The Facts: HC Romeo Crennel and GM Scott Pioli are looking to plug holes on their coaching and scouting staffs and emphasized Thursday the need to bring in competition for Matt Cassel at starting QB. Crennel has interviewed QBs coach Jim Zorn and Oakland Raiders OC Al Saunders for the vacant offensive coordinator's job and said, "I might interview another one or two" before making a decision, perhaps early next week.

Diehards Line:The new OC also would have some say in the selection of a veteran QB - or QB taken in the draft - because Crennel and Pioli were adamant that there will be competition for Cassel, who along with second-year man Ricky Stanzi are the only two QBs under contract. "What happens in free agency remains to be seen," Crennel said. "I know competition makes everybody better, and we'll just have to see what kind of competition we're going to have at the quarterback position." As Star staffer Randy Covitz noted, Crennel's stance on Thursday was a bit of a departure from the unqualified backing he gave Cassel last month. Pioli took it a step further saying "There will be increased competition at every position, including the QB position. Who that is, I don't know. Maybe it's Kyle (Orton), maybe it's another free agent, maybe it's a draft choice, I don't know." Orton, who finished the season as the starter, winning two of the last three games, including a victory over then-unbeaten Green Bay after Crennel replaced Todd Haley on an interim basis, is an unrestricted free agent. ... Stay tuned. It's a situation well worth watching.