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Alex Smith Watch 2010-2011

Bronco70 said:
I tried to find an article I read recently about quarterbacks who toiled in futility for the first 5 or 6 years of their careers, then broke out in a big way. Most of the examples they cited were from the late 70's and early 80's (if anyone knows what I'm talking about, and can provide a link, that would be swell...) I'm not saying that Alex is necessarily in that boat, but I'm hoping. Perhaps it is just homerish optimism.
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Well, Steve Young. But he had an excuse. He played behind an absolutely horrible O-line in Tampa and was forced to run for his life every game.

Niners taking Smith over Aaron Rodgers...perhaps the 2nd worst draft decision in pro sports (second only to Bowie over Jordan)?
 
KatieMCR said:
All excellent points. The Niners have a horrible secondary, which Seattle fully exploited yesterday. Clements is so overpaid and overrated. Spencer is the best CB they have.

I can't believe all the problems they had with clock management yesterday. They had those same issues last season. It is totally inexcusable to still be having those issues.
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The secondary could be decent if they added a shut-down corner as Spencer is pretty good as the 2nd CB. And Goldson and Mays could potentially be a very, very good safety group.
That's what really, really frustrates me. This team is just two players and an OC away from being a contender. But the head coach refuses to man up and take any responsibility for the team's failures.
 
GlassEater said:
The secondary could be decent if they added a shut-down corner as Spencer is pretty good as the 2nd CB. And Goldson and Mays could potentially be a very, very good safety group.
That's what really, really frustrates me. This team is just two players and an OC away from being a contender. But the head coach refuses to man up and take any responsibility for the team's failures.
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After watching my Jets all night, you can have Cromartie.
 
GlassEater said:
Niners taking Smith over Aaron Rodgers...perhaps the 2nd worst draft decision in pro sports (second only to Bowie over Jordan)?
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Extremely easy to say, now. Not holding Smith unaccountable, and I would agree that A-Rod is the better pro QB, but Rodgers fell into a much better situation. And, as you yourself stated, the Niners have had multiple weaknesses for some time now.
 
GlassEater said:
Well, Steve Young. But he had an excuse. He played behind an absolutely horrible O-line in Tampa and was forced to run for his life every game.
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Ya the Niners have a great O-Line good call for the excuse that only applies to Young.


*disclaimer*And yes I admit and acknowledge I'm a U homer and yes Smith has stunk it up for the most part up to this point (very inconsistent thus far in his career)
 
GlassEater said:
Niners taking Smith over Aaron Rodgers...perhaps the 2nd worst draft decision in pro sports (second only to Bowie over Jordan)?
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Not even close. It's not even close to being the worst draft decision in the NFL (you don't think the Raiders taking Fatass Russell instead of Calvin Johnson or the Saints taking George Rogers over Lawrence Taylor or Green Bay taking Mandarich over Barry Sanders or Cleveland taking Tim Couch over Donovan McNabb is worse?). Their worst decision in that draft was feeling that they had to draft a QB. I am a Ute fan and a Smith fan and I thought he was a 3rd round guy. I was shocked when I started hearing that he might go #1 overall. He was definitely overrated by the Niners, and it was a bad situation as that franchise has been a wreck. Rodgers was able to learn from one of the all time greats whereas Smith had a new OC every season.
 
YB85 said:
Not even close. It's not even close to being the worst draft decision in the NFL (you don't think the Raiders taking Fatass Russell instead of Calvin Johnson or the Saints taking George Rogers over Lawrence Taylor or Green Bay taking Mandarich over Barry Sanders or Cleveland taking Tim Couch over Donovan McNabb is worse?). Their worst decision in that draft was feeling that they had to draft a QB. I am a Ute fan and a Smith fan and I thought he was a 3rd round guy. I was shocked when I started hearing that he might go #1 overall. He was definitely overrated by the Niners, and it was a bad situation as that franchise has been a wreck. Rodgers was able to learn from one of the all time greats whereas Smith had a new OC every season.
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What about taking Mario over Reggie?


*Rolls eyes.


Then again, Bush has a ring.
 
I care about my mailman more than Alex Smith, but those picks didn't seem to be his fault on replay. And I think it sucks for him that he's throwing the ball to Crabtree who wasn't even there in preseason. No way they have any timing right now. That said, I think the pro game is a little too fast for him. 1-15 on 3rd Down kind of jumps out at me. 4.8 yards per pass really jumps out. Seems like he's checking down on every play. Could be protection, but the Seahawks aren't exactly ferocious, and he's probably just not seeing things. But I didn't see the game so who knows what other problems were going on.
 
A couple questions...

Billy, Crabtree wasn't there during the pre-season? Why?

Niner fans, one of you mentioned their three weaknesses, QB, CB, and O-line and say none of them have been addressed. QB is an obvious one and O-line I won't argue because they've been shaky and at least put their best foot forward by drafting two 1st round talents this spring. However, at CB, is Clements that bad? Listen, he was waaaaaay overpaid a few years back and like his former teammate Winfield at OSU, he's a very good tackler and not some great cover guy. But is he that bad? It all starts up front and no offense, but unless I'm way off here, the Niners pass rush blows. It's awful. And if you don't get a pass rush, even great corners will look average at best.
 
YB85 said:
I am a Ute fan and a Smith fan and I thought he was a 3rd round guy. I was shocked when I started hearing that he might go #1 overall.
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I remember an interview with him when the talk started about him being a #1 overall and he said something to the effect of "I'm a winner and NFL teams are starting to see that". Clearly.
 
KrazeeEyezKilla said:
A couple questions...

Billy, Crabtree wasn't there during the pre-season? Why?

Niner fans, one of you mentioned their three weaknesses, QB, CB, and O-line and say none of them have been addressed. QB is an obvious one and O-line I won't argue because they've been shaky and at least put their best foot forward by drafting two 1st round talents this spring. However, at CB, is Clements that bad? Listen, he was waaaaaay overpaid a few years back and like his former teammate Winfield at OSU, he's a very good tackler and not some great cover guy. But is he that bad? It all starts up front and no offense, but unless I'm way off here, the Niners pass rush blows. It's awful. And if you don't get a pass rush, even great corners will look average at best.
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Crabtree had a strained neck so they kept him out of the pre-season.
Yes, Clements is as bad as advertised. He is a good tackler, but he's terrible in coverage. And you can't tackle someone when he's beat you on a double move and is running towards the goal line.
O-line has been addressed, but the "OC" (offensive coordinator) is the worst in the NFL. I still don't think Smith is a QB you can consistently win with, but to hius defense, Raye ertainly isn't helping.
 
catratcho said:
I remember an interview with him when the talk started about him being a #1 overall and he said something to the effect of "I'm a winner and NFL teams are starting to see that". Clearly.
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I can't believe he didn't say something like, "#1? Oh nonsense. I suck. All I did was take a minor football program to an undefeated season and the first appearance of a non AQ school to a BCS bowl game, which we won. Me? Drafted? No smart team would do that." Smith is an ***. Clearly.
 
KrazeeEyezKilla said:
Billy, Crabtree wasn't there during the pre-season? Why?
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Adding to what Glass said, he's now missed both training camps in his career. He's got a handful of games from last year, but he and Smith don't have a lot of reps together. There's no way that Smith has a lot of trust in him at this point. That partially leads to Box Score Problem II:

Look at the ball distribution: Davis (8), Gore (6), Morgan (3), Walker (3), Ginn (1), Crabtree (2)...That's 17 completions to backs and TE's (20 when you add in the stragglers), with only 6 to receivers. Unless the OC is really lame, they're not calling 20 passes to backs and TE's. Smith has to be looking off his receivers, especially when you factor in the 5 yard average. The question is why.
 
billyshelby said:
Adding to what Glass said, he's now missed both training camps in his career. He's got a handful of games from last year, but he and Smith don't have a lot of reps together. There's no way that Smith has a lot of trust in him at this point. That partially leads to Box Score Problem II:

Look at the ball distribution: Davis (8), Gore (6), Morgan (3), Walker (3), Ginn (1), Crabtree (2)...That's 17 completions to backs and TE's (20 when you add in the stragglers), with only 6 to receivers. Unless the OC is really lame, they're not calling 20 passes to backs and TE's. Smith has to be looking off his receivers, especially when you factor in the 5 yard average. The question is why.
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I'll take a stab at it. He doesn't trust himself.
 
Smith and Crabtree worked all summer together. So the timing shouldn't be that bad.

Some guys elevate their play when the pressure is on, some guys don't. Smith is one of the dont's. He doesn't make the plays in the Red Zone. He over/under throws on critical downs. And it's usually under because he doesn't have great arm strength. The only real success he has ever had in the NFL is playing out of the spread offense when the 49'ers are behind. Then you can rack up some yards throwing those 5-7 yard passes because the defenses are playing softer.
 
Yahoo Sports: Communication a growing problem for Niners

OMG!! This is alarming to read. I know I said it was a benefit to Smith to have the same OC for consecutive years, but I was wrong. I was wrong, because it appears that Jimmy Raye is a complete disaster as an OC. He should have been fired after last season. He's going to cost the 49ers a lot more games if he isn't fired. Get this guy out of town already. What makes it worse is the the way Singletary is putting complete trust in this moron. It really is frustrating being a 49ers fan.
 
Sounds like poor old Jimmy Raye has come down with early onset Jesse Jackson. You can't tell what the hell he's saying half the time. Sure wish Singletary would replace him. But it took Dingleberry months to hire an OC after he took over. I think Raye was the only guy that would come in under Mike and his old-school, "3 yards and a cloud of dust" philosophy.

I fear the only hope we 49'er fans have is if the team implodes this season - bad enough to get the coaching staff fired. Unfortunately, that would also take away some very good coaches like Manusky and Solari.
 
Aside from keeping JR around, I like Singletary. I think he has the program going in the right direction. Perhaps his strategic leanings are not to everyone's taste, but I like that he is changing the team culture.
 
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