The Official Harbaugh Era QB competition!

Originally posted by RichmondPete:
If this unlikely hypothetical scenario came true, we should trade Alex Smith. Derek Anderson had a great year in Cleveland and he regressed. Alex Smith may have some decent years ahead of him but the chances of him becoming a franchise QB who can lead his team to the playoffs year in and year out are ridiculously small. In fact, if that came true we should be discussing whether Mark Wahlberg or Shia Labeouf should star in the movie about his miraculous career.

You cannot trade what you do not have the rights to. If he turns it around and plays well, who is to say CK is going to be any good? You have to stick with the sure thing...if you have a sure thing.

A new coaching staff. A bad injury prone qb. A fan base that is fed up with him. To top it all off there is a talented hungry rookie that will be breathing down his neck. He will be very lucky to make it through the first 3-4 games.

I guess it would depend on what great is. If he posts a 90-95 QB rating and leads us to the playoffs then I would front load a 4 year contract and give Kaep the 2-3 years he needs to develop.

Now if Smith has a pro-bowl year and lets say leads us to the super bowl, then you have to sign him long term. I could see the first happening and if Kaep looks good in preseason and lets say plays a few regular season games lights out, you have a great issue to deal with.

Originally posted by dwett:
I guess it would depend on what great is. If he posts a 90-95 QB rating and leads us to the playoffs then I would front load a 4 year contract and give Kaep the 2-3 years he needs to develop.

Now if Smith has a pro-bowl year and lets say leads us to the super bowl, then you have to sign him long term. I could see the first happening and if Kaep looks good in preseason and lets say plays a few regular season games lights out, you have a great issue to deal with.

This good post nearly sums it up for me.

A decent but mixed result of good and mediocre would probably get him a 1-2 year offer to stay and compete with Kaepernick in 2012 ( a 2-4 mil per year with incentives ).

A more solid and consistently good year gets him resigned long-term ( a 7+ mil per year deal )

Let's say in this utopian scenario Alex Smith not only has a great 2011, but has a tremendous season with a deep playoff run or maybe, possibly, a Superbowl birth. Why would Alex Smith want to stay??

Originally posted by LoboLtnLvr49er:
Let's say in this utopian scenario Alex Smith not only has a great 2011, but has a tremendous season with a deep playoff run or maybe, possibly, a Superbowl birth. Why would Alex Smith want to stay??

Because it is well known that he likes being in the WC? That he likes many of his teammates, and wouldn't want to begin learning all over again elsewhere? Why leave when you just shut so many pie holes and finally have the team that drafted you going in the right direction? If we have 2011 success, it will be because the personnel and coaching in place is clicking well. Alex will smell the many further years this team can thrive... so it would be rather shocking if he suddenly wanted to bail out. For what? Money he doesn't need? Just for the challenge of starting all over?

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by LoboLtnLvr49er:
Let's say in this utopian scenario Alex Smith not only has a great 2011, but has a tremendous season with a deep playoff run or maybe, possibly, a Superbowl birth. Why would Alex Smith want to stay??

Because it is well known that he likes being in the WC? That he likes many of his teammates, and wouldn't want to begin learning all over again elsewhere? Why leave when you just shut so many pie holes and finally have the team that drafted you going in the right direction? If we have 2011 success, it will be because the personnel and coaching in place is clicking well. Alex will smell the many further years this team can thrive... so it would be rather shocking if he suddenly wanted to bail out. For what? Money he doesn't need? Just for the challenge of starting all over?

I agree and would add on to one point. Harbaugh. If you find a coach you can be successful with I would think it would be hard to leave that situation. Smith of all QBs knows what it's like to play for a inept coaches. Being a first pick overall I think Smith feels he has something to prove and that being under Harbaugh, if this hypothetical situation takes form, will be the best way for him to continue that success.

I would rather have low expectations. I'm tired of getting my hopes up and being disappointed.

Originally posted by dwett:

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by LoboLtnLvr49er:
Let's say in this utopian scenario Alex Smith not only has a great 2011, but has a tremendous season with a deep playoff run or maybe, possibly, a Superbowl birth. Why would Alex Smith want to stay??

Because it is well known that he likes being in the WC? That he likes many of his teammates, and wouldn't want to begin learning all over again elsewhere? Why leave when you just shut so many pie holes and finally have the team that drafted you going in the right direction? If we have 2011 success, it will be because the personnel and coaching in place is clicking well. Alex will smell the many further years this team can thrive... so it would be rather shocking if he suddenly wanted to bail out. For what? Money he doesn't need? Just for the challenge of starting all over?

I agree and would add on to one point. Harbaugh. If you find a coach you can be successful with I would think it would be hard to leave that situation. Smith of all QBs knows what it's like to play for a inept coaches. Being a first pick overall I think Smith feels he has something to prove and that being under Harbaugh, if this hypothetical situation takes form, will be the best way for him to continue that success.

I felt I alluded to that added point with the bold, but it's a good enough point to underscore.

No way he'd be on this team unless he really looked impressive and showd leadership, accuracy, sound decision making and put the team on his back. So anything short of Brady-esque...he's gone. Don't think I could make another large investment in the guy.

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by LoboLtnLvr49er:
Let's say in this utopian scenario Alex Smith not only has a great 2011, but has a tremendous season with a deep playoff run or maybe, possibly, a Superbowl birth. Why would Alex Smith want to stay??

Because it is well known that he likes being in the WC? That he likes many of his teammates, and wouldn't want to begin learning all over again elsewhere? Why leave when you just shut so many pie holes and finally have the team that drafted you going in the right direction? If we have 2011 success, it will be because the personnel and coaching in place is clicking well. Alex will smell the many further years this team can thrive... so it would be rather shocking if he suddenly wanted to bail out. For what? Money he doesn't need? Just for the challenge of starting all over?

Because of the prior years of bad history he had with the team. If we were not in a lock out now, there is no way Smith will be brought back to this team. It is because of circumstances Smith is staying put for the time being. If you felt you were mishandled and treated poorly by the fan base, and when you finally do well (hypothetically), you see the organization and fans fall in love with you, the hypocritical tone would be too evident to pass up. I know Alex is a nice guy, and it could definitely be perceived as a d*ck move to bail on the 49ers after a extremely successful year (hypothetically), but I would not be shocked if he did it. Do you remember his reaction during the last game of the season when people were booing him, when he practically had his best game of the season? He was smiling and shaking his head in a, "I cannot wait to bolt from this place!" Could the resentment still be there? Who knows, but to assume the "nice" Alex will continue after his new found leadership role and possibly a changed persona of cockiness achieved when vindication has been achieved, I do not think it is a done deal Alex would want to stay.

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by dwett:

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by LoboLtnLvr49er:
Let's say in this utopian scenario Alex Smith not only has a great 2011, but has a tremendous season with a deep playoff run or maybe, possibly, a Superbowl birth. Why would Alex Smith want to stay??

Because it is well known that he likes being in the WC? That he likes many of his teammates, and wouldn't want to begin learning all over again elsewhere? Why leave when you just shut so many pie holes and finally have the team that drafted you going in the right direction? If we have 2011 success, it will be because the personnel and coaching in place is clicking well. Alex will smell the many further years this team can thrive... so it would be rather shocking if he suddenly wanted to bail out. For what? Money he doesn't need? Just for the challenge of starting all over?

I agree and would add on to one point. Harbaugh. If you find a coach you can be successful with I would think it would be hard to leave that situation. Smith of all QBs knows what it's like to play for a inept coaches. Being a first pick overall I think Smith feels he has something to prove and that being under Harbaugh, if this hypothetical situation takes form, will be the best way for him to continue that success.

I felt I alluded to that added point with the bold, but it's a good enough point to underscore.

Sorry I should have bold that. I was just wanting to add to your point. Didn't mean to say you didn't state the idea.

Originally posted by LoboLtnLvr49er:

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by LoboLtnLvr49er:
Let's say in this utopian scenario Alex Smith not only has a great 2011, but has a tremendous season with a deep playoff run or maybe, possibly, a Superbowl birth. Why would Alex Smith want to stay??

Because it is well known that he likes being in the WC? That he likes many of his teammates, and wouldn't want to begin learning all over again elsewhere? Why leave when you just shut so many pie holes and finally have the team that drafted you going in the right direction? If we have 2011 success, it will be because the personnel and coaching in place is clicking well. Alex will smell the many further years this team can thrive... so it would be rather shocking if he suddenly wanted to bail out. For what? Money he doesn't need? Just for the challenge of starting all over?

Because of the prior years of bad history he had with the team. If we were not in a lock out now, there is no way Smith will be brought back to this team. It is because of circumstances Smith is staying put for the time being. If you felt you were mishandled and treated poorly by the fan base, and when you finally do well (hypothetically), you see the organization and fans fall in love with you, the hypocritical tone would be too evident to pass up. I know Alex is a nice guy, and it could definitely be perceived as a d*ck move to bail on the 49ers after a extremely successful year (hypothetically), but I would not be shocked if he did it. Do you remember his reaction during the last game of the season when people were booing him, when he practically had his best game of the season? He was smiling and shaking his head in a, "I cannot wait to bolt from this place!" Could the resentment still be there? Who knows, but to assume the "nice" Alex will continue after his new found leadership role and possibly a changed persona of cockiness achieved when vindication has been achieved, I do not think it is a done deal Alex would want to stay.

The only people clinging to the past are the detractors. Yes, I watched that final game many times... it is the only one I haven't deleted from my DVR list. Fan bases are fickle no matter where you look... every intelligent player recognizes this... and understands that wins bring cheers and losses bring scorn.

If there was no lockout, then yeah, chances of Smith choosing to stay would have decreased... for the sheer reality that his options and time to make choices were drastically lessened. Some will have you believe that if not for the lockout, Harbaugh would have been happy to wave Smith g'bye. I would dismiss such a conclusion as transparently wishful thinking to help reinforce their assessment of the player's abilities.

Originally posted by dwett:

Sorry I should have bold that. I was just wanting to add to your point. Didn't mean to say you didn't state the idea.

Like I said, it's all good.

Smith would have to have a great 2011 season to be extended IMO. Even at that, the extension should be a 3-4 year extension at best.