Posted by Josh Alper on July 27, 2012, 12:50 PM EDT
The 49ers spent a lot of time this offseason upgrading elements of their passing game.
They signed wide receivers Randy Moss andMario Manningham as free agents before drafting A.J. Jenkins, another wide receiver, in the first round. The 49ers wideouts failed to impress last season, so it made sense for the Niners to address the position. They also added Brandon Jacobs and LaMichael James, though, and the addition of two new running backs suggests that the overhaul at the receiver spot doesn’t necessarily mean a change in offensive priorities.
Former 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice likely agrees with that thought, although he doesn’t seem to have any problem with Smith being the guy asked to do more. Nate Davis of USA Today reports that Rice expressed that opinion in emphatic terms.
“I seriously think they got to take the diaper off this guy and let him play,” said Rice. “Let him be a grown man.”
Wes Welker takes serious issue with Rice’s belief that one can’t be a grown man and wear diapers.
The additions to the receiving corps, the presence of tight end Vernon Davis and the continuity of the offensive scheme combine to give Smith his best hand since coming to San Francisco as the first pick of the 2005 Draft. It will be interesting to see how the 49ers allow him to play it out and, if they do, Smith’s ability to lead an undiapered life will determine how far the 49ers go this season.
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alex isn't the man for the job, at least not with the 9ers!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteagree with rice drop the diapers turn him loose!!!!
ReplyDeleteword
ReplyDeleteCan't throw a deep ball..He has gotten better but still isn't the right man for our receiving corps..
ReplyDeleteThe play calling has been sucking the hind tit as well. Smith does and always has, hold the ball way to long.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big 9er fan they have all the right tools to win a couple more championships, but Smith isn't going to get them anywhere
DeleteIs Alex Smith the guy long term for us no, but can we win a championship with him right now, yes. I'd be on edge if we went to the bowl but it could happen. Gotta keep that 5-0 streak intact. The defense has to be much more dominate than they are right now. They have to get back to creating turn overs, giving Alex and the offense more short fields. So can we win a bowl with him yeah I believe so. If you don't think so let me say Trent Dilfer. Alex is every bit as good as he was when he won.
ReplyDeletehe is perfect for our receiving core. the only guy who's a deep ball man is moss, but whatever. he does what he's meant to. draw deep coverage. alex has gotten awesome at lazering in short passes. and that's how west coast started. up tempo, lots of passing, but not deep balls. that's not how rice did it. rice created the yards after catch statistic. this is why. he's doing it in true niners fashion.
ReplyDeleteGood grief, what a bunch of Anonymous Idiots!!
ReplyDeleteTypical Fickle-Fan disease from plenty of armchair qb's & coaches ....
Of course, the T-E-A-M can do it .... and Yes, with Smith leading them, hopefully he will. They've got a good, well balanced team. Sure, its a very different team from the 49er glory years of the 80's, but get used to it, nobody lasts forever. And I truly would not want any organization to be on top all the time - even my teams, it would get too boring. I enjoy seeing new teams getting a crack at it and surprising everyone by making it to the AFC or NFC championship game or the Superbowl .... just like the Cinderella Surprises who go far in the NCAA basketball tournament.
There are plenty of teams struggling with consistency this year, it seems more than most years. But just as its been said for years: "On any given Sunday, ANY team can win", so who knows what the surprises will be the rest of this season?
That being said, Let's do it '9ers!!