Skip to content

Alex Smith struggles, again

Four years ago, the San Francisco 49ers made Alex Smith the first overall pick in the draft, passing on Cal’s Aaron Rodgers, who had grown up rooting for Niners.

Rodgers slid all the way to No. 24, where he was picked by the Packers.

Today, the 49ers’ decision couldn’t look any worse.

Smith, who’s competing against an undrafted career journeyman (Shaun Hill), completed only three of nine passes, including an interception, during the first quarter of Saturday night’s game against the Raiders.

Meanwhile, in Green Bay, Rodgers connected on eight of nine passes, generating 98 yards and two touchdowns against the Bills’ starting defense.

While Hill wasn’t much more impressive, completing three of seven passes for 20 yards, Smith didn’t do anything to close the gap between the two candidates for the starting job.

Actually, the Niners would be wise to call the Browns regarding the availability of Derek Anderson, or the Vikings regarding the availability of Tarvaris Jackson.

Or sign Jeff George.

Permalink 20 Comments Feed for comments Latest Stories in: Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, Rumor Mill, San Francisco 49ers, Top Stories
20 Responses to “Alex Smith struggles, again”
  1. Rex Grossman says: Aug 22, 2009 10:10 PM

    David Carr Pt. 2
    Yo, Florio, Jay Cutler was a thrill to watch this evening (as was the entire Bears team). If you post about his mediocre performances, then it’s only fair that you also give him props for a tremendous game tonight. Dude has a gun. He also seemed to be getting along very well with his teammates.

  2. ninerblitz says: Aug 22, 2009 10:15 PM

    Florio….R U stoned? T-Jack, George or Anderson? That’s why you don’t get rid of what you got, until you get something better. They have the coach, now the need a QB. If they aren’t on the roster at this point then the wise thing they can do is get better with what they have. I mean isn’t this a new offense? Another new OC. Hasn’t Aaron Rodgers been in the same system his whole career?
    Get real man. C’mon!

  3. as big as a hat says: Aug 22, 2009 10:29 PM

    Save it, Florio. Russell is a bust, but Smith just hasn’t found his groove yet. Don’t you read the comments?
    Comment submission error.

  4. aec4 says: Aug 22, 2009 10:30 PM

    “The Sky is blue again.”

  5. Jolly says: Aug 22, 2009 10:40 PM

    Or the Redskins regarding Chase Daniels…This guy is gonna be a starter in this league.

  6. DAK says: Aug 22, 2009 10:44 PM

    “Actually, the Niners would be wise to call the Browns regarding the availability of Derek Anderson, or the Vikings regarding the availability of Tarvaris Jackson.”
    That’s ignorant. If you’ve watched Hill at all, he’s pretty good at finding a way to win – something Jackson, Anderson, and George have never excelled at.

  7. Big M says: Aug 22, 2009 10:45 PM

    Florio would be wise to have actually watched the game. Two passes were dropped, two were thrown away, and the interception came when his pass bounced off his receiver’s hands and was intercepted. He made the tackle on the interception and also made a spectacular play when he decleated Greg Ellis on a reverse. Granted, the reverse lost yardage, but he destroyed a 280 pound lineman. Of course, Florio didn’t actually see any of that…

  8. BigBaldPapaHawk says: Aug 22, 2009 11:01 PM

    “Or sign Jeff George.”
    I lol’d

  9. NinerNation says: Aug 22, 2009 11:06 PM

    Alex Smith has had a new OC every year of his career. This is his first healthy playing time in two years. Two of those passes were balls that he threw away. One of them was dropped by the receiver for the int. He didn’t do that badly, and Shaun Hill is actually good. He lacks arm strength, but is an accurate passer.
    Aaron Rodgers got to sit behind Favre for three years with the same OC each season. The two cannot be compared.

  10. INVAIDUH says: Aug 22, 2009 11:34 PM

    Again… there’s no such thing as “NinerNation”.
    17 People don’t count.

  11. dr_heinz_zarkov says: Aug 22, 2009 11:45 PM

    Anderson isn’t going to be available ( Brady Quinn might be ). Jason Cambell also ( but who would want him ). T-Jack is just too inconsistent. They’re better off going with Hill and going after someone in the draft–they’re not ‘just a QB away from the playoffs’ anyway.

  12. VoxVeritas says: Aug 22, 2009 11:52 PM

    “The two cannot be compared.”
    Boy howdy.

  13. FumbleNuts says: Aug 23, 2009 12:25 AM

    Alex Smith is another Heath Shuler, Tim Couch, Todd Blackledge, Akili Smith ect….
    The guy is way below average at the NFL level.

  14. txtumbleweed says: Aug 23, 2009 12:40 AM

    Come on Florio watch some of the game before you make such a comment. Smith didn’t play that bad, three passes were dropped and one of those was intercepted. I think Sing should have left him in longer to give him a fair chance, he should have at least been allowed to finish the drive he was on.
    More East Coast Bias or BS!

  15. JMClarkent says: Aug 23, 2009 1:00 AM

    I’ll never get this Jeff George man-crush…

  16. Merton Hanks says: Aug 23, 2009 1:56 AM

    With the way our running game looked tonight we will only need the QB to handoff anyways… dominated.

  17. as big as a hat says: Aug 23, 2009 10:02 AM

    Don’t get too excited, Merton Hanks. Oakland’s run defense sucks.

  18. ragin40 says: Aug 23, 2009 12:17 PM

    Alex smith and Shaun hill both suck! Yeah watch the game and see that Russell missed on a few passes and threw a touchdown, what did smith and hill do but run for their lives and throw interceptions!

  19. ragin40 says: Aug 23, 2009 12:19 PM

    Alex smith and Shaun hill both suck! Yeah watch the game and see that Russell missed on a few passes and threw a touchdown, what did smith and hill do but run for their lives and throw interceptions!

  20. texasPHINSfan says: Aug 24, 2009 12:05 PM

    haha, i love all the jeff george comments florio

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Not a member? Register now!