SAN FRANCISCO – Here’s everything Alex Smith said after the game, courtesy of the 49ers.
Coach Harbaugh was just talking up there about blue collar offense, haven’t heard him use that phrase before, and I don’t know what he means by it. He said you were especially blue collar today, and not you necessarily, though including you, what does he mean by it?
“I don’t want to speak for him, but I think tonight—today, it wasn’t pretty at times. We struggled on first and second down, kind of played the field position game there. Got down in the red zone, what three times in the first half, and couldn’t walk away with touchdowns. Finally punched one in there with the two-minute drill. Same, struggled in the third quarter there to do much, but then in the fourth quarter when they made it a one possession game and we had to answer, we put a drive together and we took it down the field and answered. I guess that’s kind of what I take by that, at least from my perspective, looking at the good and the bad tonight. We made plays when we had to. Obviously, a lot of room for improvement.”
Do you feel like a blue collar quarterback?
“Running in goal line one-yard runs, yeah (laughs). No, you take it how you get it. Some games are like this. Some games you’re spreading out, throwing around, lighting up the score board, and the bottom line is getting the win. Defense played great, especially in the first half, played lights out, and the special teams in the second half made a lot of plays. Offensively, got in the red zone, like I said, multiple times and need to walk away with some touchdowns. Four field goals is…”
One more thing, it seemed to me that offensively it was very conservative game planning until that drive to lead off the fourth quarter and they leaned more on you, you made really nice passes to the right on that drive, did it feel that they opened it up more for you and leaned on you a little more?
“Just as far as the first part, I don’t know if it necessarily was a conservative game plan. I think that’s just how the game went. I think games kind of take direction. I think the way the defense was playing in the first half, we had great field position, we were getting in the red zone, and getting those field goals. It just kind of went that direction. Then you are up, it’s a three possession game, two-three possession game there in the third quarter. And yeah, we are trying to eat some clock and running the ball and kind of getting behind the sticks. We didn’t have very good first and second down production. Then when they made it a one possession game, yeah I think finally we had to answer, we had to move the ball, change field position, get something going. So all of a sudden I think we’re a little more back to balance, and made a couple of plays in the air.”
Coach Harbaugh mentioned that if you don’t get in there, you’re going to get scrambled…
“For sure, 12 seconds it’s going to be tough to spike. Yes, I knew it right away. Obviously at the time, I’m kind of thinking more throw away kind of option, obviously if there’s a walk in. Saw the only two guys came out, they both ran up the receivers, [RB] Frank [Gore] and [TE] Delanie [Walker], and I thought I had it. Then the guy spun on me, the guy defending Frank spun on me on the one, and luckily I was able to get in.”
How about you breaking a tackle or running through a guy, what was that?
“I wasn’t trying to run through him. [Inaudible] trying to make contact, and then find any way possible to get in. When it’s a yard, stretch, spin, do whatever you’ve got to do, just try to get in the end zone.”
Alex, why were you guys having so much trouble running the ball, especially in between the tackle?
“That’s a good defense. You look at, I don’t think many people run the ball between the tackles, especially last year against them. We had a lot in the game plan, run-game wise, to mix it up, get involved in the edge, and unfortunately we weren’t able to get into a rhythm at all. The first down production was not where it needed to be tonight. We just were behind the chains a lot today. Second and long, third and long, you’re trying to play catch up. It’s not where you want to be, so.”
It’s a little bit early, a little bit of vindication for you, do you think?
“I don’t know about vindication. It’s 1-0. That’s great. That’s the biggest thing playing quarterback, bottom line it’s getting the win. Find a way and defense helped a lot tonight. Special teams obviously with [WR] Ted Ginn [Jr.] there in the end. It’s a great win like I said, but offensively a lot of room for improvement.”
Last year was kind of tough for Ted Ginn Jr., he gets hurt the first game, had a decent camp, and then got hurt, so what have you kind of seen from him and learned about him most?
“I don’t watch much of our special teams practice to be honest with you. We are over there doing drills and stuff, so I haven’t seen much of that. But I’ll just speak to his work ethic and how much he’s improved as a receiver. This camp alone, it’s been eye opening. Every person I talk to personally, he’s the guy, the name, that comes out of my mouth. I think that’s shown the most improvement, that has worked the hardest. He’s just really come a long way I think. So I’m happy for him. Those were two—I mean I don’t know how many guys have done that. I guess I don’t know the stat, but I don’t think many.”
How has he improved? Which ways?
“Just an all around. I think route running, catching the football. I think his general awareness at playing receiver, that time clock. Even him having the same kind of time clock I have. So if he’s getting bumped and pressed, well maybe you don’t get your full depth, and you come off a break early, and have a little bit of that awareness. He’s just shown a lot of improvement this camp. I think he’s done a lot for himself.”
Your first game with Coach Harbaugh in your ear, how was that, what’s it like?
“We did it in the preseason.”
Right, first real game I mean. Is he calm? Is he…?
“He’s the voice in my ear. Yeah, I mean sometimes. Sometimes the crowd’s getting loud, we’re down on the goal line, and you’re yelling the play in. It just depends. It was good. Communication was great. Obviously we had a couple snap issues I think early. False starts and things we have to get ironed out.”
Alex, it’s not just another voice in your ear, I mean last year you had a lot of problems getting plays in on time, this has got to be an improvement.
“Yes for sure, but this whole preseason whoever is calling the plays in, coaches have been on the ball with getting the play in with plenty of time. The guys have done a great job as far as tempo in and out of the huddle. So we haven’t really had clock problems all preseason to this point. But I think it’s just great to have the direct line with Coach Harbaugh. Coming in you get the little things here and there depending on big situations. Little reminders, those things help.”
You got a bear hug coming off the field, how was that? That was a nice moment.
“Yes it was nice. It was a big two-minute situation. We get down there on the goal line. Clock’s running down. We call it the boot, and my number got called and found a way to get in. It was nice. He’d have to answer this, but I don’t know if he kind of enjoyed that more than the touchdown pass.”
When’s the last time you got hugged by a coach?
“I couldn’t tell you. I hugged coach—on the field? I don’t know.”
You looked a little surprised when he was hugging you, like he was a little more emotional than you would have expected?
“No, I don’t know. We were all pumped up. I was jacked. You don’t get to make plays like that as a quarterback very often, and to make it, it was special. To be able to be accountable to your teammates, to hold up your end of the deal, I was jacked. I was jacked for the offense, for all the guys on the sideline, and yes, it was fun just to come over and see your head coach just as jacked as you.”
[Inaudible] against Seattle in 2006?
“The keeper? No, a little different. That was fun too, but no this was—openers are always different. They are always special, and to get the W tonight, it was big.”
How much of your plays do you think you’re trying to vindicate Harbaugh’s faith in you? He’s gone way out on a limb talking about you, praising you all the time he’s been here.
“Yes, I’m not thinking about that, just playing good in general. There are a lot of reasons to play good. The biggest thing is for my teammates and coaches. That’s why I play this game. That’s why I think the game of football is so special. So to be able to hold up your end of the deal is a lot, and this is the best time to walk away with a win. No better feeling.”
Coach Harbaugh has always stressed mobility as one of the things he looks for in his quarterbacks, the last couple of years we haven’t really seen that in your game as much. Is that something you could look more to this year where if the pressure is coming and just get whatever yards you can instead of trying to make something happen like with the receiver?
“I think a little more emphasis for sure on. I don’t know about necessarily if there’s pressure, but when things aren’t there, when things break down, yes, the game of football, yes, sometimes it can be ugly, the pocket can be ugly, and it’s not always going to be pretty. You’re not always going to be able to sit back there and throw to guys on time. When things break down, use your feet. I feel like I have that ability. Yes, I think in the last couple of years for sure got away from it a little bit, just different emphasis I guess, and if it helps us, anything I can do to help.”
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