Posted By: true niner fan (29/03/2008 4:34:49 PM)
Comment: Alex Smith reminds me of a first round draft pick we had years ago. Can you guess his name? lol.

Posted By: Whippy (29/03/2008 2:07:07 AM)
Comment: But chris snee was or was soon to be engaged to coughlins daughter. What kind of father would you be if you didn't want to secure your daughters future long term?!

Posted By: Giovanni Carmazzi (28/03/2008 1:50:22 PM)
Comment: Notable 5th rounders (in honor of our lost pick): michael turner, gibril wilson, parys haralson, aubrayo franklin, david diehl, aaron walker, dan koppen, doug gabriel, aaron kampman, aj feeley, kabeer gbaja-biamila, dante hall, chad morton, sammy morris

Posted By: Giovanni Carmazzi (28/03/2008 1:31:04 PM)
Comment: Whoops! You are right. Still, the Giants picked G Chris Snee in the second round and signed him to a 5 year deal that same year.

Posted By: Nevyn (28/03/2008 1:12:46 PM)
Comment: keen eyed Carmazzi needs to learn to count better. 2004 draft 2004 season 2005 season 2006 season 2007 season Smiley was on the team for 4 seasons.

Posted By: Giovanni Carmazzi (28/03/2008 1:10:23 PM)
Comment: One more tidbit from keen eyed Carmazzi. We drafted Smiley in 2004, 2nd round. Why are we signing 2nd rounders to 3 year deals?

Posted By: Nevyn (28/03/2008 12:45:16 PM)
Comment: We had Staley scored higher than Ugoh. No big whoop there. Ugoh's rookie season got far too much hype, and Staley still has a good shot to be a better player. And you can't assume when trading up that many spots that Ugoh will be there when you select if you dont trade up. Gholston is unlikely to be there at #7. And while the Pats got Randy with our 4th, we couldn't have and wouldn't have wanted to if we could. We'd have gotten Oakland Randy, not New England Randy.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (28/03/2008 11:51:34 AM)
Comment: So functionally, if you think about it (don't, you'll prolly get mad), For Staley we gave up a shot at Gholston @#7 and Randy Moss (trade with Raiders. But gave up Tony Ugoh (Colts) for #29 and the pick of the 6th best OL or the 4th best LB and Dashon Goldson. But let's live in the now.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (28/03/2008 11:45:24 AM)
Comment: Gio: No we didn't we gave up our 1st and a 4th to the Pats to get Staley. Then got traded our second #42, to the Colts for a first and a fourth

Posted By: Giovanni Carmazzi (28/03/2008 11:42:07 AM)
Comment: Wait a minute, did we really move from 7th overall in the draft to 29th in order take Joe Staley over Tony Ugoh? UGH!

Posted By: GRIDFAN (28/03/2008 11:29:08 AM)
Comment: The 49ers play the AFC and NFC East this year. They have no chance of making the playoffs and Nolan has no chance of returning next year. Bank on it. 4-12 record max.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (28/03/2008 10:43:36 AM)
Comment: NinerKing- Exactly. When McNolan took over, they stated it was a 3-5 year rebuilding project. We had no talent at the time thanks to Donahue. Some fans seem to forget that...

Posted By: Razoreater (28/03/2008 10:41:46 AM)
Comment: I like that Matt, good to see u have a good sense of humor.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (28/03/2008 10:37:42 AM)
Comment: Razoreater: If I remember correctly, practices are usually sharp and intense. Nolan even has the guys playing with pads more than usual. The problem was that they couldn't take it to game day. Matt might back me up on this, but practice intensity never was a huge issue

Posted By: Giovanni Carmazzi (28/03/2008 10:05:40 AM)
Comment: Might be worth exploring Chris Simms if the Bucs don't want him.

Posted By: Glory will be back in '08 (28/03/2008 9:49:09 AM)
Comment: MATT: Completely random question for you: Why don't the Niners go after Pacman? They could sign him and have him move in with Ronnie Lott and learn some discipline.

Response: This is something that was discussed at the highest level, but Ronnie did not give Pacman the OK to install a stripper's pole in his guest room. --Matt M.

Posted By: NinerKing (28/03/2008 9:40:50 AM)
Comment: Funny thing I heard on Sirius, which is so true about most NFL fans these days, is about 10-15 years ago, everyone realized and ACCEPTED that a rebuilding process under a new head coach was going to take at least 4-5 years to show some improvement. The NFL and it's fans have completely lost their patience. You have teams firing coaches after one or two seasons. You have fans who are ready to stone the "#1 Draft Pick" (see Williams, Mario; Smith, Alex) if they dont perform up to Pro Bowl caliber within their first 2 or 3 years. Will Alex Smith be GREAT this year? Probably not, but he'll more than likely be a hell of a lot better than he was last year. And even that depends on whether they shore up the O-Line, which they havent really done yet, aside from add depth "kind of". Travis said it best, PATIENCE NINER FANS!!! PATIENCE!

Posted By: Jake (28/03/2008 9:22:30 AM)
Comment: People on here need to lighten up on Alex Smith. YES, he has struggled and not lived up to expectations at all, but he is a great kid and has really handled this situation really well. He is great in the community and I for one am really rooting for him to have a Big Year because he has the perfect personality to be the next great 49ers QB, he just needs to get it done on the field. I'm with Medford on the Jonas Jennings issue.

Posted By: ERIK (28/03/2008 8:08:12 AM)
Comment: The guru is Tom Martinez former HC at csm i believe, dont count on that seems to be pretty ill, The Smith camp looking at all angles so we dont end up with Leaf.{too late already a bust}

Posted By: StonerLab (28/03/2008 7:47:23 AM)
Comment: Thanks Matt for the latest update on Alex, It's nice to finally be moving on from the "overplayed & overkill tampering". It sounds to me that Alex is very poised to having a break-out year now that he has a legitimate & worthy OC in Martz. I also like the Huck Finn take on the "12 step program" that was pretty funny but yet very acurate with most of us who post on Matt's blog.

Posted By: Nevyn (28/03/2008 7:45:36 AM)
Comment: Im PRETTY SURE that neither Nolan nor Smith are better than that.

Posted By: Houston 9er (28/03/2008 7:29:46 AM)
Comment: Matt, There was a story after the season where Tom Brady's dad said Alex's people were going to have Alex work with some QB guru in the Bay Area. Any word on whether Alex is or will be working on his mechanics with an outside QB coach?

Response: If Smith sought outside help at this stage, that would be seen as a direct slap to Mike Martz. Yesterday, Smith went out of his way to talk about Martz's strength in teaching QB fundamentals. --Matt M.

Posted By: Razoreater (28/03/2008 6:57:02 AM)
Comment: This team needs to come out with a nasty attitude & an identity of confidence. Training camp intensity should be at the maximum on every level, in another words a "boot camp" of competition. I don't want another embarrassing year period!

Posted By: oneniner (28/03/2008 6:38:35 AM)
Comment: more from Alex D. Smith - "You just look at the track record [Martz] has had with all his quarterbacks and the way they've played, the numbers they've put up and where they've taken their games," Smith said. "I feel like that's a level I haven't even been at in the NFL, in terms of reaching my potential. ... It's definitely different, but I guess that's the one thing I've grown accustomed to is the change. That's kind of normal in the NFL, and you get used to it real quick."

Posted By: Charlie Frye (28/03/2008 12:01:59 AM)
Comment: Be careful Alex. One bad game and you may end up on another team. The NFL sucks that way. I am so much better than Derek Anderson.

Posted By: Marco from Stockton (27/03/2008 11:52:46 PM)
Comment: Will this relationship work? It all depends on the 49ers O Line. I will repeat, stat wise the 49er O Line has been one of the worst in the NFL over the last three years protecting the QB, despite having a good running threat with Gore. Protect the QB then we will decide if Smith is a bust.

Posted By: Medford (27/03/2008 11:33:27 PM)
Comment: Jonas "glass man" Jennings needs to go! We got rid of Derek Smith and Daryl Jackson its time to get rid of him he always has a personal problem or an injury. I say trade him for a 5th round pick

Posted By: NYNiner (27/03/2008 11:03:06 PM)
Comment: I love how we have so many haters that when Smith has a great season, that everyone will be happy that they bought back the last two years of his contract and not a free agent. Come on people support all the time or stop calling yourselves Niner fans

Posted By: Travis (Los Angeles) (27/03/2008 11:02:23 PM)
Comment: Sad thing is that 90% of the guys on here know Jack about coaching, running a team, scouting, nor the intricacies of the game as a whole. And you all prove it week in, week out. Won't justify myself but as much as Alex has proven NOTHING, he also hasn't really been given his fair share of a shot. PATIENCE NINER FANS!!! PATIENCE!!! If you need an emotional pickup, compare the roster Nolan inherited to the one we have now. Then SHUTUP. :D

Posted By: Cyrus (27/03/2008 10:57:20 PM)
Comment: Aside from overcoming an injury to his throwing shoulder, his first real taste of competition for the starting spot, a coach on the hot seat, and the trickle-down effect from last year's disappointment, he is also going to have to deal with finally getting compared to Aaron Rodgers from a performance standpoint. Should be a very unstressful situation...

Posted By: Razoreater (27/03/2008 9:48:27 PM)
Comment: Great stuff Matt. Thanks

Posted By: niner4life (27/03/2008 9:34:22 PM)
Comment: I getting tired or reading all these hating comments towards a.smith can't wait for him to break out this year and then all you haters will be jumpin on the band wagon!!

Posted By: Obama YoMama (27/03/2008 8:44:26 PM)
Comment: No fake alias here. I just never post and I am sick of hearing about this guy. He is horrible!!! Oh ya, Alex Smith still sucks.

Posted By: DMC (27/03/2008 8:29:42 PM)
Comment: It's kinda funny how all the Alex-haters you's fake alias's to post thier comments. You know if you frequented the site enough and had enought balls to back up your opinion, then speak freely, otherwise go cheer for the raiders or the patriots or something but don't pretend to be a niner fan for one second.

Posted By: Obama YoMama (27/03/2008 8:24:12 PM)
Comment: Alex Smith sucks. Alex Smith is one of the greatest first round busts ever. End of story.

Posted By: KennySeagle (27/03/2008 7:26:48 PM)
Comment: haha wut i wanna hear from alex is how law school goes since his retirement. hes ryan leaf w/o psychotic breaks.

Posted By: SDNiner (27/03/2008 6:09:35 PM)
Comment: Good stuff, Matt. I was hoping we would hear from Alex soon. I've been wondering how he's doing. I know there are a lot of Smith haters out there, but I'm rooting for him. The kid has the potential to be a great QB; he just needs some help from the o-line and some good WRs. Also, I hope you picked UNC to win it all in the NCAA Men's Tourney because they're looking pretty unstoppable right now.

Posted By: John A (27/03/2008 5:06:00 PM)
Comment: barry / no mo - Are you on LSD? Just what in the wide wide world of sports are you talking about? Listen, put your crayons away and step away from the keyboard. This guy has to be a Raider Fan... I digress... I thought Alex Smith was going to be throwing bb's through a garden hose from fifty feet by now. The kid has not had a lot of breaks. His second year I thought he was on the verge. I just want them to let the kid play. He is a stud, play making machine if they would just allow him to play to his strengths. Let's get him back to 100% health and see what we got. If he has anything at all, the next 6 months will really tell the story.

Posted By: HB (27/03/2008 4:57:12 PM)
Comment: Not pointing fingers at only you. But if reporters were not so eager to get a scoop they might not fabricate news from nothing and then hype it to hysteria. The smith Nolan story is was and always will be nothing. and BTW stop buying gear and tickets It is the best way to pay the Yorks back for their terrible management

Posted By: RK in LA (27/03/2008 4:41:06 PM)
Comment: Jon in SoCal - Great informative post and I totally agree with your opinion.

Posted By: barry / no mo (27/03/2008 3:34:52 PM)
Comment: Hey 49er gals and guys , it's over, it is really over! The ownership has no passion for the NFL and they have no passion for the 49ers or the city of San Francisco. They do not have a general manager , a coach or a team . It is over until someone with knowledge and passion , like or not like Jerry Jones in Dallas. Say what you want , but Jerry will soon have his billion dollar plus stadium and mall and Ross Jr's new Dallas for those who want and have it to spend. So it is over until the Mr and Mrs York and son are long gone and someone else with what it takes to get here and do the job right. So have a great summer and fall , way away from the lowly 49ers and all they do not represent. My tickets are gone and my family is really going to enjoy no mo 49ers!! good luck with your worthless tickets no mo

Posted By: Wilson (27/03/2008 3:08:13 PM)
Comment: mt, Alex is a real straight arrow and will always be a little subject to cliches. I'd also like it if he were more assertive, but it's his performance, not his media personality that's important. Kurt Warner, Martz's boy, used to start every post game interview with thanking God, who apparently favored his team that week, but it didn't keep him from putting up some humungous numbers under Martz' system.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (27/03/2008 3:02:56 PM)
Comment: Tendonitis is, by definition, inflammation of the tendon. Alex had severely overused and stressed his forearm trying to rehab shoulder by max effort lifting. Once he was shut down for the season and allowed the area to calm down, he should have returned to "normal" with little to no future problems. The only recurring problem he may have in the future is if the shoulder separation causes a problem with his mechanics that stresses his forearm in such a way that it causes stress/inflammation. The "tightness" in the area he keeps talking about is due to a couple of things, adhesions from inactivity and scar tissue from the surgery. The most important thing in his rehab is to regain his range of motion, then his strength. Smith is a smart kid and he knows that he is the face of the franchise. He didn't really go public with the extent of the injury and how the 9ers f****d up his rehab/diagnosis until Nolan called him out in public. Smith has never complained or offered any excuses about the lack of OC continuity. He says the same thing every year. "I am excited about the upcoming season and working with (insert OC name here)." He may not be a franchise QB, but he isn't a punk either. I hope that he has a breakout season, not only because I love the 9ers, but because Alex has been a class act. BTW, anyone notice how Alex didn't answer the question about Nolan apologizing? Nolan is never sorry for anything he screws up, and doesn't really take responsibility

Posted By: mt (27/03/2008 2:34:00 PM)
Comment: I love how pro athletes (and coaches) distance themselves from their own actions. Smith says, "I know that's not a reflection on either of us." Know what, Alex? It IS a reflection on you both. Jonathon Roy says of his recent hockey brawl, "What you saw and heard wasn't me." Yes it WAS you, Jonathon. Alex Smith and Mike Nolan will both spend the rest of their lives dodging reality, pretending they are great - except for the following list of situations and people that prevented them from proving their greatness. I remember Ronnie Lott talking about what made the Niner teams of yore so great was that they were willing to take responsibility as individuals and be accountable to the team for their mistakes and work hard as individuals in a group setting to do THEIR OWN job - and do it right. Maybe I just need a few Prozac, but this interview with Smith throws up another red flag for me - saying that Alex isn't going to work out as hoped as an NFL professional.

Posted By: Mike Martz Fan (27/03/2008 2:20:42 PM)
Comment: Alex Smith - Classy Individual.

Posted By: Andy from HB (27/03/2008 1:57:36 PM)
Comment: Matt, I've been seeing some reports of the proposed changes to be discussed at the owners meeting but haven't seen any mention of Coach Nolan's proposition from last year about changing Pass Interference to a 15yard penalty rather than spot of the foul. I thought that was going to be revived this year. Has that been dropped?

Posted By: Jim Drunkenmiller (27/03/2008 1:41:33 PM)
Comment: Walter, you got nothing. They should resign me to compete with Alex. At least Im no Shaun Hill.

Posted By: Andrew Walter (27/03/2008 1:36:11 PM)
Comment: I am better than Smith and I am a third stringer on the worst franchise in America

Posted By: Scott (27/03/2008 1:31:26 PM)
Comment: Hey matt, you mentioned the tendinitis, but from what I understand, it always will be a problem right? Do you know if it was severe, or that it could go away w/o coming back? BTW...you rock man

Posted By: Scott (27/03/2008 1:31:22 PM)
Comment: Hey matt, you mentioned the tendinitis, but from what I understand, it always will be a problem right? Do you know if it was severe, or that it could go away w/o coming back? BTW...you rock man

Posted By: Myron (27/03/2008 1:17:03 PM)
Comment: Great analysis oneniner! Alex just got hungry but wasn't hungry before? Just now he realized losing was not an option? So Alex Smith thought losing was an option before? What is your point other than kissing Maiocco's butt?

Posted By: oneniner (27/03/2008 1:13:11 PM)
Comment: Welcome to the club Huck Finn, a 12 step program can't help me, I gave up tryin to quit long time ago. I really enjoy reading his blog compared to other.

Posted By: oneniner (27/03/2008 1:07:40 PM)
Comment: Great stuff Matt....I luv the last quote, he definately understands this yr is huge...and that is all we fans can ask for (someone that understands losing is not an option)....Go hungry Alex, Go Niners....

Posted By: Huck Finn (27/03/2008 1:02:17 PM)
Comment: the withdrawlsfrom waiting for the next Maiocco Blog is killing me. Anybody else thinking about a 12 step program?

Posted By: Matt in SR (27/03/2008 1:01:31 PM)
Comment: Nice to hear him make some intelligent and honest comments about himself. It's a nice change from the junk Nolan and McCloughan have been shoveling. MATT, where is the fallout from the draft pick penalty? Is McCloughan really going to get away with the two sentence statement?

Posted By: Indiana Jim (27/03/2008 12:46:27 PM)
Comment: Alright. Time for the crackhead drive-by media critics to lay off and let the dude learn. Not you, Maiocco, or the other Matt.

Posted By: DMC (27/03/2008 12:40:56 PM)
Comment: Great work Matt ! Go Alex !

Posted By: Montreal (27/03/2008 12:39:14 PM)
Comment: nothing realy groundbreaking here, but it's good to get an first hand update on the shoulder progression... thanks matt

Posted By: Hardcorefonz (27/03/2008 12:36:34 PM)
Comment: Sweet!