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Coach Mike Singletary of the 49ers said Monday that Alex Smith is throwing the ball as well as anyone in the NFL. But Singletary is still wary of going to a shotgun formation that hasn't been practiced enough to limit potential mistakes.

And Smith, to a large extent, agrees.

"The real answer is to find a mix, to find a balance there," said Smith, who threw for 222 of his 227 yards in the second half of 49ers' 30-24 loss to Green Bay on Sunday. "It's easy to say, 'Let's just go live in that world.' But I don't think that's realistic. I don't."

After the loss, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis and receiver Michael Crabtree were understandably open to a more pass-happy offense. It's a sentiment also shared by receiver Jason Hill. But switching to a spread wouldn't be easy, Hill said, considering the team has been focused on running the ball since the start of training camp.

"We have some playmakers, and we have to get the ball in (their) hands to make plays. That's how you win games," said Hill, who caught one pass for 8 yards in the loss. "Playmakers win games in this league; that's what I strongly believe. I think in due time we'll get there."

Asked if he'd be more comfortable in the spread, Hill said he'd "be more comfortable on the field getting the ball. I feel like I'm one of our big playmakers that a lot of guys talk about. I just need a chance, and a lot of guys just need a chance to show that."

Time to transition from

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a run-first offense to the spread is in short supply. With six games left, the 49ers are three games behind Arizona in the NFC West and two games out of a potential wild-card spot.

"I think the smartest thing for us to do continuing to go forward is not to take all of training camp, not to take all of what we have gone into this season doing, and just throw it out and say we're going to go to shotgun," Singletary said. "I think the smartest thing for us to do is to continue to open it up as Alex Smith allows us to, as he continues to communicate. But we've got to protect him as well."

  • Singletary said he was "angry" that the team is 4-6 after it won three of its first four games. But he is still confident the 49ers can be a playoff team. San Francisco hosts Jacksonville, one of three teams left on its schedule with winning records, on Sunday.

    "Where we are right now is, we are still hurting ourselves. We are our own worst enemy," Singletary said. "If we could just beat the enemy within, then we have a chance to go out and beat the one we are playing against."

  • Singletary said running back Michael Robinson was scheduled to have an MRI on his neck and right shoulder after he incurred what was diagnosed as a stinger. Cornerback Marcus Hudson will have an MRI on his strained back this week.

  • 49ers president Jed York is dropping the team's tampering charge against the New York Jets over first-round draft pick Crabtree, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter, according to ESPN.com.