Alex Smith: “I feel like I forced some things.”

SAN FRANCISCO — Here’s the transcript of Alex Smith’s post-game press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.

 

Can you put your finger on how things can change so quickly? Last week, from 621 yards to this week?

“It’s a fine line. They are a good team, good defense. They don’t give up anything easily. We forced some things tonight. I feel like I forced some things. We, uncharacteristically, turned the ball over. Any time you turn the ball over like that, it’s tough to win. When we did get down to the red zone… in that first half, we thought that we were moving that ball down the first two drives but ended up kicking field goals. You can’t do that all the time.”

 

Was your finger an issue?

“No, it was fine.”

 

In the interception was it them cutting into the route, or you  just not seeing them?

“They were all different. On the first one, I stepped up in the pocket and didn’t have great visibility but was trying to let [TE] Delanie Walker make a play, and they made a play on the ball. It was a force, trying to get a shot down field. The second one, on the third down, I believe the second one was on the slant. The ball just got up on me. I was trying to work [WR] Mario [Manningham] on the slant there, I felt like he was getting grabbed, try to make the throw to see if he can get the call. All of a sudden the ball gets up and picked off. The third one, yeah, they got me in a good play, coming down, stepping in front of [WR Michael] Crabtree. Once again, third and long, you’re trying to make a play and forcing it.”

 

How much did the Giants pressure affect you?

“They are tough. They are good up front, so you can’t be back there just hanging out. You have to be efficient, get the ball out, be good in the pocket. They are good, they get their hands on balls. First half, a couple tip balls. I mean maybe I rushed a couple. Hindsight makes it easy to say that.”

 

Was this game surprising, the way it went?

“It’s tough to speak on any other facet. We made it tough on the defense tonight. Short field a lot of the time. But as far as offensively, yeah, for sure, they are a good team. They played well. They made some great adjustments to us. I think we will have time to learn from it. It’s a short week so I don’t know how much we’re going to get done, maybe after the Seattle game. But it didn’t get done in a lot of areas, you’re right.”

 

Is it hard, when you’re playing from behind?

“Eventually, you do get to a point where you have a make or break point there. You have to force some balls and throw some balls. It’s tough to always figure it out and gauge that.”

 

On the third interception: 3:17

“Yeah, the safety made a really good play on it. They kind of okie doked me. Kind of looked like Tampa 2, Mike [Crabtree] was running high, he held his depth until I came back to throw it, and jump the route. It was a good play. I didn’t see it.”

 

Are you still adjusting to playing with backup QB Colin Kaepernick?

“Yeah, when it’s working, it’s great. It’s like everything when we’re winning. He’s coming in to change up, for the most part, I don’t know about today. Part of this is that it had been efficient. With Kaepernick going in there, he had been playing well.”

 

There was so much buildup about today, did you feel that there was too much?

“I know a lot was made of it, for sure. I think at the start of the week, obviously, pretty jacked up. But at the same time, it was another game. It wasn’t a playoff game. It was a conference opponent. It was a chance to get another win. I think there is a little more in the sense that two things, one you played them twice last year so you’re pretty familiar with them and then they’re the defending Super Bowl champions. I think anytime you play them, it’s a chance to say something. It didn’t get done today.”

 

Did it feel flat?

“It’s tough to get up when you’re not executing. I think that’s what comes first. I didn’t feel flat at the beginning of the game, I don’t think anyone did. It was more of a sense of, when things aren’t going well it’s tough. You’re out there grinding, you’re out there trying to make things happen. When it’s not working and you’re not playing well, it’s not easy to be up.”

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