Originally posted by Shaj:
Frank Gore had a breakout year, and Alex had a very average year that he should have at least had his rookie year. Also, after Antonio Bryant left the team, he hammered Alex for being an awful QB that couldn't get anything done. Somebody find the quote, I can't find it, but I remember reading it. That was not some wonderful year for Alex, it was just a very, very, very average year, and it was way below average for someone who was selected #1 overall and had Frank Gore as his RB.
Alex Smith 2006 (22 years old):
Record: ...Comp: ...Att: ... % ...Yards.... TD .INT.. Y/A
7-9.............257....... 442 ..58.1 ..2890 ..16 ..16 ..6.5
Sam Bradford 2010 (23 years old):
Record: ...Comp: ...Att: ... % ......Yards.... TD .INT.. Y/A
7-9....... 354 ........590....... 60.0 ...3512 .....18 ..15... 6.0
Obviously, Bradford had the overall better year, and was a rookie, etc, and, yeah, Alex's sophomore year wasn't "wonderful." But it was very promising, it showed definite progress, and Bradford is lauded throughout the NFL for a year with numbers in the same ballpark (an exceptional rookie year, even for a #1 overall pick). If I was picking a QB right now I would take Bradford. But lets not revise history and say that there wasn't a time when it seemed like Alex might have a bright future.
[ Edited by HessianDud on Sep 3, 2011 at 9:08 AM ]