Saints vs 49ers: How Alex Smith Proved He's the Man for Franchise's Future

With 14 seconds left in the game, the ball on the Saints’ 14-yard line and the 49ers down by a field goal, No. 11 Alex Smith stepped under center with an entire nation unaware of what would happen next.

As many people will describe it, the first couple seasons of Alex Smith’s career were uninspiring and unimpressive. He made mistakes, looked uncomfortable in the pocket, was absent in the locker room and nothing like the top prospect that once drew a standing ovation from a bleacher of scouts.

For fans in San Francisco, a spoiled class that had seen stars like Joe Montana, Steve Young and even Jeff Garcia all lead the organization to glory, this was simply unacceptable.

After continuing to struggle through his first couple seasons, the frustration started to eat at Smith, and he started butting heads with his coaches. One head coach, Mike Nolan, implied he was soft when discussing an injury Smith sustained and just years later, head coach Mike Singletary described him as a “meek” player.

Before Smith could do anything about it, public opinion had already turned on the former top overall selection. He had been cast off by an entire city and abused like a whipping horse.

What drove people nuts was Smith’s overall dullness and interest in personal statistics, as opposed to team victories.

Prior to the final 2007 preseason game, Smith even went as far as to say that his goal for the finale was to move past backup Trent Dilfer in passer rating. In a recent interview, Smith even admitted that the numbers used to consume him.

Snap back to Saturday’s fourth quarter, and the 27-year-old Smith looked composed and confident with the game on the line. He may be without a single 300-yard performance in 2011, but his 13-3 record as a starter landed the 49ers the second overall seed in the NFC.

From the shotgun, Smith barked orders and checked the coverage, setting up for a bang-bang strike that they had been practicing all week.

Said Smith after the game, “I didn’t want to force anything. So really, it was if the window was there, I was going to cut it loose…I got the window”.

Touchdown, Vernon Davis. The San Francisco 49ers win.

It’s quite the story for Smith, considering that less than a year ago, I and many other San Francisco 49ers fans were calling for his departure.

At this time one year ago, it finally looked like the franchise was ready to turn the page on the struggling quarterback and open a new chapter. Jim Harbaugh, a coach who had seen success at the college ranks, had been hired to replace the fired Mike Singletary.

Alex Smith’s contract was up and would respectfully be kicked to the curb. Somehow, the 49ers would end up with Harbaugh’s college quarterback Andrew Luck (it somehow made sense in my head at the time). Everything would fall into place.

Then Harbaugh turned out to be an even better pickup than originally thought. They started winning. The players started listening. And the 49ers have wound up hosting the NFC Championship Game at their very own Candlestick Park.

Looking back, it’s still awe-striking how quickly the 49ers returned to prominence.

Harbaugh changed the personality of the team and did so swiftly. Out were the daily pep talks and motivational speeches that Mike Singletary had been known for. In was Harbaugh, a man who had coached with a purpose, didn’t care what people thought and brought some much-needed confidence to the team.

After watching him turn a 1-11 football program into a powerhouse, BCS contender just down the street in Palo Alto, Harbaugh was entrusted with the team by the Niners faithful. Whatever he said was accepted, even liked—right up until he said he wanted to work with Alex Smith.

I actually remember the phone conversation I had with my dad that night. It was late in January. At first, I didn’t get it. For the most part, no one did.

“I’ve been studying Alex Smith and watching him,” said Harbaugh on KHTK Radio in Sacramento. “I believe that he can be a winning quarterback in the National Football League. I’m excited to work with him, get to know him.”

Harbaugh didn’t care what fans thought. Every player had a clean slate when it came to him taking over the team. Just three weeks prior, Smith had been nearly boo’d out of Candlestick Park, and yet Harbaugh wasn’t done with him.

In Smith, Harbaugh saw a smart guy. He saw a veteran player who would work hard, study film, read defenses and do anything to help the team.

That certainly wasn’t the guy that the fans had come to know. The fans knew Smith as soft, meek and incompetent, because that is exactly how the media had portrayed him. Smith wasn’t a scapegoat, at least not in Harbaugh’s eyes, and his chapter with the team wasn’t done.

We were stunned, but it turned out to be the right decision all along.

Alex Smith has come lightyears from the player he was in 2010. Despite not being focused on the numbers, he’s had his best statistical season to date, finishing with career-highs in passing yards, total touchdowns (rushing and passing), completion percentage and passer rating. He’s confident, trusting in his abilities and, like Harbaugh, plays with a chip on his shoulder.

Never has that been clearer than it was Saturday evening.

From the 49ers’ offseason workouts, nicknamed “Camp Alex,” to the first game of the season, it was clear that something was a little different with No. 11. He looked like a leader, had the trust of his teammates and for the first time in years had a coach who whole-heartedly believed in him.

When the 49ers began to hit their stride midway through the regular season, the title “game manager” began to be thrown around by media members when describing Smith’s style of play.

It was a back-handed compliment and one that implied, “You’re not a quarterback—you’re not even good enough to be called a quarterback.” Smith was winning, the 49ers were winning and Smith was averaging less than 200 passing yards per game. Obviously, no credit was due.

“Game manager” or not, Smith just led his team past an MVP-caliber quarterback Saturday afternoon and into the NFC Championship Game.

Make no mistake—Smith will never be Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady. Chances are he won’t even reach the class that Tony Romo and Eli Manning hold.

He probably won’t make a Pro Bowl, and in the "Year of the Quarterback," he probably ranks in the bottom half of signal-callers coaches want leading their teams. However, in the wake of all this, Smith has established himself as the starting quarterback in San Francisco, at least for a couple more seasons.

This entire season, Smith has played from within himself. He doesn’t attempt to be someone he’s not and he doesn’t try to do too much. Some critics will say he’s playing safe and fearful of mistakes, but in actuality, he’s simply playing smart football and giving his team the best chance to win.

Prior to Saturday’s matchup against New Orleans, Smith was asked whether he can match Saints quarterback Drew Brees in yards.

Smith’s response: “I don’t care. I really don’t…I’m looking to outscore him."

That’s exactly what he did.

With Alex Smith under center, there’s certainty in San Francisco. Smith isn’t a gunslinger and won’t be breaking passing records anytime soon. What he has done, though, is consistently move the ball down the field, sustaining long drives that get points on the board.

49ers kicker David Akers broke the field-goal record this season, converting 44. Smith did get him there for all of those chances.

If the New York Giants come into town this Sunday and completely destroy the 49ers, the scene outside of Candlestick could look an awful lot like the All-State Insurance “Ref Mayhem” commercial that keeps popping up on my television.

Smith still has a lot to prove and by no means is his job done yet. What he demonstrated this season though has been more than enough to make me want more in 2012.

With Smith under center, the Niners can in fact be contenders. And what a surprise that has been.

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