smith @ end of game

Originally posted by ninersush:
let me first say this is not to bash/luv on anyone. i would just like to see if anyone's thoughts are similar to mine or why not.

smith played a great game today for the most part. the drops/fumbles/coaching (3 TOs in Q1 amongst other things) killed us.

yet in the end we had the ball tied with about 50 secs to go. everyone was expecting smith would drive us down for a game winning score (FG or TD).

this is when a good qb becomes great. this is when leaders/winners are made. this is when u need ur qb to win the game.

however, alex had his 2 worst plays at that point. very disappointing.

and at this point you forget all the mistakes that have happened to this point. all the other stuff. all that matters is scoring. somehow. someway. and it didn't happen.

so i'm left to think that alex is good but not great. i don't if it is something that he can learn....that is being clutch in critical moments or is it something you just have.

but i personally came away very disappointed in how alex played on the 2 most crucial downs and have lost some faith in him.

so can he learn to finish or is it curtains for smith? lets keep this a respectable discussion folks.

Dude the dude did what he had to do to win the game it's not his fault that others fumbled , droped the ball and could't cover other teams WR !

I can't belive i am defending him !

Um, Smith had a great game. He led them on TWO potential game winning drives in the 4th quarter. One ruined by Gore, and the other by VD. The worst part of yesterday was seeing how unprepared Singletary and crew was. He has yet to see the big picture that a head coach should see. Hopefully its because he is a rookie coach. He cannot manage a game yet.

We should have ran the ball on 1st and 2nd down to make the seahawks waste the 2 timeouts they had. On 3rd down we could have went for a 1st, and if we didn't get it, we would have been punting with about 20 something seconds left and no timeouts for the seahawks.

Originally posted by ninersush:
let me first say this is not to bash/luv on anyone. i would just like to see if anyone's thoughts are similar to mine or why not.

smith played a great game today for the most part. the drops/fumbles/coaching (3 TOs in Q1 amongst other things) killed us.

yet in the end we had the ball tied with about 50 secs to go. everyone was expecting smith would drive us down for a game winning score (FG or TD).

this is when a good qb becomes great. this is when leaders/winners are made. this is when u need ur qb to win the game.

however, alex had his 2 worst plays at that point. very disappointing.

and at this point you forget all the mistakes that have happened to this point. all the other stuff. all that matters is scoring. somehow. someway. and it didn't happen.

so i'm left to think that alex is good but not great. i don't if it is something that he can learn....that is being clutch in critical moments or is it something you just have.

but i personally came away very disappointed in how alex played on the 2 most crucial downs and have lost some faith in him.

so can he learn to finish or is it curtains for smith? lets keep this a respectable discussion folks.

True, but what about the drive before that. That was the most important drive up til that point. He led us down the field with a FG. But, he hit Vernon in the hands in the end zone (drop) and Crabtree in the endzone (drop, plus he thought he was gonna get crushed and got T-Rex arms). So if we score a TD there, we are up by 4 with 3 minutes to play.......force the Seachickens to score a TD versus a FG and we might win. Shoulda coulda woulda, just saying.....give the guy some credit. Vernons drop was especially frustrating because Alex threw behind him on purpose so he wouldn't take a big hit, but when you touch it, you catch it.

Originally posted by cNiner:

Originally posted by ninersush:
let me first say this is not to bash/luv on anyone. i would just like to see if anyone's thoughts are similar to mine or why not.

smith played a great game today for the most part. the drops/fumbles/coaching (3 TOs in Q1 amongst other things) killed us.

yet in the end we had the ball tied with about 50 secs to go. everyone was expecting smith would drive us down for a game winning score (FG or TD).

this is when a good qb becomes great. this is when leaders/winners are made. this is when u need ur qb to win the game.

however, alex had his 2 worst plays at that point. very disappointing.

and at this point you forget all the mistakes that have happened to this point. all the other stuff. all that matters is scoring. somehow. someway. and it didn't happen.

so i'm left to think that alex is good but not great. i don't if it is something that he can learn....that is being clutch in critical moments or is it something you just have.

but i personally came away very disappointed in how alex played on the 2 most crucial downs and have lost some faith in him.

so can he learn to finish or is it curtains for smith? lets keep this a respectable discussion folks.

Dude the dude did what he had to do to win the game it's not his fault that others fumbled , droped the ball and could't cover other teams WR !

I can't belive i am defending him !

he's talking about the last throws, he's not bashing his whole game.

Alex had a great day, the dropped balls, fumbles, and bad late defense let him down; but at the same time, he could've also won us the game, almost single handedly.

I'm just saying, he a had a brain fart against the Texans, the Colts, and now the Seahawks, at the end of the game.

Sometimes s**t like this happens in a game. You can play great for 3 qtrs and a half and still lose, that's why people say you have to play the whole 60 minutes. Alex played a great 56 minutes.

This is not the bash the guy, he looks like he can be the QB we drafted #1. With a whole offseason of preparation, and he's now getting the jitters out, he can win us these late games.

Originally posted by jb49ers80:
I don't think anyone is saying it's Alex's fault that we lost the game. He played lights out and there were plenty of opportunities for us to win this one.

I think the original poster is just disappointed with that last drive, and I think we all are. We had 50 seconds left with 2 TOs and all we needed was a FG. Now, granted Alex did not throw his best passes on 2nd and 3rd down. I'm sure even he would tell you that. But, it just seemed like the team went into panic mode, and that starts with the coaches. They thought we had to air it out and go crazy, and that filtered down to Alex. I mean just look at the play selection. If we had called plays for a slow methodical march down the field, the team would have been calmer and Alex wouldn't have felt like he had to air it out. The 3rd and 3 call was abismal.

Alex probably could have taken matters into his own hands and tried to run for it on 3rd down, but this guy has missed two years, and is just starting to play well. As he gets more comfortable with himself, his teammates, and the coaches, he will learn to take over these kinds of games.

It kills me that we lost yesterday, and that last drive was such a letdown. But you know what? It was a letdown because I truly beleived we were going to drive down the field and win it. It's been a long time since I've felt that way, and that makes me excited.

thank you. so it appears that he can learn to win these games is the consensus (well amongst calling me/my post stupid and what not )

he definitely is developing beyond what most would have thought. and a lot of problems with the team are due to coaching and lack of preparedness. hopefully all this gets ironed out.

Originally posted by Blitz:

Originally posted by ninersush:
let me first say this is not to bash/luv on anyone. i would just like to see if anyone's thoughts are similar to mine or why not.

smith played a great game today for the most part. the drops/fumbles/coaching (3 TOs in Q1 amongst other things) killed us.

yet in the end we had the ball tied with about 50 secs to go. everyone was expecting smith would drive us down for a game winning score (FG or TD).

this is when a good qb becomes great. this is when leaders/winners are made. this is when u need ur qb to win the game.

however, alex had his 2 worst plays at that point. very disappointing.

and at this point you forget all the mistakes that have happened to this point. all the other stuff. all that matters is scoring. somehow. someway. and it didn't happen.

so i'm left to think that alex is good but not great. i don't if it is something that he can learn....that is being clutch in critical moments or is it something you just have.

but i personally came away very disappointed in how alex played on the 2 most crucial downs and have lost some faith in him.

so can he learn to finish or is it curtains for smith? lets keep this a respectable discussion folks.

QB's get better with age. You might want to put some of that last drive on the coaching ...they need to learn how to walk and chew gum at the same time, go for the score and manage to not give the ball back if you don't get a score by using up the clock along the way. Then start fresh in OT. But alas, that is where a run game would be handy, and some run blocking, now wouldn't it?

I was curious of the playcalling too. Especially on 3rd and 3 or so? Why not try the run to at least make Seattle burn a timeout. I would have also liked to see a QB bootleg, where Alex could slide if nothing was open, hence keeping the clock running...

Originally posted by ninersush:
let me first say this is not to bash/luv on anyone. i would just like to see if anyone's thoughts are similar to mine or why not.

smith played a great game today for the most part. the drops/fumbles/coaching (3 TOs in Q1 amongst other things) killed us.

yet in the end we had the ball tied with about 50 secs to go. everyone was expecting smith would drive us down for a game winning score (FG or TD).

this is when a good qb becomes great. this is when leaders/winners are made. this is when u need ur qb to win the game.

however, alex had his 2 worst plays at that point. very disappointing.

and at this point you forget all the mistakes that have happened to this point. all the other stuff. all that matters is scoring. somehow. someway. and it didn't happen.

so i'm left to think that alex is good but not great. i don't if it is something that he can learn....that is being clutch in critical moments or is it something you just have.

but i personally came away very disappointed in how alex played on the 2 most crucial downs and have lost some faith in him.

so can he learn to finish or is it curtains for smith? lets keep this a respectable discussion folks.

He's lead us back B4......so their is no reason believe he won't again for us in the future. If the TE/WR did THEIR job & caught the ball then we wouldn't even be talking about this would we? No. Alex did HIS JOB & got the ball to them.

Originally posted by ninersush:

Originally posted by jb49ers80:
I don't think anyone is saying it's Alex's fault that we lost the game. He played lights out and there were plenty of opportunities for us to win this one.

I think the original poster is just disappointed with that last drive, and I think we all are. We had 50 seconds left with 2 TOs and all we needed was a FG. Now, granted Alex did not throw his best passes on 2nd and 3rd down. I'm sure even he would tell you that. But, it just seemed like the team went into panic mode, and that starts with the coaches. They thought we had to air it out and go crazy, and that filtered down to Alex. I mean just look at the play selection. If we had called plays for a slow methodical march down the field, the team would have been calmer and Alex wouldn't have felt like he had to air it out. The 3rd and 3 call was abismal.

Alex probably could have taken matters into his own hands and tried to run for it on 3rd down, but this guy has missed two years, and is just starting to play well. As he gets more comfortable with himself, his teammates, and the coaches, he will learn to take over these kinds of games.

It kills me that we lost yesterday, and that last drive was such a letdown. But you know what? It was a letdown because I truly beleived we were going to drive down the field and win it. It's been a long time since I've felt that way, and that makes me excited.

thank you. so it appears that he can learn to win these games is the consensus (well amongst calling me/my post stupid and what not )

he definitely is developing beyond what most would have thought. and a lot of problems with the team are due to coaching and lack of preparedness. hopefully all this gets ironed out.

I recall old conversations of Montana and Brady where posters were critcizing Brady that he only needed FG drives to win his game whereas Montana got TDs. 50 seconds with 2 Timeouts and only a FG needed is PLENTY of time.

Sometimes, a QB begins to take control, calms down and understands the time and situation. Alex didn't show this but the fact that he showed so much more in other parts of the game is important. In the second half, we had terrible Field Position where Jimmy Raye went into Turtle mode due to being backed in our own Endzone.

However, Alex still hasn't really won it for us in a difficult game. The good thing is that he hasn't really lost one for use either, except for that TEN game. But that was his first start so I will give him a mulligan.

Originally posted by TheGoldDiggerrrr:

Originally posted by Spoonerism:

Originally posted by TheGoldDiggerrrr:

Originally posted by Ceadderman:

Originally posted by Spoonerism:

Originally posted by SnakePlissken:
No doubt in my mind Alex Smith is our man for the future. -He's been throwing really gorgeous passes, and with the horrible field position Alex had to work with he didn't panic once/throw anything that entire game which could have led to an interception.

Our season is shot and there are no positives, but just imagine Alex Smith getting an ENTIRE training camp to himself with that offense under 'spread-formation' focus, and hopefully some first round linemen surrounding the pocket... something good could possibly be on the horizon finally.

No doubt in my mind Kurt Warner is finished after this season, and possibly Hassleback. -The 49ers might be the only team in the NFC West in 2010 with a consistent head start at the QB position. 2010 is going to be a huge transition for many teams across the league, and we have a lot in our favor right now than people may think in terms of off-season decision-making.

Our season IS shot but there are a TON of positives. Sometimes mistakes and miscues pay off dividends down the road. This year this team has found a lot of different ways to lose. We've had a ton of bad luck and some growing pains switching to a new style of play.

Smith said that he didn't feel the need to gun it on that last drive with 51 left. He said he wishes he could have made better throws at the end. Hindsight is 20 20 and I don't think he or any of us thought the Hawks would move into field goal range at the end of the game with 21 seconds left.

Shoot I think the Refs would have given the Seahawks a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGE spot if they didn't get down there within 10 seconds.

That guy SO pushed off it wasn't funny. I was hoppin mad at that point cause I saw it an was like no way they let something that BLATANT go. Yeah right they don't.

~Ceadder

Ref's were horrible. The Brandon jones play he hardly touched the guy. Then you go back and make a horrible call because the cb caught crab tree's arm with his elbow and was playing the ball.

lol almost threw something at my computer, because i thought they blew the holding call on manny i was screaming he released manny released manny released.

also the shot on alex should have been called for roughing the passer there going to get him killed out there if it was brady you see a flag.

Yeah, normally I don't pay too much attention to the officiating but this game is the worst I think I've ever seen. Maybe Hass paid them a dollar?

I wonder where they went for dinner. Did they get the dollar menu at mcdonalds. Or did they go to jack in the box for the new 1 dollar chicken. I'll give the sea hawks some love, they sure do get screwed by ref's a lot. like that Superbowl a few years ago. I didn't want to see them win that game, but not loss it because the ref's not letting the guys play.

So this offseason this is the man that needs to be draft and i think he could play lt in the nfl but i think he'll fit in great as are future probowl rt!
OSU ALL AMERICAN

I like that thought. However and this may sound dumb but if Sims continues to play solid at the LT spot and if Staley can hold down the RT slot then I think we have found our Tackles.

At least long enough to draft some quality to those positions and learn to be NFL Tackles. Should We should draft


OT ...maybe if that Duck comes out early and drops to us (WR/SS)

OT

OG

OG

C all on 1st day. I don't mind deviating a little bit but I would LOVE to see us get a Line all at once and have them come into their own playing 2nd team in practice. And switching over to take some Run snaps. This would get them on the same page and working as one.

But it ain't gonna matter if the OL coach doesn't have a clue.

~Ceadder

Originally posted by NineFourNiner:
I could not disagree more with this thread.

You got your 300 yards despite MANY, MANY drops. AND we lost, but NOT because of Smith.

This!

A. Smith played hella' good game yesterday!

- 98

Smith's getting better. Good enough to merit continued starting time.

But not good enough to seal the deal. The dude still needs a lot of work.

Originally posted by Joecool:

Originally posted by ninersush:

Originally posted by jb49ers80:
I don't think anyone is saying it's Alex's fault that we lost the game. He played lights out and there were plenty of opportunities for us to win this one.

I think the original poster is just disappointed with that last drive, and I think we all are. We had 50 seconds left with 2 TOs and all we needed was a FG. Now, granted Alex did not throw his best passes on 2nd and 3rd down. I'm sure even he would tell you that. But, it just seemed like the team went into panic mode, and that starts with the coaches. They thought we had to air it out and go crazy, and that filtered down to Alex. I mean just look at the play selection. If we had called plays for a slow methodical march down the field, the team would have been calmer and Alex wouldn't have felt like he had to air it out. The 3rd and 3 call was abismal.

Alex probably could have taken matters into his own hands and tried to run for it on 3rd down, but this guy has missed two years, and is just starting to play well. As he gets more comfortable with himself, his teammates, and the coaches, he will learn to take over these kinds of games.

It kills me that we lost yesterday, and that last drive was such a letdown. But you know what? It was a letdown because I truly beleived we were going to drive down the field and win it. It's been a long time since I've felt that way, and that makes me excited.

thank you. so it appears that he can learn to win these games is the consensus (well amongst calling me/my post stupid and what not )

he definitely is developing beyond what most would have thought. and a lot of problems with the team are due to coaching and lack of preparedness. hopefully all this gets ironed out.

I recall old conversations of Montana and Brady where posters were critcizing Brady that he only needed FG drives to win his game whereas Montana got TDs. 50 seconds with 2 Timeouts and only a FG needed is PLENTY of time.

Sometimes, a QB begins to take control, calms down and understands the time and situation. Alex didn't show this but the fact that he showed so much more in other parts of the game is important. In the second half, we had terrible Field Position where Jimmy Raye went into Turtle mode due to being backed in our own Endzone.

However, Alex still hasn't really won it for us in a difficult game. The good thing is that he hasn't really lost one for use either, except for that TEN game. But that was his first start so I will give him a mulligan.

I sort of agree with you but the play calling on that last drive did not help Alex. There should have been a short dump route designed to get a first but it looked like all of his options were deep. Granted he could have run it and possibly made it but you also have to consider that he has a lot of confidence in his D so maybe that is why they went deep, hoping to capitalize but if not the D will hold……… well in theory it worked.

Originally posted by Chico:
this is a valid point. I like Alex but he needs to close these games when the game is on the line. He has failed too may times. He had time against the Texans and failed, he had time today twice and failed. Frank failed, VD failed, Crabs failed... this team has let me down too many times this year.

I havent seen Smith really show that clutch precision at the end of games but he does seem to remain calm for the most part. I think that the team had really beat itself in Seattle everything from the 1 yard dud offense w/out one run, to the reverse on the punt when were ahead and the dropped pass in the endzone by VD. Our whole team had chances but were unable to capitalize. I have to say though on the 3rd and 3 on the last drive VD had his man beat on a crossing route and frank gore looked like he could have had some daylight. Instead of checking down to either he throws a deep go to Josh Morgan in coverage w/ safety help. He has the ability to be clutch but that comes with experience and tons of film, but he needs to be able to make better desicions and Singletary will definately let him know.

[ Edited by Ricethefngoat on Dec 7, 2009 at 11:15:26 ]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/10489/time-for-the-49ers-to-refocus


ok this is some very positive reinforcement for smith. sando acknowledges smith's deficiencies and says that he can develop possibly. its encouraging to see national attention/thought on this wavelength.