Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers: Forever connected to one another.
49ers general manager Scot McCloughan had already made a decision to select Alex Smith with the #1 overall in April 2005. Head coach Mike Nolan decided on Smith as well upon his arrival. And with the first pick, the 49ers selected the quarterback out of Utah to help bring team relevance back to the Bay Area.
Aaron Rodgers decided to not return to Cal for one more season and enter his name into the draft. In a very weak draft class, many draft experts said that Rodgers had more "football-ready" skills and could find success in the NFL. Rodgers believed he could be the first player selected in the draft. Instead, he would drop all the way to #24 to Green Bay.
This Sunday is the first time both Smith and Rodgers will face each other in the regular season. And this matchup has playoff indications. The Packers are 5-4 and the 49ers are 4-5. Four teams have a 5-4 record in the NFC for the top spot in the Wild Card. A win for the 49ers puts them right in the middle the playoff push.
Adding to that, this battle between Smith and Rodgers wasn't exactly what we expected from these two in 2005.
Smith hasn't played a full season since the 2006 season in which he led the team to a 7-9 record after playing part of the season in his rookie year. Injuries and offensive coordinator changes would force Smith to fight for his starting position again. Smith will start for his fourth consecutive game this year and hopes to find consistency in the offense.
Rodgers will start his 26th consecutive game for the Packers after sitting on the bench for three years while Brett Favre took all the snaps for the Packers. But in that time on the bench, Rodgers learned from Favre and in 2008, Rodgers established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league. His 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in his first full season was very impressive. However, the Packers finished 6-10.
On Sunday, two quarterbacks that will be forever linked with each other face off. Both quarterbacks have one full season of starting under their belts since being drafted. Neither have led their team to the playoffs and both are in the middle of a playoff push. Their connection in 2005 will be the big talk of all media and sportscasters this week.
Should the 49ers have taken Rodgers instead of Smith? I was hoping that Rodgers would get selected over Smith. I thought Rodgers had established more in college to warrant a higher draft pick. Instead, Smith was selected and the 49ers have seen some ray of light, but not the sun in his time here in San Francisco.
Smith has endured injuries, different offensive coordinators and a clash with Mike Nolan. That's not getting Smith off the hook for a mediocre start to his career, but we can understand why he has struggled so much. Had the 49ers selected Rodgers, could he have succeeded in the same situation that Smith was in? It's hard to say.
And we are left to wonder whether or not Smith was the right choice for the 49ers. Would we have seen the same result from Rodgers if he did come to San Francisco? Was Smith the right man?
Right now, Smith is the man. And with the 49ers fighting to make the playoffs, he is the man the 49ers trust to move the team forward. In 2005, the 49ers selected Smith to help the team win games like these. Now we will see if the right decision was made.
Follow me on Twitter for updates. Check me out here @SLam49ers
Comments
What we need to see if the 49ers can ask him to make plays at the right time and teach him not to stare down his target. When you watch him drop back he does not move from one side of the field to the other, instead through his pre-snap read, he eliminates half of the field and focuses on one side - that has to change. Throwing the ball to open up the running game and ONLY until then would also help. Instead of deciding to go deep on a play, give a sequence of plays where there is a deep option. Even if they don't go to that guy right away, it might back up the defense and if they don't back up - you hit them over the top.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!