Alex Smith spoke at the podium next to the 49ers locker room after the game Saturday night.
Here’s the full transcript of that interview, courtesy of me.
Q: What’s the difference between week 1 when you couldn’t move the ball and tonight when you were able to string together some first downs?
ALEX SMITH: You know, obviously, just executing, I think. It seemed like last week we all kind of took our turn in fumbling a play up, you know, and when we all did that we couldn’t get a first down, and just absolutely no rhythm. You know, this week, you know you come out and I don’t know how many plays that opening drive was, but quite a few, you know? We were much more successful, I thought, on first and second downs, so that put us in better situations on third down, and then we converted better on third down, so it kept drives alive, you know, and I actually finally got into a little bit of a rhythm.
Q: Where are you comfort-wise with Braylon Edwards?
ALEX SMITH: Yeah, it depends on the call. You know, obviously there’s some things I feel, he and I probably both feel more comfortable with than others, you know, but we’re still kind of installing this last week, so, you know, some things are more foreign to us and some things aren’t, so.
Q: What about that one play, the sideline pattern where he caught it with one hand?
ALEX SMITH: Yeah, you know, I had the one-on-one coverage to him. You know, it was kind of an educated shot. I was going to hold the safety in the middle of the field and take it, and he made a play on the ball obviously down the sideline. Great catch.
Q: How do you leave here feeling about your performance?
ALEX SMITH: You know, I think obviously we improved from last week, but I mean if we want to be the team we’re talking about being, you know, we have to finish in the red zone and we can’t turn the ball over, so I mean in my thinking, you know, those first few drives we didn’t finish, and then the pick, you know, just, you know, can’t do that. I’m trying to hold my eyes, I didn’t even get my eyes out in front, didn’t even see the guy. Just kind of a, you know, a pretty bad mistake. Just can’t do it.
Q: Did you have your red zone package in?
ALEX SMITH: Yes, obviously we’re not totally game planning, you know, for these games. So, obviously, had the red zone package in. Just, I think we felt good running the ball. We were moving it running the ball tonight, and we just got stuck down there.
Q: When you talk about eyes, you’re assuming the defensive end would be playing defensive end and not dropping?
ALEX SMITH: Exactly, just not getting my eyes out in front to confirm that there isn’t anyone there. You know, I just assumed it was man-to-man and I saw the inside leverage on the defender inside Vernon, and saw the corner off, and I totally assumed that I had free access over there, and I didn’t see him, obviously, until I let it go.
Q: It’s just the second exhibition game, but did the offense need something like this?
ALEX SMITH: No question, especially after last week. Absolutely. In my opinion the only goal tonight was, well, obviously come up with the win, but it was to move the chains and get into a rhythm. To open up the way we did was nice, and especially converting on third downs. And then running the ball the way we did.
Q: Has Frank Gore ever had backups as good as the ones he has right now?
ALEX SMITH: We ran great tonight as a team. They all ran well. Obviously the one run Kendall had was fun to see, fun to see that come out of him, that vision and then burst. But all the guys tonight, A.D., Xavier at the end running the way he did, then obviously a tribute to obviously the guys up front blocking well, so yeah, great crew in the back, and they blocked well tonight too, so.
Q: That hit from Tommy Kelly, how hard of a hit was that?
ALEX SMITH: You know those are kinds of things that I think they look worse than they are, you know those types of hits, you know really with your eyes down the field, you know and especially when you complete them they feel better, you know? When they’re incompleted they hurt a little more, so, but yeah, you know you hear the roar and you see the guy running with the ball, you feel OK.
Q: Were you surprised the Raiders tried to blitz you?
ALEX SMITH: Yeah, you know, hey, ready for it. You know, it’s just kind of a deal that until you prove that you can beat it, it’s a you-know-it’s-going-to-keep-coming type of thing, especially as young as we are, end then obviously last week didn’t show that we could handle it, so, you know, it was important to us, we talked about it this week, it was important that we were going to get pressure and we had to be able to handle it.
Q: How many of those pressures
ALEX SMITH: I mean, I’d like to see the film, I guess. Off the top of my head I couldn’t tell you, but they brought pressures, especially on second and third down they got some pressure and I think, you know, we picked it up nicely with the guys up front, and the running backs, and executed on the perimeter.
Q: Do you feel as comfortable with Dixon or Hunter as you are with Frank Gore in blitz pickup?
ALEX SMITH: We put a lot on those guys, and no question I think the hardest thing for a running back, especially young running backs in this league isn’t necessarily running the ball it’s the protection side of it, because for one you have more protections and you’re seeing more defenses. So everything gets compounded, way more volume, have to know more things, have to see a lot more, because you’re getting a lot more, so yeah, I think that’s one of the toughest things. And then you’ve got to be physical. You’ve got to step up and you’re blocking, sometimes you’re blocking linemen, linebackers, so.
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