It was 3rd and 4; the 49ers had already gotten 1 first down. Michael Crabtree ran a sail route (kind of a flattened corner route). He was wide open. Smith, with no pressure in the pocket, did not pull the trigger.

It was a shot play, a called big play off Smith boot action. Williams ran a deep post off a stutter move. The double move froze Corey Webster, and Williams raced by him. The design of the play worked. Smith overthrew Williams by 5 yards. A good throw, and it was a touchdown. An adequate throw, and it was still a 50 yard gain. This was another missed opportunity.

These are just a few examples of Smith’s tentative and uncertain pocket play last Sunday. The bottom line was this: Smith was reluctant to let it loose on routes and throws that were not only well designed, but were open. They were primary reads. No progressions were involved.

Interesting, to say the least. I thought I noticed this a few times, but it's hard to see with the TV broadcast.

So as Crabtree basically said, it wasn't all on the receivers. Still think this team needs a deep threat, nonetheless.

From Peter King:

I feel for Kyle Williams, but I can't imagine Jim Harbaugh keeping a guy he can't trust next year.

This makes me chuckle a bit, and I'm hoping this isn't serious. If it is a serious remark, it's just another example of how the words 'analyst' and 'writer' or 'media' usually don't co-exist. Media, referring to the main-stream.

http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2012/01/24/cosell-talks-for-alex-smith-what-a-difference-a-week-made/

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/peter_king/01/23/super.bowl.xlvi.matchup/4.html

(Not sure if I'm late to the party, but I thought this was all interesting)