Comeback Player of the Year

[Flyingiguana]

the more i think about it, the more i think smith should get it. everyone knows stafford has a big arm and he had a monster year. but everyone thought smith was nothing more than a bust, but now he guides the niners back to a 1st round bye.

if going from bust to 13-3 isn't comeback player of the year, what is? i think his big comebacks and throws when needed tips things in his favor. we did lean on the d, but smith made the throws when we needed them

 

[imac_21]

the more i think about it, the more i think smith should get it. everyone knows stafford has a big arm and he had a monster year. but everyone thought smith was nothing more than a bust, but now he guides the niners back to a 1st round bye.

if going from bust to 13-3 isn't comeback player of the year, what is? i think his big comebacks and throws when needed tips things in his favor. we did lean on the d, but smith made the throws when we needed them

It's not a most-improved award. Technically, going by the title of the award, it should be Steve Smith no? He's the guy who "came back." Smith and Stafford were never there in the first place.

And the idea of holding Stafford's skills against him for the award is crazy. Because everyone knew he had all kinds of physical talent, he shouldn't win the award?

 

[tallglassofwater007]

Everyone keeps saying Stafford just did what was expected of him after finally staying healthy. So what.... what about other guys who won the award? Tom Brady got hurt then came back and did exactly what was expected of him. The only difference between him and Stafford is that Stafford was hurt his first 2 years so he never established himself.

 

[clyde_carbon]

Really? People were expecting Stafford to be the 4th QB EVER to throw for 5000+ yards and 40+ TDs and at only 23 years old and after two separate shoulder injuries?

 

[CalamityX11]

Really? People were expecting Stafford to be the 4th QB EVER to throw for 5000+ yards and 40+ TDs and at only 23 years old and after two separate shoulder injuries?

same people expecting Alex to enter the postseason as a starting QB with a 13-3 record after 7 terrible years?

 

[Flyingiguana]

Really? People were expecting Stafford to be the 4th QB EVER to throw for 5000+ yards and 40+ TDs and at only 23 years old and after two separate shoulder injuries?

nobody wrote stafford off, unlike smith where everyone wished he would get abducted by aliens

 

[imac_21]

nobody wrote stafford off, unlike smith where everyone wished he would get abducted by aliens

You said he did what was expected of him. Who projected the numbers he put up?

 

[clyde_carbon]

same people expecting Alex to enter the postseason as a starting QB with a 13-3 record after 7 terrible years?

If you told me the 49ers were gonna have the best defense in the league, the best special teams the league, and a good running game, I wouldn't be surprised at all - especially in a bad division.

 

[threelittleturds]

I think Stafford deserves it. He came back from a shoulder injury and tore up the stat sheet. All Alex Smith did was step up from a bust to game manager in most people's eyes. Which seems to be their polite way of saying he is still a bust without looking like complete idiots for ranting about how much he sucks after what seems to be his best season.

Besides, no awards for Alex Smith.. lets keep that chip on his shoulder of trying to prove he's not a bust, it is good motivation and it seems to make him work harder than anyone else.

 

[CalamityX11]

especially in a bad division.

I hate when people say that(not you only, media, pundits etc...)

We went 8-2 outside the division, a division with 2 7-9 IIRC teams....

 

[clyde_carbon]

I hate when people say that(not you only, media, pundits etc...)

We went 8-2 outside the division, a division with 2 7-9 IIRC teams....

That has to count. Alex Smith didn't have to play the Packers or the Bears (with Cutler/Forte) twice.

 

[CalamityX11]

That has to count. Alex Smith didn't have to play the Packers or the Bears (with Cutler/Forte) twice.

that's not his fault.

Let's not make Cutler and Forte unbeatables here.... those are guys who play offense. if we're going by team, look at the niners beating the lions head on in their house.

 

[clyde_carbon]

that's not his fault.

Let's not make Cutler and Forte unbeatables here.... those are guys who play offense. if we're going by team, look at the niners beating the lions head on in their house.

I'm not saying it's his fault. I'm saying that it isn't surprising that we're 13-3 with the best defense/special teams in the league in one of the worst divisions in the league.

How are you not understanding that?

 

[Southern9er]

You said he did what was expected of him. Who projected the numbers he put up?

Is that more of a surprise than Smith at 13-3 after (nearly) finishing last season with 50k fans booing him and chanting "We want Carr" while his coached cussed him out on the sideline on national TV?

The 'expectation' part is metaphorical...its said with the understanding that Stafford was the kind of QB capable of putting up those numbers. Smith was NEVER expected to be where he is this year. Which one of those would be the "Bolder Prediction" at the beginning of the season?

Anyone would've been laugh off as a lunatic if they thought Alex would still be the starting QB of a 13-3 team that was a significant contributor to that record.

 

[CalamityX11]

I'm not saying it's his fault. I'm saying that it isn't surprising that we're 13-3 with the best defense/special teams in the league in one of the worst divisions in the league.

How are you not understanding that?

I understand my(our) team and how we are playing late january for the first time in a decade.

Is it surprising that Stafford posted such high #s for a QB with the weapons he has at his disposal including an offense more geared to throwing than running or being balanced as the niners have gone through?

 

[Flyingiguana]

You said he did what was expected of him. Who projected the numbers he put up?

this isn't an mvp award or offensive player of the year award it's a comeback award.

 

[clyde_carbon]

I understand my(our) team and how we are playing late january for the first time in a decade.

Is it surprising that Stafford posted such high #s for a QB with the weapons he has at his disposal including an offense more geared to throwing than running or being balanced as the niners have gone through?

And you're STILL not understanding my point. Maybe if I say it one more time you can catch on. Would it be that surpising to you if I told you that if we'd have the best defense in the NFL, the best special teams in the NFL, with the 8th ranked rushing attack that we'd be 13-3? On top of all of that we're in one of the worst divisions in the league? Would you really be that surprised at that record?

And the only reason Detroit's offense is "more geared" towards the pass is because they lost their top 2 RBs to IR, their coaching staff trusts Stafford much more than this coaching staff trusts Smith, and they consistently have to play from behind.

Please try and keep up next time.

 

[Flyingiguana]

stafford has a better line and better talent to throw the ball to. even with barry sanders in his prime they'd be dumb not to lean on the passing game.

u could argue either way until you're blue in the face.

 

[Southern9er]

Please try and keep up next time.

So someone who disagrees with you is "not keeping up"

Yes...I think it is surprising, the Jets ranked #5 in total defense with Mark Sanchez at QB, the Jags have the 6th ranked defense. Neither are in the playoffs and neither has a winning record.

NOBODY is arguing that Stafford is not deserving, people are expressing opinions, with Smith it is much more subjective analysis and Stafford much more empirical.

Stafford put up amazing (record setting) after a major injury, Smith was the most lambasted QB in the NFL with a 7 year history of well below average performance and is now the starter on a 13-3 playoff team. There is more to being a QB than passing the ball and more to a comeback than just putting up big numbers.

 

[Flyingiguana]

So someone who disagrees with you is "not keeping up"

Yes...I think it is surprising, the Jets ranked #5 in total defense with Mark Sanchez at QB, the Jags have the 6th ranked defense. Neither are in the playoffs and neither has a winning record.

NOBODY is arguing that Stafford is not deserving, people are expressing opinions, with Smith it is much more subjective analysis and Stafford much more empirical.

Stafford put up amazing (record setting) after a major injury, Smith was the most lambasted QB in the NFL with a 7 year history of well below average performance and is now the starter on a 13-3 playoff team.

clyde's always right. haha