Former Ute - Alex Smith

I wanted to try and clear some things up about Smith, his college career and his up and down NFL career. I read Block U today about the writers favorite Ute. I enjoy his blog and he is one of the reasons I started one of my own, but I disagree with his thoughts on Brian Johnson being the better Ute than Alex.

Smith is 21-1 while starting for Utah, was fourth in Heisman voting and  busted the BCS for the first time since it's inception, winning that Fiesta game against an underwhelming Pitt team. The 2004 version of the Utah Utes as far as I am concerned was the best team ever produced, (there may be some old timers that would probably disagree but for arguments sake lets consider the last thirty years). Teams that year included, Texas A&M 41-21, Arizona 23-6, North Carolina 46-16, BYU 52-21, and Pitt Panthers in the Fiesta Bowl 35-7. The 2008 version won four games (Michigan, TCU, Air Force, and Oregon State), by 11 points combined. No team from 2004 got
within 11 points of the Utes.
Back to Smith. His grasp of the offense during that 2004 season was impressive to say the least, that being said it gives you some perspective of what happened to him in the NFL.

2005- Smith was drafted by the 49ers #1 overall and was expected to lead them back to the promised land. The only problem with that scenario is the 49er team Smith inherited was terrible. They had a new head coach that was tasked to turn the team around. The problem was the entire team had to be rebuilt. There was no quick fix after being saddled with salary cap hell by the previous management.

As expected, he started nine games his rookie season struggling with one touchdown vs. eleven int's.

2006 - Offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy fled to Green Bay the next season and Alex was forced to learn a new system under Norv Turner. Smith progressed nicely under Turner and had a respectful 2006 campaign starting all 16 games, (the only 49er QB in team history to have done that), and it was generally felt that Smith has taken the next step. Then Turner left for the head coaching gig in San Diego and boom, a third offense to learn in as many years.

2007 - Jim Hostler, the QB coach in 2006, was named OC. He had never been a OC before and was given the chore of running a pro football teams offense for the first time ever, the disaster that followed was epic, and with Smith trying to lead the team with a patchwork offensive line ended up costing him his season. On Sept. 20 in a game against the Seahawks d-lineman Rocky Bernard slammed his 320+ pounds on top of Smith driving his throwing shoulder into the turf causing a grade three separation effectively ending his season. Although Smith tried to endure without surgery and actually played through the injury in a few games, it was apparent to everyone, (except his head coach), that Smith was injured badly and should not be playing. 2007 Season done, Smith was placed on IR and had surgery on the injured shoulder.

2008 - Same old story same old song and dance, the 49ers fire Hostler and replaced him with Mike Martz. Martz was the OC of the "Greatest Show on Turf" of the Rams during their Super bowl season. He was fired by the Detroit Lions after failing to improve the lowly Lions offense.

Nolan and Matrz started a QB competition circus with JT OSullivan, Shaun Hill, and Smith battling for the starting nod. OSullivan was from Martz days with the Lions and knew Martz system, Smith and Hill were at a distinct disadvantage. It was apparent that something was still effecting Smiths throwing and he was spurned for OSullivan as the starter, on September 10th Smith was placed on IR for a broken bone caused by the initial surgery. 2008 done.

2009 - To stay with the team and not have the label of "bust" attached to him forever in San Francisco, Smith restructured his contract from 24 million the remaining two years to 8 million for the same duration. Essentially being paid backup money to try and redeem himself to the organization and fans alike.

He was starting the season under a new OC. That is five offensive coordinators in five years.

Once again Smith faced the indignity of not being named the starter. The only bright spot is that Mike Nolan was fired as head coach and Mike Singletary was hired as the full time coach for the upcoming season. Singletary had witnessed all of the crap that Smith had gone through because he had been an assistant with the 49ers starting the year Smith was drafted.

Smith was a good soldier and waited for his opportunity which came in week 7 when Shaun Hill was ineffective and saddled with a 21-0 halftime deficit, Smith replaced Hill and threw for three touchdowns almost bringing the 49ers back for a win over the Houston Texans.

Smith was named the starter for the remainder of the season and finished with respectable numbers yet failing to get the team to the playoffs.

2010- Smith is the starter going into training camp July 30th. He has the same offensive coordinator for the first time since college. In contrast Peyton Manning has had the same OC his entire NFL career. Smith has had to deal with a team with NO talent around him, five OC's, an injury, a coach who messed with his head and undermined him behind his back, and a fan base in SF that remembers the Montana and Young days and has a short fuse when it comes to Smith.

I know of no other NFL QB that has had to go through the indignities that Smith has dealt with. From not being named starter to restructuring his contract the ego deflating laundry list goes on and on yet Smith perseveres.

Not only are the San Francisco 49ers my favorite NFL team, but Alex Smith is my favorite Ute and player in the NFL. Brian Johnson gave us thrilling games but Johnson's story is over as far as his playing days. Smiths story has just begun.