Originally posted by WestCoast:Originally posted by excelsior:
While Alex was QB, he was often criticized for being indecisive, for unnecessarily throwing the ball away or for checking down, for which some derisively labeled him "Captain Checkdown."
I give Alex credit for being smart and reasonably experienced, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt that it was because he couldn't find open receivers downfield. Occassionally, the TV camara would look downfield and you could see that the receivers were covered and were not breaking open.
Alex did what any competent QB would do, and he went elsewhere with the ball. Often, we would see Vernon go downfield and he would not turn around when the QB desparately wanted to throw to him. This happened again near the end of yesterday's game, only this time Troy was the victim.
Bottom line: our receivers often let our QBs down. If its Alex, it's Alex's fault. If it's Troy, it's on the receivers.
90% of the time there are open receivers and Alex Smith can't find them.
The receivers must be WIDE OPEN before his genius brain will tell him to throw it.