49ers defense looking forward to hitting ASmith

[Fat Elvis]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/49ers-d...1426--nfl.html

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Over all those years and thousands of practice snaps, the stingy San Francisco defense never got to put a hit on Alex Smith.

And this is a group known for its vicious blows, from sack man Aldon Smith at linebacker to pounding safety Donte Whitner.

So, no surprise Smith's former teammates on the opposite side of the ball will be salivating to finally chase down the quarterback when they face him and the Chiefs in a preseason game at Kansas City on Friday night.

''There's a first time for everything,'' linebacker NaVorro Bowman said, smiling. ''We never got a chance to hit him. This time we can. We're looking forward to it. I know Alex knows we're coming. It's football, man. He's on another team and we have to go out there and play our game.''

Cornerback Carlos Rogers plans to talk trash - because, he insists, Smith will certainly be expecting it from this group.

''He'll probably come after me because we were always talking junk during practices while he was here. I'm going to take a look at the film and see what we can come up with,'' Rogers said. ''It will be really fun. I'm pretty sure he's going to be talking junk. He's going to want to go at our defense because now he gets the opportunity. When he was here we didn't really go against the 1 offense unless it was training camp.''

Smith has begun anew in the AFC with the Chiefs after being traded in March. He lost his starting job with San Francisco in November to Colin Kaepernick.

Smith certainly sounds as if he will leave the personal ties out of it Friday - rather focusing on preparing his offense with a matchup against one of the NFL's top defenses in recent years.

''Regardless of the fact that I used to play there, they're a good defensive unit,'' he said ''They're a really good defensive unit, and they'll be a good test for us. I mean, they don't have many weaknesses on that side of the ball. It'll be a really good test for us.''

49ers defensive line coach Jim Tomsula insists the razzing by his defenders is all in good fun. Tomsula started Smith for the regular season finale in 2010 in Tomsula's lone game as interim head coach following the firing of Mike Singletary.

''They're throwing that out there. That's an inside joke to Alex,'' Tomsula said. ''They all just like him so much, they really do. It's a good banter, is what it is.''

Given Smith's long history with the 49ers, an up-and-down, eight-year tenure - filled with numerous promotions and demotions, not to mention injuries - after they selected him with the No. 1 draft pick out of Utah in 2005, he still has many supporters in his old locker room.

Running back Frank Gore is rooting for him, tight end Vernon Davis, too. And Kaepernick, of course.

They have spoken a couple of times during the offseason, though Kaepernick declined to elaborate.

''He did a lot for me, Alex was someone that really helped me pick up the playbook, understand what we were trying to get done and how we wanted to do it,'' Kaepernick said Wednesday. ''I wouldn't be as far along as I am right now without him. Personally, he's a great guy, he's a class act. I have nothing bad to say about him. He's always helped me, he's always put the team first.''

It was Smith who took it upon himself to lead San Francisco's players in workouts at nearby San Jose State during the 2011 NFL lockout that became known as ''Camp Alex,'' a step in his leadership that put the team in position to end a franchise-worst stretch of eight seasons without a playoff berth or winning record. After all those boos from his own fans during the struggles, he had made good at last.

For his example, and so many other things, coach Jim Harbaugh is grateful to this day. Even if he made the tough choice to go with Kaepernick for last season's stretch run. Smith largely thrived under the direction of Harbaugh, a 15-year NFL quarterback himself.

''It's personal with Alex. It probably is different in that way,'' Harbaugh said. ''Feel like there's a great friendship there and a lot of history. He's a unique person. A very good, in all ways, a good friend. No longer on our team. Not a trusted agent anymore.''

Come Friday, both sides will try to keep all the mixed emotions off the field. Though the history will clearly provide some preseason fuel.

''Now we'll get a chance to hit him,'' Rogers said. ''He had on the jersey and we couldn't touch the quarterback, so I'm pretty sure our D-line will be happy about that, too.''

Notes: A day after safeties C.J. Spillman and Michael Thomas fought during practice and Spillman sent to the locker room, Harbaugh said he has handled the altercation. ''I think that's something that has no place in practice or training camp,'' Harbaugh said. ''Not to go into what the policy is right now as it's happened. It's been addressed.'' He wouldn't say whether they would play against the Chiefs. ... Harbaugh has ''a list of eight or nine guys'' he said won't travel to Kansas City, though he wouldn't say who they are other than that LT Joe Staley is likely on there. Staley returned to practice after missing four days with an undisclosed injury.

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by Mavericks Ace

No. He definitely wont be released. They are going to need him. He is going to start the season on the PUP list. They cant find a second receiver to save their life. He took a pay cut to stay. They really like him.

Thanks. Glad to hear that.

Manningham is good on the deep ball and has never been good on short and intermediate routes.

He used to run wrong routes and drive Eli crazy - however, I like him. He was a good third receiver for the Giants.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Dylan

Thanks. Glad to hear that.

Manningham is good on the deep ball and has never been good on short and intermediate routes.

He used to run wrong routes and drive Eli crazy - however, I like him. He was a good third receiver for the Giants.

He was really good as a slot guy for us. Amazingly enough, he didn't run a lot of deep routes with us, he was more a short guy.

I like him.

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by GordonGekko

It's amazing how polarizing Alex Smith is. Some view him as our only hope, while others think he is representative of the very problem of why we have been championshipless for so long.

Polarizing only on CP and only among a small group.

[Kaepernick]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

Polarizing only on CP and only among a small group.

HA! He was polarizing on every 49ers board in the ether. By mid season he will be polarizing on every Chiefs board. Bank on it! He will divide & conquer. He will be so good, half the forum will demand another year with him. The other half will demand better.

Get ready to rumble.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by Kaepernick

Yes, as if the 49ers coaches don't know that all you have to do is take away Alex's short field and he is doomed. The Giants did that. Seattle did that. It isn't rocket science. Take away Alex's slants and outs and 4 yarders, make him throw 10+ yards, and you've beat him.

The 49ers do have a rookie safety, so we'll see if Andy lets Alex attack him.

If every D has this "obvious" blueprint on how to defeat Alex, then how has he managed to be a top 5 QB in efficiency and top 10 QB in passer rating? Wouldn't he have been utterly shut down and tossed from the league? or barely clinging to a backup role? This sure happened to the Shaun Hills, J.T O 'Sullivans, Nate Davis, Troy Smiths, etc.

If defenses are tightening up all the time and keying on the run game and short passes... and all Alex really does is short passes... then how has he been so successful? Are you then saying he is SO GOOD at the short/intermediate game that he does well despite the opposition knowing what is coming?

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

If defenses are tightening up all the time and keying on the run game and short passes... and all Alex really does is short passes... then how has he been so successful?

Play action on 1st down...

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Kaepernick

HA! He was polarizing on every 49ers board in the ether. By mid season he will be polarizing on every Chiefs board. Bank on it! He will divide & conquer. He will be so good, half the forum will demand another year with him. The other half will demand better.

Get ready to rumble.

You could insert any name in that quote and you'd have described every year on ChiefsPlanet...

[SanDiego49er]

It's just one of those things you say to the media. I wouldn't read too much into it. The 49ers like Alex Smith. Of course they will compete against an opponent.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Rausch

You could insert any name in that quote and you'd have described every year on ChiefsPlanet...

Seriously, like Swiss watch clockwork. The only thing that changes is the players name causing the division.

[FlaChief58]

So NOW Harbaugh all of a sudden cares about hitting the QB....


http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ng-kaepernick/

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Flachief58

So NOW Harbaugh all of a sudden cares about hitting the QB....


http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ng-kaepernick/

im sure he does. His option after Kaep, is COLT MCCOY.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Me too. Certain CP'ers will feel his pain, and that's okay with me.

Cuz I'm an asshole like that.