Posted By: bilwit (10/09/2008 12:29:51 PM)
Comment: A low release/stance is fine if the QB can pull it off. Tony Romo holds it by his waste -- his quick release and uncanny Favre-ish ways makes up for the lack of ball protection obviously. JTO has had trouble with turnovers throughout the preseason and reestablished this in the opener. It's an absolute shame that things had to unfold this way for the organization and Smith, especially when this 2008 season is the best chance he NEVER GOT. Nolan and the Yorks need to go, Alex Smith is the perfect example of their inepetitude. There are far too many fans that don't see the whole picture and get mesmerized by Nolan's words and shout "bust" from the hill tops.

Posted By: Darren11 (10/09/2008 10:03:14 AM)
Comment: Jim, you are suppose to support Alex Smith, not bash him. It's amazing what I see out of 49er fans each day I come here: You're selfish at times and think instant Superbowl with JT. Attitude like that is the reason why we'll never get there until we win with dignity and effort, two things we'll lack with fans like you.

Posted By: Rich, San Ramon (10/09/2008 9:56:14 AM)
Comment: Wu-Tang: Smiley was the RG. LA came out of his stance, stepped back, shuffled his feet & looked to his left. Heitmann was turned to the right.

Posted By: 49erLloyd (10/09/2008 9:55:50 AM)
Comment: Wow, just read Nancy Gay's article with interest. And on the matter of Alex Smith, don't cut the man. Why should he be blamed for all this? John York should be made to sell the team, Goodell, get off your rump and force these inept owners to sell the teams: Arizona, Raiders, Texans, any team that is inept for 5 years in the NFL, the owner should SELL the team. Mike NOlan should be made to apologize to Alex Smith and reimburse him for all the years suffered. I hope the 49ers get local blackouts in the worse way. Bad teams do not deserve to be rewarded with fans like us. Until Mike Nolan at least has been fired, do not go to anymore 49ers home games. Punish the Yorks' TV revenue with local blackouts. We need to make York held accountable along with Mike Nolan. Don't cut Alex Smith unless you want to cut the cord of a lot of 49ers fans you have already cut away. Thanks, and I left my Email so I'm not a troll. Anybody who holds Alex Smith to blame or a bust, why don't you all check yourselves as Raider fans since you're so consumed with blaming an innocent young man when it's Mike Nolan that messed him up! Don't cut Alex Smith!

Posted By: 49erGenius (10/09/2008 9:50:02 AM)
Comment: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/09/SP8L12QPVC.DTL Damn good article from Nancy and I'm 100% in agreement. Matt, have you seen what Nancy Gay on 49ers ownership? You need to look into it and encourage fans how do we go about this? Thanks for a great blog. And I agree on not cutting Alex Smith, very bad mistake coming up for us. I rather let JT O Sullivan be released. Read Nancy's article and I'm in agreement on don't buy any 49ers tickets until changes are made.

Posted By: Darren11 (10/09/2008 9:47:56 AM)
Comment: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/09/SP8L12QPVC.DTL 1) Sell and do not buy your tickets for the Lions game or any other 49ers home game. 2) Make the 49ers resign Alex Smith in 09. 3) Fire Mike Nolan 4) Support the local blackout until Mike Nolan is gone. Do not let Alex Smith go. John York should be forced to address 49ers fan that day if we do release ALex Smith and to say that Mike Nolan did this to him.

Posted By: Bryan from Mt View (10/09/2008 9:37:41 AM)
Comment: I was reading a Green Bay on the Alex vs Aaron comparision. Interestingly while no one said Alex would have done as well in G.B. as Rogers, nearly everyone said they felt the last four years in S.F. would have ruined Aaron Rogers (or any QB).

Posted By: Jim (10/09/2008 9:16:23 AM)
Comment: Alex. Thanks for trying to make Lemonade with rotting lemons. Hopefully, it works out elsewhere. Take care and get well.

Posted By: rob_deluca (10/09/2008 9:16:14 AM)
Comment: berger come back to the dark side we need you

Posted By: 16280 (10/09/2008 8:59:15 AM)
Comment: Best of luck to Alex with his new team. He's a good kid and hopefully will catch on somewhere that has a better situation for him to develop. Getting his arm right is the key. You are correct Matt, being a productive NFL QB is hard enough with a healthy arm but with a bum wing forget about it. As far as Dustin liking Nolan because he's and honest stand up guy and a good defensive mind...uh not really??? The only thing he's proven about himself is he's a master at building a consistent losing team. We have become a doormat on his watch and although we appear to be better talent wise we still aren't sniffing a winning season even though we are in a weak division ripe for the taking. He needs to go now. My guess is he'll never even get a DC gig let alone a HC position.

Posted By: WuTang-greatest rap group ever (10/09/2008 8:44:35 AM)
Comment: Hey Rich, correct me if I'm wrong, but Smiley is to blame for letting Rocky Bernard coming through untouched to land on Smith. Even if I'm wrong, Smiley's gone, so I'll blame him anyway.

Posted By: BHF (10/09/2008 8:43:30 AM)
Comment: How to ruin a 1st pick QB. By Mike Nolan -Make QB starter after 3 games before he's ready. Check -Hire OC with no OC experience. Check -After shoulder injury. Keep playing him. Check. -Insist that he's not hurt when he really needs surgery. Check -Question his toughness. Check Guaranteed foolproof method.

Posted By: RC (10/09/2008 8:25:17 AM)
Comment: Wow, one hit away from Hill or Martin for the rest of the Season.

Posted By: Andrew from Rishikesh (10/09/2008 8:24:24 AM)
Comment: Hi Matt, I can't see Alex coming back. Maybe in todays NFL an offensive minded head coach is the way to go. Alex did nothing wrong, the organization has not given him the tools to succeed. I think most of us that follow this blog are 49er fans that just want the team to do well, but Nolans' leadership (or lack thereof) has made us hope that they lose so we can find someone more competent to steer the ship. It does not bode well for Nolan if he doesn't win ASAP.

Posted By: Rich, San Ramon (10/09/2008 8:23:34 AM)
Comment: Marlon McCree? Smith's career was ended because a defensive lineman was allowed to charge through the gap between the Center (Eric Heitmann) and LG (future HOF-er Larry Allen), untouched. Heitmann and Allen blew up the franchise and have ever been held accountable.

Posted By: shobbrobb (10/09/2008 8:17:49 AM)
Comment: MARCO UR ARE EXACTLY RIGHT

Posted By: mike in MD (10/09/2008 8:16:04 AM)
Comment: Thinking about all this I see how it really sets a franchise back. Not only do we now have to find another future franchise QB but you'll also be taking that pick away (which could be anywhere from a 1st to a 3rd) that you could use to get a potential starter or contributor for another position we need. Someone pointed out the high risk of a 1st Rd QB which I agree with..well I don't see any close to sure things @ QB in this Draft. No CPalmers, PMannings, or MRyan's (man that guy looks for real, I envy ATL already). I'm keeping my eye on Stafford & a couple other guys & it's still too early to judge some of these QB's until we get closer to the year being finished. Picking in the 2-3rd rounds seems more reasonable. Before we go there we still have to let the HC & OC drama play out. After that we have to figure out what system we want to run AND KEEP, THEN choose the QB. The Yorks really have to get this right, without any type of stability...I don't even want to think about it. I just pray they finally get it right. If Martz & JTO stay I'm not a big fan of Hill as our #2. Good guy, has some fire but that arm is not cutting it for me. As a West Coast QB..maybe. I'm in favor of going after Warner as a FA Vet (2-yr max) stop gap backup while we develop our future QB. That's if Martz & JTO are still here. Good Luck to you Alex & on the full recovery of that shoulder. I wish you the best & hope you make it w/your next team & the NFL. It's just sad that Norv ended up leaving & how things unfolded after that. It makes me think there has to be some kind of deadline set before another team can claim someone else's OC.

Posted By: NW Niner (10/09/2008 8:12:18 AM)
Comment: I see a lot of people blaming Nolan or McCloughan for him being a bust. But, I think the real person to blame is Hostler, he clearly led to Smith's regression and eventual injury. Yes Nolan gave him the OC job, but that late in the year what choice did he really have? Before Hostler his trajectory was at least positive, after he was in charge of the offense it was a blood bath.

Posted By: Dustin (10/09/2008 8:10:43 AM)
Comment: Nice post Matt. I hope Alex does find somewhere (Tampa Bay?) where he can succeed, and he can. Also quick comment about Head Coach issues. I like Nolan. Stand up guy, honest, and up front. Good defensive mind and respects the game and most of his players. But the problem all along is that he is a DEFENSIVE mind head coach. He has almost no clue about the OFFENSIVE side. As such all of our Offensive Coord. will get stolen. Its the #1 position to get a head coach from. Except we didn't do that. The longest term coaches in this league have been offensive minded coaches. The exception? Indy, how they kept Tom Moore all these years is beyond me.

Posted By: Jed (10/09/2008 8:09:09 AM)
Comment: In our post-scripts about Alex's stay with SF, I hope Hostler does not become the easy excuse. Yes, Hostler was over his head. Yes, Nolan's choices were limited at the time. But in four years, Nolan not only failed to develop his $24M investment, he stubbornly refused to find a guy who could tailor an offense to Alex's strengths - the qualities that made him top pick. Half the teams in the NFL run forms of the spread offense now - even with weak WRs. SF? Never even tried it. With the benefit of hindsight, and the knocks on Alex, why didn't Nolan experiment with one of Urban Meyer's assistants? Is Jeff Fisher trying to make Vince Young a pocket passer? No. We wax on about the beautiful marriage of Walsh's scheme to Montana's strengths. Did Mike Nolan ever try that with his no. 1 investment? Why not? And if the team was to be built for smashmouth, run between the tackles, Ravens, etc., then spending the no. 1 pick on a QB seems silly now.

Posted By: Marco from Stockton (10/09/2008 8:06:25 AM)
Comment: It all breaks down to the 49ers O Line being one of the worst in the League over the last three years at pass protection. After one game they lead the league again. Sure they are a good run blocking OLine, but the stats don't lie. They are terrible at "PROTECTING" the QB in a division without great teams. No QB would have survived in SF. My biggest objection to McNolan(both of them) is they didn't quickly built that OLine. It was part of Nolan's stragety. Build the Defense, Built the offense around running game, grind it out, control the clock. Have they ever really brought in young receiving talent? NO! Nolan brought Raven's ball to the stick. I will admit it is early to judge the performance of the 2008 OLine as far as pass blocking goes, but until they prove to us they are a good pass blocking team we are in trouble. The NFL is set up rule wise for good passing teams and that requires what the Pats. Packers, Denver, and every good NFL QB needs, Time to throw the ball. Alex Smith,and the two others QBs knocked out last year never had it, and it is just a matter of time until the booing and injuries start unless they give JTO time. Parcells once said, you start with the OLine. Nolan started with the defense, which is what he knew. He was a bad hire, but a sharp dresser. His job depends on those 5 up front protecting not just JTO, but McNolan. Glad to see you on ESPN, you earned you time.

Posted By: alfredo (10/09/2008 7:51:40 AM)
Comment: I also wish Smith the best. The thing he should do now is concentrate on getting his shoulder healthy. I don't believe the 49ers tapped into all his talents.In addtion, i think it's to early to label him a bust(24 years old). Best thing for him is to go to a team with a better structure that's willing to give him time to grasp the offense. If it wasn't for his inflated salary next season, and his injury, i think the 49ers would have been willing to to that.

Posted By: Razoreater (10/09/2008 7:50:25 AM)
Comment: This team because of the bust of their #1 pick has put this franchise in a deep, deep hole. The fastest way out is to hire a guy like Holmgren and give him two shovels. HC and GM! He would find a QB in the upcoming draft and teach him the Montana ways.

Posted By: mike in MD (10/09/2008 7:47:33 AM)
Comment: oldguy..I totally 2ND THAT!! Absolutely brilliant. Because there were no fingers to point at up until Norv went to SDiego. Everything was unfolding for Smith the way it was supposed to. We took the throw him in the wolves right away approach & he survived & grew with Norv. Up until that point w/Norv's vertical style Smith was right on point. Just awesome catch old guy!! Man that was right on.

Posted By: Will's Dad (10/09/2008 7:44:57 AM)
Comment: Thanks Matt for the great read. Alex is an exceptional young man and I wish him a speedy recovery and much success in the NFL. Jamie Martin spent his first 2 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. Isn't there someone younger that Martz has coached? If JTO goes down, I hope Shaun Hill is not passed over. There are many fans who wish Martz was the HC. Hopefully he will be axed when Nolan is.

Posted By: Ronnie - Fresno (10/09/2008 7:19:27 AM)
Comment: Andrew, that is a pretty ridiculous statement to make. Jim Plunkett was a bust before he went to the Raiders. Vinny Testaverde was a bust for the whole first half of his career before he finally turned it on later in his career. Alex Smith never got it done here. Whether that be because he just isn't good enough, bad luck, bad coaching, whatever ... he still has plenty of football left to play. By the way, so does David Carr. Many quarterbacks become geat later on in their careers, and both of these guys happen to be very young, with NFL starts under their belts. Were either Smith or Carr in a situation similar to those of any of the recent quarterbacks who had success early? Either of the Manning brothers, Brady, Roethlisberger, and now Rodgers? Clearly the answer is no. Let's lay off the bust talk ... at least for now.

Posted By: old guy (10/09/2008 7:17:11 AM)
Comment: Do you know who is to blame for Smith's struggles since 2006? Marlon McCree. He was the San Diego safety who intercepted Brady late in the 2007 AFC Divisional playoff game to seal the win. Only he didn't stay down after catching the ball. He needlessly decided to get up and run. Almost instantly Troy Brown knocked the ball out of his hands, giving the Patriots another shot at victory. Because of that one reckless decision by McCree, San Diego lost, Marty got fired, Norv was hired to replace him and Smith got stuck trying to execute Hostler's pee-wee game plans. Then he got injured and his 49er career was never the same. I wish him well at his next stop. Hopefully, he can get healthy and find a system that suits him. He seems like a good kid.

Response: Brilliant. You're absolutely correct. --Matt M.

Posted By: Robert (10/09/2008 7:13:17 AM)
Comment: Good job McLoughlan. Anyone else you want to run out of town with your big mouth?

Posted By: jojo (10/09/2008 7:09:34 AM)
Comment: Hey thanks for the report Matt! After all is said and done, I feel really bad for Alex Smith, he was just placed in the worst situation possible for a 1st round pick. I believe to be successful in the NFL you must have the talent, and a system that will develop that talent. Alex Smith never had that consistent system that others like "Aaron Rodgers" has. I wish Alex the best, and really hope he finds a job with another team and prove his doubters wrong.

Posted By: Berger (10/09/2008 7:01:37 AM)
Comment: Matt- You were clairvoyant. I've read comments blaming Staley for the first JTO fumble. That might be but I disagree. A QBs pass should go from the chest, up asnd out. Not down, up and out. I read your comment way back on May 27th and paid attention. I think the fumble we saw last Sunday will happen more this year as I can only imagine that every D coordinator is pointing that hitch out to his defense. The book on JTO has got to be that if you are being pushed by, or even just close, swipe at the ball from behind and you might create a fumble.

Posted By: MacNiner (10/09/2008 7:01:17 AM)
Comment: Smith's a good guy, but frankly not a very good quarterback. Everybody who watches him play can tell his release is slow and his decision making slower. York needs to fire Nolan now, hire Martz as Head Coach and maybe still get to 8-8.

Posted By: Rick (10/09/2008 6:50:28 AM)
Comment: What is the purpose of bringing Martin in? I realize he knows the offense and has been with Martz before, but what does he bring to the table? The guy is 38 years old and has absolutely no upside. We have no prospects that we're grooming for the future. If JTO doesn't work out, we have no back up plan. How can we possibly feel comfortable with that situation? I can not stand this pick up (if it indeed happens, which seems inevitable). We should be looking around the league for a young quarterback that we can bring in as the #3 and learn the offense. They just seem to be turning a blind eye to the future.

Response: The reason to bring in Martin is -- if he's needed -- it gives the other offensive players a chance to succeed with a QB who already knows this system and doesn't need any reps to get up to speed. There's probably nobody else out there that would allow the offense to function. --Matt M.

Posted By: StonerLab (10/09/2008 6:46:21 AM)
Comment: Matt, I hate to dwell on things but you couldn't be more right about the promising direction Alex was headed towards at the end of the 2006 season. It really is a shame because he does seem like a stand up young man. That's life in the NFL, as for Andrew's question about how much Alex stole from the 49ers? Andrew...nobody put a gun to the 49ers head & said "Pay me this much!" If you were in Alex's shoes would you not take the money? C,mon...please!

Posted By: mj (10/09/2008 6:45:43 AM)
Comment: Alex has been one of my favorite niners that I really hoped would continue to blossom. Its a shame that he is unlikely to get another chance with the club and will have to start over yet again. The organization will never really know what Alex is capable of. Hopefully if we end up letting him go he will catch on with San Diego, like I think you have mentioned. I'm sure he would like to be close to home and reunited with Norv.

Posted By: Houston 9er (10/09/2008 6:35:15 AM)
Comment: Thats too bad for Alex. I hope he catches on with a team or coach next year that knows how to develop a QB. I wonder if there's ever been a more poorly handled QB in the history of the league.

Posted By: mayo63 (10/09/2008 6:27:09 AM)
Comment: Matt, is there a possibility of an injury settlement with Smith?

Response: No. An injury settlement is for less than what a person would make by going on IR. He'll get the full amount he's owed. --Matt M.

Posted By: Frank (10/09/2008 5:45:25 AM)
Comment: I agree Alex is a fine young man...some would say he got a raw deal in SF. Maybe, maybe not. However, to be a viable starting QB in this league you have to overcome setbacks, whether they're from injuries or a carousel of OC's. Unfortunately, Alex hasn't been able to do that. It happens. He'll likely join a lengthy list of college whizzes who simply didn't make it in the NFL. Maybe he'll resurrect his career elsewhere...I hope so, for again, he's a fine young fellow. As for the future, it's JTO...fans need to cut him some slack. He'll be fine, just give him a chance. Jamie Martin is a good choice as the 3rd stringer. There'll be some Niner fans who'll pan the move, but it really makes sense. No matter what McCloughan/Nolan do, there's a segment of Niner faithful who'll find fault with it. You can't please everyone, no matter what you do. So be it. This is my team...for over 50 years now...and I'll root for them 'til the day I die...no exceptions, no regrets.

Posted By: oldman9er (10/09/2008 5:26:18 AM)
Comment: Good stuff, Matt. I'll be keeping an eye on Alex and his future... whatever that entails. He's a really good guy that seems to understand the important things in life... so he'll be fine if his future is not football. As for JTO, an observation. After you commented on his throwing style, I took closer notice. He does seem to pull the ball up and throw as if he's unleashing a whip from his belt from the far hip and cracking it... strange... and it's easy to see how the ball is more vulnerable throughout the whole motion.

Posted By: Tycint (10/09/2008 4:48:22 AM)
Comment: The Smith era is almost over, and a clean break with the team is for the best. If Smith goes on IR, it's over permanently and we can all stop talking about his potential and his shortcomings. What a relief.

Posted By: nick (10/09/2008 4:36:49 AM)
Comment: I just wanted to suggest putting the bust talk etc to one side. Alex is clearly a good guy whose time in the league has not been ideal for a young rookie starting out. He always gave the niners 100%. He's had a rough month, losing his job, the terrible situation with his best friend and now bring reinjured. Tough times for any man to deal with. I just wanted to thank him for all his work with the 49ers and wish him a successful and happy future.

Posted By: Brian UK Niner (10/09/2008 4:36:26 AM)
Comment: Well, that clears up our "QB Controversy" for the season then :-( shame, I'd really liked to have seen Alex step it up under Martz this year or at least be given the chance to. Surely we'd be better trying to tempt Culpepper out of retirement then getting Jamie Martin in? Any ideas what our strategy for next off season's going to be, any notable QB's out of contract or any top QB's coming out of College we can scout for the year? So many questions, so many still unanswered about our franchise, sad times :-(

Posted By: Dean (10/09/2008 4:26:42 AM)
Comment: Fred- did you read the article before your post, this is not about Nolan, it's about a nice kid who has had a lot of bad things happen since going down against Seattle. Smith stated all along that he was in fact ok to play, hopefully he makes it back to the NFL if not with the 49ers than another team.

Posted By: Gib Robinson (10/09/2008 4:13:13 AM)
Comment: Matt, Any chance that Smith and the 49ers could restructure and extend his contract past this year. I assume he would find it hard to find a high-paying position elsewhere and that no one would take him on as a starter. I still think he has considerable potential.

Posted By: swissniner (10/09/2008 2:38:22 AM)
Comment: Hi Matt - Scot McCloughan said that unslee Smith becomes the starter at some point in the 2008 campaign Smith will be cut in the next offseason... Now that he possibly heads towards injured reserve, does this change anything?

Response: It doesn't change the amount of money he's due next season, and it doesn't change that he still has not "proven" himself as the starter. So the answer is no. --Matt M.

Posted By: Pete (10/09/2008 1:48:03 AM)
Comment: Fred Douglas is right. Alex Smith's 2007 was practically over when Rocky Bernard sat on him. His 2008 season and possibly his entire career may be over because Mike Nolan doesn't believe injuries happen and when players say they're injured, they're faking it. For whatever reason, Mike Nolan seems to equate injured players with betrayal. Smith was never given a chance and if rehab goes well, he probably won't restructure his deal to stay in SF. Who can blame him?

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (10/09/2008 12:43:42 AM)
Comment: Smith did not "steal" anything. His contract was agreed upon by both sides. If he had developed into Brady or Manning II, we would all be thinking what a great deal he would have been. Matt, is there a reason why they don't just cut him? I understand that there would be an injury settlement then. Does that mean they actually save money be keeping him on IR then cutting him later?

Response: Honestly, I don't know what they're going to do. If the 49ers followthrough on what McCloughan said -- and there's no reason to believe they won't -- it would be beneficial to Smith to find a new home sooner than later. That way,he can at least get with his new team now and be able to hit the ground running with his new team next offseason. --Matt M.

Posted By: riqroq (10/09/2008 12:40:28 AM)
Comment: i feel sorry for alex but at the same time, we made that kid a multimillionarre who can sail on a yacht for the rest of his life. And no, he did not steal from us. people always feel sorry for these owners who have to pay these salaries. Hello, do you people even know how much owners make from international TV revenues? not to mention merchandise and advertisement. Alex had us fools watching TV and believing for another 3 years. He did his job. You paid him, next phoney chapter. Riq Roq.

Posted By: Nick (10/09/2008 12:33:41 AM)
Comment: This is sad, if there was a manual on what not to do when drafting a QB in the first round, Nolan would be atop the best seller list. I'm upset because this is yet another waste of a high draft pick and draft choices are how champions are built. I feel for Smith, he never had a chance. In any job, in any industry, one needs to be supplied with the tools to be successful, instead he's dealt with a HC who throws him under the bus and underminds him in front of teammates, a revolving door at coordinator and little to no attempt at a legit WR corps. Back in 2005 i was upset because the 9ers simply didnt have the talent. Here today, they do have the talent, there is no reason why this squad shouldnt compete for the West. I'm convinced, as long as Nolan is HC, this team will be below average. He is not a leader, leaders accept responsibility and dont deflect blame. Leaders learn from their mistakes. How can player be held accountable when he never seems to be? I've never looked forward to a bye week before this season. The 9ers will have 1 maybe 2 wins and that will be the week the 9ers are freed from the hog tie that is Mike Nolan. Promote Singletary, the players respect him and will play for him. He has been in those same trenches, he is one of them. Evaluate his performance after the season and go from there. I'm sick of Nolan's song and dance and I'm just a fan, imagine how his players are feeling....they hear the same thing year in and year out with no results. Its only a matter of time before they quit on him and the organization cant let it get to that. Come week 9, the Yorks need to send Nolan and his giant ego out the door for good and I'd prefer it if they sent him out the backdoor, he doesnt deserve to walk past our 5 Lombardi Trophies....

Posted By: shobbrobb (10/09/2008 12:19:51 AM)
Comment: Really Matt,.Did the organization really need to wait for the doctors opinion before makin a decision on Alex Smith before knowing wether or not they would need to sign other QBs..Do u mean to tell me they needed an opinion from another doctor beforev they signed another QB after looking at the X-RAY to know wether or not he would be out?

Posted By: tony (10/09/2008 12:18:48 AM)
Comment: Matt, thanks for taking your writers hat off for a moment and expressing how Alex has handled all this crap the team put him through. Remember he was a very young qb that had hardly any talent around him not to mention the poor coaching. I don't think things would have turned out the same way if we had someone who knew how to develop a qb say the late great Bill Walsh. what a terrible waste of potential talent and a devestating waste of a #1 pick. One things for sure about this last game, you can't blame Alex Smith for this loss. Good luck Alex, maybe now you can get some real coaching!!! LA9er fan

Posted By: Graham (10/09/2008 12:18:08 AM)
Comment: Rough year for Alex. I hope he recovers and goes on to play well somewhere else. I think he will. Also, I really don't think Nolan should take much blame for this.

Posted By: The Real Rathman (10/09/2008 12:08:51 AM)
Comment: The Seahawks just released Jordan Kent!!! If the 49ers are smart, they will sign this WR immediately and send him deep!!!

Posted By: mark (10/09/2008 12:02:16 AM)
Comment: matt-are niners headed to another rebuilding mode---the quarterback of the future seemingly has no future, and the coach is lame duck (seemingly), with little supportfrom fan vase or media...if they get a new coach, there will be new staffs, and likely new schemes. and o'sullivan seems to be the modern day steve deberg (just good enough to get you beat), so that picking another young qb in the draft seems forseeable...all of which equals another rebuild job

Posted By: ninerfan (09/09/2008 11:58:08 PM)
Comment: matt: a stand up thing to say about a stand up player.

Posted By: Marc - NJ49er (09/09/2008 11:44:42 PM)
Comment: Add Alex to the growing argument for the Draft process and the feeding frenzy of agents driving up the pay scale. I'd agree with the move Parcells made, getting the OT ahead of the QB as there are more options to spend those cap dollars wisely at that position. Even if the OT doesn't pass muster, you may have options to move him inside. Alex lucked out, he was at the right place at the right time when the '05 Draft rolled around. As they say about hindsight, always 20/20. Either the NFL passes a limit on rookie contracts or you scout those Montana/Brady types in later rounds a little more frequently. I agree that a player should make all that he can, but a limit on rookies makes play for pay a little more equitable for the cap, which typically belongs to the poorer, talent deficient teams, needing more players to improve. Who needs to spend $50mil on the QB and have nothing left to build the OL to protect him? Certainly leaves room for discussion I'd say.

Posted By: Realfan49 (09/09/2008 11:34:22 PM)
Comment: I agree with you Matt that it's very unfortunate this should happen to such a fine young man. On a different note, I find it very hard to forgive Norv Turner for leaving so late they could not get a suitable replacement. To me that shows a callous lack of integrity and loyalty up there with Saban. It will come back and bite him at some point. These things have a way of evening out.

Posted By: Boomer (09/09/2008 11:24:00 PM)
Comment: With what Alex has had to go through on this team, he has earned ever penny he's been given.

Posted By: Giovanni Carmazzi (09/09/2008 11:19:17 PM)
Comment: Matt, in the history of the NFL, what is the closest example we have to the current career of Alex Smith?

Response: If you're talking about a guy who had zero supporting cast and struggled as a rookie, got a little more help around him and showed dramatic improvement in second season and then saw the next two years derailed by injuries, all the while having a lack of continuity around him . . . nobody else comes to mind. Also, the final chapter(s) has (have) yet to be written. --Matt M.

Posted By: wey (09/09/2008 11:12:31 PM)
Comment: who will bring the 49ers out of this misery...will it be a traditional west coast offense run by a 3rd round pick or sam bradford?...lol a question for kicks

Posted By: Andrew G (09/09/2008 11:05:52 PM)
Comment: Boy, that really sucks. I wish all the best to Alex and and hoping against hope that he is able to recover and catch on with another team. If not, he's young, smart, and rich, so it's tough to get too carried away feeling sorry for him. It sure looks like a lot of potential has been wasted, though. It must be emphasized that I am NOT the andrew who posted that drivel below.

Posted By: Andrew (09/09/2008 10:42:28 PM)
Comment: How much money did Alex Smith steal from the 49ers? How does he compare to other NFL QB busts (Carr, Leaf, Couch, Akili Smith)?

Posted By: Fred Douglas (09/09/2008 10:29:03 PM)
Comment: "After all, it's kind of difficult to be an effective NFL quarterback when you're physically unable to throw the football." Nolan's inability to grasp that basic fact, along with his childish need to show his players up, makes him unqualified to serve as a head coach.

Posted By: littleken (09/09/2008 10:06:55 PM)
Comment: Is O'Sullivan's techniqe fundamentally flawed for holding the ball low on this waist? Do you recall any famous or at least solid QB had holded the ball this low?

Response: I think Otto Graham dropped the ball down low, too. (Seriously, nobody comes immediately to mind.) Check out what I wrote in May about O'Sullivan's throwing style. http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=2207165. --Matt M.