANTA CLARA -- Mentoring second-year quarterback Alex Smith represents a major aspect of Trent Dilfer's role with the 49ers, but it's not the only one.

"As much as it was about his experience and the mentoring, it's also about the playing," coach Mike Nolan said a day after the 49ers sent Ken Dorsey and next year's seventh-round draft to Cleveland in exchange for Dilfer.

"He played 11 games last year. I hope he doesn't have to play that many this year for us, but if it happens, I believe he's fully capable and would do an outstanding job for us."

Dilfer got his first look at his new team Friday, arriving from Cleveland in time to see the opening practice of the 49ers' three-day minicamp. He's still rehabilitating from surgery in early February to repair a torn tendon in his right knee and likely won't be able to practice until organized team activities in June or summer training camp, which opens near the end of July. He did meet with offensive coordinator Norv Turner and was to be given a playbook so he could begin to familiarize himself with the offense.

Born in Santa Cruz and a star at Aptos High School, Dilfer has been both a starter and a backup over the course of his 12-year career. He made the Pro Bowl while quarterbacking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, helped lead the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl title in 2000 and in recent seasons had a hand in the development of Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Frye in Cleveland.

"The approach that I take, whether I was the starter or the backup, is you do whatever it takes to help your team win games," Dilfer said. "I will come in here and perform to the best of my ability. I'll work my tail off, like I always have, and by doing that, that will be mentoring Alex in itself."

For his part, Smith said he looked forward to working with Dilfer.

"He's a guy who's been in the league a long time now ... and he's accomplished a lot in his career," said Smith, adding that he had a chance to meet Dilfer in February when they were both at the Super Bowl.

"Having talked to Trent, having talked to Coach Nolan and knowing the situation here, I'm not threatened at all. I'm excited to kind of pick his brain and learn from him," Smith said.

Davis shines early on

Rookie tight end Vernon Davis provided a glimpse of his potential during team drills, reaching over safety Keith Lewis to catch a deep pass down the middle from Cody Pickett.

Davis said he's just scratching the surface.

"They've got some things I need to learn, but I'll pick it up in no time," he said. "I'm just ready to see the ball as much as possible because I'm pretty sure Norv Turner is going to put the ball in my hands so I can do some things out there on the field."

Making a connection

Free-agent wide receiver Antonio Bryant has been working with Smith on an almost daily basis since signing with the 49ers two months ago. They have been regulars on the practice field at 49ers headquarters after offseason workouts.

"We've hung out and done some things," Bryant said. "It's gotten better every week, just running the routes and understanding where the quarterback wants you to be. I think with camp, it's going to come into the full swing of things."

Sidelined

Tight end Eric Johnson (foot), tackle Jonas Jennings (shoulder), safety Tony Parrish (leg), running backs Frank Gore (shoulders) and Kevan Barlow (knee), center Jeremy Newberry (knee), and wide receivers Derrick Hamilton (knee) and P.J. Fleck (hamstring) all were held out of practice.