10 Reasons the San Francisco 49ers Must Lock Up Alex Smith

The San Francisco 49ers and Alex Smith for the first six years seemed like a relationship headed nowhere. After consistent failure under Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary, to even ponder retaining him was a laughing matter.

Fans who might have suggested such a move were deemed out of their minds. Reasonable people said that last year was a lockout, so the Niners basically had to re-sign Smith or risk going into training camp with rookie Colin Kaepernick as the starter.

However, one year of Jim Harbaugh and success heals all wounds.

Now, Smith is not only a nice option at quarterback for the 49ers, but the best one. In his seven years with the organization he has hit rock bottom and turned things around. In one player, he embodies the entire Niner organization over the past decade. That, plus his performance last year makes him someone San Francisco must strongly consider bringing back to Candlestick Park.

Here are 10 reasons why the 49ers must lock up Alex Smith:

Continuity

If the 49ers re-sign Smith, for the first time in his career he will have the “luxury” of working in the same offensive system for consecutive years.  That fact also means that for the first time since the Jeff Garcia years, the organization has a chance to have a confident and stable offensive scheme.

For all that Jim Harbaugh and his staff were able to accomplish this year, imagine what they might be able to do in a full offseason of work with Smith and the offense? With Smith still around, they could focus on adding more plays and intricacies to their system. Not hamstrung by a lockout or a new quarterback, they could focus on enhancing the playbook rather than teaching it.

Now try to picture someone else being under center for the red and gold? It certainly isn’t nearly as enticing. A year ago an answer to that question would have been very easy, but Smith has shown he can be proficient and quite effective in Harbaugh’s system.

One of the strengths of this past year’s 49ers team was the camaraderie and connection of the players who comprised it. Therefore, the 49ers should strive to retain the man who was at the center of it.

Passing Ability

Despite claims to the contrary, when Alex Smith was asked to pass this year, he was actually fairly effective. In fact, his 2011 regular-season passer rating of 90.7, ranked him ninth in the league. It was better than big names like Michael Vick and Phillip Rivers, along with playoff quarterbacks such as Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco.

Of course, some will say that the only reason his passer rating was that good is that he didn’t throw many interceptions. While true, having the ability to keep the ball in your team’s possession is not a negative.

This is especially true with the 49ers: a team with a run-first offense that is built on defense. With that being the case, common sense says that kind of team should have a quarterback who can complete passes when necessary and will not give the defense extra work by throwing interceptions.

Alex Smith has shown he can be exactly this kind of player. 

Running Threat

As was showcased in the NFC divisional round against the Saints, Smith can and will run. As with his passer rating, some might be shocked to learn that the 49ers quarterback actually ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in quarterback rushing yards.

That is a talent worth considering.

If the Niners are unable to attract a capable, veteran receiver, the team will need a mobile quarterback who can generate opportunities and first downs for himself.  In fact, even if they are able to acquire a talented receiver, having a mobile quarterback does not hurt. If the defense falls back into coverage, Smith can step up and run.

In 2011, 25 percent of Smith’s rushes resulted in moving the chains. His knack for crossing the first down marker must factor into the organization’s decision to lock him up.  

Brainpower

When drafted in 2005, Smith’s intelligence was given as a main reason for his selection at No. 1 overall. However, until this year, it was never showcased. In fact, many fans and media simply stopped believing that word even remotely described him. They saw the performance on the field as it was and figured that if he was so smart, it would be better.

To the excitement of the San Francisco organization, that was a false conclusion.

Even with a shortened offseason, Smith learned and effectively played in a new offensive scheme; one regarded by many as complex. After all, much is being made of Andrew Luck’s intellect because of his ability to understand the intricate Stanford system, and Harbaugh installed that one as well.

There should be little motivation for the organization to risk obtaining a quarterback who may or may not work with the current system when there is a familiar, effective and intelligent option. Since the offense is a difficult one to master, and Smith already has a very solid grasp on it, there is no reason to change.  

Motivation

Prior to this season Alex Smith had played six seasons with six different offensive coordinators, all resulting in .500 seasons or worse. On top of that he had been publicly smashed by both of his previous head coaches, who focused much of their efforts on defense and in essence left the offense out in the cold. It was a situation that would lead many to want to leave.

However, last offseason when he had a chance to go to another organization, Smith stayed in San Francisco. He chose to remain in the place where everyone outside of the new coach had zero faith in him.

That choice shows as much about Alex Smith’s motivation as his work on the field. As the No. 1 pick, Smith rightfully felt like there was unfinished business to be tended too. In 2011, he partially dealt with it. However, now there is another task: making it to and winning a Super Bowl.

Having already experienced the nasty underbelly of not fulfilling expectations in San Francisco, he will be motivated to train and work even more intensely than before. Any acquisition from outside the organization would not carry this same level of drive.

Locker Room Leadership

Every player, coach and staff member inside the Niners organization knows the trials and tribulations of Alex Smith’s career. It takes a certain kind of player and person to continue playing the game for an organization and city that has treated you so poorly. Not only that, but it then requires a fairly strong willed individual to play the way he did in 2011 and guide that team to within one step of the Super Bowl.

In short, there is a type of respect within the 49ers locker room reserved for Smith and Smith alone. As a result, teammates sit and listen when he speaks. He may not be the powerful, motivating voice of Vernon Davis, but when he talks people pay attention.

In a locker room that seemingly rose and fell as one that leadership was required. Next year, with a team that is likely to be composed of most of the same players, there is no reason to think that it won’t be necessary again.

Thin Free-Agent Market

For those fans that are hoping and praying that Drew Brees will hit the open market and the 49ers will be able to scoop him up, sit down and take a dose of reality medicine. Everyone inside at outside of New Orleans knows that Brees is going to be a Saint for the rest of his career. Thus, when subtracting Brees, this free-agency class does not boast any exciting quarterback names.

In truth, Matt Flynn is likely going to be the most sought after signal-caller, and he has spent his entire career backing up Aaron Rodgers. That is not a shot a Flynn as he could be a good starter, but rather highlights exactly why locking up Smith makes sense for the 49ers. If Smith hits the open market he will be one of the top quarterbacks available, and the Niners certainly don’t want to be left looking at the remaining options.

In a different year with a few better options it is possible the 49ers could think about letting Smith walk. However, with Flynn, Kyle Orton, Chad Henne and Jason Campbell as the alternatives this year, that simply does not make sense.

Team Is Ready to Win

As with any team that doesn’t have a quarterback named Brady, Brees, Rodgers or Manning, there is always those select few who imagine that the current starter is blocking the next superstar. Although very little is known about Colin Kaepernick because of his limited playing time, there are undoubtedly those who want to see him get a chance at leading this team.

If the 49ers had not won 13 times this year and made it to the NFC Championship game that might be an option. However, this team is clearly capable and ready to win now and there is no telling how long that window of opportunity will be available.

Therefore, there is no point in wasting this next year trying to get Kaepernick or another young quarterback acclimated to the NFL and the offensive system. Smith is fairly young himself, and can engineer the offense. Also, this year he proved that he can even do it in pressure situations in the playoffs.

Harbaugh Wants Smith

After years of hearing coach’s talk about what Alex Smith can’t do, from the very beginning of this year Jim Harbaugh spoke about what he could do. Then, Smith went out and backed up his coach’s words.

Not surprisingly then, even before the 49ers were bounced from the playoffs, when asked about Smith’s return for the 2012 season Harbaugh said “I told Alex, Hey we’re going to want you to come back here next year”.

That statement should be reason enough for the San Francisco front office to sign him. When a head coach comes in and brings the team their first winning record since 2002, you listen when he says he wants certain personnel to stick around.

In one year, Harbaugh gained a relationship with Smith that he had yet to have with any NFL coach. It seemed that Harbaugh the coach and man got to know Smith the player and person. From their smiling chats prior to game time to their bear hugs on the sideline it is clear these two have formed a bond. When quarterback and coach are on the same page, and have had success together, that is a connection worth maintaining.

Affordability

The 49ers organization can agree with every reason stated above, but in the end this is what will likely most entice them to keep Alex Smith around. In all likelihood, the 49ers are contemplating a contract somewhere in the realm of $8-$12 million dollars a year.

In terms of quarterback contracts, that kind of deal would mean neither Smith getting overpaid nor the 49ers getting a bargain. It is certainly a large sum of money, but it does not restrict the Niners so much that they will be unable to make other moves.

They will still have funds available to chase the much-needed veteran receiver. In fact, with Smith in the fold, receivers might be attracted to come to San Francisco knowing they will be playing with a team that went to the playoffs last year and has the same man throwing them the ball.

With a consistent Jim Harbaugh-led offensive scheme there is no reason to believe Alex Smith will not provide some return on that amount of investment.