Alex Smith On The Cusp Of Greatness?

Is Alex Smith ready to lead the 49ers to the playoffs for the first tme since 2002? This question splits bay area fans, the same way healhcare,and global warming polarizes progressives, and conservatives. So why no middle ground? In this article I will make my case for why Alex is the best choice for the future, and 2010.  I have always been a fan of Alex. Even during his days at Utah, he was humble, he could often be found donating time, and energy to great causes. He is highly intelligent,  has no problem with hard work, and has shown alot of stand- up-ed-ness in tough situations. While these have never been knocks on Smith, even the most rabid smith hater would agree he posesses these qualities, lets focas on the reasons he has not lived up to the hype.

  Any signal caller brought in in 2005 would have failed. This was one of the least talented teams in the nfl of the decade. Putrid! Nolans position was doomed from day one. During the season injuries to the line had our 9ers starting Patrick Estes at tackle. no offense to Estes,but its difficult for an experianced collage tackle to step in to the pros, he was a collage tight end! A 7th rnd. pick! Smiths fumbling troubles could be traced to rapidly collapsing pockets, more than his infaumous small hands, or spread system transition ever could. Also lets look at tose weopens rb Barlow, te Johnson, and wr Lloyd, didnt strike muchfear into defensive cordinaters. hy Nolan, and o.c. McCarthy   (now w/Greenbay H.C.) had Smith start still amazes me. You may not think Smith has what it takes, but face it. What Q.B. could have Brady, Manning, I doubt they cold had directed this mess to 8 in 8.   As we look back to 06, Smith started to make real progress. Guided by Norv Turner, the emergance of Gore, the pick up of Antonio Bryant, the drafting of Davis, to pair with Johnsen, and better health along the line Smith proggresion looked parrelel to the expectations of a number one pick in his first year s a starter. There was a real sense off excitement, and with that came the premature expectations. Norv  got the call late in the offseason to coach the Chargers. We never fond a suitable replacement, and in the 3rd game of the year against Seatelle Alexs would be robbed of the next 2 years of his career to injury. While he couragesly played several times in 07, it was clear he needed  surgury, and was raking his body, and reputation needlessly through the coals. Another Nolan head scratcher. I do believe Nolan did a great job with the rebuilding of this team however,this is not anti Nolan. Any coach in his situation would had not met team goals, and thier tenure would have ended in temination. The problems were not made by one regime, and one regime wasnt enough to get back on track. That is a differant article however.

  In 2009 at Texas, Smith was called on, after it became clear Hill was limiting the offense, and couldnt play from behind. Smith played great, far better than expected from a guy off the bench, who hadnt played in a rea lgame in over a year and following major surgary. He would finish the season up and down, but always showing progress, n flashes off what made hm the 1 pick way back when.

  With the solidified offensive line, cosecutive years with the same O.C. (Raye), the first time that luxury has been afforded to Smith in his pro career! The bonafide starter going in, it is Likely we will see Alex progress far more rapidly than last year. Now if you can expect this to come to fruitition as facts, and commen sense would suggest, its very likely Alex can be the top young signal callers in the nfl. He is only 25! So no trades fr Mcnabb, no draft picks on qbs, we finally on track for 2010, and beyond.