SAN FRANCISCO 49ers still uncertain about QB

If Jeff Garcia is healthy, he will get the start over Tim Rattay.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Although the San Francisco 49ers don't know which quarterback will start Sunday's game in Green Bay, coach Dennis Erickson knows who his defense will face.
"Brett Favre is such a competitor -- he's as good as anyone who has ever played the game," said Erickson of the Packers' future Hall of Famer.
The Niners' quarterback situation depends on the health of starter Jeff Garcia, who has been sidelined with a high ankle sprain since the Oct. 26 loss to the Cardinals in Arizona.
Rattay is 2-0
Backup Tim Rattay has won both starts since Garcia's injury -- a 30-10 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 2 and Monday's 30-14 triumph over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
At Tuesday's press conference, Erickson said he won't decide on his starter for the game at Lambeau Field until it's determined whether Garcia can practice.
"When Jeff is healthy, he's the quarterback," said Erickson, who estimated that Garcia's ankle is perhaps 70-percent healthy. "We'll see how Jeff is this week. As I've said all along, Jeff needs to be totally healthy. We are going to play the guy we think gives us the best chance to win.
"If he's not a full speed, Tim will start," Erickson said. "Without his mobility, Jeff's not as effective. And Tim has been playing well."
And then some. In his first two NFL starts, the four-year veteran out of Louisiana State has completed 40-of-56 passes for 490 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
"It's not like he's just arrived," right tackle Scott Gragg said. "It's nice to see that we were able to protect Tim and were able to run the ball consistently. It made it a lot easier for us to block.
"The thing that impressed me was his getting rid of the ball on time," Gragg said. "It's so important for those of us blocking for him knowing the ball is going to be [thrown] on time. We can be a little more aggressive in pass protection."
Quarterback controversy
Rattay's success has created a quarterback controversy in the Bay Area.
Fullback Fred Beasley, who caught a 28-yard sideline touchdown pass from Rattay against the Steelers, says there shouldn't be.
"Tim is the backup," Beasley said. "He has been doing a great job for the past two weeks, [but] Jeff is our starter."
Beasley said Rattay's magic has been sparked by his delivering the ball to others besides wide receiver Terrell Owens.
"Rattay is spreading the ball around. Teams are going to key on T.O. and Rattay is giving everybody a chance to get involved," Beasley said. "It's tough [for the] defense to key on one person -- that's why we've been winning the past two [games]."
Erickson said the noise factor at Lambeau Field won't play a role in his decision even though Rattay would face his first start in an extremely hostile environment.
Although the Niners (5-5) are 0-4 in road games, Erickson said the team "had their opportunities" in the games at Arizona (16-13 overtime loss), St. Louis (27-24 in overtime) and Seattle (20-19). "We just need to find a way to close it out."
No new injuries
Erickson said the Niners came out of Monday's win with no new serious injuries. Running back Kevan Barlow, who burned the Steelers for a 78-yard touchdown, has been cleared to play after suffering a concussion late in the third quarter. Kick returner Cedric Wilson has a bruise above his knee, but is probable.
Despite his sore ankle, linebacker Jeff Ulbrich played what Erickson called "one of the better games I've seen."
Ulbrich said the Niners can't afford a loss to the Packers, a team they are tied with in the wild-card chase.
"We need a win -- playing .500 isn't going to get us into the playoffs," the right inside linebacker said.
Since Favre became the Packers quarterback, the Niners have beaten him once -- in 1998 in a playoff game in San Francisco.
williams@vindy.com