Alex Smith has been in around-the-clock meetings with San Francisco's new offensive coordinator Mike Johnson, who replaced Jimmy Raye this week. "I do think there will be more variation," Smith said. "I think personnel and formations and things like that, there will be some different things. I think we'll find out how they're going to play certain personnel, find out how they're going to play certain formations and then go from there."

The San Francisco 49ers have fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, according to a league source. Quarterbacks coach Mike Johnson will take over offensive coordinator duties, according to the source. After Sunday's game, Mike Singletary said that Raye would remain offensive coordinator for the entire season.

After an 0-3 start, the 49ers will make some changes heading into Week 4. But Mike Singletary will stand behind offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. Michael Crabtree was asked if he was surprised the 49ers didn't use a spread attack earlier in the game. "I play receiver," he said. "I wish I could call the plays, but that's not my job."

The 49ers may dress all eight of their 2010 draft picks in Sunday's game at Kansas City. The 49ers' two first-round draft picks, offensive linemen Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati, will each start their third game. Third-round pick NaVorro Bowman also would start at linebacker if Takeo Spikes, who has not practiced this week, is out with a bruised knee. Spikes is listed as questionable on the injury report and will be a game-time decision.

After head coach Mike Singletary called out the 49ers, and specifically Alex Smith, in the locker room after the 49ers' 31-6 opening loss in Seattle, linebacker Patrick Willis stood up and supported his fellow team captain. Willis told the team no one should judge Smith until they looked at the film. "I've been in that situation before, and I know how he feels," Willis said Friday. "It looked bad from a fan's perspective. ... But did the receivers run the wrong route? Did the offensive line get the right block? (Smith) works hard, he's been through a lot, and we're all in this together."

Frank Gore went from rushing for 38 yards in Week 1 against the Seahawks to gaining 112 yards against New Orleans. "We put it on our shoulders that we needed to show everybody the kind of offensive line we had," left tackle Joe Staley said. "The first week was not going to be something that's the norm. It was a fluke thing. "The thing that was really exciting was that we played with attitude and the swagger coach is always talking about. We were definitely the aggressors out there, and that was good to see." Staley told his teammates in the locker room that they had to come out with toughness against the Saints. "I was real big on that in the locker room before the game," Staley said. "I was talking to everybody about how we need to go out and have fun and play with an attitude and trash talk, let them know that we're not going to be pushed around. "It's exciting when you're passing 20 yards down the field and see five offensive linemen sprinting down to the ball to get an extra block."

Vernon Davis guaranteed a victory for the 49ers on Wednesday, but Kansas City coach Todd Haley declined to respond. ?We are really focused on our task at hand, which is getting a little better each and every day,? Haley said. ?That?s what I feel like we?re doing. That?s what ultimately will give us a chance to become a good team, hopefully sooner rather than later. ?That being said, Vernon Davis is a heck of a player and a heck of a competitor. I would expect that to be his belief and viewpoint.?

Frank Gore and Jonathan Vilma played high school football together at Coral Gables in Florida and were rivals constantly competing against each other. Gore's Saints will play Vilma's Saints as Week 2's Monday Night Football game. "They started out arm-wrestling, then they're throwing each other against my table," said Joe Montoya, who stopped short of calling it a "friendly" rivalry but said that Vilma and Gore have always held each other in high esteem as their careers led them both to the University of Miami, then to NFL stardom.

Despite being blown out by the Seahawks, Brian Westbrook was not sent onto the field by the 49ers. Westbrook is backing up running back Frank Gore. "I thought that Frank would play the majority of the plays and that I would, when he was fatigued, tired, things like that, that I would play," he said. "Just the way the game turned out this last week. Just the amount of plays and different things like that throughout the game, I just didn't get any chances."

The 49ers will honor Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice on Monday night by retiring his No. 80 jersey. San Francisco will host New Orleans in their home opener. Rice will serve as an honorary team captain before Monday's game, when he will be formally presented with his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring.