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Next »Quarterbacks
Troy Smith VS. Alex Smith
Here's a brief synopsis of the strengths and weaknesses of Troy Smith and Alex Smith at quarterback and why I think Mike Singletary decided on Alex for this Sunday's must-win game against the Seahawks.
When Alex Smith bounced off the bench last year, he was effective, and let's face it, Troy Smith should have far more than just three interceptions. He's dangerous to the opposition and the 49ers offense, because he can throw a touchdown from anywhere on the field at any time. But he's also capable of making the horrendous mistake. The 49ers just haven't been punished by them as much as they should have. Here are the further strengths and weaknesses of Troy Smith:
Alex is back.
STRENGTHS: He's an unquestioned leader; former Ravens HC Brian Billick called him the most charismatic player he's ever coached and as Billick said, he's been around Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. You could see right away he got the attention of the receiving corps and they played better for him. They didn't drop as many passes and they responded to the belief they could get a pass at any time when Smith dropped to throw. Secondly, Smith has a quick release and a powerful arm. He's also elusive and can sometimes show a cool leadership in the pocket. He loves the deep ball and can make the eye-opening play.
Read More 'Troy Smith VS. Alex Smith' »| December 07 2010 at 02:34 PM
Alex Smith - The starter again?
Jason La Canfora of NFL network, the same guy that broke the story on running back Frank Gore's broken hip, is now reporting that Alex Smith will start against the visiting Seahawks this Sunday. How about that?
Will Alex Smith ride again?
Changing Singletary: Mike Singletary has changed. Ever since the Broncos game, Singletary is no longer raging on the sidelines. In fact, cameras no longer look up Singletary every time something goes wrong on the field. The one time he was captured on camera in Sunday's loss against the Packers, Singletary was consoling a volitile Vernon Davis, who exploded on the sidelines after scoring on a 66-yard pass play. Davis looked as if was antimately asking for more passes.
Singletary has made a conscious effort to be calmer. He no longer wants to be a sideline distraction and to have players answer questions about his demeanor.
Also, in news conferences, as the questions get harder about what many believe is his impending unemployment, Singletary stays even-keel. It makes you wonder about him and that he may be maturing into the job. But all this could be happening too late.
| December 06 2010 at 09:04 PM
Troy Smith will start against the Buccaneers
-Troy Smith is the starter. Coach Mike Singletary even cracked a funny to start his Monday news conference when he said that "Smith" would start. Singletary said they are going week-to-week with the quarterback. "I'm going with the guy who is winning right now. I'm going to stay with the hot hand," Singletary said.
The 49ers going with the hot-handed Troy Smith
-No decision has been made on the starting left tackle. Coaches will decide between Barry Sims, who has been inactive all year, and Adam Snyder. The team is still awaiting an MRI on Snyder's shoulder, but Singletary believes Snyder will be physically ready to play against the visiting Bucs on Sunday. Sims played well last season subbing for Joe Staley.
-Singletary will continue to go with the Reggie Smith-Taylor Mays rotation at strong safety. Interesting that Reggie Smith also covers punts along with Mays, but the 49ers feel more comfortable with Smith at this point.
-Despite 11 penalties and giving up eight sacks, Anthony Davis will remain the right tackle. With the broken leg to Staley, the team doesn't have many options to replace him. "I just think you have to continue to work with him," Singletary said, "weather the storm with him and let him play."
| November 15 2010 at 12:04 PM
Troy Smith proved right
Troy Smith and Mike Singletary proved me wrong. I thought Smith would face plant. The weird travel week, the unfamiliar opponent, the unfamiliarity with the offense, the questionable foot work. I think I'm so used to the construct of bad quarterback play backed by a web of justifying excuses I forgot that talent supersedes all. Now, before crowning Troy the bomb digitty, we must remember this one game. Alex Smith can be good for one game. Also this game was against the reeling Broncos, a team that's gone 4-14 in their last eighteen games under their coach, Boy Josh.
But Smith certainly earned another start, which I'm sure he'll get it against the visiting Rams on Nov. 14 in a duel between two Heisman winners in Smith and Sam Bradford.
One other crazy thought before I get started on the film review. If stadium efforts fail in the Bay Area, the 49ers might eschew the Los Angeles option and go straight to London. The NFL wants a team there, the Yorks are on the international community, and the team thrived there this week. I told you it was crazy.
| November 01 2010 at 03:11 PM
Troy Smith - Is this a good idea?
You just have to wonder about the Troy Smith move at this point. Speaking in London, offensive coordinator Mike Johnson said the team would have to pare down the playbook for Smith, particularly in the crucial areas of the red zone and on third down. Johnson was asked if he was part of the decision to start Smith over David Carr. He said, "I don't know if I had much decision, but we talked about it. So I was part of the process and it was something we decided to go with and we have to make it work."
That hardly sounds as if Johnson is fully behind this move. He also said, "I'm still trying to learn the things he does well."
The 49ers are in a desperate situation and the offensive coordinator is so unfamiliar with his starter, he doesn't even know what he does well. Johnson was there when Smith got two mop-up appearances in Baltimore, but Johnson was coaching receivers at the time. Here's what he said about Smith's play in those games.
"Well, I mean he had to clean up some footwork things, he had to get better in fundamental areas, such as drops and reads and things like that, but I think from that point to now, I think he has gotten better, a lot better."
So what Johnson is basically saying is he doesn't really know what this quarterback can do and that he still has to work on basic things like drops, reads and footwork. Wow.
Maybe this will work. But it's a lot to ask to get a quarterback the coaching staff doesn't know well prepared in week shortened by traveling halfway around the world. It also should be noted when Smith was released from the Ravens, no teams claimed. The 49ers picked him up AFTER he cleared waivers.
What might have convinced Singletary to start Smith is his demeanor. He's a confident, almost cocky kid, and he certainly said the right things. Nevertheless, he has a lot of things working against him.
If he plays well, it's a tremendous tribute to him and the coaching staff. In fact, they should be knighted. Hopefully, for the 49ers sake, it's not a disaster.
Read More 'Troy Smith - Is this a good idea?' »| October 28 2010 at 08:41 AM
Troy Smith gets the start
Third-string quarterback Troy Smith will start Sunday's international game against the Broncos, coach Mike Singletary said before their first practice outside London this morning.
Smith unexpectedly leapfrogged backup David Carr to replace starter Alex Smith, who Singletary said is out two-to-three weeks with a separated left shoulder.
Troy Smith gets the nod.
The 49ers signed the former Heisman Trophy winner six days before the season started and he had never taken a team snap with the Niners before Wednesday.
"I think the bottom line is, I think for where we are, I think Troy Smith gives us a good opportunity to win the game," Singletary said. "He's been studying since he's been here and getting with the coaches as much as he possibly can. he has enough of the offense to play."
"I do know that however limited (Troy's playbook) may be, it will be a situation that we put him in the best situation to win."
And what does Carr think after spending the past seven months as the No. 2 quarterback? Read More 'Troy Smith gets the start' »
| October 27 2010 at 07:54 AM
Alex Smith - Cut it loose
Alex Smith said he needs to play more aggressively and that he makes mistakes by playing too cautiously. Here's what Smith had to say Monday.(coach said you're the starter. Is that something you pick up on last night after meeting with him?) I guess maybe a little. I was kind of unsure. You don't know what's going to happen overnight, if the thoughts were going to change or what. I was prepared for anything this morning.
(long conversation with him. Can you give us the tenor of it?) Obviously, us moving forward is the thing, the changes that need to be made in order for us to get this thing untracked because obviously we can't continue to do the same thing was the gist of it.
(what changes?) Not necessarily speaking to any personnel changes or things like that. I think this team, myself included, changes in our mindset. Some things have to change in order for us to stop battling ourselves.
(what are the changes you need to make in yourself?) There are times out there that I know that I play too cautious. I think that's when I find myself making those mistakes. It's funny. It's counter-productive. You'd think playing cautious would lead the other way, but in me, it always has. You see at times when I cut it loose and play more fearless and the results have always been better. Read More 'Alex Smith - Cut it loose' »
| October 11 2010 at 01:55 PM
Singletary stands behind Smith - Again
Mike Singletary is keeping the embattled Alex Smith at quarterback. However, Singletary wasn't as vehement in his support as he has been in the past. He spoke about Smith's inconsistency and did question whether Smith has what it takes to be an NFL quarterback. Unlike prior weeks, Singletary seems to be putting Smith on notice.
Mike Singletary and Alex Smith in an intense exchange.
However, one possible factor in Singletary's continuing support is the reaction of his players. Singletary said throughout the game and after the game, Smith's teammates went up to Singletary with words of support for Smith.
Singletary also said that he believes that Smith is still the best quarterback on his team.
Singletary also addressed the team's predictability on first down with runs up the middle. Singletary said he talked to offensive coordinator Mike Johnson during the week about the need to run the ball. It seems as if the 49ers felt they could get some good gains on runs particularly from three-receiver sets and spread formations.
| October 11 2010 at 12:05 PM
Seattle leads 14-6 at halftime
New steam for second half
Seattle drive: Julius Jones no yards on the last play of the half.
49ers Drive: Pete Carroll is trying to get the crowd going, and it worked. A three-and-out by the 49ers, who look completely demoralized.
Seattle drive: Touchdown Deon Butler beat Tarell Brown and Nate Clements. Seattle leads 14- 6
49ers drive:Picked off by Jordan Babineaux picks off a pass that was dropped by Michael Crabtree.
Seattle drive: Touchdown Matt Hasselbeck on a 1-yard run. Nate Clements got burned by Michael Williams on a long pass. Clements Clements was looking to undercut the route, and instead got beat. got called for defensive holding earlier in the drive on a horrible call. Seattle 7-6
COMMENT: Gary Plummer just made a great point on KNBR. He said they need to give Alex Smith the right to call plays in the red zone in loud stadiums. By the way, Rachal had a thigh injury.
49ers drive cont: Joe Nedney makes 23-yard field goal. The 49ers were going for a touchdown on 4th-and-goal from the 1-and-a-half, and they couldn't get the play off. How frustrating is that? The 49ers continue to have problems getting the play called and lined up. Does Raye take too much time calling the play? 49ers 6-0.
49er drive: The 49ers just called their last time out, so now they can't challenge a bad call. Anthony Davis got beat by Red Bryant for a sack for first down. Guys continue to line up in the wrong spot, which has necessitated the time outs. The 49ers now face another 4th-and-less-than-a-yard. Rachal is back
Seahawks drive: Nothing. Another three and out, nice stop on first down by Sopoaga. He then got up and put a hand to his ear mockingly, wanting some applause from the Seattle crowd. Good return by Ted Ginn, Jr., the 49ers are at the 37 of Seattle.
49ers drive cont: Smith has only thrown three incompletions, but they've be costly, including the last one, a high touch pass to Moran Norris in the end zone on 4th-and-short. The 49ers are denied a change to score after an 85-yard drive. 49ers 3-0.
49ers drive: Great screen to Frank Gore to get a first down on 2-and-19. Jimmy Raye is calling a good game, Seattle no idea where Gore was. Chilo Rachal is out, but Tony Wragge is doing good job as his replacement.
Seattle drive: Three and out. Two runs and a bubble screen sniffed out by Michael Lewis. Justin Smith with a good series.
49ers drive: Clements intercepts on the first play of the game, but the 49ers settle for a field goal. If Alex Smith had thrown a better pass to Josh Morgan, the 49ers would have scored. Instead, he threw high, and Morgan was bumped out of bounds. 3-0 49ers
Seattle will receive
The 49ers have come out onto the field arm and arm in show of team solidarity. They were led by the team captains Alex Smith, Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis, Justin Smith and Takeo Spikes.
Now we'll see if all the work Alex Smith has done over the off-season in terms of pestering coaches and learning the small details will pan out for him.
The sun should be out for the game and wind should be manageable. And don't expect too much variation from what the 49ers showed in the preseason. Mike Singletary wanted to practice the team's main schemes in exhibition games. If that's the case, expect blitzing, particularly from linebackers.
| September 12 2010 at 02:30 PM
Nate Davis clears waivers - lands on practice squad
So much for Jason Whitlock and so much for my analysis of Nate Davis. He made it through waivers and was signed to the practice squad. The NFL community obviously agrees with the 49ers that Davis is not a desired player and maybe there are real questions as to his ability to learn an NFL offense. Nevertheless, this is good news for the 49ers, even though another team can swoop down and take Davis at any time and add him to their active roster. Whitlock, the Fox Sports columnist, predicted Davis would get claimed.
It's so hard for me to believe that other teams can see what most of us see - some instincts, and a big arm. It's best for Davis to stay with the team and to continue to learn an offense he's already invested a year-and-a-half in learning.
NOTES: On the injury front the 49ers will be without LB Ahmad Brooks (kidney), WR-KR Kyle Williams (toe), C Eric Heitmann (leg) and cornerback Will James (ankle) for their season-opener Sunday in Seattle.
| September 08 2010 at 02:13 PM
Veteran 49ers writers Kevin Lynch and David White analyze the stats with an insider's insight.
By Kevin Lynch, David White, Read Bios
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