"It always seems like Hill doesn't get the credit he deserves," he wrote. "I am happy to have him at QB, however, in my heart of hearts, I am rooting for Smith, I feel like we were on to something in 2007. But with everything that Shaun Hill has done, what does Alex Smith have to do in your opinion to win the Job? Is it as simple as looking better in practice? Or in a preseason game? Seems like a steep hill for Smith."
* * *
Alex Smith took snaps in the morning with the first-team offense. In the recently completed afternoon practice (3:50 p.m. to 5:30), Hill was back running with the first team.
Smith is throwing the ball pretty well. He completed a higher percentage of his passes than Hill, who experienced difficulty throwing the ball against the wind.
Hill hates to hear it, of course, but he is not the kind of quarterback who is going to be impressive in practice. There are times that he really struggles in those settings. Smith, meanwhile, is more apt to pass the "eyeball test" in practice with his stronger arm.
But Hill excels in other areas. He is clearly a leader. He has the intangibles. He has a quiet confidence off the field. On the field, he has an edge to him. He is not afraid to tell the coach that he'd be making a mistake if he were to bench him in the middle of a game, which was the case in the 49ers' late-season win at
Several weeks ago, coach Mike Singletary said he would start the quarterback who makes magic happen in the huddle. That area is Hill's specialty.
Singletary already knows about that. He has seen Hill in action. In fact, one of the big reasons Singletary was named 49ers coach was because of Hill's strong play over the final half of the season. Meanwhile, Smith has not played since the middle of the 2007 season. Clearly, Hill has that advantage.
So what does Smith have to do to win the job? He not only has to outplay Hill in practice, he has to outplay him by a considerable margin. And, even then, it might not be enough for Singletary to go with him over Hill.
Smith has to prove to Singletary that Hill is not the only quarterback on the team with those same hard-to-define qualities.
A year ago, then-O.C. Mike Martz wanted Smith to adopt a different mindset. Sorry, but I can't use the exact phrase that Martz kept repeating to Smith, but it was along the lines of, "The heck with it." He wanted Smith to forget about trying to please everybody.
There was a play in practice today when Hill was trying to get a pass to Vernon Davis. Defensive back Allen Rossum made the interception, and
That is probably the kind of thing Singletary will be looking to see from Smith. When Smith is in the huddle, Singletary will want to see him take charge.
He wants to see that magic.
* * *
Defensive back Reggie Smith left the afternoon practice with a groin strain. Receiver Jason Hill experienced soreness in his left hamstring in the morning and did not practice in the afternoon. Both will be evaluated Sunday.
* * *
Add linebacker Mark Washington to previous list of those 49ers with Twitter accounts.
* * *
Matt, nice to see you back in top notch form. I've always been concerned with Smith's accuracy, and right or wrong, I'm of the mind that accuracy for a QB is like speed: You either have it or you don't, you can't teach it.
With that said, I'd like your early thoughts on the accuracy of Smith's throws in practice; i.e, how is he hitting the receivers...in stride...are they having to reach for the ball which causes them to break stride, etc.
I know you'll watch all summer, and I'd be interested in your thoughts as OTA's and training camp go on.
"When Smith is in the huddle, Singletary will want to see him take charge" -...
,...When did being over aggresive and yelling over a play become the standard of a QB taking charge...
.if not for the drama of seeing two jocks yelling at each other.....is this really relevant
T.Brady does not take charge like that, if i recall Joe was not really a "in your face guy".....
All i know is in the NFL I rather go with a young mute with a strong arm over a wannabe loud mouth with a noodle arm....
You don't understand leadership. Some guys have it, and some guys don't.
It really has nothing to do with yelling. The best example of this concerns two of the greatest HC's ever in the NFL (Vince Lombardi & Tom Landry - who were also assistant coaches with the NY Giants before becoming HC's).
Both were GREAT leaders.
Lombardi yelled and screamed his head off.
Landry never said two words to anybody.
Leadership at the QB position is all about 'running the offense' and making the other ten guys believe that you will get the job done if they do their jobs.
Some guys are able to make their teammates beieve that they can get it done (and then, of course, GETTING IT DONE)! Others . . . not so much.
It really has nothing to do with yelling.
As I recall, Alex did beat out Sean for the number two spot last year, even under Martz, before he went down before week one of the regular season. I also checked out the NFL's most accurate QB's by season, and you can't find anyone under 25 yoa, even the greats. I've also read that there is a strong correlation with early NFL success at the QB position with the number of games started in college, and Alex had few. Gore did far better when he had Alex to provide a deep threat. Alex has had two years to learn and mature since 2006, he has a better and more seasoned O line, and he even may have receivers that can create seperation and provide a target. If you want to run the ball, you have got to push the safties back with the threat of the deep ball. We will always be "miles away" from a championship quality QB with Hill. He can't throw into the wind, and his medium and deep balls float? Too scary. Hill't the kind of guy that may squeek you into the playoff's in a weak division, and if that's the goal, fine, but he will never win you a championship without an '01 Raven's or '85 Bears defense, and that's really tough to achieve. Smith has got the size, speed, strength, arm and mind to avoid int's to be very effective. No, he hasn't shown the whole package yet, so let's find out this year if he can pick it up, or if we need to go shopping. To build a champion, you need to strive for domination at every position.
Mike Singletary will not make the decision based on who throws the better-looking pass. Singletary is very comfortable with what he knows about Hill's ability to lead. If Smith shows those same "intangibles," then I believe he will be the starter.
And as I've stated in a previous post, it's not the worst thing in the world for Smith to begin the season as the backup.
http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers/2009/05/why-hill-should-start-and-other-answers-to-questions.html
At some point, Smith will get his chance to prove himself, whether he is named the starter to open the season or not. --Matt M.
Hill has proven to be effective at Candlestick, and this year 5 of the Niners 8 road games are in dome stadiums (Cardinals, Rams, Colts, Texans, Vikings). So all the wind is doing during these OTA's is slowing down the offense's development -- it isn't preparing them for the game conditions they'll see except potentially for 3 games -- Green Bay, Phillie, and Seattle in November and Dec. And even great QB's have trouble fighting the wind -- that's why switching ends every quarter can throw momentum to one team or the other. So I don't see Alex Smith gaining any ground on Hill just because he's marginally better in windy conditions.
Matt, I think Alex really has a shot. Maybe this is the beginning of him gaining his confidence back? I'd love to see him succeed. I know you said before that Shaun Hill appears to have alot of the 49ers players supporting him. Do you think Alex has any supporters on the team? If not, how can he win over his teammates? After all, to have any success this season, the team has to believe in their QB!
The weakness in Hill's arm really comes into play in the red zone. When all those DBs are swarming around covering a smaller number of yards and Hill has to throw into tight spaces, Hill has trouble. he's more apt to get picked off in the red zone. I think that's one reason Hill was far more effective in the middle of the field than when we were getting close to the goal line.
Hey Matt - I don't understand the references to Hill's "hard-to-define" qualities and "intangibles" or "magic". I think Hill's abilities have been clearly on display during games and are very easy to define. He is accurate, has excellent touch, good timing, ability to throw to receivers before their breaks, is elusive in the pocket, fast, can improvise well, and can feel pressure from his blindside. Because of these clearly defined and tangible skills, he completes passes, gets first downs and helps his team score points. Smith clearly has a stronger arm than Hill but that is just one of many definable and tangible quarterback skills. I don't think it's any more important than several of the skills for which Hill clearly has more aptitude. Am I way off base?
I think if Alex Smith wants to win the starting job, he will have to go Tonya Harding on Hill butt.
The change of offensive philosophy over the Martz system will also benefit the QB.
Raye eppears to employ some WCO in his plan and Staley emphasized the change about getting the running game inside the Tackles.
With all things considered, we have changes again on the Offensive side and when glaring difference that I see is Sing sweating the details.
Who can forget the forgettable comment about not going back to plays that weren't completed properly in practice? What's practice for if you don't perfect anything?
Alex is getting a long look but I can see him falling to 3rd-string if the results aren't there.
Also depends on how adventurous the Jimmy Raye playbook is, given the WR/TE talents at hand. If it befits a game-manager QB, then Huard has a more proven record (15-12 in career starts) than Alex, is versed in the digital offense (Al Saunders's) & had conjured his own Shaunhill magic back in '06 (5-2 as relief starter for Trent Green).
I'm with Ian. The bay area press will stir up the "competition" to maintain readership thru the summer (what else is there to talk about?). Sing will continue his mantra that it's all competition and no job is guaranteed (yeah right). But at the end of the day it's 100% solid gold lock that Hill will start game 1 and lead the team for as long as he stays healthy and results are reasonable.
GeoMak, I tend to agree with you. Demonstrated leadership is what allows you to raise your voice with purpose if you are a loud guy; but is not required to be a leader. And, leadership is demonstrated by performance under pressure; being accountable and holding others accountable. In 49er history, Montana was a great leader but, by all accounts, not a rah rah guy. Alternatively, Lott was a leader who would be in your face. Hill has had more success than any 49er quarterback since Young and Garcia and with much less of a team. Hill is a no excuses type of guy. Just look at Tony Dungy's recent comments about Jay Cutler and essential quarterback qualities. For Smith to be a successful starter on the 49ers he will have to gain the confidence of the team that he can do a better job than Hill. Given past history that is a tall order.
Matt: You say "So what does Smith have to do to win the job? He not only has to outplay Hill in practice, he has to outplay him by a considerable margin. And, even then, it might not be enough for Singletary to go with him over Hill." I saw Singletary say that Alex and Sean are not so much competing with each other as they are competing with the best qb's in the NFL. There are no top NFL qb's, if even any starting qb's, with Hill's arm strength. Top qb's can make all the plays, which is required to keep the defense honest. My take on Singletary's comment was that Hill will have to clearly win the competition or it will be Smith. I agree Smith will have to show some grit, but where am I going wrong?
Arm strength is great if combined with accuracy. Throwing 90mph worm burners, sailers, too far ahead & behind receivers gets you turnovers, 3 & outs, and receivers being laid out. Crisp on target passes get you confidence ,YAK, and keeps the chains moving. Expect to see more ball control offense, pounding the rock, more TE, more outlets to the FB in the flats (remember getting 5 yards to Rathman was almost automatic)
better time of possession and a rested D. Hill is the man for that job but it would be great to see Alex finally get his game together and beat him out. I agree with you Matt, starting the season out with no pressure, more time to really understand the system and playbook and gain confidence in the shoulder is in Alex's best interest. He's young & he'll still get his chance. He has to be totally ready when it comes. If he was a cat he's used up 8 lives. The next chance he gets he needs to perform like a top draft pick...accurate, confident, swagger, make the throws, Hi completion %, QB rating and most importantly W's. There is enough talent around now to demonstrate your capable of being the man. I hope he can do it...if not then maybe Nate D will be QBOTF.
Matt! I had read in one of the Bay area papers that Smith was not received well, or should I say a favorite of his teamates in the locker room since he was drafted by the 49ers. If true, is it because he was kind of a silent, loner type or other reasons?
I also read last year that the team gravitated to Hill in the locker room especially when named the starter.
Have you heard or have you seen that this is a true inclination of reporters around the team?
Thanks Matt! Welcome back!!
Arm strength...
...great when you have it -- useless without poise in the pocket.
Smith has never shown the pocket presence (sensing the rush, the small steps up, back, and sideways to buy another second for making reads, etc). It is something that can't be taught. I really believe that coming back from the surgeries as he is and learning yet another offense, that he should start the season on the bench.
Matt is absolutely correct. He will get his chance. And when he does, if the poor accuracy and jittery/slow read/ pocket presence issues are not improved dramatically, then, well hellooooo Nate -- or someone else -- for the future.
I mean with his age, and arm, I would love to see him magically acquire those true QB intangibles, you better believe it. But without them, he's not worth anything. Sad, but true. The former NFL Qb graveyard is full of strong armed failures who did not have that sixth sense in the pocket.
Who is starting for Titans, weak-armed Collins or powerhouse Vince Young?
Yep.
I would call the biggest difference between the two QB's "pocket presence". It's that sixth sense that some QB's have (and some do not) about how the pocket is holding up, when it's breaking down, where it's breaking down, and what to do when it does.
Smith simply doesn't have pocket presence. The reason he fumbled so many times wasn't because of his small hands. It was because his eyes were looking down the field and he didn't sense the pressure that some DE or OLB was bringing.
Hill just has a better intuitive sense as to what to do back there, especially if bad things are happening. Maybe if we had a stellar pass-blocking OL Smith would do well. But we don't, and good defensive teams can always bring the heat. Hill is better in those situations.
BTW, the Niners can't expose Nate Davis by putting him on the practice squad. Carry him as the third QB. If we're down to our 3rd QB the season is probably already in the crapper. Why play an old guy instead of a young guy at that point?
On one 'America's Game' episode they showed Joe Montana in the locker room giving a speech after a playoff win (and to fire the team up before the next weeks NFC Championship game).
The narrator of the show said that Montana hardly ever gave speeches and it showed: The speech was real short and pretty crappy.
Speeches were not a strength of Joe Montana.
Joe Montana was a GREAT leader. Yeller, screamer, speech maker or rah-rah guy he wasn't.
"And as I've stated in a previous post, it's not the worst thing in the world for Smith to begin the season as the backup." -
..i am cool with that...
the first couple of games in the season are the easiest to win......A.Smith has proven he could win those games even without huge stats....
....i just don't want the team to lose those early season games cuz of Hill.......i have no confidence in the guy....
As soon as A.Smith gets on the field during the season we can put this argument to rest. Either he performs or he chokes. The speculations will end and we can move on.
And therein lies what is probably the biggest dilemma for the Niners this year. Hill has probably earned the right to start the season, even if Smith is fully healed and does well in pre-season, even out-shining Hill. But McC and Singletary (and many here and in the league at large) are not sold on Hill at all and do not believe he will ever become an elite QB. Only by winning more than he loses will Hill be able to keep the job. Unfortunately, he has to lose games before he is replaced by someone who DOES have a chance to become an elite QB (Smith or even Davis), and by that time the season would likely be lost. The worst scenario, and a likely one, is that Hill runs a 50/50 deal, not enough to lose the job and not enough to get it done, while retarding the development of either Smith or Davis. That is, Hill has to fall out of favor not only with Singletary, but also the fans and most importantly, the team itself. I want him to succeed, because I want the Niners to win. But it would take phenomenal success to convince me he is the long term answer and not just someone who can make us competitive but not dominant.
Question: Matt! I had read in one of the Bay area papers that Smith was not received well, or should I say a favorite of his teamates in the locker room since he was drafted by the 49ers.
My response: That is simply not true. Alex Smith is well-liked on the team. --Matt M.
That's a valid concern Skeebers. I can see that happening, and then at the end of the season, they (once again) blame the offensive coordinator, forcing Singletary to get rid of Jimmy Raye, meaning yet another change of coordinators and yet another offense to learn in the off-season.
That would be a huge mistake, because it's this lack of continuity that hinders the quarterbacks' development. Especially Smith, between injuries and random new offenses every year, it's no wonder he's fighting to be a starter after being a first round pick.
Look at Staley's comments about continuity on the offensive line, and imagine if we had that same continuity with system, OC, and quarterback. Starting over every year should no longer be an option.
Leadership is best shaped from winning. When your Q.B. is winning games he has the full respect and confidence of the entire team. I got to see Johnnie Unitas, Joe Namath, and Bart Starr play during their prime, but when age started to catch up to them their skill level as well as leadership value began to diminish. Why, because winning breeds leadership. Alex Smith (to his credit) has never bemoaned his bumpy NFL journey, but he has what every player who has ever been down and out has asked for, and that is ANOTHER CHANCE. Now it's up to him to prove himself by getting on the field and WIN!
What Smith must show to win the starting QB job?..... Some talent at performing that job,for a change,obviously,lol
And Matt: Of course all his team mates like alex,who wouldn't,he is a class guy and a nice kid. I think what the person who asked you the question above was speaking about is the obvious lack of acceptance that his team mates have for Alex as their leader,who can lead the team to toughnosed victories. The kind of faith they DO have in Hill.
Alex's team mates are just like me and the vast majority of Niner's fans,we like alex as a person but wouldn't bet a nickle on his ability on the field ,when the chips are down.