Mike Singletary said today what the statistics have
screamed: The 49ers have been better with Troy Smith at quarterback.
In making the formal announcement that Smith has wrested the
starting job from Alex Smith, Singletary alluded to the bottom line. The Niners
are 2-0 in games Troy Smith has started and 1-6 with Alex Smith.
“I’m going to go with the guy that’s winning right now,”
said Singletary, who said he’s going with Smith on a week-to-week basis. “I’m
going to go with the guy that has the hot hand. I’m going to go with the guy
that’s made the difference the past two weeks.”
Even beyond wins and losses, the numbers show Troy Smith’s
two-game performance made Singletary’s decision an easy one, even with Alex Smith
medically cleared to play Sunday against visiting Tampa Bay.
Consider that the 49ers haven’t committed a turnover in
back-to-back games under Troy Smith, something San Francisco hadn’t managed since 2002. In seven starts this season, Alex Smith threw nine interceptions and lost a fumble.
In addition, Troy Smith has posted a quarterback rating above 115.0 in consecutive
games. A Niners quarterback hasn’t managed similarly stellar back-to-back
performances since Jeff Garcia did it in 2003. Alex Smith has posted a QB rating above 115.0 twice in 47 career starts.
Smith has been so good that Alex Smith acknowledged that,
yes, he kind of saw this one coming.
“Not surprised,” he said. “Definitely was ready for
anything. Troy’s played well the last two weeks and we’ve won.”
For his part, Troy Smith, finally a starter after
three-plus, bench-filled seasons in the NFL, wasn’t basking in his newfound
status.
“I know the things I’m going to work on,” he said. “I definitely
have to get better at decision-making. As a quarterback that’s your livelihood.
The decisions that you make pretty much dictate the game.”
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