Alex Smith, Game Manager Still?
by mikeinsp on Jan 16, 2012 4:50 PM PST
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PrintAlex Smith has gone from being labeled a bust his first six years to a game manager this year. So-called "experts" have said all season that Alex is just a manager, and that we can't win on his arm. Well I think Alex has proved to those people that he is not just a game manager, but rather a good quarterback. He's led the 49ers to six 4th quarter comeback victories this season, including the epic finish against the Saints. Lets take a look at all six of those comebacks.
Week 3, at Cincinnati
The Bengals led the 49ers 6-3 with about ten and a half minutes left. With the offense doing very little so far in the game, Alex drove the team 72 yards for the go-ahead touchdown run by Kendall Hunter. Alex completed 4/5 passes on the drive for 48 yards to set up Hunter's TD.
Week 4, at Philadelphia
The 49ers were being dominated by the Eagles in the 1st half of this game and trailed 20-3 at halftime. They added a field goal at the start of the 3rd quarter to put them up 23-3. The old 49ers and the old Alex Smith would have pretty much given up and lost all hope in this type of situation. But not these 49ers, not this Alex Smith. By the end of the 3rd quarter, Smith brought us back by throwing two touchdown passes to Joshua Morgan and Vernon Davis to cut the lead to 6. While Alex didn't throw the go-ahead TD, Frank Gore ran for it, he did lead us back from a 20 point deficit by completing 13/17 passes for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 2nd half.
Week 6, at Detroit
When the 49ers went into Ford Field to take on the then-undefeated Lions, no one gave us a chance. No one thought we'd win. No one thought we'd be able to stop Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. No one thought that if we did win, we would win because of Alex Smith. But that's exactly what we, and he, did. Trailing 19-15 and facing a 4th and goal at the Detroit 6, Alex found Delanie Walker on a slant for the go-ahead touchdown.
Week 10, vs New York
Even though Alex had led three 4th quarter comebacks up to this point in the season, all on the road, people still didn't believe. They still thought of him as a game manager. They all asked, "Could he succeed in the passing game when Frank Gore is a non-factor?" Well, Gore left in the first quarter of this game due to an ankle injury. And the 49ers won because of Alex Smith. He threw for 242 yards and a touchdown to Vernon Davis that gave the Niners the lead in the 4th quarter.
Week 16, at Seattle
By now, most people figured out the 49ers were legit. But they still didn't fully believe in Alex. Now the Niners have to go into very noisy Qwest Field and take on the red-hot Seahawks. The 49ers were leading 16-10 late in the 4th quarter. But then a blocked punt happened. Then Beastmode happened, which resulted in Skittles on the field. Seattle had all the momentum, a 1 point lead and the 49ers offense in a 2nd and 18. Then Alex Smith and Michael Crabtree happened. Alex threw up a deep ball to Crabs who made a leaping catch for a 41-yard gain. David Akers' field goal attempt was good and the 49ers went on to win 19-17. Another game, another comeback for Alex Smith.
Divisional Playoffs, New Orleans
It's Drew Brees. There's is no way that Alex Smith can keep up with Drew Brees. Right? Alex threw two 1st quarter touchdowns to Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree to get out to a 14-0 lead. Then the offense came to a standstill for the next 31:58. And when Darren Sproles scored a touchdown with 4:02 left in the game to put the Saints ahead, it was up to Alex Smith to lead them back. And he did. Alex threw a beautiful pass down the left sideline to Davis for 37 yards. Down only 1, the 49ers were in field goal range. And after a penalty to make it 3rd and 7, it seemed like they'd kick the field goal and hope the defense holds. Instead, the playcall was a QB keeper to the left and Alex ran 28 yards for the go-ahead TD. He went untouched and had great blocks from Kyle Williams and Joe Staley. That was the play of Alex's career... so far. The Saints scored again to take the lead and the Saints were going to win. Because after all Alex Smith, a game manager!, can't lead a game-winning drive once, and especially not twice in the same game! So after leading five comebacks in the regular season, and leading one just minutes earlier, he had to do it again. With 40 seconds left, it was all up to him. There would be no running, it was going to be all on his arm. Again no one believed he would do it. And again he proved his doubters wrong. He completed a pass to Davis for 47 yards that put us in field goal range. But we didn't go for overtime. Instead of kicking it, Alex threw a perfect dart to Davis who made the catch while being hit by safety Roman Harper. Touchdown! And when it seemed he had made the biggest play of his life just minutes earlier, he made an even bigger play.
Now, the 49ers are heading to the NFC Championship game in large part to Alex Smith, who was called a game manager all season. Well, Alex told everyone to "MANAGE THIS!" when he threw "The Catch III."
It's time to give Alex some credit finally.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.
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Managed himself a new contract ... Extend the Man ...!!
I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ..( .AleX ) was asked , what do you think about all the game manager talk ... AleX i guess i just managed myself a VIctory ... Extend the Man ...!!
Yes, Alex Smith is not an Elite QB, he isn't even average. Alex Smith is a worthless POS and should be cut from the team
He might as well be David Carr holding a clipboard.
Let’s continue to doubt the son of a gun. Let’s keep on doing it. He’s not the “most improved player” this year, because going from mediocre to game manager, isn’t improving. Alex Smith asks for no recognition and will get no recognition.
And I like it that way….
why should Alex Smith
who hasn’t done anything, team wise or individual, until this year get the same media lathering as other QBs who have been doing great things in both aspects for years? Smith got tons of credit for his performance on Saturday, rightfully so. Did you expect one game to change the reputation of a player that was built over the better part of a career? It would be like saying Rivers is mediocre because he had many mediocre games this year despite the gist of his career being the opposite. Smith has to put together sustained excellence for him to get the same or similar pub as other “elite” qbs the media grows wood over — and rightfully so.
I would take Alex Smith
over Rivers any day of the week. All a defense has to do to Rivers is get him frustrated and he starts throwing the ball all over the field for easy picks. And let’s not talk about his post season suckitude which has him throwing more interceptions than TDs.
Alex is improving. Rivers is not.
Rivers’ QB ratings have been dropping since 2008. Alex’s have been going the opposite direction.
“Near elite” is not elite. Rivers’ decision making ability is questionable, to put it nicely. It’s like he’s got a small circuit in his head that goes haywire at times.
I've always felt he's been overrated
and would come back to earth at some point, but you can’t argue that they’re comparable at this point, even given the point that Smith is on the up while Rivers may be on the down. Another year or two and you could say that.
I am not comparing them
I am saying that I would take Alex over Rivers as a QB for the 49ers, any day of the week. Period.
and I find that strange
and that it marginalizes evidence and observation. This would be a very difficult thing to say anywhere else.
Really?
To think Alex has more upside, especially in the 49ers’ system, than Rivers is not unreasonable in the least.
one can acknolwedge the possibility to get better
with better coaches and players around him while still accepting the reality that he hasn’t accomplished anything, team wise or individually, up to this year. It’s unusual for coaches to completely obscure a player’s ability for six years…the evidence still weighs pretty heavy up against this one year, but of course Smith has provided some reasons to be optimistic going forward now. But we should stop to acknolwedge that one game or one season never made a career, it never made a guy good…unless you’re Mark Sanchez!!!!
Whatever your definition of "success" is, there are lots of QB's who could have done much better
and you know that.
bs
There isn’t. It’s a testament to his mental strength that he’s able to work through all that crap of bad teams and worse coaches, yet still be a productive player. How he avoided Carr syndrome is amazing.
This excuse doesn't fly for
a Non-49er. Most players who deep down are good and have potential show more than what Smith did. That’s all. Saying that no QB could overcome that is ridiculous. Manning is the first to come to mind that did. People knew he was good even when he went 3-13 his rookie season and threw 38 ints. Smith never showed that. He’s got some work to do to swing more objective, non-49er fans. He hadn’t avoided Carr syndrome until this year. And Smith was always better than Carr.
But Manning wasn’t in Smith’s shoes, by a long shot. He started with a bad team, but they got a savvy GM, excellent coaches and built an amazing roster. He also didn’t get a couple nasty injuries and have his coaches treat him like #$%$. Fail more….
coaches treat him like garbage and so
he can’t perform and has no confidence? What is this, an after school special?
Outside of Niner territory, football observers are saying “it’s about time he showed something.” Not, “yeah he’s a great QB, he just had an all-time terrible coaching staff and organization and team thus he never showed his true self.” Time will tell if the latter is the case, but there is no reason to say that right now. I’ve always conceded Smith was never as bad as his worse moments early in his career. I think that was obvious.
First, don’t pretend like it’s one thing in isolation.
Secondly, motivation and confidence mean a lot. Pretending otherwise is extremely ignorant. There’s a reason why companies and organizations invest millions of dollars in leadership, atmosphere and culture. This is what allows talent to maximize productivity. You’re not some robot without feelings, just because you play football.
fantasy land?
you, as have others, have slapped evidence and observation in the face in the wake of an extremely small sample size. By your logic, since NONE of the firs six years was Smith’s fault (and not his slow progression), then none of this year’s success is from his doing; it’s all Harbaugh and the staff’s abiltity to make Smith look decent. It’s circular.
the point was Smith
HAS no chance to win it cause doesn’t put up numbers.He’s obviously a very good player and a versatile lineman, but that’s not the point.
power rankings for D Lineman?
I’m not going to bother with something that futile. I’d have to watch tons of film too to create a list worthy of anything. But whatever players that have much more sacks than Smith does will most likely get all the votes, which was the orginal discussion…not who is “better” which is such a fruitless question to try and answer.
stats were already posted for you
http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/05/2011-pff-defensive-player-of-the-year/
This is the biggest problem between you and Drew – neither of you can admit when you’re dead freeking wrong
Rivers?
Seriously? If Rivers could hold on to a snap the Chargers would have had the opportunity to lose in the playoffs again. Rivers is the anti-clutch QB. Frankly, I think San Diego and Rivers need to move on from each other. San Diego needs a QB that can win in October and Rivers needs to have someone light a fire under him.
this is what I'm talking about...
I’m not arguing Rivers is awesome. But Rivers has put up “elite” #’s over his career and had his first really mediocre year and people are willing to give Smith the benefit of the doubt going forward (and backwards) despite not doing anything relevant for six years. There is no comparison between Rivers and Smith in terms of how they have performed.
Why do you ALWAYS
think you need to bring the rest of back from enjoying what we see happening on the field. Please, wait a week or two, and let us enjoy the moment.
just do your best to ignore him
he’s obviously not going away or going to stop being King Debbie Downer, so when you see his name under a comment just move to the next one.
"Cruelty, It’s not giving another person what they want. That’s our mindset on defense, to go out and play with everything we have and not give the other team anything." -Patrick Willis
there is this insistence that I'm trying to rain on people's parade.
The Rivers/Smith comparison I thought was off, so I argued why. If this is inconvenient to some people’s sensibilities, I would ignore too.
because every comment I've ever read from you is overwhelmingly negative about the 49ers
the team just played in and won probably one of the greatest playoff football games ever and you can’t even get off the “Alex still isn’t any good” comments for a day to be happy about that.
So I chose to ignore your comments, and hopefully others will too, until eventually you are in here complaining to yourself.
"Cruelty, It’s not giving another person what they want. That’s our mindset on defense, to go out and play with everything we have and not give the other team anything." -Patrick Willis
you don't read all my comments I guess
I was only confronting the idea that it’s a shame and somehow unjust that the media isn’t spooning Alex Smith. There are good reasons why they aren’t; doing so after this one game would be dishonest and reactionary. I hope a time comes when it is perfectly reasonable to spoon Alex Smith. That would be good for the Niners. Last Saturday was a positive step.
no I stopped reading your comments a while ago
because like I said, the ones I were reading were all overwhelmingly negative towards the 49ers.
I’m not disagreeing with your comments about the reasons Smith isn’t getting the media love, I get your point and I agree, he hasn’t done it enough to be talked about like Brees of Rodgers get talked about and that’s fine with me, I personally don’t care if the media is talking about him or the 49ers or not.
"Cruelty, It’s not giving another person what they want. That’s our mindset on defense, to go out and play with everything we have and not give the other team anything." -Patrick Willis
elite numbers don't mean much if you can't win clutch games
Rivers belongs in the same conversation as Garrard and Culpepper.
Rivers belongs in the same conversation as Garrard and Culpepper.
I dislike Rivers yet that statement is objectively ludicrous and it belongs in the same conversation as hogwash. I was going to get into the “judging individual players based on TEAM accomplishments” bit, but it just occurred to me that that would be pointless. I wonder if this same illogic applies to your feelings towards Smith..,
Garrard and Culpepper don’t even belong in the same conversation as each other.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 17, 2012 7:50 PM PST up reply actions
You can't spell All eXcellent without AleX
Seriously though, just looking through his career numbers, his only “horrible” years came in his rookie year (taking over a 2-14, miserable team) and the year he had his first shoulder injury. Other than that he has improved throughout his career, and now that he actually has intelligent, offense and QB friendly coaches, he should career should continue to grow.
going from "bust" to somewhat effective "game manager" is seldom accompished
especially in a span of less than one year. It should be noted that until Sproles scored the go-ahead TD with 5 minutes left, Smith maintained the old role of “game manager” with mixed results and very few drives of significance. And the Saints aren’t very good defensively. But Smith is getting due credit for his 4th quarter performance cause it’s the most high-pressue situation he’s ever been in and ever been asked to succeed in, and he did. People aren’t anointing him (how could you?) but of course it lends confidence to the idea that Smith can go win us a game. He probably needs to do it again against the Giants because one game or one year never made a player. Maybe this will also aid the idea that we need to be more pro active and aggressive on offense throughout the game.
dude could win the Superbowl with throwing 400 yards and 4TD's
and you’d be like “well, he needs to win like 3 more with those stats before he isn’t a bust” lol haters gonna hate
by sanfranfanmdk on Jan 16, 2012 8:20 PM PST up reply actions
His career up to this point,
if you consider the fact that he was a no. 1 pick, could still be considered a disappointment but not a “bust,” unless he falls off the face of the earth tomorrow. It’s a reflection of his career team and individual accomplishments weighed against the fact that he was a no. 1 overall pick, not necessarily a statement about what kind of QB he is right now. I don’t think not calling one game, or rather half a quarter, a career is hating at all.
Yes i guess you're right
every 1st round QB drafted onto a 2-14 team, who never has consistency throughout his career, who’s team never really does anything to help him succeed, and DOESN’T light it up right away will never amount to anything…smh….the dude has been getting better since BEFORE this year, and has had 6 4th quarter comebacks (4 on the road) this year, but he is just a game manager. And do you think it is an uncommon thing for a team to not score on every single possession?
by sanfranfanmdk on Jan 16, 2012 8:35 PM PST up reply actions
I addressed some of this below
It was clear SMith was never as bad as his worse moments early in his career, but most QBs who could be good will show more glimpses of it. 4th qtr comeback stats can be misleading and doesn’t really reflect how effective a QB is even late in games.
Why are you even here if all you are doing is being negative? Go back to sleep.
by Kyle Gorzynski on Jan 17, 2012 12:06 PM PST up reply actions
He's obviously a game manager... Game managers have to throw winning TDs sometimes
"Whoever said WAR is HELL must have been talking about Aaron Rowand" - McCoven faithful
Hell no...Alex is the Man!!!!
Alex Smithdeserves better and apology from many us, at least from me for sure. This is coming from someone who has routinely slammed him and had little faith going into those last couple of minutes in the 4th. Now that I look back and realize the crap he put up with and stuck out. I mean JT O’Sullivan got the nod over him and JT just bagged my groceries the other day at the local supermarket. Alex has earned my respect, coming from a Niners fan since ’81 when I was 6. He might not have or ever have Brees stats, but he is our QB and really deserves fans support after showing that kind of heart last weekend.
I don't think any Giants will be looking past him this time around, that's for sure.
I support the Giants like bras support Kim Kardashian's boobs. It can be a struggle, we've had some jiggles, but we're still firm.
by BigBlueIntervention on Jan 17, 2012 7:53 AM PST reply actions
So they looked past him last time?
Is that an excuse for losing?
by Critical Roach on Jan 17, 2012 12:43 PM PST up reply actions
I think he needs to have at least one more season of average to above average play like he had this season to shake the bust/game manager label. He still hasn’t exactly lived up to the #1 overall pick, but we almost ruined his career with our garbage franchise the past 5-7 years.
I really hope that next season, whether we win or lose the SB, or win or lose the NFCCG, he can take another step forward in his development and maybe reach 3,500 yards passing, and maybe a few years down the line, even hit 4,000
"And thank you to God for making me an Atheist." - Ricky Gervais
by MichaelClutchtree on Jan 17, 2012 8:27 AM PST reply actions
Agree.
Alex needs another good year to quiet everyone. Personally, I think if we draft a star WR to fill the position Braylon Edwards was signed to fill (and didnt’), then Alex’s passing numbers will go up.
3700 yards. That’s the number I’d like to see from Smith in our run focused offense next year.
just imagine if he had a Calvin Johnson to throw to
Guys like Stafford look “good” because he just chucks the ball into triple coverage and CJ comes down with it because he’s a beast. Same thing with Brees, that last TD pass to Graham was more about Graham than Brees. Brees was about to get crushed so he just threw it up there, and if Graham was 6’5 instead of 6’6, that would have been incomplete
by sanfranfanmdk on Jan 17, 2012 2:51 PM PST up reply actions
Alex deserves a contract extension of maybe 3 years I believe. Either way I am just excited for the Niners seeing as I dont remember the last time they were in the playoffs because i was a lot younger and didnt follow football than.
by Kyle Gorzynski on Jan 17, 2012 12:07 PM PST reply actions
I dont think two or three will be enough proof for a few here
Because there are always people who will continue to throw up statistics, comparisons and the records QB’s more prolific in yards etc to try to prove that THEY WERENT WRONG all along.
Just a character thing not being able to admit the guys as great QB and they may have got it wrong
Just a character thing not being able to admit the guys as great QB and they may have got it wrong
It sounded like you’re saying Smith is a great QB. The future may hold that to be true but everybody will acknowledge his greatness when he proves it, which as you said, will take a little while longer.
I don't get the Game Manager term...honestly
A QB is a Manager, a team lead at least. A Quarterback like Tim genuflects Tebow is not a game manager, he’s an athlete. A Quarterback like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning are Game Managers, they are Managers, coaches on the field. There is nothing wrong with being a Game Manager at all in my opinion.
by ChesapeakeBay9er on Jan 17, 2012 4:06 PM PST reply actions
Yep just saying the idea vs the phrase doesn't relate
in Brady’s first two regular seasons he didn’t manage anything, the coaches and the defense and the other players managed it. Then he moved on to be a manager of the game and of the team.
by ChesapeakeBay9er on Jan 17, 2012 4:17 PM PST up reply actions
Was reading a article ...
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82586704/article/shanahan-practices-patience-as-redskins-rebuilding-continues
Mike Holmgren always said it takes three years in this system to really play it fast.
“In four, five months, he’s doing it at a pretty good level. But this is an offense you wanna be in over time because so much of it is based on rhythm and timing. You get better over time. We expect he will, and just we’re learning about him, he’s learning about us. It’s definitely just getting started.”…!!
I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ..( .AleX ) was asked , what do you think about all the game manager talk ... AleX i guess i just managed myself a VIctory ... Extend the Man ...!!
"You call him a game manager and you try to slight him when you say that"
Yeah, if any team goes into a game, thinking that Alex Smith is just a “game manager” who doesn’t do anything, they’re in for a rude awakening.
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