Well, at Least Alex Smith Isn't Jay Cutler
The best thing you could say about Alex Smith in tonight's
defensive-minded 10-6 win over the Chicago Bears is that at least he's
not Jay Cutler. The Bears' signal-caller threw five -- count 'em, 1-2-3-4-5!! -- picks
in tonight's loss, two of them in the end zone on red zone plays,
neither of which should have been thrown in the first place. Wow. NFL
Network broadcaster Matt Millen (former GM of the sad-sack Detroit
Lions, doormats of the Bears for decade after decade) kept
characterizing Cutler as "the guy they brought here for this
situation." And he fizzled. Time and time again. Smith's performance brought new meaning to the word adequate. He did
just enough right to win the game and end the Niners' four-game losing
streak but it was nothing to write home about. Smith was 16 of 23 for
118 yards and one interception for a 68.3 QB rating. He's strictly
middle-of-the-pack statistically speaking in the NFL, which is just
not good enough to get his team to the playoffs this year. Frank Gore had a respectable night, going 104 on the ground in 25
attempts. He had one scary fumble which was fortunately recovered by
the Niners who just never got their offense untracked. Yeah, the
Bears' D was pretty darned good tonight but nothing special or
outstanding. The crimson-and-gold are going to have to tighten their
chin straps a notch and get focused if they expect to end up above
.500 this year and have a shot at making the playoffs. Oh, and FWIW, the NFL Network coverage was technically disrupted with
no broadcast booth sound for most of the first quarter. When the sound
did come back, we got to listen mostly to Millen, who is such a
defensive-minded veteran that you'd have thought it was the defenses
that score all the points in the game. No wonder he couldn't cut it in
Detroit.
defensive-minded 10-6 win over the Chicago Bears is that at least he's
not Jay Cutler. The Bears' signal-caller threw five -- count 'em, 1-2-3-4-5!! -- picks
in tonight's loss, two of them in the end zone on red zone plays,
neither of which should have been thrown in the first place. Wow. NFL
Network broadcaster Matt Millen (former GM of the sad-sack Detroit
Lions, doormats of the Bears for decade after decade) kept
characterizing Cutler as "the guy they brought here for this
situation." And he fizzled. Time and time again. Smith's performance brought new meaning to the word adequate. He did
just enough right to win the game and end the Niners' four-game losing
streak but it was nothing to write home about. Smith was 16 of 23 for
118 yards and one interception for a 68.3 QB rating. He's strictly
middle-of-the-pack statistically speaking in the NFL, which is just
not good enough to get his team to the playoffs this year. Frank Gore had a respectable night, going 104 on the ground in 25
attempts. He had one scary fumble which was fortunately recovered by
the Niners who just never got their offense untracked. Yeah, the
Bears' D was pretty darned good tonight but nothing special or
outstanding. The crimson-and-gold are going to have to tighten their
chin straps a notch and get focused if they expect to end up above
.500 this year and have a shot at making the playoffs. Oh, and FWIW, the NFL Network coverage was technically disrupted with
no broadcast booth sound for most of the first quarter. When the sound
did come back, we got to listen mostly to Millen, who is such a
defensive-minded veteran that you'd have thought it was the defenses
that score all the points in the game. No wonder he couldn't cut it in
Detroit.
