Why 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh Is Wise to Name Alex Smith Long-Term QB

According to Mike Maiocco of CSN Bay Area, San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh believes in QB Alex Smith for the future:

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"Coach Jim Harbaugh was asked Tuesday about quarterback Alex Smith's future with the 49ers."

Harbaugh's answer: "I do."

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Gregg Rosenthal of NBC Sports however, would like to see what Harbaugh could do with a more potential QB:

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"I don’t want to dismiss what Smith has done this year. He’s improved greatly under Harbaugh, but how much of that is coaching and how much of that is Smith?"

"It’s at least worth considering what Harbaugh could do with a quarterback that is more talented."

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That being said, let's see where Harbaugh can take Smith as it is an interesting situation.

Without a doubt, Smith appears to have finally developed into an NFL QB, a game manager to say the least. He's not a gunslinger but has the ability to buy time with his feet and has taken what the defense has given all season long.

On the year, Smith has just 16 TD passes but only five interceptions. At the same time he has compiled over 2,700 passing yards, a completion percentage of 61.4 percent and a 91.1 QB rating.

In spite of all this, the 49ers also have arguably the NFL's best defense and rushing attack. However, Smith also managed games to a T early on when WR Michael Crabtree was barely productive and has been without Josh Morgan since early October.

Now include Braylon Edwards having missed a handful of games and the fact that Smith has thrown just five picks is impressive. Had all these targets been 100 percent from day one, San Francisco's passing game would be unstoppable.

As for the coach, if there's anyone who can develop Alex Smith and get his game to the next level it's Jim Harbaugh. The man practically carried his teams when playing in the NFL and came within one Hail Mary of the Super Bowl.

He knows the game in and out and proved that by getting Stanford football on the map in just four years.

Getting back to Smith has he hasn't had the luxury of a head coach to really guide him through the NFL. From 2005-2008 he had Mike Nolan, which equals failure and then Mike Singletary for 2009 and 2010.

Needless to say, Smith has basically had to develop himself while also not having a consistent group of receivers to build chemistry with. Now, much credit goes to RB Frank Gore for doing work on the ground, but it's still somewhat surprising that Smith has lasted this long with those invariable effects working against him.

So, much like we're seeing in Denver with Tim Tebow and John Elway, let's see what Jim Harbaugh does with Alex Smith. Based on what's happened in 2011, the future is bright in The Bay Area.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27