A lot of people are feeling a twinge of remorse for quarterback Alex Smith, who picked himself up off the NFL mat and was seemingly in position for a strong playoff run before a concussion allowed young Colin Kaepernick to take his job.
Most of the empathetic emotions are coming from San Francisco, but at least one person on the opposite sideline this Sunday is feeling Smith’s pain. Ravens wide receivers coach Jim Hostler was Smith’s first NFL quarterbacks coach, in 2005 and 2006. The next year, the 49ers promoted Hostler to offensive coordinator. The year after that, Hostler was briefly out of a job before new Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh hired him.
“I have a personal relationship with Alex, and things were going his direction, the direction they should have been going all along there,” Hostler said this morning. “… So it’s disappointing for him. I feel for him.”
Hostler notes that Smith had “a heck of a year” in his second season, when he passed for 2,890 yards and 16 touchdowns, and compiled a not-terrible passer rating of 74.8 on a team that wasn’t exactly loaded with firepower.
“The next year, injuries set him back,” Hostler said. “We didn’t have the same team around him. And then there’s business. There’s a lot of things that go into what makes these guys successful. It was nice to see Alex have some of that success. And it’s disappointing now that he doesn’t get a chance to fulfill it.”
Many of the 49ers fans who came to embrace Smith last season, as he led the team to its first playoff appearance in nearly a decade, were shocked at the development. They had written him off as an NFL bust. Hostler did not make that mistake.
“People who really know Alex would never do that,” he said. “He’s made up of the right stuff. He is exactly what we knew he was gonna be when we drafted him, and circumstances, along with injuries, have played a huge part in him not having the success we thought he would have.”
One more thing is currently playing a part in that process: Colin Kaepernick.
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Love Smith, but right now I’m thankful that CK is who Harbaugh thought he was.
IF YOU WANNA CROWN HIM THEN CROWN HIS @$$!!!
Lol. *hits microphone* But, they are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!
Classic.
How could you not feel bad for Alex? He’s handled this whole thing with class and dignity that isn’t always shown by professional athletes.
I still think Harbaugh made the right decision going with Kaep, it just sucks for Alex that it happened when he was playing at the highest level of his career.
49er girl,
Smith was playing at the highest level of HIS career and he gets benched. That should tell you what that level was. His best was barely above aveage.
I don’t completely disagree with you, but also don’t see any reason to keep putting him down – he’ll be gone in a few months and we won’t have any reason to debate the “great” AS again. Plus, his departure should take some of the whack-a-doodles like DS, Oneniner, and the new-to-this-blog Darren/V character right along with him.
Let’s just say that Kaep plays at a higher level and move on :-)
Not a putdown. I just never hid my position. Just calling it like I see it.
You clearly need glasses.
J,
His best was better than average, but CK has the talent to be elite and provides more options for the offense. The constant jabs at Smith get old.
Big P,
Who’s jabbing? I’ve never been afraid to pull the trigger. I don’t jab. I never have on this blog. I write what I mean.
J,
You write how you feel. You don’t like Smith, you never have and that is why you make comments like ” His best was barely above aveage.” It’s unnecessary and really old considering CK has been the starter for a couple of months now. The fact that you say you aren’t afraid to pull the trigger just confirms that you indeed have a target, usually Alex Smith.
Jordan you are incapable of giving a fair opinion on this topic so why bother?
Kap has been great, he’s the right guy for now and in the future, but this continuing disregard for the facts and the improvement Smith made under less than ideal circumstances you continue to show is old.
A person possessing even average common sense should know that when they have made a number of erroneous statements about a subject that have blown up in their face, they should probably call it day and stop drawing attention to it.
Jordo, you’ll never be known here for being right on this subject. Period. Too many times being wrong about other so-called alternatives, clouded your judgement and strengthened your agenda.
Jordan would rather continue saying things that are demonstrably untrue than admit he might have been wrong about Alex Smith. He won’t even acknowledge that he welched on his vow to leave the blog if Smith was on the team this year.
Maybe it’s because his ego is so fragile that he can’t handle being wrong about anything. Or maybe it’s just because he’s an unrepentant asshat. Whatever the reason, it got old a long time ago.
“Smith was playing at the highest level of HIS career and he gets benched.” Really? You can look in to the future too now?
Why don’t you google Jim Plunkett since you obviously don’t know much about history.
Alex Smith is a good guy but he is not a great qb. He is just solid. The reason crabs struggled with alex is because alex would never give his recievers the extra second. He also always looked flustered in the pocket. This would cause him to immediately look for the check down. He never would stand tall like ck7
It was old last year.
Of course the smith lovers are here to defend his honor again. Sorry folks, j23 might not have been right about his stats. But he was right in saying that we were a qb away from the Superbowl and that Smith wouldn’t grow beyond last seasons play. Well he Didnt an that’s why he’s not playing. This isn’t about smith anymore for some of you. It’s about your feelings getting hurt and attacking Jordan. Claude has the balls (no pun intended) to say that’s all J23 says… When in fact I have yet to see this clown post anything football related. He talks about someone’s ego. And he is always here to stir up trouble and argue. Take some advice Claude… Copy and paste some football related topics you might get a little more cred with that move.
Rocket you’re another one. At least you talk football though. But every time someone has their opinion on smith that you don’t agree with you throw the cape on and fire up your defense missiles.
What Jordan said isn’t dig at Smith. It’s just simply the truth. I’ve read jabs or digs by Jordan. And these comments aren’t one of them. Man I can’t wait for smith to be gone. After that it will take 2-3 weeks before his name isn’t mentioned again. Superbowl is around the corner. Get up for your team leave this crap alone and enjoy this.
” Well he Didnt an that’s why he’s not playing.”
MD, that’s not why AS isn’t playing. CK is a unique player that offers a dual skillset – arm and legs. There are several good starting QBs that CK could replace as well. Additionally, we don’t know that if AS stayed as the starter, that the 9ers wouldn’t be in the same place (playing differently style wise but still winning). We’ll never know at this point, but yes, we will enjoy the ride of the SB. Now they just need to win it!
Agree. Lets just win this thing………..
Big P,
He wasnt my target. He definitely was liw hanging fruit. I get the Smithers riled uo when I give them the skinny on Smith. Dont like reality. It wasnt that I didnt like him Big P. For the 1000th time, I didnt like his play. He was too passive, too meek as Sing l etary put it. Unfortunately, its the way he lives his life. Thats why he’s taken so much abuse as a Niner. Anyone else would’ve walked away or demanded to be traded. You guys mistaken that for having class. Where I come from, Alex Smith is considered soft. He better not go and play anywhere near new york. The media will eat him alive.
He accepts all of these lumps from fellow coaches because he hasn’t shown any fire to do anything about it. He just accepts it. Thats why hes a hero to so many other victims on this blog. They’ve been abused in life as well. Stand up for yourself and stop taking all the abuse. Do something about it.
Jordo, I didn’t read one comment that exuded “riled up”. They all just validated that you were wrong yet again.
Alex Smith is gone by the end of the year. No reason to even speak about him anymore, at least for the upcoming Super Bowl.
Jim Hostler should be sorry for being the worst OC ever.
I would give him third worst after Raye and the dude Shell hired his second time running the Raiders.
Raye has a better track record than Hostler. At least, Raye had a couple of good seasons with the Chiefs.
I find it curious as to why people cite Smith’s second year as having been the only good year he had before Harbaugh showed up. The last time I checked, 16 TDs with 16 Ints, 2900 yards, 58% completion rate, and 6 fumbles is not a good year. Especially considering every team they played had 8 or 9 guys in the box to stop Gore who had 1,700 rushing yards. This is not bagging on Smith, he’s become very solid, but can someone please explain how his second year was good? He was clearly the wink link on the team that year.
Jed,
It was pro bowl level in that 2nd year. Just compare it to that 1st season. 1 td pass and 11 interceptions? That O line was sad.
I’m sorry Jordan, I don’t understand how throwing 16 picks and less than 3,000 yards with the opposing teams begging him to thrown downfield (and he couldn’t) a pro bowl year.
Sure, compared to his first year, Smith’s second year was light years better, but that still doesn’t mean he had a GOOD year. At the time, I was right along with everyone else hoping it meant he would improve that much again in his third year, which would have meant he was going to have a good third year.
His second year was not good.
You must be new.
Jed,
I say pro bowl compared to the 1st year. I know the 2nd year wasnt a good year. It was just good for Alex Smith. After throwing for 1 touchdown in 9 games in the 1st season, 16 tds in 16 games was like a bonanza for Smith in year 2.
Jed- you do know Smith was throwing to Antonio Bryant and Arnez Battle that season right??? That 2006 team was horrific on the offensive end- but if Nolan just coached right- they should have made the playoffs that year.
Moving On:
Harbaugh once again praised the focus on this team.
“That is something we don’t coach them up on, not bringing cameras or video cameras, no doing it or not doing it.” Harbaugh said. “We trust our team because that’s who we are. This is the most focused group on unity and winning I’ve been around.”
This faithful, is encouraging indeed.
Thanks for pointing that out Jed. Those numbers that he put up in his second season didn’t look like potential franchise QB numbers to me then and they still don’t look that way to me now. Its amazing me to me how much sympathy Alex gets from people. I know he is a good guy and a true professional however, the NFL is a results based business where you have to win now. Despite Alex’s good completion % and good QBR it was obvious to Harbaugh that Alex was still leaving plays out there on the field and also holding the offense back in some areas and he made the QB switch which I applauded then and still do now. Everybody knows what AS’s shortcomings are and despite how much Harbaugh praised AS publicly he knew he didn’t like his chances to win the big one with AS as his starter so he had to do what he had to do. I personally do not feel sorry for him. He is a big boy and a multi millionaire and he will land on his feet. I do wish him the best in wherever he lands unless he plays against the 9ers! However. I would rather have AS feelings be hurt and the 9ers in the Super Bowl with Kap, then to have kept AS as a starter and watching some other team in the Super Bowl!
Exactly. I suppose all this love fest being shown towards Alex is because of the human drama aspect of it all. Personally, I watch football for the excitement on the field, not for the personalities and melodrama off it.
Twenty-six students from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, where a gunman killed 20 children and six staff members on December 14, will sing “America the Beautiful” before the Super Bowl.
This is going to be one hell of an emotional game. Whew!
One mediocre OC who lost his job feeling bad that a mediocre QB also lost his job.Birds of a feather …
I feel bad for Alex too but what did everyone want JH to do,play the inferior QB just to be nice ? All these people should just stop publicly feeling sorry for Alex and feel good for him that he is a millionaire tens of times over and that he will finally get to a team that wants him. If we get a draft pick for him then it will be a win win and IF he plays well for his new team even a win for them too !
Alex isn’t capable of playing well for any other team. Harbaugh made him a mediocre, functioning quarterback. He should thank his lucky stars 49ers kept him on team as long as they did. Next year without harbaugh he will revert ba ck to the below qb he truly is
+1
Coaching is all good and dandy, but ultimately, Alex was the one out there throwing the ball to his team, not Jim.
Hostler should be apologizing for setting Smith back four years with his terrible gameplanning, not for Smith’s bad luck. He and Tolner will go down in the annals of the worst Offensive Coordinators, ever (can’t put Jimmy Raye in this category, because he was successful 20+ years ago).
Below average
Hard to pin down the details of the Kwame Harris story, but one account I read says the boyfriend yelled “My poops are the size of an elephant’s thanks to you,” which the story said was when Kwame whipped him in the face with his hand or something. Why isn’t this being covered?
Everybody’s entitled to his opinion on any player. However, anybody who says nasty stuff about Alex at this point is obviously low class, and Alex is obviously high class.
I agree with this. Smith could have easily gone the route of David Carr or Joey Heisman. He could have used lack of cohesion in the coaching staff, getting shellshocked in his first seven years of ball, or any number of other excuses to essentially hold a clipboard for the rest of his career, then transition smoothly to NFL Network or CSN Bay Area (smart guy, big future in broadcasting). However, he persisted, and persevered when he finally received good coaching and a cohesive gameplan.
I will not forgive the ownership group for a transition from the DeBartolo years to the York years, especially when it came to the lack of good coaching during that turmoil. I could see Smith going the route of Ken Dorsey, Mike Rumph, Rashaun Woods, or (dare I say it) Kwame Harris. Each of these players had potential, to be sure. But, each got caught up in the turmoil, never really lived up to that potential, and ended up getting chewed up and spit out by the NFL as a result.
I do hope that Smith lands a good starting job. Hopefully with an AFC team, although I admit that his best choice will probably be the Cardinals (who wouldn’t want to throw to Larry Fitzgerald?).
Yes it sucks to loss your job, but the better man won out. And thank God he did. After watching this season unfold the way it did. I really doubt were playing Sunday if smith was still the starter. Hell land on his feet somewhere. And he will be alright. It’s what’s best for the team…. Right folks?
That’s right. The team is better for the switch and is in position to add to it’s storied legacy. 1 more to #6 and counting!
This is just a bunch of horse poop, even Jordan will admit AS is a class act and we would love AS to be our next door neighbor but not our QB, I just don’t see AS going to a new team, and holding the starting position more thsn a year or two. Also I don’t feel sorry for him.
than
Alex smith was overmatched when he came into the league. However, he persevered, endured two should surgeries, played courageously (though very poorly) with a separated throwing shoulder, improved every year, got the team within one boneheaded play by a teammate of the Superbowl and did absolutely everything he was asked to do as Harbaugh’s starting QB.
Then, when he was asked to step away from starting into the backup role, he executed his assignment perfectly.
If the people who participate in this blog had as much class and dignity as Alex Smith, this would be the number one football blog in the universe.
Wow,
I leave for a day and come back to a gay tolerance chat room. Not trying to diminish the importance of tolerance. But did any of you actually watch the clip? It was with a comedian and Culliver while a bit immature and ignorant, was trying to be funny. It backfired.
Lets move on to the superbowl. Can we get pressure on Flacco? Will we be able to stop Ray Rice like we did last time we met? Will Rogers be able to cover Boldin in the slot?
Will we exploit the Ravens aging linebackers? Who will be our offensive hero?
Also, just re-read Harbaughs comment to his dad regarding drafting CK. Harbaugh not only felt confident that CK was the best QB in the draft, he also felt that he was overall the best football player in the draft. What is interesting about this is that there was a large group that was very confident that Harbaugh REALLY wanted Dalton and only picked Kaepernick because Dalton was gone. Another Smither theory goes up in flames lol.
Smh.
Not another ungrounded back handed slap to Alex and anybody you supported him as a memeber of the team, come’on dude!
I usually don’t repsond to your trolling, but man, you cry louder than anyone about getting over the whole Smither thing, but yet you bring it up more than anyone.
Did you create DS so both of your personalities could paritcipate in the blog?
Not a back hand slap to Smith at all.
I mentioned several points in my post and you got your panties in a bunch cause you thought I attacked Smith?
If anything I snicker at a group that thought they knew so much.
Any thoughts on the football insight and questions I posted?
SMH………….
If anything I snicker at a group that thought they knew so much.
Says the man who has stated that Harbaugh elevated Kaepernick because he was tired of Smith’s low passage yardage.
Any fool who thinks Harbaugh didn’t keep ck under enter because smith wasn’t stretching the field or being more than one dimensional (passing deeper) is a fool.
Let me guess Claude. Because you Didnt hear the coach say so it can’t be true.
No panties in a bunch here, just calling out the kettle for a change. Your righteousness gets old sometimes.
Insight? I must have missed that. I think we can get to Flacco, I think we will really mix up what we throw at him though, I really think Fangio wants to confuse him if at all possible. I don’t think Rice gets more than 40 yards rushing. Boldin might not get seperation but Flacco will throw it to him covered or not and that dude has meat hooks for hands, Rogers will be overpowered at times.
I really think we can make Lewis look bad in his last game, I think he is the player to attack. Make him get to LMJ on the edge, make him drop back 15+ yards to cover to soft spot between him and Reed, pound it up the middle, get Iupati in his grill with Gore picking his spots between the tackles.
@bay
BayAreaFanFactoid: Smith supporters are dwindling,
to paraphrase.
False because AS gained respects around the league from his peers, past and present players. Most importantly, qbs.
And he gained respects among Niner fans, turn boos into ovations for his contributions on/off the field.
I think the bashing crowd is in the minority. The
usual suspects are just posting more when they see
the stimuli “Alex Smith.”
Another BAFFactoid was about Alex supporters’ decisions are
clouded by their emotions. LOL
ninermd:
Sigh. Tiny minds think alike.
Harbaugh didn’t elevate Kaepernick because of any dissatisfaction with Smith. He did it because Kaepernick is a hyper-talented multivariate threat (thanks JPN) who already is showing signs of being the best QB of his generation. Harbaugh didn’t replace Smith with some slapdick or even with a “good” QB. He replaced him with something special. Making him the starting QB was solely about getting that special talent onto the field. Smith was playing at a high level when he got hurt, but Kaepernick’s performance in those first couple of games showed he could perform at an elite level.
Apparently, that concept is too subtle for you to grasp. In your brain, it was simply: Coach Harbaugh made Kaepernick the QB. That must mean Harbaugh agrees with me that Smith sucks.
If Smith’s performance truly was unsatisfactory, the switch wouldn’t have generated so much attention. But it did.
You really should think just a little before you post. You might not embarrass yourself so much.
As is often the case on this forum, the original argument gets lost amid spin and strawman opinions.
I have not read one cognizant post that has said Smith is a better choice to lead the Niners or that Kap hasn’t been outstanding. There is not one true Niner fan that is disappointed about the Niners playing in the SB in 3 days.
The crux of the argument from where I stand is this need for some to continue disparaging Smith over losing the job to Kap. Smith was playing extremely well when he got injured. There is no credible way to argue otherwise. He did not lose the job because of his play. He didn’t lose it because of a bad game against the Giants. He lost the job because Kap was better to the point some are talking about him as being a top 5 QB with the arrow pointing up. He is a revelation in that he not only possess’ the ability to run which everyone already knew, but the ability to throw the ball accurately from the pocket, which we didn’t.
He has played so well, he forced a QB who had completed 25 of 27 passes in his previous 5 quarters to the bench. That isn’t losing your job because of poor play. It’s losing your job because the other guy is special.
Md says I put my cape on and defend Smith when someone says something negative and I do, same as I would in the Crabtree may get released in TC suggestion, or Harbaugh not deserving the benefit of the doubt, AJ Jenkins being a bust without actually seeing him play etc. Not because of Smith, but because there is nothing worse than statements made without research and facts to back them up. It’s hot air in print form. I got ripped for misinformation about Tom Gamble a few weeks ago, and rightfully so which is why once I realized my error I apologized. Instead of continuing on trying in vain to be validated on this flawed Smith opinion, some of you need to come to the realization that he played better than you thought he could or predicted. Many things you said he couldn’t do, he did. Smith getting replaced by a better option doesn’t override the multitude of statements made about Smith.that were categorically wrong. Sando posted a link to an article a couple of days ago that clearly showed Smith was on an upswing before Harbaugh arrived. He wasn’t a Harbaugh creation; he was a guy returning from major shoulder surgery who worked hard to improve his game and did.
If you want to continue this propaganda campaign about Smith being nothing before Harbaugh, that he was benched because the team didn’t like his style or couldn’t win with him, that’s your prerogative. Everyone has a right to be wrong, and some on here are masters of it
You beat me to it Claude. Very well said and with fewer words than my diatribe.
What I dont understand is that people make it sound like Alex Smith was playing terrible football. In fact, it was the complete opposite, he was playing his best football but Coach Harbaugh decided there was something special with Kaepernick.
As a coach, sometimes your gut feeling makes hard decisions for you and all the respect goes to Harbaugh for following through on something he believed was best. There is no comparioson or fault or arguement in any of this. Its a direction that the coach made and its worked largely in part because the foundation and belief was there to make it work.
Colin K does not come into this situation and turn the franchise around if its the year 2005, lets just make it clear that this team has helped CK as much as he has helped them.
Claude. Correct. Now. What does ck do that Alex couldn’t? Hmmmm stretches the field and runs like the wind. Thus making him more than…… One dimensional. So it boils down to harbugh knows CK was better and does more for the offense than Smith did. Thanks for making my point. Now can we go back to when you and others like Rocket said Alex Smith would be the starter for the whole year, or when you guys questioned Harbaughs decision? It’s gotta suck for someone like you an your “ego” to have to eat crow now. You can try and take it back, but you and you too rocket have been smith security for awhile now. You were wrong face it and move on.
FDM…. Smith was playing well. I Didnt say he wasn’t… However I did say at the beginning of the year that if he Didnt expand his game and be more than a one dimensional game managing keep it safe qb that he would not be here anymore. Well it looks like that’s what happened. His qbr rating doesn’t mean squat. As he said earlier in the year about cam newton, well it seems he was right because his sparkling qbr rating Didnt save his job, you know the qbr folks like Claude and rocket and others like to bring up. It’s this simple. Harbaugh knew they weren’t winning a Superbowl with the same keep it safe qb play, the NYG game proved that. They tried to unleash smiths arm and he failed miserably. Yes we all know ck is a special talent, but he still isn’t elite yet. And he replaced a qb that was at best 2nd tier. Alex smith was no threat to good defenses. When are you guys going to just let it go. Smith wasn’t what he hoped he’d be. CK has the chance to be great and has a very good head start.
*we
Rocket…. And I’m sorry I actually read your rant, but you’re really using the shoulder excuse still?
Man please. It’s chance that smith had his best season when Harbaugh got there, but not because Harbaugh is a qb guru who squeezed every ounce of talent smith has and used it to play mistake free football? WOW and you’re not a smith security guard? Lmao yeah right guy. It won’t sink in that ck is what a qb should look like. One that can come back from 17 point deficits to win on the road and in the playoffs. Let it go guy. Smith isn’t as great as you think.
MD,
big picture we are better off anyway. No matter what, foregone conclusion is that CK was going to be the starter in 2013 anyway.
I don’t like that the concussion was the catalyst for him getting on the field per say, but it happened.
The benefit from it, (other than being in the superbowl)
is that next year we stroll into the season with arguably the most dangerous QB in the game and he will be regular season battle tested as well as playoff battle tested.
Win win win….
I feel the same bay…. I just have to call out Claude for trying to make it sound like ck is joe Montana and that’s the only reason Alex was benched. Ck is an awesome young prospect. And will more than likely get better next season, but he isn’t some alien super qb right now. I know its no use arguing with clowns like this, because he’s not going to keep it real about smiths talents or lack of certain talents. It’s the same old thing here, even after the truth came out. Praise Alex in everything or be called a hater or have Claude and his copy and paste skills attack you. It’s pathetic and to be honest its just as pathetic of me to engage with these folks anymore. Back to focusing on the important thing. The Superbowl. I will NOT let Claude or any other negative nelly bait me in this crap until after Sunday. Wheeew! #questforsix
Md,
a lot of the folks that “loved” Smith are pretty smart guys. Use to being right all the time in my opinion.
That’s why it’s so tough to get an honest Smith evaluation out of them.
Me personally, I won’t say Smith sucks like I used to, but I will forever hold on to my last evaluation which was Smith is average. Lucky to have played on a great team that taught him to be great at a short safe passing game.
Ninermd from what i’ve read the majority of posters here think AS fell into the #16 to 20 range as far as NFL QB’s go. i Agree with you CK is not super man but i would rank him well above #16 so yes i believe Harbaugh benched AS not because he felt he was a poor QB but because he felt CK was a potential super star. If ESPN’s reports that there are at least 4 teams interested in trading for AS are true then it will prove that AS is a very competent NFL QB.
@ ninermd:
Wow. “Kaepernick can do more than Smith” is not the same thing as “Smith doesn’t do enough.” I don’t know why you cannot grasp that concept, but clearly you cannot.
As for your “eat crow” assertion, you’ll have to explain what I have to eat crow about. I don’t know what you mean when you write that I “said Alex Smith would be the starter for the whole year.” Everyone thought that coming into the season. I certainly don’t remember questioning Harbaugh’s decision to stick with Kaepernick. I remember writing that it was a gamble, but I also clearly stated that I trusted Harbaugh with the decision. Unlike others, my deference to Harbaugh has been unwavering.
So, please explain. What position did I take that was as wrong as jordan saying the 49ers couldn’t win a playoff game with Alex Smith at QB or that they couldn’t beat teams like Green Bay with Alex Smith at QB or anyone one of a dozen erroneous pronouncements from 23welcher.
Now can we go back to when you and others like Rocket said Alex Smith would be the starter for the whole year, or when you guys questioned Harbaughs decision?
Provide proof of this statement md because I’d love to read how I questioned Harbaugh’s decision seeing as though that never happened. It’s both amusing and sad how you continue to make false statements and continue to be a shining example of the people I described in the above post.
It’s this simple. Harbaugh knew they weren’t winning a Superbowl with the same keep it safe qb play, the NYG game proved that.
Spoken like the delusional know nothing you have always been md. The switch was made because of injury and then because Kap played so brilliantly. Greg Roman said quite clearly that Smith would have continued on as the QB if he had not gotten the concussion so your theory is nothing but self serving delusional nonsense.
Rocket…. And I’m sorry I actually read your rant, but you’re really using the shoulder excuse still?
Man please. It’s chance that smith had his best season when Harbaugh got there, but not because Harbaugh is a qb guru who squeezed every ounce of talent smith has and used it to play mistake free football? WOW and you’re not a smith security guard? Lmao yeah right guy. It won’t sink in that ck is what a qb should look like. One that can come back from 17 point deficits to win on the road and in the playoffs. Let it go guy. Smith isn’t as great as you think.
I’d like to say I’m surprised that is all you took from the post, but I’m not. You see what you want to see and are one of the most shortsighted people who post here. I’ve never ever referred to Alex Smith as great, nor have I deviated from my faith in Harbaugh to make the right decision. It is simply the strawman arguments you make to try and cover up the fact you have no rebuttal for the points that are actually being made.
Here’s the article I referred too. Pay close attention when he points out the following:
Looking at his career trends, he began a significant and consistent improving trend immediately following his missed season of 2008. His improvement from 2009 to 2010 in terms of WPA, EPA, SR, and AYPA under Singletary was as big as his improvement in 2011 after Harbaugh took over. It’s as if Smith has had two different careers, a brief, erratic, injury-plagued three-year span from 2005 to 2007, and a middling but improving span since 2009.
See md this is the difference between biased opinions and making an argument with examples to back up your stance. You really should try it some time. Maybe you’d actually get some respect and credibility if you did.
And my apologies for incorporating cut and paste. I understand that scares you a bit but you posted so much misinformation I had no choice if we wanted to keep things coherent.
Here’s the link to the article I referenced if you care to read it.
http://www.advancednflstats.com/2012/10/alex-smith-counterexample.html
>>So, please explain.
@Claude, you are asking logic from someone who … well, I’ll keep politics out of this thread, but you’ve seen some of md’s political pronouncements as well.
As far as I’m concerned, the guy is several jokers short of a full deck on any topic he expounds on.
@ ninermd:
Since Kaepernick was inserted in the lineup, he’s arguably played better than every other QB in the league. Can you name even 3 QBs who have outplayed him?
It’s far too early to compare him to Joe Montana, and I didn’t, so stop with the weak ass straw man argument. That said, it’s obvious that Kaepernick got the job because of his tremendous talent.
I have never insisted that anyone praise Alex Smith. I just insist that when one feels the need to discuss his shortcomings, one do so honestly and objectively, without any fabricated b/s. The fact that you can’t do it says something about the weakness of your argument.
Case in point: Alex smith was no threat to good defenses.
The Arizona Cardinals agree with me that you don’t know what you are talking about.
@bay i do’nt think Harbaugh thought that CK was the best Qb in the draft. I think he believed that he was the best pick in the 2nd rd and traded up to get him. Harbaugh and Baalke were going to draft A. Smith in the 1st rd come hell or high water. after that he wanted CK.
OC, well said!!
It appears that he might be the best QB in the draft.
Old Coach,
thanks for the assumption. This is what I’ve read on several sites all week.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archives/2013/01/phone-home-jack-harbaugh-got-a-draft-scoop-in-2011.html
It’s obvious now that Harbaugh had a vision for the type of offense he wanted to run. The pistol. That is why he drafted Kaep and that is why he drafted La Michael. Dalton does not fit that mold…….
http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/2012/11/inside-the-49ers/dilfer-jim-fought-for-drafting-kaepernick/
Yes it appears so. And Grant curious, why is my comment “awaiting moderation lol”
I have to approve comments with more than one link for some reason.
Hofer of course you are going to say well said. You were on the side making assumptions that were wrong.
Thanks…
He went to visit him and drafted him. Spoke highly of him and made him the starter after 1 game. That would lead one to think ck is a far better qb in his eyes. Because remember starters especially elites don’t lose their job after 1 game. Again I can’t wait for him to leave town. It’s old and he’s a backup.
Bay, that’s where you are wrong yet again. BW said if you have a guy you want, you go get him no matter what others think (see JR who most didn’t think was fast enough to play WR). The 9ers went after AldSmith first.
Grant, great to hear your mother’s surgery went well!!
Thanks. She’s brave, watched the whole thing on T.V.
@Neal i agree with you he might very well be the best QB of that draft at worst i would say he is tied for 1st. It would be interesting to see what C. Newton could do with Harbaugh as his coach and playing with this 9er roster
Old Coach,
Newton is playing under horrible coaches but CK seems to be way more dedicated, mature, harder worker, more intelligent then Newton, and also CK has a way better team.
We must be careful not to conflate what Harbaugh thought with what Baalke (and the 49ers front office) thought. That the 49ers drafted Aldon Smith first is evidence that Baalke seems not to have believed that Kaepernick was the best player in the draft. However, it is not strong evidence that Jim Harbaugh did not believe that Kaepernick was the best QB (or even the best football player) in the draft, or even that Baalke did not believe that Kaep was the best QB in the draft (as opposed to the best player in the draft). A myriad of scenarios are possible, from Baalke throwing Harbaugh a bone (as Dilfer suggests) to Harbaugh and Baalke believing Kaep was the best QB in the draft but being willing to wait to get him at a (relative) bargain.
What we do have is evidence that suggests that Harbaugh wanted Kaep whereas Baalke may have wanted Dalton (Dilfer’s comments to which Bay provided the link above), and even that Harbaugh believed that Kaep was the best QB and, moreover, the best football player in the draft (Jack Harbaugh’s comments to which Bay provided the link above). And while I find Jack Harbaugh slightly more credible than Dilfer, as Jack H. has a direct connection with Jim H. and may have been privy to Jim’s actual opinion, I also find Dilfer to be credible as he does seem to have current connections with people in the 49ers organization. Thus, we have two credible sources that point to Jim Harbaugh as at least picking Kaep as his choice at QB and at most believing Kaep was the best player in the draft.
When considering these credible sources in conjunction with pre-draft reports that Harbaugh visited Kaep in Reno (reports since verified), I find it likely that Harbaugh did want to draft Kaep and that he may have even believed Kaep was the best player available. I do not see sufficient evidence to come to definite conclusions on what Baalke thought regarding Kaep as a QB, other than that he may have preferred Dalton, but we do have evidence that Baalke did not consider Kaep the best player in the draft – namely, that he drafted Aldon Smith first.
I’ll go out on a limb and say CK was the best QB in that draft.
I think he has all the right qualities. I think Cam Newton is a fantastic athlete but I don’t think he has the whole tool chest.
CK is smart, seems like a good kid, and is an outstanding athlete. For the most part, once he gets settled in, he’s deadly accurate and can also kill you with his feet and his size.
I have no idea if CK was Harbaugh’s guy (although I strongly suspect with all the evidence out there that he was) and I don’t know if CK would have had an opportunity to play if not for Smith’s concussion, but yeah, I’ll make a prediction he’s considered elite and the best-drafted QB in that class in short order.
The god stuff and the tattoos? Don’t care for either one but I like the kid and happy he’s successful and only the third Niner QB (fourth if you count Smith’s contributions this season) to get us to a Bowl game.
I think Harbaugh’s media dances surrounding the change leave a lot to be desired but that’s another topic.
All good, all arrows up.
Also… I add my congrats to your mom and family, Grant. Great to hear (read) your mom is doing well!
According to Harbaughs Dad, not only did he think CK was the best QB but JH also felt CK was the best athelete in the draft. Info from interview with JHs parents.
I think it’s entirely possible it turns out that way.
I heard Joe Theismann this morning talking about this stuff and then Trent Dilfer. Kind of interesting the takes they both had on CK and the Pistol.
Joe is in the camp that these guys will have to settle down in to almost primarily pocket passers. Joe Montana actually agrees with this too because he says QBs aren’t built to take punishment like RBs.
Then there’s Dilfer’s opinion: Defenses won’t figure out a viable option for stopping these new QBs and the Pistol formations – there’s no way for them to figure it out because of the reads and options and the kill calls that are part of the Niners’ version.
I actually agree with both Joes and I agree with Dilfer. The difference though might be that with a guy like CK or Cam Newton, you have guys who are built differently than in years past. They may be able to handle a bit more punishment than their predecessors. Joe Montana’s nickname was “bird legs” so it’s a different era, different game now.
The difference between Kap and other read option QB’s is twofold:
First, he is not a Cowboy who takes unecessary punishment. He slides or goes out of bounds instead of taking the hit. He knows how to play the game in that context.
Secondly, the guy is 6″5 and 230 LB’s. He is bigger than some of the guys coming up to hit him. This is not Russell Wilson or RGIII they are dealing with.
I don’t think the offense can completely revolve around the option plays, but Kap has shown it doesn’t have to. He’s proven to be as adept throwing from the pocket as he is running the read option. In other words he is a nightmare to plan for because he can play anytype of game you need him to.
“All good, all arrows up.”
Hey Adam, didn’t you know I registered those phrases along with “good times” and receive a payment each time they are used here. lol
I suspect I owe you a bottle of fine wine? :p
A. Smith and CK could end up being one of the best rd1\rd2 combinations ever.
I remember Kaepurnicus leading The Wolfpack from behind to beat Boise State and dashed their BCS aspirations. That game made me a fan of this kid.
Happy to hear your mom and family are good Grant.
The day Mr. York was able to acquire Coach Harbaughs’ services looks to be as historic as it felt at the time. Go Baby Go!!!!!!
Nolan drafted a QB at #1 draft pick and then appointed Hostler, an ex-linebacker, as his QB coach!! I suppose that there are other ways to do more damage to one’s own team, but that was a really dumb move. The rookie QB is an asset around whom the entire offense is redesigned to leverage the QB’s skills.
Then Nolan promoted the same guy to be the OC after Turner left!! Turner, of course, understood that Smith would be effective in a power run game, and made substantial strides in the right direction.
Had the Niners possessed the same offensive personnel with the same level of development in Smith’s second year that they have now, I have nod doubt the Niners would have won the NFC West and done some damage in the play-offs.
There is a reason the league is avoiding DCs for the head coaching position. These guys are utterly clueless about offense.
All of it, well said.
Yes, AS was dealt a bad hand when he came here. But that is a long time ago now. He is obviously ready to move on with his career.
That should be a lesson for us as well.
I personally see no need to carry his cross or hang him on it.
It’s time to move on as 49ers fans.
Agreed. Both supporters or non-supporters will have to find other topics of conversation. Once he is off the team, he will no longer have any connection to the team’s future success or shortfalls, which for some, will be hard to accept.
Interesting observation by Mike Tanier in his blog about the Niner’s first down play stats:
“……That means 49ers running backs have a yards-per-play average on rushing plays comparable to opposing quarterbacks on passing plays. If you know NFL statistics, you know that is not supposed to happen.”
This is indeed an amazing number and will be a key to a victory on Sunday.
Seems like the blog is a little more “Normal” today lol. Grant do we owe thanks to you????????
I blocked “Darren” yesterday.
Grant,
You are the man. Thank you. I hope your mom has a fast recovery. My dad has had both of his knees replaced over the last few years. It’s a pretty grueling process, but he is as good as new now and wishes he had done it years earlier.
Thx grant. Can you look for odd names with the same non sense? Lol good to hear about your Mom. My Mother went through the same thing. Those older generation of women are tough old birds. :-)
Grant….thanks for blocking him. Hope your mom has a speedy recovery.
He’s Back
Thanks, Grant.
@ Bay
Its hard not to notice LOL! ‘He Who Shall Not Be Named’ being on here whining and talking nonsense on Super Bowl Week kinda reminded me of a great July 4th picnic and then the ants show up. You get through it and have a good time, but the pests are freaking annoying!
Go Niners!
Grant,
did your mom see Deerborne? He does double knee replacements and gets them back up on their feet that same day. It’s amazing. Like an assembly line….
Glad she’s doing well.
Yes, she did see Deerborne. He’s a phenomenon.
i created my post and when submitting it because i didn’t have the email adress filled in looks like the post didn’t get sent…..
too bad … i had my view on JH use of CK…how the ravens defense could overcome the pistol at times and other juicy stuff….i am not going to rewrite it since it was rambling anyways but educated rambling as it always is…
so if it did make it to the PD i’ll let grant post it
going up and reading other posters comments i see some of my points have been elaborated more eloquently than mine on the CK and AS front….
you just have to miss my comments on raven’s possible defensive schemes
Jed York apparently didn’t read Md’s opinion that Smith and his agent are big mouths dropping info for some benefit that doesn’t make any sense:
https://twitter.com/JanieMcCAP/status/297098912915922945
Did he say anything about getting rid of that traitor Joe Staley for grinning after a turnover?
That’s still under review Claude. He gets off with a warning if he is able to keep a frown through the next 5 sacks.
Let me get this straight on the situation: if it turns out the agent was saying unjustified things, do we make Smith fire the agent? Sure SMith is trying to be the good soldier on the team that backstabbed him, but how do we know what Smith wants? It’s all closed doors anyway.
It wasn’t a back stabbing at all, he was replaced by a superior player. It’s like Boone replacing Snyder on the O-line, it’s a noticeable upgrade and good for the team. No need to get upset.
BigP< Boone only replaced Snyder because he went to arizona obviously, and Snyder is pining for Smith. I just disagree strongly on how Smith was taken out: He didn't lose games, he didn't throw picks, he wasn't getting in confrontations. I"m just frustrated that NOBODY on the 49ers fans base has any appreciation for SMith. They want me to move on a to a QB that I felt was turning it around to supporting a QB that kisses his arm like a gay man. Then CK has these 'thumbs up', what's up with that? I prefer the 49ers pass the ball. I don't care if you do have to throw it 30 times a game, throw it instead of subjecting Gore to another injury.
Wow, this is like a whole website devoted to a troll’s revisionist history!
Alex Boone WON the job from Snyder. Anyone who can actually watch a game from 2011, and not put a subjective slant on it, will tell you that Boone looked like he was ready for a starting job then. Harbaugh even liked referring to the idea that he had six starting offensive linemen (but, knowing how you like to choose pride over history, Darren, I’m guessing you forgot about that).
Boone was a potential 1st round lineman coming out of Ohio State. I’m putting this up here because I’m sure you have selectively ignored that factoid, too, Darren. He had a drinking problem that almost put him in jail, rather than the NFL. The 9ers-in particular, Mike Singletary-took a chance on him, and I’m glad that they did. There are times where I think Alex Boone may be one of the best right guards in the NFL, and he is a major upgrade over Snyder.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked Snyder. He was the Swiss Army Knife of the offensive line. However, players like that are better served in a reserve role.
I never had an issue with Boone. The 49ers Oline has improved, but I have a right to be reserved that they couldn’t protect Smith, but they’ll protect Kaepernick. That’s why I’m suspicious of them when they can help Gore run the ball (though they’re not pulling guards like Bubba, Cross, and other elite players were). I feel Snyder and Baas were unjustfully ran out of SF.
Once again, the opinion of someone more interested in his opinion, than actually watching football.
And, you’re totally entitled to your opinion, just as I’m totally entitled to watch you gladly put that foot in your mouth.
I like this forum a lot better then ESPN. Look, Fred, there are some things I like on the 49ers and some things I don’t. Asking me to forgive a man like JEd York whose parents ruined the 49ers and taking the team to Santa Clara in the same way Maloof is taking Sacramento to seattle is unacceptable unless York apologizes for what his family did. Just when CK or even Alex had something going, Harbaugh takes it away and calls on his crud running. The only thing that bothers me Fred is they should have left the QB alone, period. Rather then be happy that the 49ers will win, I have to be miserable for they were ‘right’ to replace Alex Smith and won a SUperbowl, but I will always see that trophy as when the Rams won it and cheated too.
And this is why you are a bad fair-weather fan, and, thankfully, not a GM or coach.
Fred, that’s lame as I’m a 33 year fan of the 49ers. the NFL never should have let the Yorks own the team, period. Larry Ellison, STeve Young, Brent JOnes, they should’ve owned the team. Tagliabue should’ve declared the Yorks null and void. Jed makes me sick, and what was done to Smith was just not right. HOw ironic Jed could’ve done the right thing and overrule Harbaugh. Fred, the 49ers will never see another Superbowl if they win.