If the 49ers’ season is still salvageable, it will be up to Troy Smith to help save it.
Mike Singletary announced today that Smith, not nine-year veteran and presumptive backup David Carr, will start in place of Alex Smith on Sunday against the Broncos at Wembley Stadium. Smith will miss two to three weeks with a separation of his non-throwing shoulder.
“I think for where we are, Troy Smith gives us a good opportunity to win games,” Singletary said.
Smith, 26, a former Heisman Trophy winner at Ohio State, was among the
Ravens’ final roster cuts after spending his first three NFL seasons
with the team. He was signed by the Niners on Sept. 6, has two career
starts — his last on Dec. 30, 2007 — and has thrown 13 regular-season
passes in the past two-plus seasons.
The promotion — Smith was the No. 3 quarterback — smacks more of an
indictment of Carr than a belief in Smith. Carr, 31, was a five-year
starter in Houston who has 79 career starts, or 77 more than Smith.
Carr’s most recent body of work, however, was less than impressive. Carr
relieved Alex Smith in Sunday’s 23-20 loss to Carolina, completing 5 of
13 passes for 67 yards and throwing an interception that led to the
Panthers’ game-winning field goal.
Troy Smith said he found out “a few days ago” that he would start on
Sunday, suggesting it didn’t take too long for Singletary to make his
decision. Carr was not made available to the media today.
“I’ve talked to David Carr about it,” Singletary said. “He understands.
We had a couple conversations about it. That’s a personal thing between
he and I. And I’m going to leave it there.”
Singletary praised Smith’s leadership, but was light on specifics when
asked about the qualities that drew him to Sunday’s starter
“Right now, I just think Troy Smith was a situation that overall, I just
felt he gave us the best chance of winning the game,” Singletary said.
“As far as all of the other intangibles or what have you, just felt it
was better to go with him right now.”
Smith and Carr will be San Francisco’s only two quarterbacks Sunday,
meaning Nate Davis will not promoted from the practice squad for the
game. Davis was one of the 49ers final cuts prior to the season and was
placed on the practice squad when he was not signed by another NFL team.
“Nate Davis is something that we’ll look at later,” Singletary said of the second-year quarterback being placed on the 53-man roster.
For his part, Smith, who has been with the Niners for 51 days and had
not taken any first-team snaps in practice prior to today, dismissed the
notion that he’ll be cramming to get up to speed before kickoff.
“I wouldn’t say that it’s a crash course,” he said. “Throughout my
career, this is what I’ve done, learned new offenses. They do a
tremendous job here of getting guys in position to make plays, now I
just have to go out and execute the offense … We’re going to throw the
ball, I know that.”
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