Tag: Alex Smith

The San Francisco Shuffle…

On By kassienetteIn 49ers, Football, NFL, SportsLeave a comment

When my beloved 9ers drafted Alex Smith in 2005, I was not happy. I felt we needed a wide receiver and I wanted us to draft Braylon Edwards. Ok, you can stop laughing now. For six years, I was right about not wanting Smith as our QB. The team was a mess. No consistency. No winning seasons. No playoffs. Then 2011 happened. We went 13-3, won the NFC West, played in the NFC Championship game and Smith had the best year of his career. Who knew he had it in him??

Then 2012 happened. Smith was having an even better year when he got a concussion. Insert back up QB, Colin Kaepermick. Talk about seizing the moment. On one of the biggest stages, Monday Night Football, Kaepernick played like a starting QB. The shuffle was on. The speculation began about whether or not Smith would regain his starting spot. That answer was no and yesterday the 9ers made the decision to trade Smith to the Chiefs, for draft picks, ending an era.

As a member of the Faithful, I want to thank Smith for all he has meant to the 9ers organization. I wish you nothing but the best in Kansas City!!!

By the way, did you hear the rumblings about Darrelle Revis coming to the bay?? I know it is early but maaaaaaaaaaaaaan….

Until next time…TOODELLS.

Follow me on Twitter @KassieNette

 

Too soon???

On By kassienetteIn 49ers, Controversy, Football, NFL, SportsLeave a comment

As a forever Faithful San Francisco 49ers fan, I did NOT see this coming. In case you missed it, last night’s Monday Night Football game was deemed the Battle of the Backups. San Francisco’s QB Alex Smith and Chicago’s Jay Cutler, both starting QB’s for their respective teams, were out as a result of concussions they sustained last week. So starting in their place you had Colin Kaepernick for the 49ers and Jason Campbell for the Bears. BOY OH BOY!!! Ok, that is not how I really felt when the game started. I honestly did not know what to think. Kaepernick, lets call him Kaep, had been used sparingly during the season so I do not think anyone outside of the team really knew what to expect from him.

My, my what a pleasant surprise. Not only was Kaep playing like he had been a starting NFL QB five years, he controlled the offense from start to finish. Lets check the numbers. 16/23 for 243 yards. 12 yards rushing. Yes, those were an important 12 yards. 133.1 passer rating and the single highest QBR rating for a first timer, 97 out of 100. Simply put, he was balling.

Now conventional wisdom says, a QB should not lose his job because of an injury. Well, we all know San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh is anything but conventional. When asked last night about who would be the starter on Sunday, he simply replied that he “usually goes with the guy with the hot hand.” Welp, sounds like Smith may be on the bench for another week.

Lets face it. Today may be too soon to start the QB controversy talk or is it? Yes, in his last 25 starts, Smith has gone 19-5-1. However, outside of the divisional playoff game against the Saints last where Smith truly seemed to be in control, Smith has not managed to convince me that he is the guy for us. I appreciate his dedication to the team because he went through the worse of the worse out in the bay. I appreciate him wanting to be in San Fran. I appreciate his love for the game. I appreciate the way he has believed in himself since Harbaugh arrived. With that said, for all the games I have watched over the past two years, I have never seen Smith look as comfortable quarterbacking the offense as Kaep did last night. Kaep was in command. I knew he was a good QB coming out of Nevada but sheesh, that was crazy. While I am still on the offense, did you all see the block Frank Gore laid on Lance Briggs? My goodness!! The 9ers played the way I had been expecting them to play all year, dominating on both sides of the ball.

So what happens next? Good question. I am not ready to say Kaep deserves to be the QB but I do think he earned a second start with his performance last night. If the 9ers are going to be all about starting to add rings to their other hand then you have to go with the QB that gives you the best chance to make that happen. This is going to be interesting. Get your popcorn ready. Looks like we have a QB controversy in the bay. Too soon? Not. At. All.

Until next time….TOODELLS.