The Obvious Troy Smith Comparison

Originally posted by Surly-Z:
I keep hearing Drew Brees' name, along with a few others like Flutie or Vick, in the conversation about Troy Smith and his height....Does anyone remember the last 49er QB that you could call a franchise quarterback? The last to go to the Pro Bowl and the playoffs--and win there?

Jeff Garcia wasn't great but he was very good, and I think Troy could be in that category. People keep saying "just cause he did so and so, doesn't mean he's the next Joe," as if anyone is calling him the next Joe, with a straight face that is....But the next Jef? Maybe. The guy reminds me of Garcia for a number of reasons: height, athletic ability, scrambler style, mental toughness, leadership, and his unheralded status coming into the league, despite making a name for himself in college.

If Sing should go and Troy should stay, which seems possible, and the WCO is re-instated, I could see that working well for his style like it did for Garcia. But mostly I raise this comparison because I'm surprised at how tepid and slow-moving the hype for Troy has been, compared to the bandwagonning for any of the many QBs--Shaun Hill, Nate Davis, JT O'Sulivan, Carr, Alex, etc.--who didn't show a fraction of his talent or instincts. Until very recently, I hadn't heard anyone even bring up the possibility of Troy being the starter beyond this year....I'm glad to see we're finally having that conversation.

THE WCO is only coming back if we get holmgren or someone along those lines, I think whoever we get next will still stay with the nolantary era of run first.

I always thought he played alot like Jeff.

Shorter side, highly mobile (but not Vick-like speed), at their best while on the run, cool under pressure, elite accuracy outside the pocket, ability to keep plays alive, adequate but not rocket arm, and tough as nails.

Originally posted by Surly-Z:
I keep hearing Drew Brees' name, along with a few others like Flutie or Vick, in the conversation about Troy Smith and his height....Does anyone remember the last 49er QB that you could call a franchise quarterback? The last to go to the Pro Bowl and the playoffs--and win there?

Jeff Garcia wasn't great but he was very good, and I think Troy could be in that category. People keep saying "just cause he did so and so, doesn't mean he's the next Joe," as if anyone is calling him the next Joe, with a straight face that is....But the next Jef? Maybe. The guy reminds me of Garcia for a number of reasons: height, athletic ability, scrambler style, mental toughness, leadership, and his unheralded status coming into the league, despite making a name for himself in college.

If Sing should go and Troy should stay, which seems possible, and the WCO is re-instated, I could see that working well for his style like it did for Garcia. But mostly I raise this comparison because I'm surprised at how tepid and slow-moving the hype for Troy has been, compared to the bandwagonning for any of the many QBs--Shaun Hill, Nate Davis, JT O'Sulivan, Carr, Alex, etc.--who didn't show a fraction of his talent or instincts. Until very recently, I hadn't heard anyone even bring up the possibility of Troy being the starter beyond this year....I'm glad to see we're finally having that conversation.

The hype is slow-moving (by Niner Talk standards at least) because we've been hurt before. I want to make sure he's really the one before I get too emotionally involved......so to speak.

Originally posted by 49oz2superbowl:
I always thought he played alot like Jeff.

Shorter side, highly mobile (but not Vick-like speed), at their best while on the run, cool under pressure, elite accuracy outside the pocket, ability to keep plays alive, adequate but not rocket arm, and tough as nails.

Its a reasonable comparison. I give Jeff the toughness/decision-making edge right now while Troy has a FAR better arm. I really hope he succeeds. At the very least the season has found a way to hold my interest.

Jeff Garcia is listed at 6'1", but in person, he's damn near the same height as me. I'm 6'2" barefoot. Troy Smith is listed at 6' even, but he was standing right next to Frank Gore before the STL game and he looked maybe an inch taller. Gore is 5'9" on a good day. I think 6' even might be a bit of a stretch for Troy.

His mobility and the things he can do outside the pocket negate his height disadvantage, though.

he is nothing like jeff garcia

Originally posted by 49oz2superbowl:
I always thought he played alot like Jeff.

Shorter side, highly mobile (but not Vick-like speed), at their best while on the run, cool under pressure, elite accuracy outside the pocket, ability to keep plays alive, adequate but not rocket arm, and tough as nails.

Troy's arm IS a rocket arm.

Willis and Takeo call him Willie Beamen.

Funny how people are saying he has no chance because of his height. In the era before they measured players exactly at the combine, height and weight of all football players were exaggerated. Every QB listed as 6'0" in the old days was probably 5'9" or 5'10". Fran Tarkenton was listed at 6'0" and 190, the guy is lucky to be 5'10' and 170 soaking wet with $100 worth of pennies in his pockets, and he was pretty good. Doug Flutie was only 5'9", while it would be nice if Troy was 6'4" I think he will be just fine.

stop jinxing it

Originally posted by BobS:
Funny how people are saying he has no chance because of his height. In the era before they measured players exactly at the combine, height and weight of all football players were exaggerated. Every QB listed as 6'0" in the old days was probably 5'9" or 5'10". Fran Tarkenton was listed at 6'0" and 190, the guy is lucky to be 5'10' and 170 soaking wet with $100 worth of pennies in his pockets, and he was pretty good. Doug Flutie was only 5'9", while it would be nice if Troy was 6'4" I think he will be just fine.

I agree he will be fine, but it would make his job a lot easier if he was 6'4". It might be a little hard to see your targets when a bunch of 6'5" linemen are in front of you.

As has been pointed out, Troy has the arm.


Troy did a nice little Garciaesque jump pass on the TD that VD was called back.

Garcia had less hype coming out of SJ State so he had to go to Canada (and win a Grey Cup, eh)

Troy won the Heisman and was at least a 5th Rounder.

Garcia struggled his first year in 1998 after Steve went down but came around. Troy is having more immediate success.

I'll take 3 straight pro bowls anyday

the main difference between the old days and now is not the QB, its the O line. O lines were much smaller and easier to throw and see over. Now these guys are all 6'5"/350 and hard to move around. That is why it is not really comparable.

But Troy's mobility does start to even that out.

as of right now the only comparison I see is their height and they both play qb.