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Smith gets the nod will start against 2-4 New Orleans
By David Zizmor October 25, 2007 |
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He may not be better known as sling shot arm, but for what it's worth, the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback and first stringer Alex Smith and his goatee are back in action on Sunday afternoon when the Niners host a team with a similar record the 2-4 New Orleans Saints. Taking extra caution head coach Mike Nolan gave Smith the nod and said that he would start on Sunday. Smith was taking snaps all week in practice and was under observation for any tweaks in his throwing shoulder that was separated after missing four weeks after being blitzed by the Seattle Seahawks Rocky Bernard who drove Smith's shoulder to the ground with his 308 lbs frame. Smith told KPIX CBS 5, "I feel like I could definitely take a hit. I think today is a step in the right direction". Nolan was watching Smith make the passes and take scrimmage. The practice was what Smith was hoping for and he looks forward to take snaps in the real thing when the Niners face off against the Saints on Sunday afternoon, "Good to be back out there, felt great to be in the huddle, taking reps instead of watching”, said Smith about his return. “Getting back comfortable with the shoulder, throwing the ball. As the day went on I felt better and better". Trent Dilfer the back up for Smith took his lumps in past games against New York when Smith was out last week and lost a tough game that saw five turnovers and a failed effort to get the 49ers on the scoreboard in the late part of the game to get squared with the Giants. Dilfer while standing in for Smith could not help the club convert a win. Dilfer for all his efforts didn't have that pista resistance that he had when he was with the Ravens back in the day and speaking of the Ravens Dilfer threw a low scoring loss in that one too with no touchdowns for the 49ers in the 9-6 loss. No touchdowns for Dilfer his ex-team knew what he was about and scored hits and deflections to take Dilfer out of his game there too while still substituting for Smith. The coaching by the Ravens made the difference and films on Dilfer gave a good read on Dilfer so the defense had him running in the backfield all day. That lesson was pretty much the same at the Meadowlands last week too when the Giants defense played with command and never gave Dilfer really any time to get rid of the football enough to even things up. Had Dilfer won and performed all those games that Smith was out with an injury it would have posed a different quarterback controversy for Nolan but that fantasy is no more as Smith will start on Sunday. The Niners 2-4 are playing the Saints who are 2-4 and this is Smith's game to shine or strike out or to use a football metaphor to avoid some sack time. Dilfer will be dressed for this one again, but he and the rest of the club hopes that Smith can pick the Niners out of their doldrums and get them back on track again. Smith this time is hoping he can last a whole ball game rather than the three plays he had which took him out for four weeks when Seattle came a calling. David Zizmor covers the 49ers each week with Pearl Lo listen to both as they co-host Sportstalk on 1690 KFSG Sacramento. |
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