Chiefs Smith retains starting spot, vows to play more fearlessly

oaklandhater · 10-11-2010, 03:29 PM

http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archiv...retains-s.html

Smith retains starting spot, vows to play more fearlessly
They say a leopard can't change its spots, but Alex Smith said he will attempt to turn himself into more of a gunslinger. Smith, who retained his starting job this week, said he would throw caution into the wind and play more fearlessly. It was a conclusion he came to last night during a long, post-game chat with Mike Singletary in which they discussed changing the team's mindset.

"There are times out there that I know I play too cautious, and I think that's when I find myself making those mistakes," Smith said. "It's funny - it's counterproductive. You'd think playing cautious will lead the other way. ... I think you see times when I cut it loose and play more fearlessly, and I think the results have always been better."

Asked if that change in mentality means a change in the 49ers offensive philosophy - i.e., not as many first-down runs up the middle, etc. - Smith said, not necessarily. "I guess what I'm talking about is ... it doesn't matter about scheme or play calling or anything like that," Smith said. "As far as players go, we've got to continue to go out there with the right mindset, and until we change that, you know, it's not going to get fixed."

Smith has indeed played his best in two-minute situations (e.g, the end of the first half in Indianapolis last year) or when the team has been behind by a wide margin (games in Houston and Green Bay last season). Another example occurred last night when, after he was momentarily benched by Singletary, Smith returned to the field to lead two touchdown drives and to cut Philadelphia's margin to a field goal.

Smith is echoing exactly what Steve Young said about him last week - that he needs to take more shots down the field and that, counter-intuitively, when he plays it safe, bad things happen.

The question, however, is whether Smith can pull off the metamorphosis. Smith is a cautious person by nature. Indeed, the reason why Mike Nolan and Scot McCloughan drafted him No. 1 overall in 2005 is because he's not a gunslinger and that he wouldn't stray from the framework of the offense.

When Mike Singletary ripped into Smith on the sideline Sunday night, he said he wanted to see how Smith would react. That is, he wanted to see Smith get angry and take charge. "He said to Alex, 'Great quarterbacks don't give up, don't quit, no matter who it is,'" said Vernon Davis, who was a few feet away at the time. "If you're a great quarterback, you won't let a coach or anybody else take you out of the game.'"

After that challenge, it was Davis - according to Davis - who pulled Smith aside and told him he had to stay in the game. "I pretty much told him to stay in the game, I want him in the game," Davis said. "We need him in the game. Because he was down on himself, he didn't know how to handle the situation. I could see it in his eyes, but I took it upon myself to go up to him and keep him alive."

************
Singletary gave the starting nod for Sunday's game against the Raiders to Smith, but he said that decision is fluid moving forward. "You have to do what's best for the football team," Singletary said. "I think he (Smith) knows where we are. I think we're all being evaluated at 0-5."

He said that Carr wouldn't get any extra practice time this week. He said he expected Carr to be able to come off the bench and play well just as Smith did a year ago when he replaced Shaun Hil

Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archiv...#ixzz125WbQds0

oaklandhater · 10-11-2010, 03:30 PM

smith and matt's numbers seem pretty close I wonder why the KC media isn't calling for matt's head like the Bay area is for Alex.

Fritz88 · 10-11-2010, 03:45 PM

Hah. That could work
Posted via Mobile Device

mikey23545 · 10-11-2010, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oaklandhater

smith and matt's numbers seem pretty close I wonder why the KC media isn't calling for matt's head like the Bay area is for Alex.

Because we're 3-1 and they're 0-5?

**OnTheWarpath15** · 10-11-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey23545

Because we're 3-1 and they're 0-5?

Here's what's funny about that:

They aren't 0-5 because of QB play anymore than we're 3-1 because of QB play.

**DaFace** · 10-11-2010, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey23545

Because we're 3-1 and they're 0-5?

Crazy concept.

Not to mention that the Niners brought in Carr in the offseason. He's not great, but he's at least new blood. Our backup has already had chances and failed.

chiefsnorth · 10-11-2010, 03:50 PM

There is truth to what he is saying and I think it shows maturity on his part. May e we could take a cue from this.

I have always thought Smith could turn out to be a good QB in the league. Maybe some more of an aggressive approach is what is needed.

donkhater · 10-11-2010, 04:47 PM

Cassel should respond the same way, but I doubt he will. For one thing I think Weis and Haley have him in full leash mode. For another, even if he could who would he throw to? I don't think the brain trust is doing Cassel or the offense any favors by putting him in game manager mode. Take advantage of the run game and do more play action on first and second down. That way both he and his WRs can get into sort of a groove. He's not going to set the world on fire, but no QB is going to succeed in full game manager mode.

Whether this board thinks so or not, they aren't going to the playoffs without letting Cassel pass more. It is unreasonable to think he can play better when you don't let him play to begin with.

**bevischief** · 10-11-2010, 04:50 PM

I was hoping for the other Smith...

LaChapelle · 10-11-2010, 05:01 PM

Cassel was 2/3rds of a second rounder
his head ain't worth that much

Rasputin · 10-11-2010, 05:03 PM

When Cassel gets mad he can throw the ball 50 yards....

No shit!

Hammock Parties · 10-11-2010, 05:36 PM

30 INTS a comin!

BryanBusby · 10-11-2010, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bevischief

I was hoping for the other Smith...

Steve Smith or Shaun?

Steve vows to break more jaws and Shaun vows to grab more balls.

Hammock Parties · 10-11-2010, 05:37 PM

**bevischief** · 10-11-2010, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BryanBusby

Steve Smith or Shaun?

Steve vows to break more jaws and Shaun vows to grab more balls.

Shaun.

10-11-2010, 03:29 PM
oaklandhater future chiefs fans Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: oakland california Casino cash: $7488993	Smith retains starting spot, vows to play more fearlessly http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archiv...retains-s.html Smith retains starting spot, vows to play more fearlessly They say a leopard can't change its spots, but Alex Smith said he will attempt to turn himself into more of a gunslinger. Smith, who retained his starting job this week, said he would throw caution into the wind and play more fearlessly. It was a conclusion he came to last night during a long, post-game chat with Mike Singletary in which they discussed changing the team's mindset. "There are times out there that I know I play too cautious, and I think that's when I find myself making those mistakes," Smith said. "It's funny - it's counterproductive. You'd think playing cautious will lead the other way. ... I think you see times when I cut it loose and play more fearlessly, and I think the results have always been better." Asked if that change in mentality means a change in the 49ers offensive philosophy - i.e., not as many first-down runs up the middle, etc. - Smith said, not necessarily. "I guess what I'm talking about is ... it doesn't matter about scheme or play calling or anything like that," Smith said. "As far as players go, we've got to continue to go out there with the right mindset, and until we change that, you know, it's not going to get fixed." Smith has indeed played his best in two-minute situations (e.g, the end of the first half in Indianapolis last year) or when the team has been behind by a wide margin (games in Houston and Green Bay last season). Another example occurred last night when, after he was momentarily benched by Singletary, Smith returned to the field to lead two touchdown drives and to cut Philadelphia's margin to a field goal. Smith is echoing exactly what Steve Young said about him last week - that he needs to take more shots down the field and that, counter-intuitively, when he plays it safe, bad things happen. The question, however, is whether Smith can pull off the metamorphosis. Smith is a cautious person by nature. Indeed, the reason why Mike Nolan and Scot McCloughan drafted him No. 1 overall in 2005 is because he's not a gunslinger and that he wouldn't stray from the framework of the offense. When Mike Singletary ripped into Smith on the sideline Sunday night, he said he wanted to see how Smith would react. That is, he wanted to see Smith get angry and take charge. "He said to Alex, 'Great quarterbacks don't give up, don't quit, no matter who it is,'" said Vernon Davis, who was a few feet away at the time. "If you're a great quarterback, you won't let a coach or anybody else take you out of the game.'" After that challenge, it was Davis - according to Davis - who pulled Smith aside and told him he had to stay in the game. "I pretty much told him to stay in the game, I want him in the game," Davis said. "We need him in the game. Because he was down on himself, he didn't know how to handle the situation. I could see it in his eyes, but I took it upon myself to go up to him and keep him alive." ************ Singletary gave the starting nod for Sunday's game against the Raiders to Smith, but he said that decision is fluid moving forward. "You have to do what's best for the football team," Singletary said. "I think he (Smith) knows where we are. I think we're all being evaluated at 0-5." He said that Carr wouldn't get any extra practice time this week. He said he expected Carr to be able to come off the bench and play well just as Smith did a year ago when he replaced Shaun Hil Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archiv...#ixzz125WbQds0
Posts: 23,762

10-11-2010, 03:30 PM	#2
oaklandhater future chiefs fans Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: oakland california Casino cash: $7488993	smith and matt's numbers seem pretty close I wonder why the KC media isn't calling for matt's head like the Bay area is for Alex.
Posts: 23,762

10-11-2010, 03:45 PM	#3
Fritz88 Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Casino cash: $8835943	Hah. That could work Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 12,706

10-11-2010, 03:50 PM	#7
chiefsnorth Veteran Join Date: Apr 2010 Casino cash: $10004900	There is truth to what he is saying and I think it shows maturity on his part. May e we could take a cue from this. I have always thought Smith could turn out to be a good QB in the league. Maybe some more of an aggressive approach is what is needed.
Posts: 1,808

10-11-2010, 04:47 PM	#8
donkhater Brilliant!! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Indiana, USA Casino cash: $10014051	Cassel should respond the same way, but I doubt he will. For one thing I think Weis and Haley have him in full leash mode. For another, even if he could who would he throw to? I don't think the brain trust is doing Cassel or the offense any favors by putting him in game manager mode. Take advantage of the run game and do more play action on first and second down. That way both he and his WRs can get into sort of a groove. He's not going to set the world on fire, but no QB is going to succeed in full game manager mode. Whether this board thinks so or not, they aren't going to the playoffs without letting Cassel pass more. It is unreasonable to think he can play better when you don't let him play to begin with. __________________ The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants
Posts: 3,994

10-11-2010, 04:50 PM	#9
bevischief .... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere Kansas Casino cash: $8659352 VARSITY	I was hoping for the other Smith...
Posts: 27,731

10-11-2010, 05:01 PM	#10
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	Cassel was 2/3rds of a second rounder his head ain't worth that much
Posts: 8,588

10-11-2010, 05:03 PM	#11
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $3255421	When Cassel gets mad he can throw the ball 50 yards.... No shit!
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10-11-2010, 05:36 PM	#12
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4450478	30 INTS a comin! __________________ Chiefs game films
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10-11-2010, 05:37 PM	#14
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4450478	__________________ Chiefs game films
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