Alex Smith vs. Cam Newton: Who Comes out the Winner in Preseason Feud?

Alex Smith is missing the point. 

Individual statistics don't always specifically affect wins and losses, but it's absolutely illogical for the San Francisco 49ers quarterback to use Cam Newton's historic rookie season in defense of his own pedestrian numbers in a wildly successful 2011 campaign.

Smith said the following to reporters when asked what was to account for the team being ranked 29th in passing yards per game last year (h/t San Francisco Chronicle):

"

“I could absolutely care less on yards per game. I think that is a totally overblown stat because if you’re losing games in the second half, guess what, you’re like the Carolina Panthers and you’re going no-huddle the entire second half. Yeah, Cam Newton threw for a lot of 300-yard games. That’s great. You’re not winning, though.”

"

His defensive response to the question actually shows he's more worried about stats than anyone. Would Smith have made the same comments if he threw for 4,051 yards last season? Actually, the initial question would never have been posed in that case. 

In fact, Smith's assertion is essentially baseless. 

On average, Newton threw 4.5 more times per game last season than Smith did. Yes, his team was behind often which put the Heisman Trophy winner in more passing situations, but did the extra tosses attribute for the 56-yard difference between the Carolina Panthers and 49ers passing offenses? 

Probably not. 

Stats aren't everything, but they certainly don't lie. 

Also, the offensive schemes in the two cities were vastly contrasting last season. San Francisco ran it 498 times. The Panthers only 445.

Oh, and 126 of those carries came from Newton, who finished the year with 706 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.

You see, Alex, Newton's aerial stat line was merely one aspect of a rookie campaign for the ages.

Newton himself has shown a general dissatisfaction with his memorable first year because the team went 6-10 and lost a handful of leads late.

Not to mention, he didn't have Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Aldon Smith, Navorro Bowman, Carlos Rogers and Dashon Goldson on his his team. This is all easy to say for Smith to say as a quarterback who wasn't placed in many precarious situations last year with the NFC's top defense on his side.

The 49ers had the No. 2 ranked scoring defense in 2011. The Panthers were 27th. 

Think that factored into Newton's "meaningless" statistical season? He was forced to do a lot as an individual to keep his rebuilding club competitive in most games.

He's not caught up in the numbers.

He wants to win. 

Smith's coming off a career year, in terms of stats and win-loss record. He's on a team with arguably the best defense in football. After multiple seasons of disappointing play when the "bust" label floated around his name, he should be grateful that at 28 years old, he's in an impeccable situation with San Francisco, and keep quiet about other quarterbacks around the league. 

Follow @ChrisTrapasso