Alex Smith

[ZoneBlitz]

Really?

-Through nine games, the 49ers have not allowed a single rushing touchdown. Take a second, let that sink in. Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, Cedric Benson, Montario Hardesty, LaGarette Blount, Jahvid Best, Brandon Jacobs...nothing.

- The 49ers have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 30(?) games...give or take a few games, I can't remember. It goes without saying that we're #1 when defending the run.

-Carlos Rogers leads the NFL with 5 interceptions.

-Second-year player Navarro Bowman is 2nd in the NFL with 92 tackles...and he's not even the best interior linebacker on the team.

-The 49ers have an NFL-best +13 turnover differential.

Being strong against the run isnt impressive anymore, this is a pass-happy league.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

The 'game manager' label is thrown around too much and has become the cliche phrase to describe any non highly touted QB on a good team who has shitty stats.

QB with shitty stats on a good team: game manager
QB with same shitty stats on a bad team: shitty QB

Trent Dilfer wasn't a game manager, Trent Dilfer just sucked. He wasn't a game manager in TB, he was just a bust. Funny how that works.

To me, Troy Aikman was a true game manager. Phil Simms. Chad Pennington. Heady guys who made good decisions. Not a lot of gambling. But nobody used that phrase for them, because really it's just code for "guy who sucks whose team is winning so we can't just say he sucks because it destroys our QB's are responsible for the outcome of every game ever narrative".

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Really?

-Through nine games, the 49ers have not allowed a single rushing touchdown. Take a second, let that sink in. Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, Cedric Benson, Montario Hardesty, LaGarette Blount, Jahvid Best, Brandon Jacobs...nothing.

- The 49ers have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 30(?) games...give or take a few games, I can't remember. It goes without saying that we're #1 when defending the run.

-Carlos Rogers leads the NFL with 5 interceptions.

-Second-year player Navarro Bowman is 2nd in the NFL with 92 tackles...and he's not even the best interior linebacker on the team.

-The 49ers have an NFL-best +13 turnover differential.

Good defense does not equal historical defense.

 

[ralaw]

Really?

-Through nine games, the 49ers have not allowed a single rushing touchdown. Take a second, let that sink in. Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, Cedric Benson, Montario Hardesty, LaGarette Blount, Jahvid Best, Brandon Jacobs...nothing.

- The 49ers have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 30(?) games...give or take a few games, I can't remember. It goes without saying that we're #1 when defending the run.

-Carlos Rogers leads the NFL with 5 interceptions.

-Second-year player Navarro Bowman is 2nd in the NFL with 92 tackles...and he's not even the best interior linebacker on the team.

-The 49ers have an NFL-best +13 turnover differential.

The 49ers have a good defense, but I wouldn't put it on a level of the 2000 Ravens. Besides, I'm not even sure the 2000 Ravens could get away with what they did in today's NFL. In the end the playoffs is about QB play and Smith will have to make plays. Any team that is going to beat the Packers is going to need at least 35-40 points. Can Alex Smith put that up?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

IIRC, the 2000 Ravens went something like 8 consecutive games without scoring an offensive TD (with the great Tony Banks under C, the man who game manager Trent Dilfer couldn't beat out for a job that year), yet were still winning games. I'd say that's indicitive of a historical defense.

 

[dope]

why does it have to be this year? who knows if they can win one with Alex Smith this year or in the future, but i have feeling they sure as fuck can win one with Harbaugh as their coach.

 

[Villain]

So the point has been made that the 2011 49ers are not the 2000 Ravens. Do they need to be?

The 49ers secondary continues to improve and the effectiveness in the red zone is outstanding on offense and defense. They beat the NY Giants without Frank Gore and look like a lock for the first week playoff BYE.

Alex Smith hasn't been an MVP passer but he's been more than effective enough. His only INT last week was off of a tipped pass. Special Teams has also been outstanding. In my opinion this 49ers unit as a whole looks better than Rexy's Bears.

I think they can beat any AFC team in the superbowl this year (we'll have a better idea on that with the upcoming games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore.) My concern is whether or not they can actually make the superbowl. Green Bay just doesn't look very beatable.

 

[shag773]

The 'game manager' label is thrown around too much and has become the cliche phrase to describe any non highly touted QB on a good team who has shitty stats.

QB with shitty stats on a good team: game manager
QB with same shitty stats on a bad team: shitty QB

Trent Dilfer wasn't a game manager, Trent Dilfer just sucked. He wasn't a game manager in TB, he was just a bust. Funny how that works.

To me, Troy Aikman was a true game manager. Phil Simms. Chad Pennington. Heady guys who made good decisions. Not a lot of gambling. But nobody used that phrase for them, because really it's just code for "guy who sucks whose team is winning so we can't just say he sucks because it destroys our QB's are responsible for the outcome of every game ever narrative".

In saying all that, where do you think Smith falls. Does he suck, fall into the category you suggested, or do you need to see more?

I really don't understand the Smith and Dilfer comparison this year, Smith is having a way better year that Dilfer ever had.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

In saying all that, where do you think Smith falls. Does he suck, fall into the category you suggested, or do you need to see more?

I really don't understand the Smith and Dilfer comparison this year, Smith is having a way better year that Dilfer ever had.

I don't know where Smith falls. He's just a dude having a good year. I think that sums it up well enough.

 

[Rayman]

No, but thats not an indictment on Smith. Rodgers and the Packers aren't going anywhere soon, and Gore is going down the home stretch of the productive part of his career.

I know he's a game manager, but his stats are hard to ignore. 95+ quarterback rating, 64% completion PCT, and only 3 INT. He's having a Josh Freeman 2010 type year but he's actually played well vs good teams.

I actually think the Packers are very beatable, and the 49ers have one of the squads capable of doing so.

 

[NAHSTE]

I don't know where Smith falls. He's just a dude having a good year. I think that sums it up well enough.

I don't think we are willing to say this often enough as fans in this ESPN era. Everything has to be put into a "historical perspective." I find what you just said to be refreshingly simplistic.

 

[dope]

I actually think the Packers are very beatable, and the 49ers have one of the squads capable of doing so.

what's funny is I don't believe the packers are a team built to succeed in their own stadium come january

 

[Rayman]

what's funny is I don't believe the packers are a team built to succeed in their own stadium come january

I'm compelled to agree. Maybe I'm wrong and Rodgers can wing it for 400 and they can win shootouts in sub-freezing temperatures against teams that control the clock, but as of right now, I lean the other way.

The D played well last night, though.

 

[Diivox]

I'm compelled to agree. Maybe I'm wrong and Rodgers can wing it for 400 and they can win shootouts in sub-freezing temperatures against teams that control the clock, but as of right now, I lean the other way.

The D played well last night, though.

they blitzed on 73% of their plays last night, and that shit won't fly in the playoffs.. they also have 5 games where they've allowed 400+ passing yards. The Packers defense is like a slut at the bar, and every weeks injury potential is just going to make them even more available in January.

 

[St. Francisco]

Do I think the 49ers can beat the Packers in a QB duel? No.

Do I believe they have to? No.

I think this defense is good enough to contain that offense to 20-25 points, and in that scenario, I believe we can put up points against their suspect defense. The match-up isn't as one-sided as some put it out there to be.

And I wasn't trying to say the 49ers are a historical defense...but they're certainly one of the best this year. Alex doesn't need to put up tons of points.

 

[Len B]

Yes, simply because the 49ers are a great team and we're in 2011. Their defense is vastly underrated, as they have the best linebacker core in the NFL that no one even knows about outside of Willis.

There's no such thing as an unbeatable team, and in recent years (specifically this year) we've seen that any team can lose in a blink of an eye. Let us not forget the mighty Packers put up a goose egg vs. a much worse Panthers team for a half.

49ers defense and ball control are good enough to beat any team in the NFL any given day. Are they the best team? Of course not, but it's the NFL and any day anyone can win.

 

[Liquidrob]

Was on team Alex Smith since his rookie year, kid never caught break, now ole small hands is doing well, glad to se it

 

[Senser81]

I'm compelled to agree. Maybe I'm wrong and Rodgers can wing it for 400 and they can win shootouts in sub-freezing temperatures against teams that control the clock, but as of right now, I lean the other way.

Last year at the end of the regular season, Rodgers threw for 400 yards and 4 TDs in zero degree weather against the Giants.

 

[Senser81]

I still say the 49ers are the only team in the NFC that can go to Green Bay and beat the Packers in the Playoffs. Harbaugh knows exactly what he is doing, he could coach a ham sandwich at QB to 10 wins.

Harbaugh has won exactly zero playoff games in his career. The Packers defense is pretty bad in pass coverage with Woodson and Peprah being liabilities, and I think several teams could give them problems...but the Niners would be the least of the Packers worries, IMO, because they have no passing threat other than Vernon Davis.

 

[Rayman]

Last year at the end of the regular season, Rodgers threw for 400 yards and 4 TDs in zero degree weather against the Giants.

I'm not saying he can't do that, I'm saying I don't like his team's chances if he has to.