2011 NFL Thread: The Lazarus Season - Part 8

[Ness]

Then it is like I said, he is not a real quarterback. Teams should not win in spite of their QB.

Alex Smith has four game winning drives this season. So that doesn't really make sense.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Alex Smith has four game winning drives this season. So that doesn't really make sense.

Alex Smith isn't bad at all. He played a really great game against the Steelers defense. He's just not a quarterback who throws the long bombs. From what I've seen of him this year he has been a short yard passer and hits the long ball every now and again. I remember the Niners lead by Montana and Jerry Rice. I'm sure any Niners fan would like to see those days again and I think some of peoples points are that Smith is NO Montana.

 

[Themanofbat]

Joe Montana threw a few long bombs now and then, but he was simply a sweet, sweet, sweet accurate passer...

 

[Ness]

Check this out. Alex Smith's statistics at 11-3:

QB record: 11-3.
Passing yards: 2752
Completion Percentage: 61.4
Yards Per Game: 196.6
Touchdowns/Interceptions: 16/5
Yards per attempt: 7.1
Sacked: 39 times

Another quarterback at 11-3 at one point in time during their first year starting who is now one of the best in the league:

QB record: 11-3.
Passing yards: 2843
Completion Percentage: 63.9
Yards Per Game: 189.5
Touchdowns/Interceptions: 18/12
Yards per attempt: 6.9
Sacked: 41 times

Guess who the other quarterback is.

No this doesn't mean they are on the same level obviously. One is having modest success in their first year in a new system and in the other sceneario at one point in time, the other quarterback is in his first year starting in a system that he'll come to being very comfortable with.

Just thought it was interesting.

 

[Donut]

Rex Ryan is at it again with his big ass mouth saying how much better his team is when they can easily be beat. Is he insecure or something ? Go Giants

 

[kane9321]

I think too many people’s opinion of Alex Smith has been shaped by media perception. As a 49er fan I watch every single game and have seen Alex make some amazing plays. You are talking about a guy who has had 7 offensive coordinators in 7 years, was hurt for 1.5 season. Beyond that he has had two clueless head coaches, came into the league at the age of 20, was thrust into the starting role having never taken a snap from under center and with absolutely not talent around him due to the 49ers coming out of cap hell. Also to be clear not only Alex Smith struggled as a result of all that instability and lack of continuity; the entire offense did. Yet in spite of all of that he has managed to remain effective and now has a chance to not only gain the benefit of continuity but work with a coach and in a system that can identify and develop an offense that maximizes his skillset.

QBs who come into the NFL and are effective right out of the gate are the exception and not the rule, and even then they always seem to regress at some point. Mainly when other teams have an archive of film on them.
The majority of good to great QBs are developed, and grown and have been part of the same system, in same playbook and/or sat for years. Continuity and comfort for players in a system is the x-factor never accounted for when analyzing success or failure in team sports.

Alex Smith’s potential is just starting to finally be unlocked. When it finally fully is, there are many who are going to finally see how wrong they have been about him. However if anybody wants a preview, just go back and look at his highlights from Utah where in three years (3) he threw for 5203 years, 47 TDs and only 8 INT, ran for 1072 yards and 15 TDs. Culminating in a 21–1 record as a starter in college, and victories in the Liberty Bowl (2003) & Fiesta Bowl (2005).

Urban Meyer was very clear on his feelings about Alex and stated that Alex has a very analytical mind. He wants to fully understand everything about the offense and until he does he has periods of over thinking and struggling. But once he “gets it” and is no longer thinking out there, he is deadly and among the best he has ever coached. Moving forward, Alex Smith is about to be afforded the benefit of continuity.


I am going to enjoy watching him prove the world wrong.

I will never forgive MIKE NOLAN AND MIKE SINGLETARY for what they did to alex smith. I hate them so much, I will never forgive them, Thats how you ruin a young QB. They had no idea how to run an offense. Alex has so much heart...just to withstand our stupid fans and stupid media here in the bay area. I love the kid so much

 

[Erzengel]

Kid? He's 27.

I hear what a lot of you guys are saying here about the coaches and the coordinators.

However, in the end it's about the results. We'll see how he does in the Playoffs this year and how he does next year, if he can repeat his success.

 

[kane9321]

Kid...meaning he's still young

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Rex Ryan is at it again with his big ass mouth saying how much better his team is when they can easily be beat. Is he insecure or something ? Go Giants

\

Given the Jets past two seasons under his tenure compared to the Giants last two, he isnt exactly wrong...

 

[Donut]

\

Given the Jets past two seasons under his tenure compared to the Giants last two, he isnt exactly wrong...

But he says that about any team before he plays them. I hope the Jets do not make the play offs. Maybe then he will have something to cry about

 

[Erzengel]

You can only milk going back to back in AFC Championships for so long. It's still not a Superbowl.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

It was the past two seasons, how is that "milking" it?

Also, why the hell am I defending the Jets?

Also, why do I park in a driveway and drive on a parkway?????

 

[Viciousjay]

I cant help but think what the Bears season would have been if Cutler and forte never went down

 

[Erzengel]

It was the past two seasons, how is that "milking" it?

Maybe if this was an answer to a question in the preseason, but you're a 8-6 team going up against a 7-7 cross town rival and barely clinging to a wild card, what does it matter?

 

[steintym]

The Bears season isn't over ... McCown has been named the starter against the Packers ...


Ugh ... Nevermind


This one will get ugly fast. Over/Under on picks should be set around 3 1/2.

 

[Matt]

The Bears season isn't over ... McCown has been named the starter against the Packers ...


Ugh ... Nevermind


This one will get ugly fast. Over/Under on picks should be set around 3 1/2.

The front office has been ridiculously stubborn throughout this affair. They should have made a play at McNabb, just so it seemed like they were doing SOMETHING to save the season. Because they didn't, I think that Jerry Angelo is done. It will be played as a retirement, but I don't think that he has much of a choice in it.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

The front office has been ridiculously stubborn throughout this affair. They should have made a play at McNabb, just so it seemed like they were doing SOMETHING to save the season. Because they didn't, I think that Jerry Angelo is done. It will be played as a retirement, but I don't think that he has much of a choice in it.

Problem is that Martz's system is so damn complicated and so unlike anything else out there, it pretty much requires an entire off-season to even begin to grasp the nuances of it. Bringing in Mcnabb, a lifelong WCO QB, into that system and expecting him to execute it within a couple of weeks would've been disastrous. Nevermind that McNabb has been terrible in the WCO the past 2 years, how do you think he'd do in Martz's?

Angelo is more negligent in not getting a competent backup QB in the off-season as insurance. He apparently learned nothing from what happened to Cutler in last year's NFC Championship game.

 

[steintym]

I agree with everything you said Matt. The pieces have been falling into place since last offseason that Jerry will be heading to "retirement". The collapse to end the season will be the final push out the door.

I just can't believe a bad McNabb wouldn't have been better than a bad Hanie. I personally think they win the KC and Denver games with McNabb playing and they're still in the playoff picture.

 

[bgates87]

LOL, So is that going to be the new strategy against the Pack? Start a new quarterback? I guess it makes it harder for the defense to game-plan.

 

[Matt]

Problem is that Martz's system is so damn complicated and so unlike anything else out there, it pretty much requires an entire off-season to even begin to grasp the nuances of it. Bringing in Mcnabb, a lifelong WCO QB, into that system and expecting him to execute it within a couple of weeks would've been disastrous. Nevermind that McNabb has been terrible in the WCO the past 2 years, how do you think he'd do in Martz's?

Angelo is more negligent in not getting a competent backup QB in the off-season as insurance. He apparently learned nothing from what happened to Cutler in last year's NFC Championship game.

You make your system for the players that you have, not the players that you want. The failure to understand that cost the Steelers their Monday night game and is costing Chicago their season. If Martz's offense is too complicated, you ask him to simplify. It may not be what they wanted to do, but it is a necessity. When your season is falling apart, you can't just throw your hands in the air and say "Eff it, we'll just hope for the best next year."

McNabb may no longer be an elite quarterback, but he is still better than Hanie. Besides, look at who he has been playing for for the past two years.

I agree with everything you said Matt. The pieces have been falling into place since last offseason that Jerry will be heading to "retirement". The collapse to end the season will be the final push out the door.

I just can't believe a bad McNabb wouldn't have been better than a bad Hanie. I personally think they win the KC and Denver games with McNabb playing and they're still in the playoff picture.

I agree. McNabb may not be as good as he once was, but he is still competent. He has just been on ****** teams. PErsonally, I think that the Eagles would be doing better with him at their help as would the Bears.

 

[steintym]

Hub Arkush had some interesting thoughts about McNabb picking up Martz's system. He thought it was complete bull that a veteran QB couldn't come in and learn a scaled down version of that system. If that can't be done or the system can't be trimmed down ... then it's a bad system. I'm beginning to agree.

Even when the Bears thought they had their starting QB issues addressed, they stopped looking at the backup spot. They already went through this when they thought Rex Grossman was the answer. He kept having his injury problems and no backup was in place.

Time clean house with the Bears management ... and coaching.

 

[Matt]

I think Lovie gets one more year. He has a scape goat this year (injuries) which will buy him some time.

 

[steintym]

Yeah, I don't think Lovie's going anywhere. I would just love to see it happen. I think Jerry is probably a goner, though.

 

[Genesis 1.0]

Saw an interesting debate on ESPN earlier: Who do you trust more: Tony Romo or Michael Vick?

Oddly enough, it went decidedly to Vick.

 

[Hound55]

On the football field? Vick.

To feed my pets while I'm on holiday? Romo.