SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said Friday about Alex Smith’s injured middle finger on this throwing hand.
Not committing a turnover has been a big emphasis for this team and QB Alex Smith after being stellar in that last year, four interceptions in the last two games. What do you most attribute that to?
“Well, we had one game that was out of our character, out of his character. It was just a bad run there in that game, led to three of them. But, it’s all on us. It’s a team thing as well. The situation that you’re in. We all take responsibility for that. So, it’s not attributable to one thing. I think there are several things that you can attribute that to. But, I believe it was a one-time thing. And you never say that in football because anything can happen. But, for the most part our offense was moving last night. We were gaining the field position advantage. Got it early. We gained it late. But, we were in a better situation in this particular game, in terms of field position, than we were in the previous game. And there were a couple drives where we stalled and got a three and out. But, especially when we had the good field position after the big punt return by [WR] Ted Ginn [Jr.]. We had the ball at mid-field and before the half we would have liked to have converted that for some points. One of the throws … it’s not impossible to throw the ball when you’re helmet is turned and you’re looking out the side of the ear hole. But it makes it a lot harder. And it was amazing that that ball wasn’t intercepted, because that’s hard to do. Not insurmountable, not insurmountable. But it’s very hard. That’s a little win though.”
Would that make its way in your notes to the league?
“Not insurmountable.”
I’ve asked this before, you said no. But, his interceptions have coincided or come after his finger injury. Is that affecting him in any way? His accuracy? His velocity?
“I can’t say for sure. He’s not the kind of guy that would ever say it. And none of us are, that would publicly make any excuse or rationalization. So, I know him and I wouldn’t disgrace him by saying it was, publicly. I know the kind of guy he is and the kind of competitor he is.”
You’ve had that conversation with him privately?
“A lot of conversations, yeah, privately. Definitely. But, it’s good. It’s good. It’s getting better and I think we’ll have a pretty strong and healthy team coming out of this weekend and going into the game Monday night. I think we’ll be really, really in a good place physically with our team.”
If that finger was an issue you feel like this layoff obviously will give him a chance to completely heal up?
“I think it’s going to help our whole team. First, just getting rest. And just let the bodies come back. That was a tough, physical game on a very short amount of time to play it in. So, I think our whole team needs some rest. And before we start preparing for the Monday night game. I know our coaches do. And I really tip my hat to all of our coaches. After we played our game against the Giants, it wasn’t but two or three hours after the game that every coach made it into the office and worked, in some guys’ case, until 5 in the morning the next morning. Caught a couple hours sleep and did the exact same thing the next night. The players lounge was full of coaches for a couple hours, sleeping from 5 to 7 a.m. But, it was a great effort on their part.”
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Well it seems the poor game play has been aligned with his finger injury. Doesn’t affect his eyes and missing RM yesterday!
Hofer, I can’t agree more, makes bad decisions with his head not his finger.Harbaugh does not like the media, and saying Smith had a good game kind of a joke,he will never agree with the media and it is insulting that he thinks the fans and the media are dumb. I love Jim Harbaugh the coach, the man not so much.
Actually, Harbaugh said Smith had a great game calling off passes and going to all those runs that worked. He did not say Smith had a good game throwing.
I admire JH. Never will throw a player under the bus.
Team 5-0
Smith 0-2
Right? Right? Wrong!!
Team 5-2
Enjoy.
Nice +1
Giants up 4-0 top of the fourth
Enjoy.
I feel greedy and guilty as a fan sometimes when I read things like this. The coaching stayed up until 5 in the morning after the giants game and on only 3 hours of sleep. To me it is tremendous how much effort these coaches and players put into this game. It frustrates me a bit when I see all the whining and complaining going on. These guys are working there butts off, and they are winning the only stat that matters somewhat to me. What does it matter if they win with style or finesse or poise or whatever whiny thing we can try and take away from something we don’t contribute to at all. These guys are giving us some of the greatest 49er football in a decade and alot of people are turning it down, enjoy this while it lasts dynasties don’t last forever.
Well said, I am with you on this 100%. Some people will find fault no matter what!
Yahoo’s Jason Cole makes a good case as to why the Niners should start CK now!
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl–direct-snap–niners-would-be-better-off-switching-to-qb-colin-kaepernick-sooner-than-later-.html
Nick, it’s not going to happen. I saw the QB shuffle stats and they weren’t pretty. JH won’t make any changes this year.
I think his point is that they should do it now if they are working up to doing doing it this year. His example was Manning replacing Harbaugh. Of course that might turn this season into a building year.
Why is everyone so sure he is the guy? If AS doesn’t get re-newed, they may draft a pocket passer next year. He has time to redeem the poor play from the last two weeks.
CK is not ready. Possibly after this entire season and offseason he will and then be ready to compete once again in camp.
For now, things are good, not great but good and once Mario comes back and the Niners have realized they are a running team, things will get back on track. The softer part of our schedule is coming up and some key division matchups.
We all know who is clammouring for CK, sorry boys, its not happening. JH has a plan and a belief for Smith. Its working, 5-2.
Dadgum
Well played!
@Hofer I for one am not sure about CK. The team needs to find out if he’s the real deal or of they need to go back to the draft. Maybe not this year, but next year for certain.
Smith’s ceiling was established in the 2nd half of 2010. It’s just not high enough in my opinion.
Nick been,
I’ve been saying the exact same thing myself. Smith is not quite good enough to win us a super bowl. Thanks for the article. you know the truth hurts Nick!
Once again….Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah….and once again, its only a freaking game, not discovering the cure for cancer….put it in perspective man, its entertainment. If I don’t like the movie, I get up and leave..
55,
Then why are you still following my posts. Follow your own advice. Clearly you don’t like what I post. What’s your deal! L0L
@23coward:
Maybe his deal is that he is tired of you taking uninformed shots, but ducking the tough questions. Why are you a welcher? Why have you been so wrong so often about QBs?
Brave Sir jordan ran away
Bravely ran away away
When danger reared its ugly head
He bravely turned his tail and fled
Yes Brave Sir jordan turned about
And gallantly he chickened out
Bravely taking to his feet
He beat a very brave retreat
Bravest of the brave Sir jordan
@23J
I also agree with Cole regarding the QB situation. As he pointed out, JH, GR, TB, and JC know if CK is good enough to start and when. They have a tough choice: play it safe (i.e stay with Alex) and risk getting bounced in the playoffs or take a risk on CK and realize the payoff. We may have the next superstar QB in CK. the only way we find out is to let him play.
@23Jordan….
I find your posts entertaining…somewhat. Hey, I have an idea that you might like..why don’t you and some of your followers emulate the ‘Occupy’ movement…you know, have signs and banners made up that read ‘We are the 40%’, ‘Redistribute the Offense’, catchy phrases like that…then take your show to Santa Clara, park yourselves on the front lawn of 49er HQ and draw attention to your plight…whaddaya’ think?
55niner
I’d encourage him and his followers to go to the new stadium being built. Just jump in the way of the bulldozers there like they do in threads here that were civil and about football. See what happens then.
Good idea DS…I can see it now….. they jump onto a section of structural steel while one of the cranes is hoisting it, unfurl their banner and fly it high above the new stadium site….something like the the tree sitters from Berserkely and Earth First..major media coverage in the Bay Area. I see Cult Hero status for 23Jordan if he pulls this off.
So the Niners should take a team that is SB caliber, is 5-2 and turn it over to a QB who has come in for a few read option plays? I love Kaps potential, but it’s crazy to be suggesting he take over with the team in the position it’s in and how little experience he has. You do something like this when you are rebuilding, not when you are one of the better teams in the league.
This is a move they should make if they are given no other choice ie: Smith starts to become a detriment due to struggling and they begin losing games. That is not the case right now.
55niner
And like so many Berkley protests, nothing changes immediately. AS will remain the QB. And AS goes to the hospital/morgue to see him after the injury. What a nightmare for 23! If the last thing he saw was AS if things turned for the worse in the hospital…that is ironic.
rocket
Yes they should. Last year at this time we were 6-1. We are 5-2 now. And last year they didn’t want AS. At 5-2 now, why would you expect any change with a worse record?
Makes sense that way.
@Rocket…..agree with your point..to simply hand over the offense to Colin Kaepernick at the point, would be ridiculous. He does have huge potential, but, I really think he needs another year of offseason work before he’s close to being ready…
@DS…whew! Getting a little carried away with the hospital visit thing there!! I don’t wanna see the guy hurt….I’m just passing along ideas to him to help him further the cause of he and his minions..
55niner
Jumping off a structure high off the ground using a banner to ease your fall…I’m just being realistic.
But I bet you a million cred points (worthless really) that AS would visit 23 if he/anybody did that in the hospital or be present during some kind of death service. He, JH and Jed York would pay a visit.
This guy’s whole argument is summed up right here:
“But this is the era of larger-than-life passers. You better have a physically gifted guy like Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger if you want to compete.”
Yeah, and the era of the run game is over too. 400-yard passers win you games. How’s that working out?
I’ll take substance over style any day of the week.
Fluff piece.
The argument should be made this way: If CK is ready to go and he gives you the best chance to win – now and for the next several years – then you pull the trigger. You bite the bullet even if he struggles. I agree with the point that it’s best to do it quickly and be done.
The fact that they’re not doing this, says what? It’s not like they’re paying Smith a fortune and they have to cover their butts. It’s most likely that they’ve judged that CK’s not ready. Tolzien looked as good, if not better as a pure pocket passer in preseason, better mechanics, better read/recognition skills. And that’s not meant to denigrate CK – he’s a fantastic athlete and the writer is correct, he has a cannon and he’s a super nice kid. But, can he run the offense effectively? Maybe that’s the rub. No idea, he certainly has the smarts and the tools.
Dunno, I’d say inaction speaks louder than words. Anything can happen and things can change any moment. There’s no such thing as job security in the NFL but there’s some reason why they’re not doing this. Of course they have a much better view and understanding of talent and situations than we do. Maybe they truly believe in Smith. Never can tell with Harbaugh.
“Harbaugh says Alex Smith “did a good job of taking what was there”
Adam, good post. JH isn’t going to replace AS this year especially after the quote above. He’ll let the year play out…
I’m not really sure. I’m conflicted with Harbaugh. Sometimes he talks too much and other times not enough.
After he started parsing out the Manning ‘visit’ I had to kind of look at him as a Clinton kind of politician – never know exactly what he’s saying. I don’t care too much as long as we win but I never know for sure what he’s up to.
LET IT GO. LET IT GO. LET IT GO. This poor dead horse has been beaten enough.
Good article. Its time for change. Bring on Kap.
Time for a change??!?!?! 5-2 is time for a change now? What are you smoking?
Nick
In that article Cole says”JH is the only one who knows if CK is ready or not” So by JH not making the change doesnt that imply that CK IS NOT READY in JH mind?
Also the Colts were terrible and in rebuilding mode, had they been 5-2 and in first place it would have been harder to make the switch.
Many are too young to know how many times the dynasties failed. Walsh needed luck to get to two of his three Super Bowls, and went one and out three seasons in a row when Montana, Craig, and Rice failed to produce a touchdown in any of those three play off games.
The luck: Eric Wright’s horse collar tackle that prevented a touch down or field goal right after the catch, and Steve Young’s run for a long touchdown on a busted pass play against the Vikings when he was subbing for an injured Montana.
The Steve Young’s dynasty got past Green Bay and Dallas one time.
If this turns out to be a new dynasty, then they could use some luck too. Like maybe the fumble against NYG that wasn’t called.
There was more of that than some like to admit. Good points. Definitely a little good luck helps.
Adam
The coaching staff in BW’s day had very little to no turnover then. Seifert was around a long time. We ran a system that only Cinci ran. And we kept our coaches, so the system never migrated out.
I think that had more impact than luck. If you are going with luck, it would have to be drafting a guy in the 3rd round and somehow he becomes the gold standard of QB’s.
And how half the NFL passed up on who would be the best player in history isn’t skill.
Give it a break dude. For every lucky play you mentioned, I can name plays that prevented those Niner teams from winning more titles. How about that phantom pass interference call on Ronnie Lott in NFCC against the Redskins? How about the Rodger craig fumble in the NFCC against the Giants?
Both bad plays, Not luck at all. Craig was crushed when a block was missed, but if they had taken a knee and punted they win the game. Of course, both Young and Montana were dinged do they may not have had the luck that the NYGs had when an easy field goal was missed.
There were two dumb interference plays by Eric Wright and Lott in that Redskin game. They both committed the sin of giving the Zebras a chance to make a bad call when what they did wasn’t relevant to the actual play.
Wright shoved the receiver when there was no chance he could make a play. Lott had his arm on a receiver while the two of them were watching the play taking place closer to the goal. I agree that they could have driven for a touchdown if the two penalties hadn’t let Washington run out the clock. Of course they had played like crap to get down by 21 in the first place.
The point is that even great teams with great coaches need some luck along the way.
That guys one of the same rats who was trashing on our team the last ten years now when were doing well its him who knows how to bring us to the next level.. Not Jim Harbaugh no way everyone listen to Jason Cole hes a top caliber coach now.
No. Not a rat. The guy who finally called out the Fraud Rev Sing
Hey Oneniner, how’s it going bud?
You are mistaken
My … Bad … :)
@5-2. Top NFC west and with some free time to rest before AZ. I feel good!!!
5-2 with plenty of room to improve. How do you not feel better?
Not surprised. When reporters inquire about player injuries, he usually gives them the finger.
which finger? the floppy pinky?
If we look at the successful teams int he playoffs last year, we have alot of teams that dont have amazing Qbs, the ravens, the texans, the 49ers those are some of the best teams in the league
@5-2. Top NFC west and with some free time to rest before AZ. I feel good!!!
Hey Grant,
I watched the JH presser when you asked him about the TE plays at Stanford and with the 9ers. Did you feel initially he was being condescending? It seems he was acknowledging you doing your homework and that he can now talk with you more because you’ve earned your stripes. Have you ever talked to JH one on one outside of the press room? I know he asked you about the A’s in passing, but anything else?
We have not. Maybe it’s time we should.
Grant, good questions. Great job!
5-2 with poor qb play. Another miracle year so far.
Happy about the record? Yes!
Optimistic about a Super Bowl? No!
One day when Harbaugh writes is auto-biography we’ll all finally get to hear how his biggest regret while coaching the 49ers was not moving up to grab Andy Dalton.