Tolzien closely following Texans rookie QB

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SANTA CLARA -- Third-string quarterback Scott Tolzien, an undrafted rookie the 49ers acquired off the waiver wire after San Diego Chargers cut him in September, has no problem getting motivated to come to work every day.
And all he has to do is look at his buddy, T.J. Yates, to see how quickly things can change.
Yates was a fifth-round draft pick of the Houston Texans. He was the No. 3 quarterback behind Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart. But in the span of two weeks, both veterans experienced season-ending injuries.And, now, Yates is the starting quarterback for the playoff-bound Texans, who are pursuing home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs.RELATED: NFL Standings
"It's crazy," Tolzien said. "I remember texting him four weeks ago and he was actually playing scout-team receiver because they were low on numbers and he was helping out the team any way he could."And now he's starting, wins a game and throws a touchdown. I couldn't be more happy for him. He's a really unassuming, down-to-earth guy. He's a smart guy and hard-worker."As the No 3 quarterback, Tolzien has not suited up for a game this season. During practice, he's not real active either.He has participated in some special-teams work during practice, but he has not been asked to line up at any other positions. He does not get any practice snaps with the 49ers offense, either. Instead, he and backup Colin Kaepernick run the scout team -- the unit that simulates the upcoming opponents' plays to get the 49ers defense prepared."You try to make it as game-like as possible and try to relate it to your playbook and maximize it so it's not wasted reps," Tolzien said.Tolzien (Wisconsin) and Yates (North Carolina) spent a lot of time together in February at the NFL scouting combine. Considered among the lower ranked of the quarterbacks invited to the combine, Tolzien and Yates were tabbed as "throwing quarterbacks."After the entire group of quarterbacks worked out for NFL coaches, scouts and executives, Tolzien, Yates and Ryan Colburn (Fresno State) remained in Indianapolis as the throwers for receivers, running backs, defensive backs and linebackers."Every position group is there for only three days," Tolzien said. "We were there all week. We did our workouts with the quarterbacks, but then we kind of serviced the other positions."Tolzien said he felt the assignment gave him additional opportunities for NFL decision-makers to get to know him."It got you into the combine," he said. "It was increased exposure. We were there all week. It's the receivers day, but I'm throwing to the receivers. Maybe the coaches are up there and I'm throwing to the receivers and maybe it pops out, 'This kid throws a nice ball.' It was fun, too. I hung around all the position groups and got to know a lot of guys."Tolzien went undrafted but chose to sign a free-agent contract with the Chargers instead of the 49ers, who had already invested a second-round pick in Kaepernick.And if there's anything he has learned from Yates, it's that a third-string quarterback is only two snaps away from being thrust into a playoff push. In his first NFL start, Yates completed 12 of 25 passes for 188 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in a 17-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Tolzien said he planned to watch the video of that game."Yeah, definitely, for two reasons," Tolzien said. "He's a buddy and you're curious to see how he did. And, also, it's good learning. He started the year as a third-string quarterback, so I want to see how he attacked it and learned from it?"

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