Greg Cosell spoke on the Murph and Mac show again this morning, so I’m giving you a transcript of the things he said about the Niners and the Bengals.
It’s fair to say Cosell is no Smither. He articulates just why he believes Smith is not a good enough quarterback for the Niners.
If Smith outperforms Dalton on Sunday, Cosell will have some serious words to eat.
Q: What’s up with the secondary?
COSELL: That’s their problem. It’s a very good front seven. I think the secondary is a concern. For instance, Romo’s touchdown to Austin in the 4th quarter, that 25-yarder, Madieu Williams could not have been in better position to make a play on the ball. In fact, Romo should never have thrown that ball. He threw it to the wrong receiver. Williams made an initial great reaction, took a good angle to Austin and the ball. That’s a play that has to be made. He was in perfect position.
Q: What did the film show you about what Harbaugh and Greg Roman are trying to do on offense and whether or not it’s working?
COSELL: First of all, they have offensive line issues, both in the run game and pass protection. If they can’t run the ball it’s very difficult for them to play offense. For the most part, Alex Smith is really a notch below the level you really need to be a really good NFL team. He’s a little late with everything he does in terms or reading recognition. He’s got a bit of windup which further slows his delivery. He can’t compensate with his arm strength because he has average arm strength. He’s not the kind of quarterback who helps an offensive line that’s struggling. So, really what you hope for is they can design some plays, like that touchdown to Delanie Walker, which was a beautifully designed play. It came right after the turnover. It was really wonderfully done. They got Walker on Spencer, the linebacker, and it was really a nice play. But when it’s third and nine it’s tough to do those kinds of things. So, it’s going to be interesting to see how they choose to go offensively because there’s not a lot they can do with Alex Smith.
Q: What do you see in Andy Dalton and what the Bengals bring to the table?
COSELL: Dalton is in many ways what Smith is not. Dalton has very good pocket poise, very good command. Does not have a big arm, but he sort of makes up for it with his sense of timing and anticipation – two things that Alex Smith doesn’t do very well. Dalton played very, very well last week. He’s very decisive. He knows where to go with the football. The ball comes out quick. It’s more of a short to intermediate pass game – he’s not a deep thrower. But again, the pass rush for the 49ers, it will be interesting because the ball comes out really quick with Dalton, and the pass game conceptions are short to intermediate, so he’s not in the pocket for a long time. So, the secondary will have a burden again and we’ll see how it goes. They have two pretty good receivers. A.J. Green I thought was the best player in the draft coming out and Simpson has some speed as well.
Q: Who do you like to win, Niners or Bengals?
COSELL: That’s a tough call. I’d like to see a little more from the 49ers offense, even with their pass game concepts. I’d like to see them help Alex Smith more – give him more defined reads. Use what we like to call “rub elements” – route combinations that define things quicker. And I think Jim Harbaugh will work toward that. Don’t forget, he’s new at this too in the NFL. The NFL and college football are two totally different games. They’re not equivalent, and there’s a learning curve for him as well.
