49ers should turn Smith Loose
The 49ers are 2-0 but don’t start planning the playoff parties
just yet. In fact, the Niners could just as easily be 0-2 and in
the basement of the NFC West right now had a 56-yard field-goal
attempt by the Rams traveled another half yard on Sunday and had
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Eric Green been able to hang onto a
49ers fumble that scooted into the end zone and into and out of his
hands in the Monday Night Football opener.
49ers should turn Smith Loose
The 49ers are 2-0 but don’t start planning the playoff parties just yet. In fact, the Niners could just as easily be 0-2 and in the basement of the NFC West right now had a 56-yard field-goal attempt by the Rams traveled another half yard on Sunday and had Arizona Cardinals cornerback Eric Green been able to hang onto a 49ers fumble that scooted into the end zone and into and out of his hands in the Monday Night Football opener.
And they say golf is a game of inches. The Niners ought to be thankful that football is too.
At the start of the season a lot of people were picking the 49ers to make the playoffs. After a 2-0 start, the odds of that happening are even better, especially in the NFC. The concern is that the Niners – a team that spent millions of dollars in the off-season to beef up its roster – look no different than they did a year ago. Sure the defense with the addition of Nate Clements and first-round draft pick Patrick Willis appears to be in playoff form, but the offense is sputtering – and I don’t know if the blame should be on Alex Smith, bland play calling or coaching.
Smith, the No. 1 draft pick – the $56-million-dollar man – was brought into the organization to help bring the Niners back to their glory days. I’m sorry to say but so far watching Smith play reminds me of anything but Joe Montana and Steve Young. In fact, watching him play almost makes me yearn for the days of Jim Druckenmiller. Okay, that may be a little too harsh, but then again look at Smith’s numbers.
So far this year he’s thrown for just 252 yards in two games. This is a halftime stat for Tom Brady. Smith also has yet to throw a touchdown toss in 48 attempts, he’s been sacked 7 times and has a rating that would be an exceptional score on a golf course. These are simply not the kind of numbers that a “playoff bound” team can have etched on its stat sheet and expect to advance past the opening round.
I remember watching Smith his rookie year – the year the young multi-millionaire set the NFL record for the lowest quarterback rating in history. I’ll admit that is one record that Brodie, Montana, Young and Garcia never set. At the time, I thought he was the worst NFL quarterback I ever saw, period. Then last year, the year his rating jumped from 40 to 74, a jump that was high enough to earn him the starting job on any practice squad in the NFL, I thought maybe we’re onto something here.
This year, I don’t know what to think. And I’m sure I’m not alone. One thing I do know is that I would take Steve Young right now, at the age of 45, without any practice time, conditioning workouts or knowledge of the current playbook over Alex Smith any day of the week in a must-win situation.
Why? Because Nolan and the entire 49er coaching staff isn’t allowing Smith to be showcased – so we still don’t really know what he can do in his third year in the league. We know what Steve Young could do.
That’s what I don’t understand. Why they aren’t allowing Smith to do more? The guy has a strong arm and can take off down field like a deer, we saw that in the closing minutes of the game against the Cardinals yet no one is willing to give him the rock and blow the playbook pages wide open around his skill set.
Why don’t they toss in some more running and option plays for Smith? Why don’t they have him roll out and bootleg more? Why don’t they have him throw down field more?
They drafted this guy because he was supposed to be able to do it all. But they’re playing him like a one-dimensional player.
The real reason behind this is either because the Niner coaches know he’s terrible and won’t admit it or Nolan is too scared to see him make a mistake and jeopardize the game’s outcome.
But how does Smith learn from his mistakes if Nolan plays the game so tight to the vest that he isn’t in position to make one? Instead of Gore, Gore, Gore, how about Battle, Gore, Davis, Jackson, etc, etc…I ask, has any team ever won it all playing conservatively on every down? Nolan’s playbook makes former Steeler coach Chuck Noll look innovative.
Speaking of the Steelers, the Niners will be in Pittsburgh this Sunday, and if Nolan plays this one conservative the Niners could lose 38-10. I say it’s time to take the reigns off of Alex Smith and let him run, roll out and throw down field on a regular basis. At least then the Niners and their fans will finally know what they have. And if Nolan finds out that he doesn’t like what he has, then bring someone else in next year to handling the quarterbacking duties, but quit playing like you’re afraid to win. It’s not fair to Alex Smith or the fans.
