Posted By: Andrew (21/07/2008 8:09:51 AM)
Comment: Ah, once again the holier then thou, I'm right you're wrong pie hole that is oneniner is flapping in the breeze. You trash people with no thought or care. You trash cultures with equal disdain. You obviously care very little about a monarchy that has existed way beyond your brand of ugly-Americanism. It is a proud day for all Americans to have a representative like you teaching the world what kind and noble people we are. That you haven't heard Americans talking about rugby in the US simply means you, as usual, aren't listening. Are you from the Bay Area? If yes, and you haven't heard about Cal rugby (which has been in existence for over 120 years) just shows how little you are aware of here in the States. Open your eyes, open your mind, open your ears, and definitely close your mouth. You do not represent me or any other person on this planet. Let anyone/everyone have their opinion.

Posted By: ninermaniac (20/07/2008 5:22:18 PM)
Comment: Easy answer to the 'bust' question? Answer: a blogger named manifest.

Posted By: oneniner (20/07/2008 11:33:54 AM)
Comment: we mad!!!...who is this english moron..." Smith is defended because you have a sick system that gives millions of dollars to kids fresh from school"....what about the kids that play soccer that get millions of pounds who never make it as soccer superstars?......hmmm, maybe america should use that money to buy the queen diapers!!!...g-t-f-o-o-h......"American culture is rapidly losing anything that might be classed as honorable."....and i guess the british culture is a model to be proud of, dude you freakin brits wanna be like us, your tv shows, your kids eat our junk food, you all listen to hip hop, u even watch our football, when was the last time you heard americans talking rugby.....no need to apologize its natural for you to be slow in the head...u r english arent you?

Posted By: ninerindallas (20/07/2008 10:09:30 AM)
Comment: completely un-related to this article, but all you takeo spikes fans, just thought you should know he is hanging o0ut with the lions now.......so without ua putting the money up for that vet and now a 2nd team has interest it seems far less likely he will be wearing the red and gold...........i know there are very fans of mutiple role players, but seeing how a ted linebacker absorbs punishment for the better of another, i say we give moran norris a shot ted linebacker, like on the practice sqaud or something....we all know he is going to ride the pine in martz's system, so lets bring a wr from the practice sqaud to take norris spot, and put norris inot a crash course of ted linebacking.....just kinda a crappy thought to throw out there for abuse

Posted By: Cleveland Mike (20/07/2008 6:26:26 AM)
Comment: Hey Manifest-This isn't Watergate for cryin out loud. Chill a bit. As a former newspaper reporter myself you are always looking for the next story. Provided you do nothing illegal then you keep looking. You need to cut Matt a bit of a break here. If it were a BIG secret then Dwight should have kept it in some type of 'secret' file. Having met Dwight I am not sure he would have understood that.....there's a reason he is no longer in the pro football business any longer. The net-net here is Matt strikes me as being a stand up 'do the right thing' kind of person. So manifest....do the right thing and 'chill' a bit. This isn't that complex. Matt........ my young daughter (age 20) says you need to charge an annual subscription rate to your blog.....maybe $49.49 per year (get it???) Hey she's a capitalist at heart. Matty my boy.....keep up the great work and your words have kept an otherwise still off season very interesting so candidly.....Thank You!!!

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (19/07/2008 11:55:41 PM)
Comment: Can you smell this Brett Favre saga turning into a major coup for Green Bay? Draft picks and possibly Jason Taylor? Brett telling Greta that Ted Thompson is a wolf in sheeps' clothing, Packers looking for damages, (and they'll end up grabbing all they can from the league), and possibly the Jets/Ravens/Dolphins in a trade deal? What might Lombardi be doing right about now? Beyond comical, it's almost a political spin-cycle.

Posted By: Jon in Socal (19/07/2008 11:00:45 PM)
Comment: So the Packers have filed tampering charges against the Vikings because the Vikes QB coach (who happens to be a friend of Favre) had a few conversations, and perhaps emails, with Favre. There was a lot of talk on ESPN radio about how flimsy the evidence is against the Vikes. We'll see how even handed and what kind of message Goodell will send.

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (19/07/2008 8:42:38 PM)
Comment: Manifest, I let the comments pass regarding the salary simply because most execs with any intention of keeping it private wouldn't post it to a white board in the first place. Private office or not, if the information was that sensitive I'd guess there could have been an Excel spreadsheet on the teams' computer system that would have provided a very secure place to keep the information private. Chalk another one up for good old American journalism. I'm just glad Matt isn't working for the papparazzi chasing celebs into the shower for some rag-mag cover shot. I'd think we'd rather have him sniffing for stories about our football team wouldn't we?

Posted By: Bic Pen (19/07/2008 8:27:54 PM)
Comment: So that's where the Pats got the idea of spying from. Way to pave the road there Matt.

Posted By: Bud San Jose (19/07/2008 2:39:52 PM)
Comment: Matt in 1986 did the 49ers wear their 40th patch on the jersey or pants? Oh by the way great job as always

Response: Bud, I'm looking into this one for you. When I get an answer I'll let you know. --Matt M.

Posted By: Indiana Jim (19/07/2008 12:26:54 PM)
Comment: LodiGrapePicker - Me Tarzan. You Jane.

Posted By: LodiGrapePicker (19/07/2008 10:51:59 AM)
Comment: Indiana Jane, who let you out of the closet today?

Posted By: tgflynn (19/07/2008 9:50:11 AM)
Comment: You can tell it's a slow news cycle when the question of whether Alex Smith is a "bust " or not comes up again. Actually I grateful for this one, because I never heard the full Urban Meyer's qoute on Smith before and it explains a lot. We simply haven't seem enough to make a judgement on Smith's chance at success, he began on a horrible team and last year played in a horrible offensive system. My chief criticism of Smith was he seems to hold the ball forever. Meyer's explained some of that concern away. My guess now is if Smith can overcome the over thinking and become comfortable he has all the tools to become a very, very good quarterback. Granted that's a very, very big IF. Thanks for the Meyer explanation Matt.

Posted By: Indiana Jim (19/07/2008 8:24:22 AM)
Comment: Manifest - you missed the fact that Dwight Clark confirmed the details for him and didn't say anything about "what the heck are you doing reading stuff in my office?" If they guy whose office it was didn't complain, why are you? And about Hill... I mean, I can't believe I have to explain this to people. 2nd Half against Minnesota: one of the worst pass defenses last season, sitting on a 27-0 lead, playing Prevent, one single touchdown. Tampa Bay: Going to the playoffs and resting their starters. Cincinnati: Worst defense in the league, no chance at playoffs. Yeah the offense looked great throwing 8-yard patterns against that. Go back to Rugby, mate.

Posted By: manifest (19/07/2008 7:40:35 AM)
Comment: you're all mad. I've never played a minute of football being english, though I've watched the game with great pleasure since the mid 80's. steve young used to say a couple of years back when alex was struggling, "just show us something...something that shows us you can play the game". we're still waiting. Even I can see that the quarterback has to have spatial and timing skills to be successful, and alex doesn't have these and never will. when sean Hill, no great shakes as a quarterback, came in at the end of last season, the whole offense suddenly looked ok...we had a chance at last. all the offensive players suddenly picked up, you could see them all respond, just as the crowd did. Smith is defended because you have a sick system that gives millions of dollars to kids fresh from school. nobody should get such contracts until they have played in the league for a minimum of three years, which would remove vast amounts of ARTIFICIAL pressure on coaches, GMs and mostly the players themselves. it has turned a game into a lottery, when a simple change of rules would weed out all the ryan leafs in the world. I still find it odd that anyone would defend smith, who clearly doesn't have the talent to play at this level and never will. Lastly, since I've spread a good thick dose of english pomposity over this thread, I am saddened that you matt, can tell the story of reading notes on a board on someones private office and not be ashamed, and that everyone of you let this open duplicity pass by as if its something to be proud of. I accept that a journalist might resort to such gross underhandedness if the security of the nation or millions are affected by information, but there is no way that mcquarters "private" salary negotiations with his future employers would ever fall into that category. shame on you matt, and shame on the rest of you to think that such behavior is in any way something to be applauded, let alone accepted. American culture is rapidly losing anything that might be classed as honorable. Lastly, I would like to say that I really enjoy your blog matt, which I read daily, you have fallen upon a fantastic way for fans to be connected to their team, that will be the model in the future for all sport fans/journalists, and I apologise for my first post here being so negative, but I couldn't let this pass.

Posted By: Cleveland Mike (19/07/2008 6:27:48 AM)
Comment: Hey drsgrosse-Great insight. If the Niners do improve and the offense does step up...then what with Nolan? Serious flaws...you are being kind. Again...great insight on your part,

Posted By: drsgrosse (19/07/2008 6:16:45 AM)
Comment: I remember Troy Aikman, at the height of his career, fielding a comment about there not being many great Qb's in the NFL at the time - just he and Young. Aikman's reply was that there were even fewer great QB coaches in the league. If you watch the QB's coming out of college, their incredible talent level and their rate of failure in the NFL, you can readily see that Aikman was correct. And, this is the story of Alex Smith. Anybody who has played or coach QB's at any level can readily see Smith's potential. It is the failure of his Head Coach to provide a stable environment and schematic continuity that has kept that potential from being approached. Although Mike Martz seems to be far from ideal as a coach, he is a developer of QB's and teaches a scheme that can bring Smith further along. The choice between Nolan and Martz for the future might be different from what we are expecting. If the Niners are heading for a 10+ win season and a jump up the offensive rankings is a critical factor, it might be the best choice to dump Nolan despite the improvement and replace him with Martz for the sake of offensive continuity. Here is why. We already have a Defensive Coordinator. Nolan has demonstrated serious flaws in his football philosophy, game management, coach-hiring judgement and character. He thinks NFL defense starts with stopping the run while the entire history of the NFL says that passing is the more important factor. His clock management issues are well known. He does not seem to be able to hire and keep an offensive coordinator. He apparently created a riff between Smith and himself and Smith and some of his teammates by implying that Smith was a quitter when it was plain that his injury prevented him from throwing the ball. Unless Nolan can overcome these flaws, Martz, with all his flaws, would be the better choice should it come down to a choice in which one of the two will be going away.

Posted By: SDNiner (19/07/2008 12:25:02 AM)
Comment: Nevermind on the question. I just read the linked article. I hope we dominate the Raiders in that practice. I bet VD will be fired up to smack heads with those guys. I know 'it's just practice', but still I hope we whip up on those guys. I can't wait for the season to start. Go Niners!

Posted By: SDNiner (19/07/2008 12:16:35 AM)
Comment: Hey Matt. Great topic and info as always. I'm not ready to close the door on Alex yet either. He was showing improvement leading up to the shoulder injury. I thought he played great in the first game last year. You're right, you can't judge him based on those games that he played in after the injury. I hope the Martz system works well for Smith's skills, and based on Meyer's comments it sounds like it could. Quick question: why does the team want to hold a joint practice with the Raiders? What are the advantages for both teams?

Posted By: Rob (19/07/2008 12:13:44 AM)
Comment: Thank you for a great article. I think it is possible for Smith to excel in Martz system the way it has been described so far. It seems like a very precise system. One where there is not a lot of variablity in terms of decisions. It seems like there is always a correct thing to do. I think that Alex Smith is good at doing the right thing. The difference between Martz's system and the system last year is that last year it was difficult for anyone to tell who was at fault for an interception or an incompletion. It seemed like the receivers could make a case for it being the qb's fault. With Martz, it seems like there is always a right thing to do. It will now be obvious to everyone when a bad play occurs who is at fault. I think it will be proven out, due to how imperitive it is in Martz system to get things right, that Smith will be doing the correct thing. I think this will create a self confidence in Alex and confidence in Alex by his teammates. You know he is studying this stuff so that he will know what to do when the time comes. If Martz system truly does not leave anything up to chance and improvisation, this may be a perfect situation for Alex. I hope so. It would be good for the 49ers if it is.

Posted By: Weary9er (18/07/2008 10:26:07 PM)
Comment: Well put, Matt and passionately argued!:] I expect the team to be at least 8-8, maybe 10-6 if the apocalypse comes. If not, then he and the coaches will be gone and we will be at square 2 ( have to hope that the talent we have will keep us from square 1!).

Posted By: Danny in Gainesville, FL (18/07/2008 9:39:54 PM)
Comment: i think there are 3 factors that determine whether or not a player is a bust: (1) expectations, (2) opportunity, and (3) evidence. to be a bust, a player must provide a large body of EVIDENCE showing that they fail to meet EXPECTATIONS, despite having an ample OPPORTUNITY to do so. this definition is especially nice because all of the obvious busts (http://football.about.com/od/nfldrafthistory/tp/topdraftbusts.htm) meet it. given my definition, i don't think alex smith should be labeled a bust. it's true, he hasn't met expectations thus far. however, there's definitely not enough evidence (i.e., he remains one of the youngest starters in the league, injuries, etc.), and he definitely has not had the opportunity (i.e., 4 OCs in 4 seasons, lack of supporting cast, etc.).

Posted By: mt (18/07/2008 9:19:56 PM)
Comment: 9Time - that's not what I said at all. I said "A bust is someone expected to perform a key role who does not." I didn't mention a time frame. I loved Walsh and wish he was still around working with the 49ers. All of the examples I gave were folks who tried at their jobs for several years - and much longer in the Bidwell's case. A bust can be breasts, a statue of a head and also someone who is expected to perform a key role who does not. How do you define it?

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (18/07/2008 9:14:28 PM)
Comment: Matt excellent commentary, to which I ask to split the hair of #1 Draft pick money and expectations. The 'Bust' label is almost an indictment of the system when a raw college QB is paid millions to intern, or learn on the job. Comes down to expectations. Brady didn't have the pressure to perform on day 1. Alex got thrown into the fire so to speak, and I give him a little latitude for that, and the numerous OC changes he's been faced with. Salary to production ratios are always at the heart of the argument when we talk 'Bust' labels I think. Martz is the key IMO. Let's see how many OT's get selected #1 now that Tuna lowered the ceiling a little? Unless Jake Long becomes Tony Mandarich, there won't be any bust discussions surrounding an OT like there are regarding a QB/RB or WR picked #1 overall. But it always comes back to the CAP. Bust=ROI. Nice Piece.

Posted By: ninerindallas (18/07/2008 7:48:57 PM)
Comment: i think like 90% of you missed the point altogather....what i think the point matt is trying to make is this: "you can't label someone a bust, in the middle of thier tenure". you have to wait for the end........i remember reading a story , during the time michelangelo was painting the ceiling at the sistine chapel,the pope at the time was all bent outta shape cause it was taking to long and looked like crap, he thought michelangelo was completely overrated and even a time or two lobbied to replace him........you can't judge something in the middle.....you have to wait to the end...please let this stick to someone's brain.....

Posted By: Truth Again (18/07/2008 6:09:13 PM)
Comment: "Randy Moss is a huge bust because he gives up when things aren't going well." Oh yeah, Randy Moss is a great big bust. I love the haters, they are so pent up with aggression more than likely the result of being less than endowed that they can't enjoy a rare talent like Moss. Say what you want about Moss, his pot smoking, his running over a cop, but he is a player. He makes big plays and wins games. He might be the best receiver in the league. Thats not a bust.

Posted By: 9Time (18/07/2008 6:04:04 PM)
Comment: mt, give me a break. Your saying that anyone who doesnt do well early in their career is a a bust. Bill Walsh, remember him?, He won 8 games total in his first two seasons.... a bust? Becuase he won the Super Bowl in his third... and guess how many games the Niners one in 1982?? Three. Man, walsh is epic. The guy went from being a bust to a champion, back to a bust, and then back to champion. I think that deserves a special

Posted By: Rich, San Ramon (18/07/2008 5:54:43 PM)
Comment: For Samr: I'd say Walsh was patient and Owens was determined. For me, there has to be an element of shame to be a bust. Tony Mandarich was a bust because he cheated (steroids) his way to the NFL and without them he was nothing. Randy Moss is a huge bust because he gives up when things aren't going well. Shameful. A guy who gave everything he had but didn't measure up is never, ever, a bust. So for me, Alex Smith is not and never will be a bust, until Matt or someone else with credibility writes that Smith had the talent but did not try his hardest. When I went to High School I was considered big and fast. I tried as hard as I could, but I was an average player at best. I could tell the coaches were disappointed because when I actually made a play they'd say "THAT's what we've been waiting for." Well, nobody wanted to more than me, I promise you that, but it just didn't happen. I can sense that every time Alex completes a pass he hears something like that from someone.

Posted By: Mike in Sac (18/07/2008 5:42:39 PM)
Comment: In sports and life you are judged by your history and actions not your potential. At this point histoy shows both Nolan and Smith are busts!! Unless they demonstrate some serious imporvement this year they must go. I am tired of this worn out act. Its funny how bad teams always have some sort of excuse and the good ones, well they just keep winning.

Posted By: mt (18/07/2008 5:18:46 PM)
Comment: I don't agree with Matt that the person in question has to leave the team before a bust is declared. First off, we don't need to focus only on Alex Smith (who I do believe will eventually be a bust) - I don't think we even need to focus on players. Aren't coaches and owners capable of being busts? Take the Bidwell family who own the Cardinals. They've owned the team for decades with virtually no successes to speak of at all. Are they a bust as owners? I say yes. Were Dwight Clark and Terry Donahue busts as GMs? Pretty much. Are the Yorks also busts? It's getting pretty close. Is Mike Nolan a bust? One more season to find out. Was James Owens? Yes, a high draft choice who lingers only as a special teamer is a bust. A bust is someone expected to perform a key role who does not.

Posted By: ZURDO (18/07/2008 4:52:34 PM)
Comment: As a die hard Niner fan I really wish I could say Alex Smith is not a bust... but it`s impossible. I really think he got dealt a bad set of cards... but one thought to ponder. If Matt Leinart would have reported for the draft on that same year, and the Niners would have drafted him I can`t say his results would have been much different. Honestly, so far it`s not Smith's fault, but if he is not a bust he has to react sometime, and 4 years if more than enough in my book.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (18/07/2008 4:50:25 PM)
Comment: Medford: The while the # of series played is important, the critical issue is who is playing at the same time. It would be unfair to judge one QB in his start or relief if he is playing with our 2's against another teams 3's. We can't necessarily just be stat oriented, Nolan needs to compare apples to apples

Posted By: Medford (18/07/2008 4:37:18 PM)
Comment: Matt since Alex Smith and Shaun Hill will be starting a preseason game each will they be staying in the game untill atleast halftime? Its not going to be 2 series and there out is it? They r fighting for the starting job

Posted By: Jake (18/07/2008 4:15:12 PM)
Comment: The one thing you can say for Alex Smith if he is the type of player that needs to be "taught" is that aside from the one year with Norv Turner, his best year, he hasn't had a good teacher. He has a teacher now in Martz. There's no question he has some physical tools. It will be interesting to see what Martz does for him. I would hate to see him go to a Tampa Bay or Seattle and see guys like Gruden and Holmgren get a hold of him and make him a star.

Posted By: Wilson (18/07/2008 4:04:42 PM)
Comment: I've been aware of the Urban Meyer comments and agree that Martz may turn out to be the perfect coach for an intelligent but not instinctive player. An interesting point is that in his first year, Alex's best performance was during a two minute drill at the end of a game. (Can't remember the opponent.) What's fascinating is that as long as there was an offensive plan to follow, Alex wasn't effective. Then when there was relative chaos, receivers running around and coming back, scrambling to escape pressure, suddenly Alex let his instinct take over and moved the team in almost miraculous fashion down the field. So if we're lucky, this is the year that Alex "gets it" and becomes an elite QB.

Posted By: The Hitman (18/07/2008 3:20:54 PM)
Comment: Is there any reason you prefer the 49erswebzone forum to the official 49ers.com forum? I've noticed both you and B-ROWS responding directly to questions posted on the webzone. How often do you read the forums?

Posted By: samr (18/07/2008 3:08:16 PM)
Comment: Really understanding and defining what constitutes a "bust" is probably impossible, or at best in the eyes of the beholder. Here's some trivia and some commentary. Who did Walsh and the Niners draft ahead of Joe Montana in 1979? Only old timers will remember RB James Owens out of UCLA. He couldn't do it as an RB, so the Niners tried him at WR. Same result. Eventually, after two years on the Niner roster and probably much later than any objective analysis would say was the right time, he was released. He was picked up by the Bucs where he had a four year undistinguished career, primarily returning kicks. It can be argued that Walsh was stubborn and defensive about his drafting skills in keeping Owens as long as he did. So, was Owens a "bust"?

Posted By: Candlestick Bob (18/07/2008 2:41:58 PM)
Comment: I have held out hope for Smith despite constant complaints from my friends, mainly because of the bust rule-you can't quit on your team. I am holding out hope that Martz can be that guy to transition Smith into the QB we all hoped he would be. I applaud all the Niners moves since the McNolan era. I think if anything it is proof of just how difficult it is to run a successful NFL franchise. I am very excited to see what Martz has in store for the offensive back field of bruisers, speedsters, blockers and catchers. I believe that if the receiver and offensive line groups tow the line, the Niners have all the tools to become a potent offense in the NFC. I for one am very excited abou the 2008 9ers and this article is evidence of possibility in line for the 9ers. Matt, Do you have any idea of the offensive plays Martz is running for the backs?

Posted By: Rich, San Ramon (18/07/2008 1:50:23 PM)
Comment: Young is one example, but my favorite 49er QB bust story involves #1 overall pick, QB from Stanford. Plunckett was a bust for NE, then for the 49ers, and then... went on to win two Superbowls for the Raiders.

Posted By: Pat B (18/07/2008 1:15:02 PM)
Comment: Concerning Young: "His first season was bad. His second season, at age 25, was worse."...Remember A smith is still only 24 and with 3 ocs at ages 20-23 he actually did pretty well considering (not counting when he was hurt). So based on this logic if he's still with the niners at 26 and he still isn't good then yes he is a bust. As of now there are too many good reasons why he hasn't performed to write him off.

Posted By: oneniner (18/07/2008 1:06:01 PM)
Comment: Classic MM-Instant 49ers....

Posted By: old School (18/07/2008 12:59:15 PM)
Comment: Matt- In the Big Leagues you're judged by your production, so both Smith & Nolan have to get it done, no excuses. That being said, in regard to Nolan being accused of not understanding offense, only defense, I disagree. When Don Shula got his first HC job, Baltimore Colts, there was much criticism because he'd been a Defensive Coordinator (for the Lions, I think). He answered that by pointing out that a DC spends his time in the film room studying offenses so he can game plan against them, so he actually does know offensive systems. Now coaching requires knowledge, the ability to teach and the ability to inspire for top production. So both Alex and Mike will be held accountable.

Posted By: oneniner (18/07/2008 12:57:05 PM)
Comment: Thank you for a Great Read.....(and comments).....this read is a perfect antidote to all those negative comments about A.smith. ....where have all u positive niners been?......Believe

Posted By: Mind of McCloughlan (18/07/2008 12:26:25 PM)
Comment: It was good to dig up the Urban Meyer comments. It sheds some light on why we haven't seen more progress from Alex Smith. With him, we probably won't see a gradual development curve. He'll be "nonfunctional" until he "gets it." That makes trying to project this year such a mystery, especially with a boon-or-bust coordinator running the offense. Smith may again be nonfunctional. He may be a slightly better version of 2006 (which would probably have been his realistic ceiling for 2008 had we hired someone other than Martz). He and Martz may mesh perfectly and the offense may really take off. All three scenarios are well within the realm of possibility. The first scenario would set the organization back, but wouldn't necessarily be the worst thing because it would--without a doubt--be time to turn the page on the Nolan/Smith era in SF. The third scenario is the ideal result, with the only complication being the increased possibility of Martz finding work elsewhere. It's the second scenario that is the most dangerous. If Smith improves on 2006, but not in a huge way, the team has to make major decisions on Nolan, Smith, and possibly Martz without having truly convincing results to validate any of their decisions. That could lead to us keeping/dismissing the wrong guy(s). Much as I've been a supporter of this regime, this needs to be a year of clarity, one way or the other.

Posted By: Modesto Matt (18/07/2008 12:17:11 PM)
Comment: This situation sets up well for the team. As you pointed out yesterday, Alex has salaries of $9.6mm and $15mm after this season and remaining bonus of under $6mm. This means that if the team considers him a BUST after this season, it will be a cap savings to cut him. That said, I agree we just don't know enough to make that judgement yet, but clearly this year will be critical as the stakes will be raised for 2009 because his cap charge will be something over $12.5mm and looking forward to CBA uncertainty.

Posted By: Danny (18/07/2008 12:13:21 PM)
Comment: Great article Matt-It will be interesting this year with Smith, I would say if he can't get it done this year then he is a bust (for us). He should know the NFL game by now, he has a OC that is a detailed coach and he has weapons that should be able to mek him better. Bruce, though slower and older, will be exactly the same place every time he runs a route, Battle is someone he knows and has to have some report with him but with Johnson we have hope for the big game reciever. He also should have some report with Davis. I am curious Matt after watching the OTA's, who do you think will be his reciever, the one he's most comfortable with?

Posted By: BLADE (18/07/2008 11:45:19 AM)
Comment: great article matt and you're right, in my opinion alex hasnt really had a chance 4 OC's in 4 years in tough and i dont believe anyone really worked with him includin norv even though he did shine that year i remember what the great walsh said about mcarthy not working with him, and we're lucky alex is a tough, and smart kid i just hope martz will stay a min. of 2 years or anything he learns will be all for nothing, after seeing dilfner last year all us niners fans cant wait to see alex i'm sure.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (18/07/2008 11:45:03 AM)
Comment: Heck, the great Eli Manning was a bust until last year. There are only a few great QB's in the league, and they have a much more stable and established system to play in. Manning(x2), Brady, Rothlesberger, you name half the QB's in the league and they have stable coaching and established offense talent around them. Alex has had no OC or veteran talent to hand the ball off or throw to, he has had to start with the worst talent in the league. Two things Martz is working with Smith, one is throwing the receiver open, the other is getting the ball out quickly. Smith is finally ready to develop after a couple of redshirt years.

Posted By: Jed (18/07/2008 11:42:59 AM)
Comment: Matt - Very fair assessment of Alex. To those who say "no big plays", anyone at the Cards opener in 2007 watched D-Jax drop a game-winning bomb, perfectly over his shoulder and right between his naggats. Could have been Alex's signature play. Instead, Alex was (again) forced to make a big play on his feet and still won the game. Denver OT win to end 2006 - same thing. It's fair to knock Alex. He's inconsistent. But he's played under horrid conditions: tons of dropped balls, "unsettled" OL and sacking dummy drills, revolving door of OCs. Yeah, he's no Brady. So what? We still don't know his best game.

Posted By: Cleveland Mike (18/07/2008 11:30:53 AM)
Comment: If Martz can't improve Alex then no one can. Urban Meyer is a darn astute coach (heck he's from the Buckeye state). He knows Smith as well as anyone and from the start Urban had it dead on. Smith can be a solid guy but he needs a tight framework and needs to understand it all. Martz will help him a ton. Talk about busts...Steve Young??? That's nothing. Just remember the Steelers cut Johnny U and Len Dawson in back to back seasons. They then traded for Earl Morrall. Let's see.....Earl for Johnny and Len?????? Wonder whatever happened to that GM? Then five years later the Niners traded YA Tittle for a broken down guard named Lou Cordeloen (sorry Lou). So QBs are a funny lot. Martz is the guy to change things. Nolan a bust.....where do I start on this dolt?

Posted By: IL Giacomo The Great (18/07/2008 11:30:44 AM)
Comment: Good point about Alex. But I do worry about his arm strength. When he throws long passes they are never on a string...always lobbed very high up in the air, thus effectively rendering the pass a jump ball. I agree that he's not quite a bust yet but at best he's certainly bloated. The problem is that this is his last year to prove himself with the 9ers and Martz's system often takes QB's more than a year to learn. Either way...at least they should be fun to watch this year. Let's hope Aaron Rogers doesn't blow up or Nolan could be on the hook....but maybe that's a good thing.

Posted By: Rick (las vegas) (18/07/2008 11:28:36 AM)
Comment: Since the RW incident, do people in San Fran tend to shut their blinds more when your around?

Posted By: Jake (18/07/2008 11:26:22 AM)
Comment: FiveTimeChamps, I couldn't agree with you more. It would have been great if Nolan was the defensive coordinator on this team, with Martz running the offense, and have a game manager like Steve Mariucci as head coach then I think you would really have something. I'm waiting for the 49ers to score over 30 points in the Nolan era, hopefully with Martz it will happen this season. Nolan is a fantasy football players worst nightmare as a head coach.

Posted By: RonO (18/07/2008 11:09:59 AM)
Comment: I think a similar argument can be made for Nolan that it's premature to label him a head coaching bust. The Yorks think that way and all credit to them for that. I don't think its an accident that the successful teams stick with their coaches and don't employ revolving door policies.

Posted By: Giovanni Carmazzi (18/07/2008 11:05:15 AM)
Comment: "Alex is so careful with the ball. That's because, unless he knows exactly what's going on, he won't throw it." This is the key to this story, haven't heard this before and I agree completely - it explains a lot.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (18/07/2008 10:26:06 AM)
Comment: I expect Alex to make big progress under Martz, similar to when Norv was here. With Hostler and the injury last year, I won't hold it against Alex... But, if he fails under QB guru Martz, I know Hill will get it done in his place.

Posted By: Andrew G (18/07/2008 10:25:47 AM)
Comment: THANK YOU for pointing out that last year does not count for Smith. If you look at his 3 pre-injury games, he had a number of balls dropped, threw 1 INT that was a result of a bad route, and overall looked pretty good. I just hope that his shoulder surgery didn't Chad Pennington his career. Great post, Matt. Props on the McQuarters story too!

Posted By: Andrew from Rishikesh (18/07/2008 10:17:55 AM)
Comment: Hi Matt, Good read on what a bust is. Using Phil Simms as an example, he had a similar start to his career as Alex and around his fourth year "it" kicked in. The end of 06 and the first few games of 07 Alex appeared to have turned the corner but then the injury happened and that's where we are at now. I think after a few wins the QB question will be history.

Posted By: Rich, DE (18/07/2008 10:14:36 AM)
Comment: Matt, it will be interesting to see how many comments are submitted to your blog entry today (heated topic).

Posted By: MIL (18/07/2008 10:13:37 AM)
Comment: Good read, Matt!

Posted By: Nosetackle Supreme (18/07/2008 10:10:02 AM)
Comment: I disagree. I'd say that Kyle Boller is a bust, but he is still with the Ravens.

Posted By: FiveTimesChamps (18/07/2008 10:00:42 AM)
Comment: Matt, suppose that Martz and Alex have an above average offensive year and another team offers Martz a head coaching position. Do you see York letting Nolan go and hiring Martz to coach the 49ers? For these reasons I would be sorely tempted to support the move. (1) Martz's drafting issues could be mitigated by Scot McCloughan and his scouts. (2) Martz's high risk/high reward offense could be balanced and covered by a solidly built, greatly coached defense (like when Lovie Smith ran the 2001 Super Bowl runner-up Rams defense). (3) Losing Martz would probably be devastating to San Francisco's arguably most important player, Alex Smith. I like Nolan, but he frustrates me at times and I am not convinced that he knows anything about playing offense designed to score 20+ points a game.

Posted By: Jake (18/07/2008 9:57:48 AM)
Comment: Matt, While I agree I can't remember too many bad Alex Interceptions, maybe Champ Bailey return for TD in Denver in 2006, but I don't remember any big play touchdown passes by Alex Smith either, that is a BIG PROBLEM!

Posted By: vermonator (18/07/2008 9:50:28 AM)
Comment: I think Smith has everything at his disposal to be a success this year. He just has to grow up and stop playing scared, no excuses. With Martz at his side I think he'll make that leap. Otherwise it's back to the drawing board cause Hill is not a long term answer.

Posted By: FiveTimesChamps (18/07/2008 9:49:58 AM)
Comment: Wow Matt, that is some fantastic journalism (and writing). I favor Smith and I really want him to do well, but like a lot of other fans last year, I became increasingly depressed with his performance. Since last year I have been tempering my expectations for Smith in 2008 just because last year was so hideous. Your article reminds me why I should have hope for Smith. He's got the tools, he's bright, and he has a A+ offensive coach. So now I'll put you on the spot...what do you predict Smith's Yards, TDs/INTs and overall QB rating will be in the 2008 Martz era?

Posted By: Dino (18/07/2008 9:33:46 AM)
Comment: Great job again as usual, Matt. I'm glad you shed some light on the Smith=bust situation. I totally agree with you that it's still too early to tell. Given what was said about Smith from Meyer, I really hope he thrives under Martz's guidance. Hopefully Smith will have a breakout season this year to quiet the doubters. -Matt, off topic but given his age do you see W. Harris remaining as the starter at corner and taking most of the reps or will R. Smith and T. Brown share some of that load and possibly replace Harris by season's end? I know Harris is capable but he was taking some days off last year that lead to some big plays for the opposition. I'm not sure if it was a matter of fatigue or lack of heart. Thanks and keep the good reads coming. I can't for TC!!

Posted By: Andrew (18/07/2008 9:32:47 AM)
Comment: Matt, thanks for the explanation of a bust. I too am not ready to give up on Alex.

Posted By: Logan (18/07/2008 9:28:41 AM)
Comment: If I ever hear someone refer to Steve Young as a "bust" there will certainly be a fist fight following... Matt - What do you think are the chances that Martz is the 49ers OC next season? Reason I ask, if Alex Smith has a good season, then the Niners offense will have drastically improved, and Martz may get a HC or better offer. If Alex doesn't, then Nolan will certainly be out, and Martz would likely be gone as well or be promoted to HC. It seems that either way Martz won't be around to guide Alex for an extended period of time.

Posted By: DaveInDavis (18/07/2008 9:26:11 AM)
Comment: Matt, very good points on Alex. Pretty much all the pieces are there - he needs to step up and show everyone why he was selected #1.

Posted By: Logan (18/07/2008 9:14:43 AM)
Comment: 1