[QUOTE=Branden Albert's Huge Balls;9719724]Alex Smith dumps the ball off more than Matt Cassel. Ponder this:



Interesting...so his ypa was 8 and his average attempt was 8 yards. I knew he wasn't getting much yac from his WRs, but that's crazy.

Still 8 yards isn't a dump off. Mix that with a 2 yard run and it's a first down every time. 8 yards and a 70% chance of getting the completion? That's how Montana made his living. Not saying Alex is Montana.

Yep. That offense had a lot of designed, clear-out dump passes to benefit the field position game. Plus, we had a quick-read offense that required the QB to read the D and make the quick hit pass underneath to allow for YAC. That was the Harbaugh way, and I can't blame him for utilizing it. We didn't have any real deep threat receivers worth a shit... aside from a wheel-route or seam pass for VD every now and then. (which we inexplicably got away from, though it was such an effective approach)

If Smith is such an amazing QB why did he hit the open FA market 2 years in a row, only to not garner any attention?

In a QB starved league, Alex Smith was on the market 3 consecutive years.

Brees has a birthmark.

Robert DeNiro has a mole.

Alex was held accountable for team performance, which is normal for a qb. 2010 he signed a 1 year contract because of the lockout...but note that Harbaugh courted Alex..he could have just let him go.

2011 - everyone knew that Alex wanted to come back to the 9ers. One year is not enough to erase the doubt that was associated with him. Signed a solid (but by no means spectacular) contract with the 9ers for 3 years.

2012 - Still under contract, the 9ers shop Alex because he wants to be a starter and they are committed to Kaepernick. There were a number of teams interested, which is why the Chiefs probably gave up 2 2nd rounders for him.