1981 49ers vs. 2011 49ers statistically

If Dilfer can play qb and win a SB, then Alex is gold. I remember watching the Ravens during the playoffs and SB ,that year, and thinking "they can't win it all with this boob as their qb." Dilfer was god awful. He only passed maybe 15 times a game and all of his passes looked like wounded ducks. Of course, Lewis was a monster RB with a huge, mean o-line. The other teams knew that the Ravens were going to run and still couldn't stop them even with 9 & 10 men in the box. Lewis would reel off power runs of 20 and 30yds a clip.

I think if alex smith does well in the playoffs he will Light it up next year.. sitting most likely at 13-3, alex will have so much confidence especially with a offseason.. if we were to win that superbowl that would give him so much swagger.

Originally posted by Dr_Bill_Walsh:

Originally posted by NineFourNiner:

Originally posted by RollinWith21n52:
Now for the differences:

1981-Joe Montana
2011-Alex Smith

I like Alex this year. He's done well... but he's not even within the same galaxy as Joe

No one in their right mind would disagree with this. Their careers are not even comparable. And no one is saying that they are.

If you referring to Joe in 81 and Smith in 11 ONLY - without any context - the gap may be smaller.

1981 (pre-HOF, pre-GOD, relative n00b) Joe Montana:

311/488 (63.7% comp); 3,565 yds; 19 TDs; 12 INTs; 88.4 Passer Rtg

2011 ("rejuvenated under Harbaugh") Alex Smith (as of wk 16):

253/415 (61.0% comp); 2,932 yds; 16 TDs; 5 INTs; 90.1 Passer Rtg

Hmmmmmm, how can I admonish you for this without getting a warning? How old are you? (Reason I ask maybe you haven't watched enough years of football to understand the evolution of the rules to favor the offense) Do you not listen? (Plenty of old timers like myself constantly explain why you can't compare stats decades apart). Look at the above numbers, while similar, Montana ranked 1st (completion %) 7th (in yardage) and 3rd (passer rating) against the league in 1981.
Smith ranks 13th, 18th, 10th in 2011. The same numbers that make you elite in 1981 make you barely above average in 2011. Want to talk about the 60's and 70's? Numbers that put you in the Hall of Fame then would have you riding the bench or out of the league now.

Also 30 years ago or so lineman had to keep their hands close to their own jersey or were flagged for illegal use of hands. Striking a blocker in the head was made illegal in the early 80's, but hands to the face wasn't yet. Also QBs were fair game in 1981 except for head shots. In a nut shell, less time to throw as pass blocking was harder, qbs took more of a beating, and timing routes were often disrupted as you could beat on a receiver until the ball was in the air. I could go on and on.

Originally posted by Niners99:
lol watch Smith play in the postseason for the first time, and it turns out hes a totally different player in big time pressure, and he raises his game big time.

im mostly joking, but you never know. some players need the biggest pressure to perform their best. itll be interesting to see how Smith reacts to the magnitude of the playoffs.

Do you have your answer after the Saints game?

Originally posted by gloryniner:

Originally posted by Niners99:
lol watch Smith play in the postseason for the first time, and it turns out hes a totally different player in big time pressure, and he raises his game big time.

im mostly joking, but you never know. some players need the biggest pressure to perform their best. itll be interesting to see how Smith reacts to the magnitude of the playoffs.

Do you have your answer after the Saints game?

lol, good call 99!