Grade Alex Smith's performance in Game 2 vs Minnesota...

For those who wanted to see it more than one quarter: you do know that it has now been in two games where Smith has made almost perfect decisions from the time he gets the play to the instant the ball is released from his hand.

I'm jealous guys... I'm out of the country and wasn't able to catch the game. I heard that Alex did pretty good though.

I've also read a few folks upset with the plays called after the opening drive. For those that are a bit upset with the calls, please remember that this is pre-season and we need to make sure the rookies on the line can run block and open up some holes.

Gave him a B looks better each game. I hope he has a good season and proves he is a good QB. GO NINERS

Originally posted by 49erRider:
First drive - A
Rest of game - C+

Overall - B

I agree with this one.

Originally posted by dtcomposer:

This is Crazy talk people!! How many times do we have to blame the quarterbacks (Davis, Smith last night) for balls that are mere inches to a foot from being perfect. I mean we are calling balls high that are at the recievers head or slightly above.. that is so ridiculous. Since the beginning of pre-season I have been watching every game I could, and I will tell you something: every QB- Manning, Brees, Brady , Vince young, Jake Delhomme all of them have thrown several passes like those that we obsess over here. The difference is that their recievers CATCH THE FOOTBAL (most of the time)L!! I don't know if it is a coaching thing, bad luck, or just obsessing over it here on WZ, but I would hope that the players, coaches, and fans would start holding the recievers responsible for dropped passes! That includes Crabtree, Davis, and anyone else who keeps dropping passes, or tipping them up to get intercepted.

Please watch a whole game this week and just try to notice where QB's (All-pros, and scrubs) are putting the ball. Yo uwill see that it is behind, a little bit high, slightly low etc ALL THE TIME. You don't notice it as much because the recievers make a play on the football. Can we please stop whining about this and just CATCH THE BALL? This is coming from an old highschool reciever, so I know all about catching in traffic etc. I know it is difficult, but for whatever reason our WR's need to be held accountable when it hits their hands. Ok off my soapbox

Absolutely GREAT post here... bravo!

Some fans sure have no problem "babying" these receivers by insisting on perfect ball placement. These guys get paid big bucks to make catches that are high, low, or a lil behind. It's ridiculous to not expect most of these passes to be caught.

I got bored and rewatched the first half last night. Smith actually did much better than I initially thought. I do wish that he took a few shots downfield, versus the dink and dunking, but he still played pretty good

Originally posted by WestCoast:

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by WestCoast:
The pass to Delanie Walker was complete bulls**t. IT WASN'T A GOOD PASS!!!!!

if there was a defender in front of him it would've been an easy pick. IM JUST SAYIN GUYS!!!

If those passes don't get caught in the National Football League then you can't play.

Not to pick on your comment but when I read something like this it makes me think the writer doesn't watch any other team than the 49ers. If they watched the times that Reggie Wayne or Marques Colston or Larry Fitzgerald or any number of other good receivers routinely makes those kinds of catches on less-than-perfect throws, they would never write comments like that.

dude im just messing around....

That's funny. After reading through alot of these posts I made the same mistake as dj. It's sad that you absurd statement actually sounds like a normal argument as opposed to obvious sarcasm.

Originally posted by Born9erFan:

Originally posted by WestCoast:

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by WestCoast:
The pass to Delanie Walker was complete bulls**t. IT WASN'T A GOOD PASS!!!!!

if there was a defender in front of him it would've been an easy pick. IM JUST SAYIN GUYS!!!

If those passes don't get caught in the National Football League then you can't play.

Not to pick on your comment but when I read something like this it makes me think the writer doesn't watch any other team than the 49ers. If they watched the times that Reggie Wayne or Marques Colston or Larry Fitzgerald or any number of other good receivers routinely makes those kinds of catches on less-than-perfect throws, they would never write comments like that.

dude im just messing around....

That's funny. After reading through alot of these posts I made the same mistake as dj. It's sad that you absurd statement actually sounds like a normal argument as opposed to obvious sarcasm.

I understood his point. I just used his comment to illustrate the point that others have made. ie., wide receivers must do their job on less than perfect passes. Unfortunately, it seems some are so fixated on their personal NEGATIVE opinion of Alex Smith that they don't see reality.

I should have made my response more obvious I guess.

Alex looked competitive. He has more work to do but he is finally on track again. I would love to see him out shine Aaron Rodgers in the NFC QB title this year. Yes it is early but it could happen. The talent is across the board. If he heats up, some of the recievers #s will start looking good as well. Go 49ers!!!

One major difference I noticed was how he was stepping up into the pocket to fire the ball. Whereas before, he would roll out. IDK if the props should go to our OL or him.

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by dtcomposer:

This is Crazy talk people!! How many times do we have to blame the quarterbacks (Davis, Smith last night) for balls that are mere inches to a foot from being perfect. I mean we are calling balls high that are at the recievers head or slightly above.. that is so ridiculous. Since the beginning of pre-season I have been watching every game I could, and I will tell you something: every QB- Manning, Brees, Brady , Vince young, Jake Delhomme all of them have thrown several passes like those that we obsess over here. The difference is that their recievers CATCH THE FOOTBAL (most of the time)L!! I don't know if it is a coaching thing, bad luck, or just obsessing over it here on WZ, but I would hope that the players, coaches, and fans would start holding the recievers responsible for dropped passes! That includes Crabtree, Davis, and anyone else who keeps dropping passes, or tipping them up to get intercepted.

Please watch a whole game this week and just try to notice where QB's (All-pros, and scrubs) are putting the ball. Yo uwill see that it is behind, a little bit high, slightly low etc ALL THE TIME. You don't notice it as much because the recievers make a play on the football. Can we please stop whining about this and just CATCH THE BALL? This is coming from an old highschool reciever, so I know all about catching in traffic etc. I know it is difficult, but for whatever reason our WR's need to be held accountable when it hits their hands. Ok off my soapbox

Absolutely GREAT post here... bravo!

Some fans sure have no problem "babying" these receivers by insisting on perfect ball placement. These guys get paid big bucks to make catches that are high, low, or a lil behind. It's ridiculous to not expect most of these passes to be caught.

absolutely second the great post bravo here...a good example was the play where smith threw downfield to ginn...the pass was high but very much catchable...many will fault smith for throwing the pass high, but if you look at the play, he was under a heavy rush, and stepped up to avoid being sacked...he got the ball off and gave the wr a chance to make a play

the niners need not only smith to step up his game but also guys like crabtree vernon and delanie walker...examples, crabs had crucial fumble in colts game, davis dropped potential game winner vs seahawks and walker had big fumble near goalline vs eagles...when they mature and start making less mistakes, smith and the niners will look alot better

Originally posted by hofer36:

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by dtcomposer:

This is Crazy talk people!! How many times do we have to blame the quarterbacks (Davis, Smith last night) for balls that are mere inches to a foot from being perfect. I mean we are calling balls high that are at the recievers head or slightly above.. that is so ridiculous. Since the beginning of pre-season I have been watching every game I could, and I will tell you something: every QB- Manning, Brees, Brady , Vince young, Jake Delhomme all of them have thrown several passes like those that we obsess over here. The difference is that their recievers CATCH THE FOOTBAL (most of the time)L!! I don't know if it is a coaching thing, bad luck, or just obsessing over it here on WZ, but I would hope that the players, coaches, and fans would start holding the recievers responsible for dropped passes! That includes Crabtree, Davis, and anyone else who keeps dropping passes, or tipping them up to get intercepted.

Please watch a whole game this week and just try to notice where QB's (All-pros, and scrubs) are putting the ball. Yo uwill see that it is behind, a little bit high, slightly low etc ALL THE TIME. You don't notice it as much because the recievers make a play on the football. Can we please stop whining about this and just CATCH THE BALL? This is coming from an old highschool reciever, so I know all about catching in traffic etc. I know it is difficult, but for whatever reason our WR's need to be held accountable when it hits their hands. Ok off my soapbox

Absolutely GREAT post here... bravo!

Some fans sure have no problem "babying" these receivers by insisting on perfect ball placement. These guys get paid big bucks to make catches that are high, low, or a lil behind. It's ridiculous to not expect most of these passes to be caught.

absolutely second the great post bravo here...a good example was the play where smith threw downfield to ginn...the pass was high but very much catchable...many will fault smith for throwing the pass high, but if you look at the play, he was under a heavy rush, and stepped up to avoid being sacked...he got the ball off and gave the wr a chance to make a play

the niners need not only smith to step up his game but also guys like crabtree vernon and delanie walker...examples, crabs had crucial fumble in colts game, davis dropped potential game winner vs seahawks and walker had big fumble near goalline vs eagles...when they mature and start making less mistakes, smith and the niners will look alot better

Against Seattle, Walker also dropped a pass on the first drive that should've been a TD. The refs missed the PI (he was obviously disrupted before the ball got there) but he still should've caught it.

The best pass Alex Smith threw was the third down pass to Ginn. The ball placement was perfect as Ginn ran 5 yards and just as he cut out, Alex threw it to his inside shoulder because the DB was jumping Ginn's outside shoulder.

That was perfect ball placement even though it didn't hit Ginn in the numbers. The DB would have broken that up if it were any bit to the right of Ginn's numbers.

Originally posted by Joecool:
The best pass Alex Smith threw was the third down pass to Ginn. The ball placement was perfect as Ginn ran 5 yards and just as he cut out, Alex threw it to his inside shoulder because the DB was jumping Ginn's outside shoulder.

That was perfect ball placement even though it didn't hit Ginn in the numbers. The DB would have broken that up if it were any bit to the right of Ginn's numbers.

The Delanie pass was pretty good as well, hit him on the number in perfect stride, easy for him to catch and immediately turn up field.

Originally posted by 5280High:

Originally posted by Joecool:
The best pass Alex Smith threw was the third down pass to Ginn. The ball placement was perfect as Ginn ran 5 yards and just as he cut out, Alex threw it to his inside shoulder because the DB was jumping Ginn's outside shoulder.

That was perfect ball placement even though it didn't hit Ginn in the numbers. The DB would have broken that up if it were any bit to the right of Ginn's numbers.

The Delanie pass was pretty good as well, hit him on the number in perfect stride, easy for him to catch and immediately turn up field.

I was impressed by the blitz pickup on that pass by the O-line, Nate Byham, and Anthony Dixon.