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This season will be Alex Smith's last chance to justify
the 49ers' choice of selecting him in 2005.
(AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Alex Smith is on the hot seat once again. In fact, the chair might just burn him if he doesn't prove himself this year.
With David Carr's arrival and the departure of Shaun Hill, Smith is clearly the undisputed starter entering the 2010 season. This will be the second time Smith will be the named starter entering a season after starting the previous season on the bench.
The first time Smith was named starter to begin the season was his second year in the league in 2006. He threw 16 touchdowns that year and the 49ers went 7-9 that year. Hopes were high for Smith.
Since then, injuries and his inability to outplay J.T. O'Sullivan and Hill in preseasons have made it difficult for the 49ers to retain confidence in his work. But after half a season of starts in 2009 and a returning offensive coordinator, there are no excuses for Smith not to succeed in 2010.
Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye was brought in last season to produce a smashmouth running attack. But without a strong offensive line to produce such results, the 49ers inserted Smith into the mix and essentially changed the offense into a pass-oriented attack.
Hill's trade (due to his inability to fit into the new offensive approach) and the signing of Carr (who supposedly fits in better for the offense) gives Smith a push to play better this season. His room for error is now smaller than ever.
Since drafting Smith in 2005, the 49ers have yet to produce a winning season. And now with one more year left in his restructured contract, this is Smith's last chance to make his stay in San Francisco worth something.
Everything is set in place for Smith to succeed. He returns this season with the same offensive coordinator for the first time in his career. The playbook has changed to fit his style of play. For Smith, there is no excuse for failure. He's healthy, the offense has playmakers and the division crown is free-for-all right now. Success is the only option.
If Smith fails, expect a major overhaul for 2011. The quarterback scenario will change again. Bringing in a veteran quarterback or even giving Nate Davis the starting job seems like the two options the team could consider. Jimmy Raye and his offensive playbook could very well find an exit. Even head coach Mike Singletary's job might be at risk.
There's too much riding on Smith's performance in 2010. We aren't expecting Smith to perform like the Hall of Famers in the video above. But here is one simple math equation the 49ers hope they get correct answer to:
#11 Alex Smith + 1 revamped offense + 3 weaker division opponents = 2010 playoffs
Comments
Who says the job is his? I think the QB job will be wide open, come camp time.
Singletary said earlier this year that going forward, Alex Smith is the starter. That's what it is for now. It could all change in August, but right now, Smith is the starter.
I do think that he could still lose that job, but I am a supporter. This will be the first year he's got the same offense and same coordinator, and I think he can improve on last year's 16 TDs and 12 picks. He really started developing a rapport with Davis and Crabtree, too.
"failed to outperform J.T. O'Sullivan in camp..." eh... Smith and Hill could have looked like hall of famers and Martz still would have picked J.T. That was not a real competition at all.
I completely agree with you Samuel. If alex doesn't pan out this year then he will be cut. he has been given more chances than most people would ever get in the NFL. his surrounding cast has become stronger and now hopefully they have some chemistry. if he does fail and carr replaces him, i dont think that will last long either. by then nate "the great" davis will be breathing down his neck.
Hill and Smith played OK in 2008. Because of that, O'Sullivan was given the job. O'Sullivan played well enough in the preseason to win the job. True Martz had favoritism, but Smith and Hill didn't do anything to help their case at all.
Wow that clip about the math was a little over the top. If Smith turns in another mediocre year fans will be getting out the pitchforks anyways. Carr lights a small fire under Smith's seat but doesn't provide much optimism. How much longer do we have to wait for a leader at QB to emerge? The proof is in the pudding and that pudding I believe is when will coaches and management rise up and take ownership as well...
Who says the job is his?
I believe mike sing. said the job was his.
Just to clarify to you MJ, he had 18 TDs and 12 INTs, not 16 TDs. I think he can do better, he's starting to prove it. He's finally got some stability, for the firs time in his career, and I can only hope he will live up to what we need him to be.
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