Alex Smith is a non-contact participant in Wednesday’s 49ers practice. He was wearing a numberless black jersey while he warmed up with the team.
According to Adam Schefter, Smith passed his initial concussion tests and is on track to start against the Chicago Bears Monday night.
Smith still must fully participate in one practice with “simulated contact activity” and have no setbacks before he’s cleared to play. The 49ers will likely wait until Saturday to put Smith through that full-contact practice.
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Thank God for small miracles. Now if the defense decides to show up, the 49ers have a shot to put a cork in all the Bear hype.
Don’t forget the special teams needs to show up as well Razor.
Ooofta, got that right and speaking of special teams…Costanzo has been doing some Taaaalking! (not really, he’s a nice guy) Shut those honkies up!!
Time to delete those drafts of “After his Chicago performance, it’s time to start Kaepernick for good” blogs, Grant.
You mean dismantle all those castles spun in the air ?
Seriously, after re-watching the Rams game, it seems to me that Kaep is on track but still quite a bit away from starter role. His post-snap vision of the field, pre-snap read, accuracy, progression reads all need to improve. At this point in his game, most DC’s will be able to stop him with a spy and force him to throw, often with bad outcomes. But his talent level is outstanding, and he will be in a much better situation next season.
Kurt warner on NFL network just stated his opinion that of the three playoff teams that got injured QBs this past week (SF, PIT, CHI), he felt that CK was the least ready to start among the backups. Personally I hope Alex starts this week, but I’m optimistic about CK’s long term potential.
Dangle, of course CK isn’t ready. Anyone even contemplating that he is, has an agenda. AS will start and with the help of the OL, will have a good game. I put most of the offense scheme/game plan on GR not on AS’s so-called weaknesses.
Smith needs to stop taking unnecessary hits, minimize (better avoid) QB sneaks, and slide feet first. He’s too valuable. Niners have RBs for short yardage gains. Maybe he should practice throwing the ball away. Or throw high — something he’s not unfamiliar with.
On a different note, it’s good to see Smith efficiently going through his read progression this season — something he was not able to do very well last season. Steve Young made an interesting comment on how successful YAC pass plays often means that the receiver was not the primary target (fewer defenders around him or positioned well to tackle him). Lots of short passes converted to large YACs probably means better progression reads by the QB.
All of which depends on an OL to give the QB (any) time to go thru his reads. Until this year in large part, AS never had one such line to go thru his reads.
That takes practice as all things do. He’ll catch up though when it matters the most (playoffs).
good point DS, and I think that kind of stuff is a large part of why alex has shown consistent improvement throughout his career, especially in the past few years and with good coaching. But taking hits like that one highlight shot? “C’mon man!” Thats ridiculous and makes him look very ungraceful. Peyton manning had a really awkward slide this weekend but at least he went down Knee-first. Alex just kind of went backwards/sideways/upsidown/headfirst!!! WTF?! Lol
Smith is primary receiver, then check form to hire. Some progression !
Speak English clown!
@ Prime:
Apparently, the news that Smith participated in practice and is on track to start against the Bears gave jordan a stroke.
Strokes no joke…LoL
Noooooooo!!! We want kap well at least I want kap to get at least 1 start just to see him
You mean because of your selfish reasoning you rather we lose a big game
Is alex gonna hang fifty on the bears with his spectacular passing attack? Our messiah..the one..the jedi..The end all be all of Quarterbacks..No one can win nor play quarterback but Alex Saint Smith! The One! Youre onto somethin there daybreaker..We cant win without Alex at all…Never
Well, last year AS led the team to it’s largest margin of victory since Joe. Meaning Steve never equaled that.
And this year, Alex gave the Jets one of it’s worst home game losses in its history. Then 2 games ago would have become the most accurate QB in NFL history had he one more attempt.
This whole time, Alex went 19-5. Just to keep in mind the reason why they play professional sports (to win).
So, you tell me.
DS…
they will never ever stop to listen to reason. Common sense unfortunately has seem to skip over many on this here pressdemocrat.com 9er blog :P
But you did predict the stadium stuff Benny! So, there is that to be happy about.
DS
His % is great maybe because the ball doesnt travel more than 3-8yds in the air…lol
Blanco
Common sense??more like getting real AS has the same issues from when he was a rookie(no awareness in pocket…happy feet syndrome..ball cant go more than 8yds in the air)7yrs n same issues…please TURN the page…
Pete
If it were that easy to be 19-5 by passing it no more than 8 yards, evey team would do it.
And the defense would never run more than 8 yards from the LOS. No matter the WR and where he runs. So we’d get 0 YAC. But of late, AS has gotten quite a bit. Somehow I don’t think you’re on the right track.
^ ooooh zing ^
DS
Please spare me the 19-5 record thats not on AS..thats on last yr dominant D n ST…i think ANY other qb could’ve had same rec or better…if by now u dont see AS doesnt have IT u must be crazy…look at the games he throws 3-8yds every time even on 3rd n long..look it up i guarantee u AS throws the least amount of 15+yd attempts..knock CK for not seeing KW but he did pretty good n I’ve seen AS miss ALOT of targets
DS
Not every team had our running game
It is simple to stop the run. Just add more than the offense can block. If not 8, then 9.
Fact is, AS is smarter than the Defense. He audibles in and out of running plays as he sees what the defense does. And it has led to the best rushing team in the whole NFL.
If every team can do this, they would. No reason to throw it if it was all non-QB. Facts are facts. AS is a better QB than the defenses he faces are a defense. It is impossible to be 19-5 and this not to be the case. And AS has beaten the best defenses in the NFL the past 1.5 years. His record in our division in that time is 7-1. And this division is by far the best defensively. And if JM beat top defenses while he himself had a top D (he did his whole career) and gets credit for it, then so must AS. Fair is fair.
Look up all the supposed QB’s AS is similar (Dilfer, Johnson, Sanchez, etc). You won’t find them to have lead their teams to 19-5 or better at all. And they had great defenses as well.
Guess what that means? AS isn’t at all like those guys. He is a QB whose record matches HIS play. No luck involved. Without AS,this team has NO CHANCE being 19-5.
I challenge you to do the research on AS vs. these other QB’s. I already have. And it ain’t even close. Both record and rating wise, AS blows those others out of the water.
And if CK, ST, QBx could have done what AS has, guess what? They would and AS isn’t here. Fact is he is here because they can’t and you can’t handle that.
Pete says “Please spare me the 19-5 record thats not on AS..thats on last yr dominant D n ST…i think ANY other qb could’ve had same rec or better”
Question then: why didnt they go with a cheaper better alternative in Kap, Johnson, or a veteran free agent QB?
I keep asking this question but no one wants to answer it. How come?
This is good news. Alex gives the team the best chance to win and Kaep still needs some seasoning.
I know Alex has been cleared, medically – I just hope he’s not rushing it. We need him more in the post-season than we do this Monday.
Sweet can we just sign Alex to a 50 year extension so I am guaranteed never to see another 49er play QB again? That would be swell..
I know rite fourth..Cant get rid of him..He got 9 lives like a cat..Just when U think the book on his 49er era is closin..It stays open
But ultimately thats harbaugh’s call..if doctors say he’s medically cleared to play..whether to hold him out or not
Get with the program fellas, it IS a new era. If you don’t like it change it, if you can’t change it, change your POV.
Back in black
I hit the sack
I’ve been too long
I’m glad to be back
Yes, I’m let loose
From the noose
That’s kept me hanging about
I’ve been looking at the sky
’cause it’s gettin’ me high
Forget the hearse ’cause I never die
I got nine lives
Cat’s eyes
Abusin’ every one of them
And running wild
’cause I’m back
Yes, I’m back
Well, I’m back
Yes, I’m back
Well, I’m back, back
(well) I’m back in black
Yes, I’m back in black
Back in the back
Of a cadillac
Number one with a bullet
I’m a power pack
Yes, I’m in a bang
With a gang
They’ve got to catch me
If they want me to hang
Cause I’m back on the track
And I’m beatin’ the flack
Nobody’s gonna get me on another rap
So look at me now
I’m just makin’ my play
Don’t try to push your luck
Just get out of my way
Well, I’m back, yes I’m back
Well, I’m back, yes I’m back
Well, I’m back, back
Well I’m back in black
Yes I’m back in black
Hooo yeah
Ohh yeah
Yes I am
Oooh yeah, yeah oh yeah
Back in now
Well I’m back, I’m back
Back, I’m back
Back, I’m back
Back, I’m back
Back, I’m back
Back
Back in black
Yes I’m back in black
WTF?
A/C DC song
@ Nick:
Obviously, Razoreater is Alex Smith.
@nick. Didn’t think you would get it
ACDC!!!! My favorite.
I hope this is good news. We need AS as our QB, especially against a good defense. A bad defense, I’m more positive that CK will do well enough to lead us to a victory. CK has speed, and bad defenses like the Raiders for example, lose containment all the freaking time! CK against that kind of defense would put up some pretty nifty stats.
But CK against a defense that isn’t stupid (well, not Raider stupid because none are), won’t lose containment and he’ll be crushed into oblivion and be a TO machine. To beat a good defense is a very hard thing to do. Good offense loses to good defense virtually every time. That is largely due to good offense being dependent on big plays which are more than not due to a defense losing containment and not following their assignments. If those things don’t happen, good offenses aren’t making big plays, they get anxious and then make mistakes (AKA Turnovers). And turnovers win/lose games.
AS is the QB we need to have to face such a defense as Chicago’s. AS is smarter than they are and knows when to do what. That to me is more important than what he can or can’t do. I only hope he feels up to his normal self. If he does, Chicago is toast!
In JH I trust!
I need the lottery numbers tonite Ds..What are the magic numbers
Powerball preferabally
Ask Benny Blanco.
By the way, I don’t gamble/play lottery or bet money ever.
powerball? what non-california garbage state are you in deezy? lol
Garbage eh…hmm…Im in Georgia Dangle..and my point was Ds knew exactly what would happen mon wit Kap playin Qb..Like a psychic.. I can use those psychic powers then
Just when you think your out Alex smith pulls you back in smh lol
Good to hear. I think the Niners will be in a dogfight against the Bears.
yep,,,this could be a nut cracker game …
Any word about Cutler?
The new stadium is coming right along.
http://www.newsantaclarastadium.com/live-view
What does “on track” mean? Does it mean we beat the Bears with Alex Smith under center? Does it mean Alex is not looking at defenses with blurry vision anymore? Does it mean that there is a chance (small) that Alex goes “off track” and Kaep takes over as QB?
Let me take a wild guess at what “on track” means. It means Adam Schefter has absolutely no clue who will start under center for the 49ers on Monday night but his wild guess is Alex.
Myself, I prefer that kid behind Alex, Colin Kaepernick.
Same story – different headline:
Colin Kaepernick ON TRACK to fill in at QB Monday night.
(In other news, Adam Schefter says Andrew Luck is on track to be good.)
did you read the story?
“on track” meaning that he was medically cleared to participate in a non-contact practice which is one of the steps/barriers to being medically cleared to play in a game. chillax
Do any of the Alex Smith critics who complain about check downs recall that in 1984 when Joe Montana led the 49ers to their second Super Bowl win the leading pass receiver on the team was Roger Craig. Dwight Clark, who led the wider receivers, caught all of 52 balls that year which was 19 behind team leader Craig. As Casey Stengel used to say, “You could look it up.”
They are not going to understand that, reason they dont understand the WCO.
Good point. And, not only did Craig lead the team in receptions in 1984, he led again in 1988 when the Niners won their third Super Bowl. Jerry Rice was in his fourth season at that time and finished second in receptions.
The biggest point is how Niner fans were proud to have the first ever 1,000 yard rusher/1,000 yard receiver in NFL history when Craig did it.
Craig did it via the 3-7 yard pass. He wasn’t split wide all the time catching 70 yard bombs.
Now we have a QB who is doing the same thing with our RB, and it means he sucks?
Goes to show some weren’t fans then or aren’t fans now if they don’t think the RB is a key focal point in the BW WCO System which people claim to want back. Even with JR, RC remained a key focal point in the passing game, and when we dropped him, we didn’t win another Super Bowl till we had another good receiving RB. All the while we had JM/SY and JR.
Oops! “wide” not “wider”
This is 2012, where offenses and rules are favored to fit the QB and help put up big numbers for everyone except Alex Smith. Montana’s era was completely different. Mr inconsistency smith is a joke. Time for him to throw up on the field again. It could be literally, with that concussion!
That’s cruel son!
Alex has friends on the SF Giants such as MCain. PSandoval was at the Ram game and was wearing an AS jersey. One of those guys needs to give AS an accelerated course on how to slide feet first so he doesn’t sustain hits to the head. They can say that it was the QB sneak that did the damage, but when concussed, many times there is a delay and he was definitely hit helmet to helmet on the first hit.
Yes Hof AS needs some leasons he has taken some big hits this year and its all on him. I agree with your concuss theroy its what I was thinking. It was that big hit and had delayed symptons.
Hof I agree completely, Alex takes some dumb (unecessary) hits when he should just slide. And that one highlight against the rams is a great example. But I feel like you still don’t understand that defenders are Allowed to hit helmet to helmet on the QB (or any other ball carrier) once they are established as runners.
Dangle, I completely understand when the QB becomes a runner. I still think it was a cheap shot and that was my point. Helmet to helmet is a penalty anywhere on the field even when QBs become runners. I’m still waiting for a fine from the league office.
A fine is not forthcoming. Isn’t Wednesday “fine” day? There is always the option for refs to call a penalty for helmet-to-helmet, but QBs become just like any other player once they start running, unless the slide feet first. Therefore, just like when FG lowers his head and the defender meets him head-on (helmet to helmet), it will never get called unless Alex slides Feet first (which is where we agree). But since alex didn’t slide feet first, he was essentially presenting the same target as FG lowering his head for contact. Which makes that hit uncool for us, but totally not a cheap shot.
Dangle, I hear what you are saying but helmet to helmet is a sensitive issue in the NFL. It doesn’t matter the position or where it happens on the field (see wr hits). It’s not acceptable or NFL legal. If he doesn’t get a fine, it doesn’t mean it was an appropriate hit.
I just want all 3 phases to get in sink already. I am really sick of the whole “everyone sees us coming we are the hunted not the hunter”. Thats an excuse. When the pats made their run they were like always doing the punching in the mouth. Seems like this year we get put on our heels too much and the other nfl teams know it and are looking to do it. Thats an error in preperation coaching? Lott and company rarely let that happen.
I think what’s getting lost in this whole concussion thing is that piece of crap helmet Alex Smith was wearing. I say it’s a piece of crap because it allowed Alex Smith a concussion. He should throw that thing in the garbage and go for another brand. What if Alex Smith had this coming because he was wearing a helmet not rated very high for concussions because he thought it was more stylish. David Carr use to wear a funky looking helmet maybe Alex Smith needs 1 of those. It would be nice if 1 of these beat writers gave us more insight on that cheap helmet Smith was wearing and if there are any better options.
Jonny I think the biggest thing is when alex gave the back of his head to the linebacker. That Hit! You can see it in slow motion his head gets hit then it goes down his spine to his tailbone and the ground reverberates it back into his body. Those sneaky hits thease guys make that guy driving Vicks head to the ground with his forearm. Dunbar’s clear helmet to helmet hit on smith. I know they were both runners but malicious hit none the less. The NFL should make the whole league read Dr. Amen’s Making a Good Brain Great. Then we would see who would be willing to attack another human’s head the way they do.