>We have reached this odd place where we have a QB that we
>know we can win with when he's playing within his comfort
>zone. The problem is most of us aren't satisfied with him
>playing that type of game... or at the very least we want to
>see his game continue to grow (I know I do) Thing is last
>nights game looked an awful lot like 2011 Alex expect for one
>play... the pick inside the red zone. I don't think there is
>any way he attempts that throw last year... but as I said fans
>want to see more and he knows it. If you look at the pick you
>can see he was moving left when he spotted Randy in the back
>of the end zone and tried to plant and throw. He couldn't stop
>himself all the way and had to make the throw off balance and
>we saw the results... bottom line is this is just not a throw
>Alex can make, not now... maybe not ever. And therein lies the
>quandary. As with baseball pitchers, different QBs bring
>different skill sets to the table. We wouldn't expect a Greg
>Maddox to try and pitch like Randy Johnson but in the NFL we
>seem to want all QBs to fit the same mode. Now this isn't a
>plea cop post for Alex... let me make it clear that I have
>questions about Alex leading team beyond this season. But I
>still say he's actually a pretty good fit for the personnel
>and style we have right now... my statement a few weeks back
>about how I'd rather have Alex than the Romos, Cutlers and
>Rivers of the world still stands. Some took that has I was
>saying Alex was better than 2/3s of the QBs in the league but
>then we know when we talk Alex Smith people get a little funny
>in the head. But right now as it stands today I think the 9ers
>are best suited for a QB that knows how to run the offence and
>not go all gunsliger at the drop of a hat. What worries me is
>Alex is being goaded into trying to be something he isn't. And
>I'm as guilty of this as the next fan... during the redzone
>series that ended in a pick last night I was preaching take
>care of the ball and take the 3 if need be... but when Alex
>got on the move I started yelling at the TV for him to make a
>play... As fans we can get caught up in the moment but we
>can't afford to have our QB do the same. Now maybe we'll find
>out that Alex's game won't be enough to get us over the hump
>this year but him forcing things just to satisfy the fans need
>to see a certain type of game is a sure fire recipe for
>failure. As is the idea Kaepernick can take over as the full
>time QB right now... again this team needs a steady hand not a
>combustible signal caller. The right balance needs to be found
>regarding when and where to sprinkle Kaep in... and make no
>mistake I think this offence needs the explosiveness he
>brings. But I don't want to hear any foolishness about who the
>starting QB should be in 2012... the time for that may come
>but it's going to be after we rode the most likely path to a
>super bowl with the team we have right now. Should that fail
>there will be plenty of time to worry about the future...
>right now let's stay focused on winning in 2012... And the guy
>that gives us the best chance to do that is Alex Smith... 2011
>version.

that our coaching staff SEEMS to be wising up, but it's almost like they're expecting more of alex without giving him all his tools. randy moss is a SECURITY blanket, and alex has never had something like that at wideout. it's like torture that he only gets to benefit from him 30% of the time. i mean the way it allows defenses to relax their coverage and focus on other areas really holds back how dynamic the offense could be. he needs to be getting more field time than kyle williams because even if he's not catching it, he's drawing coverage away.

to go along with that, the level headed all agree that his career growth has been stunted (likely permanently to a degree), and he's basically in the 4th year of a stable environment, even though it's his 7th or 8th actual year as a pro. he hasn't had enough game EXPERIENCE doing these types of things. throwing to good players with the expectation of success? a rarity before last year and even then , our WR corps was thin. there is an impatience with us wanting him to do it NOW NOW NOW, when he is being brought along similar to how brady and roethlisberger were brought along by their teams. great defenses, ball control physical running game, make plays but you dont' have to go out and sling. it wasn't until they became VERY comfortable in their systems that they started to be able to win games with their arm. that's why eli is so good now, he is supremely confident and comfortable in the system that he's running, and once that comes, a QB HAS the ability to transcend the team and do otherwordly things. obviously there are guys coming out now who are doing crazy shit from jump, but i'm not comparing him to those guys, i'm comparing him to guys who started off in similar fashions as he did when harbaugh arrrived. bottom line is people likely won't be as patient as they may need too but it IS still not even the midpoint of the season and offense takes longer to gel. the guy who was able to do the things he did last year, the throws and plays he needed to make IS capable of doing the same this year with more. it's going to take more and more reps and sound game planning by our coaching staff.