Ryan, like so many others, wondered why receiver Ashley Lelie had barely played.

"If you had put Ashley in, I was going to double (cover) him," Ryan told Nolan.

But with Lelie on the sideline for all but one snap, the Ravens didn't bother double-covering any of the 49ers' receivers. Instead, Baltimore focused on demolishing the running game.

Nolan recounted that conversation after practice yesterday in acknowledging that Lelie, a former University of Hawaii star, is about to get his shot. When the 49ers resume play Oct. 21 against the New York Giants, they will finally give more playing time to the deep threat who cost them $2 million in signing bonus as a free-agent acquisition.

"What I like about Ashley is that he has produced in NFL games," Nolan said.

Lelie's production, however, has not followed him to San Francisco. He has participated in 10 plays from scrimmage. The only ball thrown his way fell incomplete (when Lelie ran a poor route against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3).

Getting more out of Lelie will be just one part of the healing process for an offense that ranks last in the NFL. There might be other changes in store against the Giants, as well.

Quarterback Alex Smith said yesterday that he is optimistic about returning for that game, as he continues to make rapid progress from a separated shoulder suffered Sept. 30. Smith said he threw at about 90 percent strength Wednesday, felt fine and planned to test his shoulder with another 80 to 100 throws over the weekend.

If the quarterback feels right in practice Wednesday, he envisions taking back his starting job from Trent Dilfer. "It feels really good," Smith said.

Dilfer, who caught Smith's throwing session, confirmed the progress. "He had good velocity on the ball," Dilfer said. "He's as tough as anyone I know."

Tight end Vernon Davis could be back for the Giants game as well. He has resumed running as he recovers from a sprained knee and said he hopes to be back at practice next week.

At least with Smith and Davis, major injuries explain their absence.

Lelie's case is more mysterious.

The 49ers signed him in hopes of getting a vertical threat. Though Lelie is widely regarded as a one-trick pony — he runs deep routes — it's a heck of a trick. The sixth-year pro entered this season averaging 17.5 yards per catch, best among active receivers.

Of Lelie's 196 career receptions, 59 have been longer than 20 yards.

The 49ers would like him to be a more exacting runner on short and intermediate routes. The receiver acknowledged yesterday that "There are things I need to work on."

And, to his credit, Lelie has been just as quiet off the field this season as he has been during games. Unlike previously disappointing receivers (see Bryant, Antonio), Lelie has not groused publicly about his limited role. The closest he came to an outburst yesterday was a soft-spoken, diplomatic response to a question about being frustrated.

"As a competitor, it's hard not being able to help my team," Lelie said. "But I believe it's going to come."

Lelie is accustomed to being patient. His parents kept him from playing football at a young age because they feared he was too small. When he finally tried out for his freshman team in high school, the coach promptly cut him.

His official 49ers biography says Lelie failed to make his high school team because he was too skinny.

"That wasn't it," Lelie said with a laugh yesterday. "It was because I sucked."

The receiver finally made the team as junior at Radford High but his career generated little interest from recruiters.

Lelie made the team as a walk-on at the University of Hawaii but remained so unfulfilled he tried to quit. Before Lelie could pack it up, his father insisted that he talk to his cousin, Damon Griffin, who had reached the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals from 1999-2000.

Griffin told Lelie to never give up, to believe in his abilities and to keep working hard — "One of those kinds of talks," Lelie called it. The pep talk worked and Lelie left Hawaii as its all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches. He also became Hawaii's first first-round draft pick when Denver selected him.

The 49ers, meanwhile, had "one of those kinds of talks" this week, too, as Nolan solicited player opinion about how the team can turn things around.

Nolan has been tight-lipped about the impending changes, except for a few hints — such as getting Lelie more involved.