San Francisco 49ers: Is Alex Smith Fooling Everyone Right Now?

The San Francisco 49ers have been running one of the most efficient offenses in the NFL through 12 weeks, and Alex Smith is making great decisions and winning games.

So, is Smith fooling everyone right now? 

How much credit does Smith really deserve? 

Most people around the NFL have credited the success of the 49ers this season to one man and one man only: head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Alex Smith was considered by most to be a band-aid for the 49ers when he signed a one-year contract with the team worth $5 million. People said that it was the only realistic move the 49ers could make under the lockout-shortened conditions this season.

They may be right about Smith being the best option, but not because he's garbage. 

When there was a short break in the lockout, before the courts could rule to keep it in place, Smith went to team headquarters to chat with the new head coach and pick up a playbook. Keep in mind, Smith wasn't under contract at the time. Just saying.

Then, still without a contract, Smith organized and pulled off a very successful players-only set of practices so the offense could try to learn the new playbook. Smith's teammates fondly referred to the practice sessions as "Camp Alex."

Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke were mildly criticized by media about the dangers of allowing a player without a contract access to team secrets. They might have a good point. But thankfully for the 49ers, the team was able to sign Smith and avert a disaster (sarcasm). 

It's obvious to me that Harbaugh really did see something on tape that made him believe in Alex Smith as the leader for his offense. So, it's not like Harbaugh created Smith out of clay or anything; he just knows how to talk Smith's language.

Alex Smith deserves a ton of credit.

Can Alex Smith win against an elite defense?

If you were to judge this question after watching the Baltimore Ravens devour our offense and hadn't seen any other games this season, you would have to emphatically answer the question with a "no!"

The Ravens took the 49ers offensive line to the back of the woodshed on Thursday Night Football Thanksgiving night. 

But the 49ers were without two of their key blockers: fullback Bruce Miller and right guard Adam Snyder.

When the team is at full strength, Smith has shown the ability to run a smooth West Coast offense that is exciting to watch. 

He tore it up against the New York Giants defense, and they had been on a hot streak. They were leading the NFL in sacks at 30 at the time. The 49ers offensive line dominated that game and only gave up one sack.

We will find out this answer ultimately in January.

The bottom line:

Alex Smith is showing all the maturity and discipline you might expect a seven-year veteran quarterback to make. He finally has the right mentality to lead an NFL team against adverse situations. 

When you watched the game on Thanksgiving night, did you ever notice any negative body language from Smith? I've watched the game a few times, and I can tell you the only thing I noticed in the defeat was defiance in his eyes. 

He never backed down. Not even after the Ravens had sacked him nine times. He never looked at one of his teammates with disdain at their failure to protect him. Instead, he seemed to just kept fighting on until the bitter end.

I do think Alex Smith is fooling everyone. I think people still underestimate his value to the success of the 49ers this season. I think that the 49ers would be maybe 6-5 without him. 

He has come back to win four games in the fourth quarter, tied for first in the NFL.

Alex Smith will prove his worth as the season wears on, and then, he will have a chance to get the monkey off his back in the playoffs.

I can't wait.