PFF agrees with DJnut.

Not entirely true. As I recall, Alex was one of the better QBs statistically against the blitz. It was on non-blitz pressure (meaning someone let their guy through) that he really suffered. But I think most Qbs do.

I'd have to dig for the actual stats.

kcchiefs.com

I was only there on Monday last week for the ST holder breakfast, etc...

I posted about 100 posts back that I was actually extremely disappointed by him. As you've noted, the arm talent was apparent and flashed on occasion, but his feet were bad and his decision making seemed, for lack of a better word, disinterested.

In his defense, the O-Line got abused that day. I mean it was a sack on every third play. It was also raining off and on so the conditions were less than ideal.

But on that day, with cruddy playing conditions and a bad line in front of him, he looked every bit the raw rookie we heard about. Perhaps he's shaking off the nerves, but Smith and Daniel (especially Smith) just looked a hell of a lot more composed out there in the muck and with the pocket imploding every time he dropped back.

Every other report I've read on him has been different from mine, though. I'm wondering if I wasn't being too hard on him or if perhaps the conditions/line/nerves that day really held him back. Maybe it was just a shitty day for him. I just read all these glowing reports and say "Man, where the !@#$ was that guy on Monday" because he was probably the guy I was most excited to go watch.

Though you're the first guy to see what I saw and say that Smith was the best QB out there. He really was head and shoulders above Daniel and Bray. Bray showed some skills that suggest he's a legitimate QBOTF and standing behind the line from so close really opened my eyes to how critical vision is for a QB; Bray's height is a massive asset. But I really did think Smith look composed and professional as hell. And when he and Reid were talking, it was almost collaborative rather than Reid dictating. I hate getting into the intangibles discussions, but Smith sure seemed to be in command out there.

The good news is that Reid's offense, theoretically, is built for a QB to read from short to long.

When he ended up with guys like Jackson and a cannon-armed (scattershot) passer in Vick, he opened it up a bit because Jackson refuses to run underneath routes and Vick can't throw short anyway. But given his druthers, I think Reid would prefer an offense that is precisely tailored to Smith's strengths.

We shall soon see...

what do you mean, "he read short to long"?

Are you saying he disregarded the progressions that are built into every play and just looked at the short options?

Is it possible the deeper options simply weren't open?...because he was chucking it deep quite a bit when I was there.

A guy like Avery can open up those shorter routes too. He can FLY.

Partly true. Remember when he earned his job back from Hill? He was throwing it down field and everyone was talking about "wow, where'd this Alex come from?" and then it vanished again..probably coached down as they went back to up the middle 3 times and a cloud of dust.

I noted that in the Bray thread as well (I used it as my defacto Camp thread).

Avery was unbelievably fast out there. He really was a breed apart from anybody else on that football field.

I noted it in one of these Smith threads, but Smith throws a pretty 'run under' deep ball. A guy like Crabtree never had the gear to run under a deep throw, rather Smith would have to rocket it into a seam and let Crabtree use his body to fight off DBs. Smith just doesn't have the arm strength to do that well.

But the tape shows a QB with very good touch downfield. And if you can get a WR that can flat out pull-away from his DB (and Avery absolutely can), Smith can take advantage of that, IMO.

Time may make a fool of me here, but I really do think that his skills with this coach and this personnel group are going to allow Smith to really excel.

Print 'em

Well, there is a reason fat Andy wanted him, so...

Remember, as a 49ers fan, I really need you guys to go 9-7 so we can have that 2nd round draft pick.

Other than that, if Alex turns into the next Eli or Big Ben, it is OK by me. Then at least your trade would be a good one. It is going to be an interesting year for you guys watching this question being answered.

Actually, it's 8-8

he still has durability issues no matter how good he looks

his shoulders made of glass and his head is one more concussion away from some serious career evaluations

100% legitimate criticism.

2 shoulder surgeries and a concussion history should scare anybody.

But strong arguments tend to be weakened by refusing to acknowledge legitimate counterpoints. When guys sit around and act like this dude is Matt Cassel 2.0, it's just silly. The guy does a ton of things extremely well.

"Alex Smith wows with accuracy"

CP reaction: It's just training camp. What else is this stupid insider supposed to write?

"Eric Fisher struggling"

CP reaction: JFC you stupid mother****ers you should have drafted Geno!!!!! How could you be so ****ing stupid!!!!

LMAO