Troy Smith or Alex Smith?
It’s not exactly the NFL equivalent of choosing between filet mignon and Chateaubriand.
But 49ers coach Mike Singletary said he’s going back to Alex Smith because the sixth-year quarterback is a bit better aged.
On his weekly KNBR show this morning Singletary referred to Smith’s
experience on multiple occasions in discussing the decision to start him
in a must-win game against visiting Seattle on Sunday.
Alex Smith, who started in a 31-6 season-opening loss to the Seahawks,
has made 47 career starts, 40 more than Troy Smith. He also has a better
grasp of the offense than Troy Smith, who was signed on Sept. 6 and
didn’t take his first snaps with the first-team offense in practice
until Oct. 27.
“We felt at this time that Alex with his experience and all of the other
things would give us the best chance to win at this particular time —
this time of the year,” Singletary said.
Singletary later referred to the “experience factor” with Alex Smith.
Left unsaid was the 55.7 factor with Troy Smith — that figure
representing his quarterback rating in his past three starts.
Smith has often looked hesitant in the pocket — particularly en route
to completing 10 of 25 passes for 194 yards with a touchdown and an
interception in a 34-16 loss at Green Bay last week. Smith has taken 16
sacks in his past four starts, one every 6.6 attempts. Alex Smith took
13 sacks in his seven starts (one every 18.6 attempts).
Troy Smith has also struggled with accuracy. He’s completed 48 percent
of his passes (37 of 77) in his past three starts and misfired on 22 of
his past 36 attempts.
Smith, however, did provide the offense with more of a vertical threat.
Ten of his 66 completions (15 percent) gained at least 30 yards. In
contrast, nine of Alex Smith’s 143 completions (6 percent) gained 30
yards or more.
“I’m still very confident in what Troy has been able to do and would not
rule out at any point in time him playing again,” Singletary said. “But
right now it’s just a matter of looking at where we are in the season
and the opportunity that we have before us. And the experience certainly
makes a difference.”
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