Maiocco column on Smith

[yossarian]

Good news.

Alex Smith throwing with better accuracy

 

[49ermann]

Puts a smile on my face. Can't wait for the season to start!!

 

[Jikkle]

Agreed that it's good news but I'll wait till it all counts before getting too excited.

I will say I wouldn't be surprised considering he did work on his mechanics and he's in his second year with competent coaching so it's only natural to assume that he would improve overall as a QB.

Hopefully greater accuracy will give him the confidence to take on riskier and harder throws. The more confident you are in your accuracy the more likely you are to pull the trigger on those kind of throws.

 

[Flyingiguana]

2nd year in the same system for the 1st time is gonna help. how much we'll find out in a few weeks.

 

[Bemular]

Agreed that it's good news but I'll wait till it all counts before getting too excited.

I will say I wouldn't be surprised considering he did work on his mechanics and he's in his second year with competent coaching so it's only natural to assume that he would improve overall as a QB.

Hopefully greater accuracy will give him the confidence to take on riskier and harder throws. The more confident you are in your accuracy the more likely you are to pull the trigger on those kind of throws.

Velocity and to an extent trust, not accuracy is/was his problem with taking risks - Smith is plenty accurate with his throws.

 

[deep9er]

very encouraging.

 

[MHSL82]

Everyone is talking about how the offense is getting better in the red zone as if that's a good thing. I don't want my defense getting worse in the red zone!!! (Sarcasm) The good news is that we can keep opponents out of the red zone and make them one dimensional when they do (we have a great run defense).

 

[deep9er]

yep, i like the fact our run D is very good, like it a lot. so obviously it'll come down to our D's ability to pass rush?

as long as the Smith's continue from last year, it'll open up for others. go Brooks!

 

[mem49er]

yep, i like the fact our run D is very good, like it a lot. so obviously it'll come down to our D's ability to pass rush?

as long as the Smith's continue from last year, it'll open up for others. go Brooks!

 

[Crimsoncrew]

I'm still a bit concerned. We didn't see much of Smith in the preseason game, but on the third and long on which we called a pass play, he became flustered by the pressure, ran, and got tackled short of the marker. Didn't really study the play, but my initial reaction was it was shades of last year.

 

[Bemular]

I'm still a bit concerned. We didn't see much of Smith in the preseason game, but on the third and long on which we called a pass play, he became flustered by the pressure, ran, and got tackled short of the marker. Didn't really study the play, but my initial reaction was it was shades of last year.

Perhaps I'm tainted, but he appeared to run into the tackle as well.

 

[Yadahell]

Perhaps I'm tainted, but he appeared to run into the tackle as well.

He did indeed. I believe Hunter picked up pressure up the middle too. He may have been able to move up into the pocket and make a pass, but I don't recall if anyone was open downfield. They did convert on 4th down though, so no biggie IMO.

 

[Bemular]

He did indeed. I believe Hunter picked up pressure up the middle too. He may have been able to move up into the pocket and make a pass, but I don't recall if anyone was open downfield. They did convert on 4th down though, so no biggie IMO.

Thanks for the confirm Yada - I've only seen the game once but I recall being rather unhappy with Smith's decisions on that play.

 

[threelittleturds]

Thanks for the confirm Yada - I've only seen the game once but I recall being rather unhappy with Smith's decisions on that play.

I don't mind seeing Smith tuck it and run on a play like that, he is fast enough to outrun most d-linemen. If his own offensive linemen weren't in the way he probably would have been able to pick up the 1st.

Overall though, watching that live online it was a very awkward play and was a throwback to Smith of 2005-2010

 

[yossarian]

Crimson, I think one play like that in the first pre season game is not enough to make me concerned or outweigh the uniformly good reports on Smith coming out of training camp from the press. Maiocco and Mike Sando both had columns saying Smith looked great.

 

[yossarian]

Here's the other column, you've all probably already seen it.

Camp Confidential: 49ers - NFC West Blog - ESPN

 

[Bemular]

I don't mind seeing Smith tuck it and run on a play like that, he is fast enough to outrun most d-linemen. If his own offensive linemen weren't in the way he probably would have been able to pick up the 1st.

Overall though, watching that live online it was a very awkward play and was a throwback to Smith of 2005-2010

That right there kind of sums it up for me quite perfectly

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Crimson, I think one play like that in the first pre season game is not enough to make me concerned or outweigh the uniformly good reports on Smith coming out of training camp from the press. Maiocco and Mike Sando both had columns saying Smith looked great.

He's looked great throwing the ball in relatively ideal circumstances when the D can't hit him. I don't think Smith is afraid to get hit, but I do think he gets flustered too easily by pressure, and doesn't anticipate throws as well as he could/should. His pocket presence is still only average, if that. These are some of the qualities that led to our poor performance on 3rd down last year. It was only one play, not making a big deal out of it, but it's the only third and long (possibly only third down period?) where Smith has thrown to date (or, more accurately, where a pass was called). I think some concerns are still merited.

I'm anticipating some improvement from Smith, but I think it's unrealistic to expect him to make a significant jump if he can't get more comfortable in the pocket. All the football smarts and work ethic in the world won't do much good if you can't make plays in a crowded pocket. That's a concrete area where Smith likely still needs work.

 

[Bemular]

He's looked great throwing the ball in relatively ideal circumstances when the D can't hit him. I don't think Smith is afraid to get hit, but I do think he gets flustered too easily by pressure, and doesn't anticipate throws as well as he could/should. His pocket presence is still only average, if that. These are some of the qualities that led to our poor performance on 3rd down last year. It was only one play, not making a big deal out of it, but it's the only third and long (possibly only third down period?) where Smith has thrown to date (or, more accurately, where a pass was called). I think some concerns are still merited.

I'm anticipating some improvement from Smith, but I think it's unrealistic to expect him to make a significant jump if he can't get more comfortable in the pocket. All the football smarts and work ethic in the world won't do much good if you can't make plays in a crowded pocket. That's a concrete area where Smith likely still needs work.

The play which, for me, best describes your point is the last play of the Cardinals game at Arizona, when suddenly and inexplicably Smith darted out of the pocket - just about as strange as Jim Everett's phantom sack.

 

[Flyingiguana]

The play which, for me, best describes your point is the last play of the Cardinals game at Arizona, when suddenly and inexplicably Smith darted out of the pocket - just about as strange as Jim Everett's phantom sack.

maybe he still has rocky bernard nightmares