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Smith stands out in 49ers narrow loss to Seattle
By Morris Phillips December 6, 2009 |
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This is 49ers football: close games, critical mistakes and missed opportunities, and on Sunday in Seattle, all of that leading to a tough loss, 20-17, to the Seahawks. In a loss this damaging to the 49ers season and their hopes of overtaking the Cardinals in the NFC West, a story of growth emerges for Niner faithful looking for hope. The last time the 49ers came to Seattle, and put the ball in Alex Smith’s hands, the result was a disaster. In November 2007, on the first play of the game, Smith threw a catchable ball on a go pattern that Darrell Jackson narrowly missed which would have gotten the 49ers off to a flying start. From there, Smith’s play and the team as a whole shrunk. Smith’s had a miserable night, finishing 12 of 28 for 114 yards, as the 49ers lost for a seventh straight week, 24-0. After the 49ers managed just six first downs in the game and made crossing midfield appear as difficult as scaling Mount Rainier, the obvious question was, if Smith could play this poorly, how could you envision him improving enough to help the 49ers win at some point? Fast forward to Sunday, when Smith returned to Qwest Field, two years later, healthy, no longer burdened by his enormous rookie deal and the expectations the contract placed upon him, and once again, entrusted with the 49ers offense. This time, with offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye calling plays tailored to Smith’s skillset, the fifth-year quarterback played well, finishing 27 of 45 for 310 yards, no interceptions and only one sack. For the second week in a row, the 49ers used the spread offense that Smith is accustomed to, and if not for two narrow misses on Smith’s accurate throws in the end zone late in the fourth quarter, the 49ers might have had a season changing victory. “Before he left the sideline, I said, ‘Here it is, it’s your time,’” Coach Mike Singletary said of Smith before he took the field with the 49ers trailing 17-14 and just five minutes remaining. “He went out there and he was doing what we asked him to do. In a crucial situation he managed the ball. He got it around to different guys. And today, we just found a way to screw it up. It’s as simple as that.” On the drive, Smith completed a pair of passes to Brandon Jones, one right after Jones drew a critical offensive pass interference penalty that could have doomed the effort. Another Smith pass went to Michael Crabtree, and then a swing pass to Frank Gore gained six yards and got the 49ers into the red zone. From there, Smith threw a seed down to the middle to Vernon Davis that the tight end had momentarily, before a Seattle defender dislodged it. The down the middle pattern was the same one the two had hooked up on earlier for a 42-yard gain and had combined numerous times previously leading to Davis setting the franchise record for touchdown catches by a tight end in a season with ten. “I just wish I could have looked a little earlier and saw the ball, so I could make the play,” Davis said. Smith faced pressure on the next play, and threw quickly to Crabtree on a slant pattern. The throw was accurate and hit the rookie on his helmet before he could turn and react. “We had a little pressure, and we didn’t have the time to throw to the route that I was running. He was thinking I would see it early, but the play was designed for the back of the end zone,” Crabtree said of the play. On both plays, Smith played aggressively, trying to get the winning touchdown, and he narrowly missed. Had Smith connected on either play, the 49ers would have had a lead with just minutes remaining. “Those are all things good teams execute; find a way to make one of those plays that end up winning the game,” Smith said afterwards. These situations are magnified for Smith because of the quarterbacks expected to be available in next year’s draft. Smith has four weeks to prove that he can be the trigger man with emerging offensive threats like Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan and Vernon Davis around him. Clearly, the organization wants him to succeed, giving the team an offense that has relatively young players developing together. For GM Scott McCloughan, that scenario is even more appealing than drafting Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford or Jake Locker. And in the last couple of weeks, it’s become more likely: Alex Smith could--despite all the missteps and injuries--eventually help the 49ers win a division title or a critical playoff game. When Seattle coach Jim Mora was asked afterwards about the Seahawks ability to stop Frank Gore, who ripped them in September for 207 yards rushing and two long touchdowns, he made some interesting observations about the 49ers offensive attack. “Interestingly enough, they didn’t attempt to run the ball. I think they only had four rushing attempts in the first half… four for 14 yards, to be exact, in the first half. It wasn’t a whole lot different in the second half. I’m not really concerned about their strategy, their philosophy; I’m just glad that (Gore) didn’t have the ball more, because the guy’s an outstanding football player. But, they’ve got a lot of outstanding football players. Those two tight ends, wow. They’re really good players. Their two receivers, really good players. The development of Alex Smith, I think it’s evident. It’s not smoke and mirrors, he’s becoming a very good football player." |
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