49ers Announce Team Captains

He would make an excellent ST captain. His role is critical and he’s been on the team since their last playoff appearance.

Is there any question?

If anything it might motivate guys to step up and try to emerge as a ST leader.

Why are there 6 slots?
I thought there were only 4 captains…..

Not a concern I have. If special teams were that important, Steve Tasker would be in the Hall of Fame. I’m not saying special teams aren’t important at all, but I think the improvements in special teams will outweigh the subtractions. The team still has a solid punter, FG kicker and long snapper. If bench players can’t tackle on special teams, they shouldn’t be in the league. The new return men have me happy about the direction ST is headed in.

I see a big year all around for this team.

Is it possible that there is a ST captain, but that it was not announced. I just never hear of a team announcing the ST captain, just doesn’t seem like important news. I understand it is important to some, but not all.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5528592

“The 49ers’ defense has surged in the past few years, particularly against the run (sixth in 2009). While Alex Smith remains unproven, it’s fair to remember that he did not play until Week 7 last season. He has playmakers in the run game (Frank Gore) and passing game (Michael Crabtree). Taking the NFC West should be easy money. Mike Singletary has brought a disciplined, winning attitude to a team that had neither for some time, and barring major injuries, this is the year it comes together.”

.. when you consider how far he has come. It was just last season when coaches were calling him timid and meek. But now that he had stability and busted his ass more than anyone all offseason, he knows he has earned the right to speak out and take command. I rrreally think this is a turning point, even if it’s just a little patch on his uniform. I don’t think a single guy in that locker room will bat an eyelash at Alex being named a captain. I think they all know he has earned it, and I think he will lead them to big things this year.

I think it shows a new level of confidence in him by the coaches and is reflective of the way the other players are viewing him.

I really think that Alex being named a captain this year will have the same effect that it did on Vernon last year, yes I know the situations are completely different but the fact is that both were top ten picks who were teetering on the verge of being label full blown bust and now where is Vernon? a top 3 TE who is coming off of a recording tying, pro bowl season. I’m definitely not saying that Alex will break all kinds of records but I really do think that he will have a successful season, which to me means over a 60% completion number close to a 2-1 TD to INT ratio and a QB rating around the low 90’s. Alex has always questioned himself and you could definitely see that in every game he played in before last season. Alex now knows what he is doing, he knows the offense, he knows the coaches, he knows what they are asking of him, he knows what the weapons around him can do and he knows that he has the support of the entire organization and most if not all of the fan base and honestly that has never been said in the last 5 or 6 years. When you compare the careers of Alex and Matt Lienart you’ll see what can happen to a top ten QB draft pick when they are faced with adversities, the one thing that he can be said about Alex throughout his time in San Francisco is that he has never quit, even when Mike Nolan through him to the wolves not when he had all those problems with his shoulder, not when JTO and Shaun Hill were picked in front of him not even when he had the chance to leave he never quit on the organization and that is something to be admired; Matt Lienart on the other hand bitched everytime he could, instead of proving it on the field that he was the starter of the Cards he thought that it was just going to be given to him and thats why I am actually proud to call Alex Smith our QB (Something I never thought i would say), there maybe 10 to 15 QB’s that are better than him but as a man he has proven that he deserves the chance to be the unquestioned leader of this team

I really think that Alex being named a captain this year will have the same effect that it did on Vernon last year, yes I know the situations are completely different but the fact is that both were top ten picks who were teetering on the verge of being label full blown bust and now where is Vernon? a top 3 TE who is coming off of a recording tying, pro bowl season.

I’m definitely not saying that Alex will break all kinds of records but I really do think that he will have a successful season, which to me means over a 60% completion number close to a 2-1 TD to INT ratio and a QB rating around the low 90’s. Alex has always questioned himself and you could definitely see that in every game he played in before last season.

Alex now knows what he is doing, he knows the offense, he knows the coaches, he knows what they are asking of him, he knows what the weapons around him can do and he knows that he has the support of the entire organization and most if not all of the fan base and honestly that has never been said in the last 5 or 6 years.

When you compare the careers of Alex and Matt Lienart you’ll see what can happen to a top ten QB draft pick when they are faced with adversities, the one thing that he can be said about Alex throughout his time in San Francisco is that he has never quit, even when Mike Nolan through him to the wolves not when he had all those problems with his shoulder, not when JTO and Shaun Hill were picked in front of him not even when he had the chance to leave he never quit on the organization and that is something to be admired; Matt Lienart on the other hand bitched everytime he could, instead of proving it on the field that he was the starter of the Cards he thought that it was just going to be given to him and thats why I am actually proud to call Alex Smith our QB (Something I never thought i would say), there maybe 10 to 15 QB’s that are better than him but as a man he has proven that he deserves the chance to be the unquestioned leader of this team