SANTA CLARA – A week of strenuous three-hour practices had some San Francisco 49ers feeling that not much has changed in training camp since last year.

“We’re having some long, tough days out there,” running back Anthony Dixon said Monday, when the team returned to the field after a players’ day off. “I remember at one point, I was like, ‘Is coach Singletary out here?’ That’s what it felt like. But, you know, it’s coach Harbaugh now, and coach Harbaugh is a tough dude.”

But that’s where the similarities end between Jim Harbaugh and his predecessor as 49ers coach, Mike Singletary, who was known for conducting physical summer practices.

Harbaugh has brought some big changes to a team that has gone eight years without a winning season, and several of them are coming on the offensive side of the football.

The 49ers started a new week Monday in Harbaugh’s version of the West Coast system, a style that is quickly winning over many of his players and has them excited about its potential for the upcoming season.

“It’s making better use of the talent we have all across the board,” receiver Josh Morgan said. “It just puts everybody, even the quarterbacks, in the best position to be successful. And I mean everybody.”

The 49ers signed Harbaugh to a five-year contract in January to replace Singletary, whose expertise was on defense. Harbaugh, who played 15 NFL seasons at quarterback, built a reputation for offensive success while turning losing programs into big winners at

the University of San Diego and Stanford before coming to San Francisco.

Harbaugh’s system is quickly grabbing hold of his new team, which has fielded one of the NFL’s worst offenses over the past decade.

The 49ers finished 24th in the league rankings for total offense last year during a disappointing 6-10 season, and that ranking was actually an improvement over the season before.

Despite stockpiling some quality young talent on offense in recent years, San Francisco has not finished higher than 23rd in total offense since 2003. The 49ers have finished 26th or lower five times in the past seven years.

This year promises to be different. Fullback Moran Norris has been with the 49ers since 2006, and he has yet to play in such a diversified offense since joining the team.

“I love this whole offense,” Norris said. “It suits everybody. Every role matters and I don’t think any (position) stands out more than others. It’s all in one big pot and you just mix it up together.”

The 49ers added to the mix late last week with the addition of free-agent receiver Braylon Edwards. A Pro Bowler in 2007, Edwards fills a void while Michael Crabtree, San Francisco’s No. 1 receiver, remains sidelined with a foot injury that could keep him out the rest of this month.

Edwards joins other former Pro Bowlers at the skill positions in running back Frank Gore and tight end Vernon Davis. With incumbent starting quarterback Alex Smith returning to run the offense last Thursday, the offense has picked up the pace with San Francisco’s preseason opener looming Friday at New Orleans.

“They’re executing it well, they’re learning it well, and there’s been a lot put in so far in the first eight days of meetings,” Harbaugh said. “Then, you go back and teach the parts. You put in the whole and then you put in the parts. We’ve got quite a bit in now, and I really have not noticed them hit the wall mentally, which is a good sign that bodes well for us.”

SANTA CLARA — A week of strenuous three-hour practices had some San Francisco 49ers feeling that not much has changed in training camp since last year.

“We’re having some long, tough days out there,” running back Anthony Dixon said Monday, when the team returned to the field after a players’ day off. “I remember at one point, I was like, ’Is coach Singletary out here?’ That’s what it felt like. But, you know, it’s coach Harbaugh now, and coach Harbaugh is a tough dude.”

But that’s where the similarities end between Jim Harbaugh and his predecessor as 49ers coach, Mike Singletary, who was known for conducting physical summer practices.

Harbaugh has brought some big changes to a team that has gone eight years without a winning season, and several of them are coming on the offensive side of the football.

The 49ers started a new week Monday in Harbaugh’s version of the West Coast system, a style that is quickly winning over many of his players and has them excited about its potential for the upcoming season.

“It’s making better use of the talent we have all across the board,” receiver Josh Morgan said. “It just puts everybody, even the quarterbacks, in the best position to be successful. And I mean everybody.”

The 49ers signed Harbaugh to a five-year contract in January to replace Singletary, whose expertise was on defense. Harbaugh, who played 15 NFL seasons at quarterback, built a reputation for offensive success while turning losing programs into big winners at the University of San Diego and Stanford before coming to San Francisco.

Harbaugh’s system is quickly grabbing hold of his new team, which has fielded one of the NFL’s worst offenses over the past decade.

The 49ers finished 24th in the league rankings for total offense last year during a disappointing 6-10 season, and that ranking was actually an improvement over the season before.

Despite stockpiling some quality young talent on offense in recent years, San Francisco has not finished higher than 23rd in total offense since 2003. The 49ers have finished 26th or lower five times in the past seven years.

This year promises to be different. Fullback Moran Norris has been with the 49ers since 2006, and he has yet to play in such a diversified offense since joining the team.

“I love this whole offense,” Norris said. “It suits everybody. Every role matters and I don’t think any (position) stands out more than others. It’s all in one big pot and you just mix it up together.”

The 49ers added to the mix late last week with the addition of free-agent receiver Braylon Edwards. A Pro Bowler in 2007, Edwards fills a void while Michael Crabtree, San Francisco’s No. 1 receiver, remains sidelined with a foot injury that could keep him out the rest of this month.

Edwards joins other former Pro Bowlers at the skill positions in running back Frank Gore and tight end Vernon Davis. With incumbent starting quarterback Alex Smith returning to run the offense last Thursday, the offense has picked up the pace with San Francisco’s preseason opener looming Friday at New Orleans.

“They’re executing it well, they’re learning it well, and there’s been a lot put in so far in the first eight days of meetings,” Harbaugh said. “Then, you go back and teach the parts. You put in the whole and then you put in the parts. We’ve got quite a bit in now, and I really have not noticed them hit the wall mentally, which is a good sign that bodes well for us.”

By ANTONIO GONZALEZ

AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – The San Francisco 49ers would welcome back quarterback Alex Smith if the 2005 first overall pick wants to return.

General manager Trent Baalke said Wednesday that the 49ers have extended an “olive branch” to Smith to come back to the only NFL team he has ever known. All that started before the NFL locked out the players in the ongoing labor dispute.

Smith can’t sign with San Francisco – or any other team – until the labor situation is settled and free agency begins.

New coach Jim Harbaugh already has expressed confidence in Smith as a quarterback in his system, and Baalke made it clear that the 49ers made an offer for the free agent to return.

“It’s up to Alex to make the decision on whether he wants to be a 49er again,” Baalke said. “I think Jim’s made it clear. We’ve made it clear through the process that the olive branch has been extended.”

A call to Smith’s agent, Howard Skall, and an email to the quarterback seeking comment weren’t immediately returned.

Smith was demoted and promoted several times last season and has had a different offensive coordinator every year since coming out of Utah. He has fallen out of favor with fans – many of whom have booed him on several occasions – and has failed to lead the 49ers to the playoffs.

With the lockout canceling offseason workouts, postponing free agency and threatening training camp, San Francisco is at a disadvantage perhaps more than most teams. David Carr is the only quarterback on the roster, and asking a rookie to take the reins with a shortened offseason could be even more difficult.

The 49ers have the No. 7 pick in next week’s NFL draft and will likely take a quarterback at some point.

Team president Jed York, speaking on a conference call forum with some 5,000 fans Wednesday night, had a little fun with the idea of Harbaugh’s NFL playing history.

“If we don’t have a quarterback at least our head coach has been a quarterback in the league and we might suit him up for a couple of games. Jim has been working out hard,” York said. “Obviously the quarterback position is the most important position on the field and (Trent and Jim) are going to figure out who the best guy is. They said today they’d like Alex to be in the mix, but it’s up to Alex to decide if he wants to be here.”

While fans have wavered on Smith’s ability to lead San Francisco, Baalke believes the quarterback’s experience in the West Coast offense – which Harbaugh plans to run – and his time with the team make him a valuable option in an offseason of uncertainty.

“He understands this building. He understands the system that coach is interested in running,” Baalke said. “From a dynamic standpoint, they obviously hit it off in their discussions. There’s a lot of comfort in having somebody, especially in the situation we’re in where there are so many unknowns.”

Harbaugh, hired away from Stanford in January to replace the fired Mike Singletary, hit the field for a local pro day Wednesday featuring some 50 players – his first time in a formal group practice situation. Dressed in a gray 49ers hoodie, black sweats and a black cap, Harbaugh greeted prospective draft picks on the final day the team could host players at its facility.

He didn’t specifically talk about Smith, but said there are certain tangibles he looks for in a quarterback.

“Guys that can win, guys that can figure things out, guys that really have the DNA to be quarterbacks,” Harbaugh said.

While he hasn’t had the opportunity to study Smith in person, there’s plenty of recent history to revisit.

Smith took over the starting job midway through 2009 and was entrenched as the starter heading into last season. After separating his non-throwing left shoulder Oct. 24 at Carolina, then-coach Singletary turned to 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith for the next five games – even after Alex Smith was healthy again.

Troy Smith went 3-2 as a starter, then it was Alex Smith’s turn again for two games, including a commanding win over eventual NFC West champion Seattle. After a flop at San Diego, Singletary turned back to Troy Smith for a must-win game with the Rams on Dec. 26.

That 25-17 loss cost the coach his job with one week to go. Jim Tomsula, serving a single-game stint as interim head coach, went with Alex Smith for a win against Arizona in the season finale.

San Francisco finished 6-10, leaving the 49ers without a winning season since their last trip to the playoffs in 2002. Still, with limited options this offseason, the 49ers are open to seeing what Smith can do under Harbaugh’s direction.

“I don’t know how to keep beating the drum on this: Coach is very comfortable with him. I’m very comfortable with him,” Baalke said. “Will Alex choose to come back here? You’ll have to get him on the phone and ask him that question. He’s certainly a guy we would like to throw into the mix.”

___

AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this story.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

By ANTONIO GONZALEZ

AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – The San Francisco 49ers would welcome back quarterback Alex Smith if the 2005 first overall pick wants to return.

General manager Trent Baalke said Wednesday that the 49ers have extended an “olive branch” to Smith to come back to the only NFL team he has ever known. All that started before the NFL locked out the players in the ongoing labor dispute.

Smith can’t sign with San Francisco – or any other team – until the labor situation is settled and free agency begins.

New coach Jim Harbaugh already has expressed confidence in Smith as a quarterback in his system, and Baalke made it clear that the 49ers made an offer for the free agent to return.

“It’s up to Alex to make the decision on whether he wants to be a 49er again,” Baalke said. “I think Jim’s made it clear. We’ve made it clear through the process that the olive branch has been extended.”

A call to Smith’s agent, Howard Skall, and an email to the quarterback seeking comment weren’t immediately returned.

Smith was demoted and promoted several times last season and has had a different offensive coordinator every year since coming out of Utah. He has fallen out of favor with fans – many of whom have booed him on several occasions – and has failed to lead the 49ers to the playoffs.

With the lockout canceling offseason workouts, postponing free agency and threatening training camp, San Francisco is at a disadvantage perhaps more than most teams. David Carr is the only quarterback on the roster, and asking a rookie to take the reins with a shortened offseason could be even more difficult.

The 49ers have the No. 7 pick in next week’s NFL draft and will likely take a quarterback at some point.

Team president Jed York, speaking on a conference call forum with some 5,000 fans Wednesday night, had a little fun with the idea of Harbaugh’s NFL playing history.

“If we don’t have a quarterback at least our head coach has been a quarterback in the league and we might suit him up for a couple of games. Jim has been working out hard,” York said. “Obviously the quarterback position is the most important position on the field and (Trent and Jim) are going to figure out who the best guy is. They said today they’d like Alex to be in the mix, but it’s up to Alex to decide if he wants to be here.”

While fans have wavered on Smith’s ability to lead San Francisco, Baalke believes the quarterback’s experience in the West Coast offense – which Harbaugh plans to run – and his time with the team make him a valuable option in an offseason of uncertainty.

“He understands this building. He understands the system that coach is interested in running,” Baalke said. “From a dynamic standpoint, they obviously hit it off in their discussions. There’s a lot of comfort in having somebody, especially in the situation we’re in where there are so many unknowns.”

Harbaugh, hired away from Stanford in January to replace the fired Mike Singletary, hit the field for a local pro day Wednesday featuring some 50 players – his first time in a formal group practice situation. Dressed in a gray 49ers hoodie, black sweats and a black cap, Harbaugh greeted prospective draft picks on the final day the team could host players at its facility.

He didn’t specifically talk about Smith, but said there are certain tangibles he looks for in a quarterback.

“Guys that can win, guys that can figure things out, guys that really have the DNA to be quarterbacks,” Harbaugh said.

While he hasn’t had the opportunity to study Smith in person, there’s plenty of recent history to revisit.

Smith took over the starting job midway through 2009 and was entrenched as the starter heading into last season. After separating his non-throwing left shoulder Oct. 24 at Carolina, then-coach Singletary turned to 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith for the next five games – even after Alex Smith was healthy again.

Troy Smith went 3-2 as a starter, then it was Alex Smith’s turn again for two games, including a commanding win over eventual NFC West champion Seattle. After a flop at San Diego, Singletary turned back to Troy Smith for a must-win game with the Rams on Dec. 26.

That 25-17 loss cost the coach his job with one week to go. Jim Tomsula, serving a single-game stint as interim head coach, went with Alex Smith for a win against Arizona in the season finale.

San Francisco finished 6-10, leaving the 49ers without a winning season since their last trip to the playoffs in 2002. Still, with limited options this offseason, the 49ers are open to seeing what Smith can do under Harbaugh’s direction.

“I don’t know how to keep beating the drum on this: Coach is very comfortable with him. I’m very comfortable with him,” Baalke said. “Will Alex choose to come back here? You’ll have to get him on the phone and ask him that question. He’s certainly a guy we would like to throw into the mix.”

___

AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this story.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers would welcome back quarterback Alex Smith if the 2005 first overall pick wants to return.

General manager Trent Baalke said Wednesday that the 49ers have extended an “olive branch” to Smith to come back to the only NFL team he has ever known. All that started before the NFL locked out the players in the ongoing labour dispute.

Smith can’t sign with San Francisco — or any other team — until the labour situation is settled and free agency begins.

New coach Jim Harbaugh already has expressed confidence in Smith as a quarterback in his system, and Baalke made it clear that the 49ers made an offer for the free agent to return.

“It’s up to Alex to make the decision on whether he wants to be a 49er again,” Baalke said. “I think Jim’s made it clear. We’ve made it clear through the process that the olive branch has been extended.”

A call to Smith’s agent, Howard Skall, and an email to the quarterback seeking comment weren’t immediately returned.

Smith was demoted and promoted several times last season and has had a different offensive co-ordinator every year since coming out of Utah. He has fallen out of favour with fans — many of whom have booed him on several occasions — and has failed to lead the 49ers to the playoffs.

With the lockout cancellingoff-season workouts, postponing free agency and threatening training camp, San Francisco is at a disadvantage perhaps more than most teams. David Carr is the only quarterback on the roster, and asking a rookie to take the reins with a shortened off-season could be even more difficult.

The 49ers have the No. 7 pick in next week’s NFL draft and will likely take a quarterback at some point.

Team president Jed York, speaking on a conference call forum with some 5,000 fans Wednesday night, had a little fun with the idea of Harbaugh’s NFL playing history.

“If we don’t have a quarterback at least our head coach has been a quarterback in the league and we might suit him up for a couple of games. Jim has been working out hard,” York said. “Obviously the quarterback position is the most important position on the field and (Trent and Jim) are going to figure out who the best guy is. They said today they’d like Alex to be in the mix, but it’s up to Alex to decide if he wants to be here.”

While fans have wavered on Smith’s ability to lead San Francisco, Baalke believes the quarterback’s experience in the West Coast offence — which Harbaugh plans to run — and his time with the team make him a valuable option in an off-season of uncertainty.

“He understands this building. He understands the system that coach is interested in running,” Baalke said. “From a dynamic standpoint, they obviously hit it off in their discussions. There’s a lot of comfort in having somebody, especially in the situation we’re in where there are so many unknowns.”

Harbaugh, hired away from Stanford in January to replace the fired Mike Singletary, hit the field for a local pro day Wednesday featuring some 50 players — his first time in a formal group practice situation. Dressed in a grey 49ers hoodie, black sweats and a black cap, Harbaugh greeted prospective draft picks on the final day the team could host players at its facility.

He didn’t specifically talk about Smith, but said there are certain tangibles he looks for in a quarterback.

“Guys that can win, guys that can figure things out, guys that really have the DNA to be quarterbacks,” Harbaugh said.

While he hasn’t had the opportunity to study Smith in person, there’s plenty of recent history to revisit.

Smith took over the starting job midway through 2009 and was entrenched as the starter heading into last season. After separating his non-throwing left shoulder Oct. 24 at Carolina, then-coach Singletary turned to 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith for the next five games — even after Alex Smith was healthy again.

Troy Smith went 3-2 as a starter, then it was Alex Smith’s turn again for two games, including a commanding win over eventual NFC West champion Seattle. After a flop at San Diego, Singletary turned back to Troy Smith for a must-win game with the Rams on Dec. 26.

That 25-17 loss cost the coach his job with one week to go. Jim Tomsula, serving a single-game stint as interim head coach, went with Alex Smith for a win against Arizona in the season finale.

San Francisco finished 6-10, leaving the 49ers without a winning season since their last trip to the playoffs in 2002. Still, with limited options this off-season, the 49ers are open to seeing what Smith can do under Harbaugh’s direction.

“I don’t know how to keep beating the drum on this: Coach is very comfortable with him. I’m very comfortable with him,” Baalke said. “Will Alex choose to come back here? You’ll have to get him on the phone and ask him that question. He’s certainly a guy we would like to throw into the mix.”

___

AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this story.