What happened to Alex Smith?

[smoothoperator]

have you actually watched any of his games? i have not seen him throw into coverage or throw a pass over 10 yards. he is terrible.

[NextQuestion]

3rd and 10 from his own 5 yard line on TNF last week where the Eagles needed a big stop in the 4th quarter. Delivers a 15 yard strike in traffic to Avery.

[TheFoxInDetox]

I believe Smith had a passer rating North of 100 for the season in 2011 when he went to the bench. He is a game manager, but a good one. Unlike Ponder, he makes good decisions and has good accuracy in the pocket as well as on the move. He wouldn't be my 1st choice to replace Ponder but he would certainly be a huge upgrade!

[Hunter Morrow]

669 yards passing, 126 yards rushing, 4 touchdowns passing, no interceptions and 1 fumble. Projected to have a 4000 total yard, 21 touchdown 8 turnover season.

That is what "happened" to him. He's going to "game manage" his way to a 4000 yard, 21 touchdown, 8 turnover season.

This franchise could have had an immediate upgrade to Ponder with minimized flaws and a mere 18 months o;der.
If Ponder is your so-called guy, Alex Smith is John Elway to you.

[Reignman]

As for Alex, he's the real deal and all that average/game manager talk is based on reputation from years ago when he was struggling with a different OC and HC every year. Since 2011, Smith has been great. He lead that team to 13-3 with only ONE receiver in Vernon Davis, and all the way to the NFCCG. If anyone thinks he "game managed" didn't watch the 2011 playoffs or any other Smith game since. In 2013, the Niners were rolling again with him, and after an injury was replaced by the younger, flashier guy who makes minimum wage.

And that's something not many people realize. He had like 7 different coordinators in 8 seasons in San Fran, so he was constantly having to learn a new system.

2005 Mike McCarthy
2006 Norv Turner
2007 Jim Hostler
2008 Mike Martz (Smith didn't play)
2009 Jimmy Raye
2010 Raye/Mike Johnson
2011 Greg Roman
2012 Greg Roman

Smith was replaced by Kaep because of a concussion not because he was bad. In fact he was knocked out of a game and they had him sit out an extra game as a precaution. That 1 game was the Monday night game vs Chicago. Kaep looked good and destroyed the Bears.

In Smiths last full game at Arizona he was 18 of 19 for 232 yards, 3 TD's, and 0 INT. He got injured the following week at St. Louis where he started 7 of 8 for 78 yards, a TD, and 0 INT. So he was benched after going 25 of 27 for 310 yards and 4 TD's. Not too shabby. On the season he had a 104.1 rating, over 70 completion pct, and 13 TD's to 5 INT. The only real statistical difference between Smith and Kaep last year was Kaep averaged 18 yards more rushing per game. Smith even finished with a slightly better W-L record (6-2-1 to 5-2).

If Cassel came in then they'd be hoping that Ponder learned something by sitting on the bench and ask to see what he can do again...It's ridiculous.

I don't see anyone saying that. I can't speak for anyone else, but I've seen enough of Ponder and I don't think he has "it". He's a bust. We've already seen his ceiling. How many errant passes do you have to see before you realize that kind of problem can't be fixed? And don't even get me started on his lack of confidence. Ponder isn't even a viable backup. If we go to Cassel (I'd rather see MBT at this point) then it's just to finish the season. Ponder is done and I'm never going to want him back in. I expect to see a better QB plan in the off season.

[Raptorman]

I don't see anyone saying that. I can't speak for anyone else, but I've seen enough of Ponder and I don't think he has "it". He's a bust. We've already seen his ceiling. How many errant passes do you have to see before you realize that kind of problem can't be fixed? And don't even get me started on his lack of confidence. Ponder isn't even a viable backup. If we go to Cassel (I'd rather see MBT at this point) then it's just to finish the season. Ponder is done and I'm never going to want him back in. I expect to see a better QB plan in the off season.

I remember reading something like this several years ago, were was that, oh yeah, on a Niner board, they were talking about Smith. They couldn't believe how bad he was being a number one draft pick.

[Reignman]

I remember reading something like this several years ago, were was that, oh yeah, on a Niner board, they were talking about Smith. They couldn't believe how bad he was being a number one draft pick.

I was referring to the part where he said people would be asking to see Ponder again after Cassel comes in for a game or 2. No I've seen enough of Ponder. If Cassel comes in and stinks it up then I'd rather see what MBT can do the rest of the year. Ponder can go compete for the backup job for some other team next year.

[majorm]

I was referring to the part where he said people would be asking to see Ponder again after Cassel comes in for a game or 2. No I've seen enough of Ponder. If Cassel comes in and stinks it up then I'd rather see what MBT can do the rest of the year. Ponder can go compete for the backup job for some other team next year.

I agree. Cassell could not be bad enough to make me want Ponder back in there. We've seen him enough. To sort of quote our old pal Denny, "He is who we thought he was. If you want to bench him, then bench his ***!" I want to.