The answer is to keep sending Smith out there on the field.

He is a complete failure on clock management. The delay penalties and his failure to call time out is killing the 49ers. Otherwise he is a significant upgrade. The two minute offense at the end of the first half was great.

Wow, Cohn, your opinions are just making me cringe these days. The guys you should be judging are Singletary and Raye. They are the ones directly responsible for this loss with the horrible play-calling.

It's way too early to judge Smith, the fact that you are makes me believe that you don't know what you're doing, I'm done with your worthless opinions, you don't deserve to get paid for the crap you're posting.

I just don't feel comfortable with him playing, and I've always said he's never gotten a proper chance to prove himself.

I disagree to the extent that I feel he's an upgrade over Hill, but too many of his passes are off target, and he seems to scramble *into* trouble instead of away from it. (example: I counted a couple of times when he flopped around in the pocket, right into a lineman when he should have thrown the ball away.)

If the game's on the line and the offense needs to move the ball for a score, I just don't think he has it in him to do it-- not yet anyway. With luck, cannon-armed Nate Davis can step in next season if Alex flops again. But let's give him a little more time, Indy on the road is a bit much for anyone to chew on their first start in two years.

Alex played as well as most QB's in the NFL today! It's Singletary and OC Raye and their 1980's playbook! Really should have won this game!

he played a good game. When the niners finally spread open the offense he did really well. Hill can't make the out throws. The play-calling is terrible. 1st and 2nd downs always are runs out of the i-form. A new cordinator is a must if Raye doesn't change his play calling towards the strengths of his players. With weapons and time to grow together this offense could be awesome. Did everyone watch that last drive before the half? Finally, spread the offense and we marched right up the field. Then the second half started and reverted right back to the lame and predictable offense. If the niners throw early, maybe build a little lead then the run will open up and they can dominate the time of possession. It's so frustrating watching this team with so much promise right now.

There's an expression in soccer: "They didn't play an ounce of football." That's what I think of MS and JR; they don't play to win, they play not to lose. It's hard for anybody to look good when you're hamstrung by that kind of negative mentality.

SMITH WAS OKAY -- Yes, Alex Smith was okay. Not an outstanding game, but not a loser either. In comparison to Hill, Smith was far better--reasonable decisions and fine passes. His new receiver, Crabtree, made rookie mistakes that cost the team and led to Smith's interception.

All in all, Smith is the better choice at quarterback. By the way, he has growth potential far in excess of Hill's.

Ruben,

Did you watch the game?

They ran 8 times on first down.

They threw 15 times.

The problem is the o-line and the run game. They ran 13 times with Gore. 10 went for three yards or less. Only one went for over 7 yards, the 64 yard score.

Hill can't throw the deep outs and that is a major problem. Alex's arm stength, although not great, is a huge improvement over Hill and makes the defense stay honest.

The line did a good job at pass blocking, especially considering that Mathis and Freeney are beasts, but without conistent puch in the run game they will have to rely on the pass too often.

Alex already looks as good as Hill ever did, and he will continue to get better. Hill was as good as he was going to get. Only if Alex seriously regresses should they consider an off season move, otherwise, improve the lines and this team could be very good with him at QB.

Alex played OK...that' all.

The biggest reason the 49ers lose is mistakes. Turnovers, dropped pases, fielding a punt on the 5 yard line, offsides, illegal procedures,....& on & on. These things kill drives.

Can't win that way. The whole team needs to play smarter and stop the dumb mental errors.

Lowell,quit downgrading Alex constantly! How about a few rollouts,
or moving pockets? Alex does excellent in the shotgun,why was he under center in the 4th quarter? This team is learning to win close games. YOU NEED TO PLAY IN CLOSE GAMES AGAINST GREAT TEAMS ON THE ROAD TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO WIN THEM.
Give the coaching staff credit for coming up with a great game plan! Remember,this is a new staff. They seem to be improving also,and are not afraid to change their players or schemes.Playoffs
ahead!!!!!

I disagree, and I'm letting you know. He threw for almost 200 yards against the 6th ranked pass defense in football. He directed the most precise 2 minute drill I've seen from the team since Garcia, and maybe since Young. And beside the above which can be argued til the moon turns blue, he consistently threw to the outside and the seam better and harder tha Hill ever did or could.

I'm not dismissing your comments or trying to pick a fight, but my first thought after the 49ers took one of the two best teams in football to a last minute, 4 point game wasn't "Alex Smith isn't the answer", it was "maybe Alex Smith IS the answer." Granted, I would rather have Montana or Young, but do you really think the 49ers would've been within 4 points with Hill at QB?

Yes Alex Smith is a big upgrade. While he threw for only 198 yards, it was against the best team in football today.

Also, three of his passes were dropped, the O-line gave up three sacks and kept him scrambling. When Raye & Singletary opened it up at the end of the first half, Alex marched them down the field fast.

The Colts averaged 30 points a game before this game. Today they only got 18. Get two new O-line people in the first round next April & we will be a contender.

He played well when he was put in a spread, oh wait, there was really only one time where the spread was really used...maybe it's Raye's fault..and his inept ability to actually coach, not Alex Smith, he can make all the throws, and that's an upgrade from Shaun Hill already.

Matt, while your language was too strong for me, your idea was not...you're right...its way too soon to judge Alex Smith...he's doing well under the circumstances...right now, as much as I like and respect Shaun Hill as a team leader and probably a stand up guy, he's not the best QB the niners have..that's Smith...give him a chance, let him play, lets get the damn world off his shoulders on each and every play...he's already doing far better than most of us fans and fanatics and most of the writers for that matter could have guessed...

Last week's Smith was a huge upgrade over Hill. Last week's Smith could take us to the playoffs and even win a game or two. This week's Smith was OK in the first half and is still an upgrade. But the second half Smith...well, I saw some of the old Smith emerge when the Colts' pass rush begin to throw Smith around. Smith started to run out of the pocket prematurely and that limited his focus on his receivers. However, the whole team was getting beat up more and more as the game progressed thru the third and fourth quarters so it wasn't all Smith's fault.

Your comments about the game Smith had out of focus had pretty selective[ from a extremely neagative point of view. With the success Smith has had with the spread offense, let him run it until teams show they can stop it. If you have weapons, use them. Raye must go or it will cost the coach his job.

Alex was ok. The play calling, not ok. What does
Alex do better than average?: work from the shotgun
and while rolling out. What does he struggle
with?, playing under center

He has to have some rust from not playing---so call plays he typically handles well. no rocket science,
and not really advanced football, but apparently
beyond the grasp of the 49ers coaches.

gary

Count me among those who thougt Alex did well, a definite upgrade over Hill, and who question the play calling and Cohn's inherent bias against Smith.

Was Smith perfect, no, but despite the interception I don't think you can lay this loss on him.

I enjoyed weatching the game, which seems to be one up on a lot of you guys and especially Lowell. The Niners are on the mend from a decade of stupidity, incompetence and medacity at the exec level. And why oh why is this font so friggin' small???

I disagree, Lowell ... I, too, blame the coaches ... for not even trying a no-huddle/spread offense in the second half. What he did on that 2-min. drive right before the half was impressive, and to not even TRY it in the 2nd half is ludicrous. Smith showed why he was SO successful in college with the spread.

I don't understand coaches that try and "force" a system on their personnel instead of creating a system, i.e., more spread offense, that would put them in a position to succeed.

I would have to agree with the fact that Jimmy Raye has no idea how to win. Singletary is a fine coach, and I like him, but he needs to learn how to adjust during a game when he needs ti (ie: go with what your team is responding to most to have best chance to win). Alex Smith is solid, he just needs more experience. People need to not be up in arms about him starting. It's not like we were a major contender this year anyways, and I believe Smith gives us a better chance to win than Shaun Hill anyways. Especially when our defense struggles, and we start playing from behind.

Alex was merely OK. The Defense was the only reason we stayed in the game, holding Peyton to ZERO TDs.

Merely OK may (but most likely won't) land you a wildcard spot, but it will never win a Superbowl. Alex has a long road ahead to be the QB of the future. For now he's just OK.