The Water Cooler 9-8-2010
By Bontã Hill
The Guardsman
As we zoom through Labor Day weekend with the dog days of August in the rear view mirror, anticipation and excitement for this year’s San Francisco 49ers has the city buzzing with hopes of becoming relevant again in the NFL.
Maybe that’s a little far-fetched, especially given the gentrification this liberal city has endured, but with explosive offensive playmakers Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, and Michael Crabtree, it feels like the ‘80s and ‘90s all over again.
With Patrick Willis anchoring the defense and looking like the best linebacker in the NFL, it’s hard not to be giddy about their prospects for making a playoff run.
Yes, the San Francisco Giants are still hanging around in hopes for a chance to play baseball in October, and I’ll give them some airtime at the end of the month, but right now I’m drinking the red and gold Kool-Aid.
The jury is still out and we’ll have to wait and see first-hand if this talented bunch can make some noise when they play their rivals up north, the Seattle Seahawks Sept. 12.
In most experts’ eyes, the 49ers’ season lies on the shoulders of quarterback Alex Smith. I agree, but Smith has a big load on his back in trying to lead this team back to prominence.
The way the roster is set up, the 49ers organization has given Smith a brand new Mercedes Benz, and all he has to do is keep it clean and not wreck it.
An extra incentive – or motivation, depending on how you look at it – is that this is the last year of Smith’s contract. After restructuring his six-year, 49.5 million dollar deal, with 24 million guaranteed, this is a make it or break it year for Smith.
Can he be a starter in this league? Can he a be a productive quarterback on this level?
Those are just some of the questions Smith will have to answer as the year progresses. Not only does he have to deal with the pressure of living up to 49er greats Steve Young and Joe Montana, he has to deal with being the first quarterback taken in the 2005 NFL draft – ahead of local boy Aaron Rodgers.
What Rodgers has done in Green Bay has made it easy to slap the “bust” label on Smith. However, go back and watch film of Smith’s second season in the league, when he had Norv Turner as his offensive coordinator, and you would see things were starting to look promising.
He led the 49ers to a 7-9 record that had the 49er empire feeling good about this season.
We all know how the next two years played out for him. In his public spat with former coach Mike Nolan, Nolan questioned whether his franchise quarterback really even had a shoulder problem.
However, Smith came on in the sixth game against Houston, leading the 49ers out of a 21-0 hole and almost to a comeback victory. He finished the season with 18 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.
Smith has been through a lot, and you have to admire the fact that he took a pay cut and stayed with the organization (although there weren’t many options).
Yes, the secondary is a concern as safety Michael Lewis is a liability in pass coverage, plus his reoccurring problem with concussions.
Also, the guy with the fat contract, cornerback Nate Clements, has to prove his worth after a rough 2009, which ended with him on injured reserve.
We all know, in this league, success ultimately lies on the shoulders of the quarterback. I believe Smith can get it done. He has the smarts, the maturity, and respect in the locker room.
With the talent, including newly signed running-back Brian Westbrook, all Smith has to do is not wreck the Mercedes Benz.
If he doesn’t, the 49er faithful will have that excitement and exuberance fulfilled.