http://community.foxsports.com/blog...QB_Smith_not_getting_it_done_in_San_Francisco
Mike Nolan should just admit it. The San Francisco 49ers made a mistake when they took Alex Smith with the first overall pick of the 2005 Draft. The quarterback, who played college ball at Utah, has had a disastrous rookie campaign that reached its nadir last week in San Francisco's 41-3 loss to Seattle.
Smith had three fumbles in that game and has nine this year, numbers that highlight the problems that have plagued the quarterback all season. His struggles with holding onto the football have also led to questions about the size of his hands, which have also been involved in throwing nine interceptions this year versus no touchdowns. In a draft that was loaded with good running backs but also featured a noticeable dearth in quarterback talent, San Francisco picked a signal caller. Sure, the 49ers had a need. But there was talk that had San Francisco not selected Smith he would have been waiting quite a while to be picked, much like fellow quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was the 24th player taken.
If the 49ers were smart, they would have traded down or picked somebody else like wide receiver Braylon Edwards. Edwards would have been a nice complement to current USC quarterback Matt Leinart, who could be in position to be selected by the 49ers if they decide that Smith is a bust.
And Smith seems to be on his way to becoming one of those players who does not live up to expectations. Perhaps that has a lot to do with the fact that he ran a system offense in college, much like Andre Ware and the gaggle of Florida quarterbacks who played under Steve Spurrier. Ware, who coordinated Houston's Run-and-Shoot attack with precision, completed only 83 passes during an abbreviated NFL career after being picked by the Lions with the seventh overall pick in the 1990 draft. Danny Wuerffel and Shane Matthews lit up defenses while playing with the Gators, but lost their bite when they started passing in the pros.
Smith, the centerpiece for Urban Meyer's Spread-Option offense while at Utah, also has had shell-shock since making the transition to the NFL. While some may claim that it is too early to give up on Smith, it seems pretty evident that he will not be a star in this league. He looks confused in the pocket and has failed to adjust to the speed of the game in a league where a split-second decision can make or break a season. Just ask Donovan McNabb.
If San Francisco is presented with the opportunity, the 49ers would be prudent to draft Matt Leinart and make amends for a poor decision. Leinart runs a Pro-Style offense at USC and manages the game well, making limited mistakes and showing moxie at crucial junctures of big games. His 34-1 record is proof of that. Smith, meanwhile, burst on the scene during one remarkable season at Utah. Since then, he has shown that he was not as good as he was cracked up to be when the 49ers selected him with the first pick. San Francisco can only blame itself. But there still is time to fix a mistake and the 49ers will have the opportunity to do so in April.
Mike Nolan should just admit it. The San Francisco 49ers made a mistake when they took Alex Smith with the first overall pick of the 2005 Draft. The quarterback, who played college ball at Utah, has had a disastrous rookie campaign that reached its nadir last week in San Francisco's 41-3 loss to Seattle.
Smith had three fumbles in that game and has nine this year, numbers that highlight the problems that have plagued the quarterback all season. His struggles with holding onto the football have also led to questions about the size of his hands, which have also been involved in throwing nine interceptions this year versus no touchdowns. In a draft that was loaded with good running backs but also featured a noticeable dearth in quarterback talent, San Francisco picked a signal caller. Sure, the 49ers had a need. But there was talk that had San Francisco not selected Smith he would have been waiting quite a while to be picked, much like fellow quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was the 24th player taken.
If the 49ers were smart, they would have traded down or picked somebody else like wide receiver Braylon Edwards. Edwards would have been a nice complement to current USC quarterback Matt Leinart, who could be in position to be selected by the 49ers if they decide that Smith is a bust.
And Smith seems to be on his way to becoming one of those players who does not live up to expectations. Perhaps that has a lot to do with the fact that he ran a system offense in college, much like Andre Ware and the gaggle of Florida quarterbacks who played under Steve Spurrier. Ware, who coordinated Houston's Run-and-Shoot attack with precision, completed only 83 passes during an abbreviated NFL career after being picked by the Lions with the seventh overall pick in the 1990 draft. Danny Wuerffel and Shane Matthews lit up defenses while playing with the Gators, but lost their bite when they started passing in the pros.
Smith, the centerpiece for Urban Meyer's Spread-Option offense while at Utah, also has had shell-shock since making the transition to the NFL. While some may claim that it is too early to give up on Smith, it seems pretty evident that he will not be a star in this league. He looks confused in the pocket and has failed to adjust to the speed of the game in a league where a split-second decision can make or break a season. Just ask Donovan McNabb.
If San Francisco is presented with the opportunity, the 49ers would be prudent to draft Matt Leinart and make amends for a poor decision. Leinart runs a Pro-Style offense at USC and manages the game well, making limited mistakes and showing moxie at crucial junctures of big games. His 34-1 record is proof of that. Smith, meanwhile, burst on the scene during one remarkable season at Utah. Since then, he has shown that he was not as good as he was cracked up to be when the 49ers selected him with the first pick. San Francisco can only blame itself. But there still is time to fix a mistake and the 49ers will have the opportunity to do so in April.
