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Chief Concerns: Stephen Brown
Alex Smith = nice guy, a good teammate and an encouraging locker room presence.
The Kansas City Star quoted his mother, Pam Smith.
You’re going to get a smart, very hard-working, very high-character person,” said Smith’s mom. “…and by any measure, one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet.”
Alex Smith is agreeable, former 49er coach Mike Nolan called Smith a “congenial person”. Smith avoids confrontation.
Fans like Alex Smith, but “nice” fans had plenty of with Matt Cassel. What fans really want is to win.
ALEX SMITH IN THE COMMUNITY
The Alex Smith Foundation a charity that helps foster teens attend college and transition to adulthood raised $839,244 from 2008 – 2011. The Boston Globe determined that of athletes and their charities Smith gave 91% of all monies raised to charity.
The accepted minimum is 65%. Smith, he’s honest.
In 2010 Smith was invited to Kansas City to share his thoughts for helping older teenagers in Kansas City as they “age out” of the foster care system. Smith outlined how The Alex Smith Foundation had put 23 foster teens through college in his hometown of San Diego and helped them transition to adulthood.
Because of Smith now there’s a similar program in Kansas City.
“I don’t think anyone in this world can make it on their own totally,” the Kansas City Star quoted Smith as saying. “I don’t care how fortunate you are or how much talent you have — who you are. You have to have some sort of support.”
ALEX SMITH THE TEAMMATE…
San Francisco 49er teammate Colin Kaepernick had this to say about Smith.
“I think the biggest thing with Alex is he was always in my ear, making sure I was seeing the defense,” said Kaepernick on ESPN.com. “Did I see safeties do this? Did I see the rotation? Did I see things like that? [He was] just making sure I have mental clarity when I step on the field.
“He’s been a great teammate to me. [He's] been a great friend, a great mentor. So anywhere he goes, or if he’s still with us, he’s gonna be successful.”
Again, nice guy to give good advice to the dude that just took your job.
DO KC FANS WANT NICE… AGAIN?
Niner coaches Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary decided to go in different directions; after two seasons so did Jim Harbaugh with Alex Smith.
Why? How come Smith didn’t continue with those three?
Before Smith was officially traded to Kansas City I read something that stayed with me, a quote where Mike Nolan said he picked Smith over Aaron Rodgers in 2005 because Smith was more “congenial”.
Friendly, pleasant, good-natured and hospitable… all types of being congenial, that’s Smith.
Having a “chip on his shoulder” was Rodgers; Nolan didn’t like that, so he passed on Rodgers.
Since 2005 Rodgers has won a Super Bowl, been an NFL MVP, has multiple Pro Bowls, was FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year in 2010, been the Associated Press Athlete of the Year 2011, set the highest career passer rating in NFL history (104.9) and has the highest career completion percentage in NFL history (65.7%).
In Rodgers nine seasons he has 171 TD’s, 21,661 passing yards and a career passer rating of 104.9.
Nolan rejected Rodgers because Nolan perceived an attitude with Rodgers.
If Nolan could re-do his 2005 choice he might pick differently, having that “chip on the shoulder” isn’t such a bad thing.
Folks wondered why Harbaugh ditched Smith (Smith was 6-2 prior to his concussion in 2012) and went with Kaepernick even after Smith was healthy. Simple, I think Kaepernick had the attitude Jim Harbaugh likes, fans know Harbaugh has attitude as a coach.
Harbaugh didn’t want “nice”, but more swag.
Not saying Smith can’t have swagger, but Smith was picked because he was an agreeable player, a very coachable player, that’s why Mike Nolan liked him.
That outlook has caused Smith – the nice guy- to finish last. I like nice people, makes life easier, but assertive people get the job done. Being haughtier minded is sometimes necessary.
Reid likes Smith, always has… Smith is looking for a coach that will stick with him.
I want a Rodgers type, a QB who has the guts to tell his coach “I don’t think so; I want to call it like this”. That QB who’s bold enough to put it on his shoulders and go for it, like a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. Not just simply managing the game, but win the game if need be.
Do Chief fans want a “yes” man, or a QB?
Rodgers is a great QB, makes it happen, but the Green Bay Packers got a steal because others passed on him.
If Mike Nolan had been paying attention he would have picked up on Rodgers past and why he had the thinking he had. Rodgers overcame being told “no you can’t” his entire life leading up to the NFL. Rodgers was told he was too short.
Two things, two items I submit as evidence that helps me think Smith can still succeed, overcome what some say about him now.
First, in talking to the media after being introduced Smith said he had a chip on his shoulder about what happened in San Francisco and wanted to prove he can still be a good quarterback.
Just maybe Smith has turned the corner, because now Smith definitely has something to prove, because he’s been traded… he’s no longer “that guy” who was taken No.1 overall.
Smith is now “that guy” that people say doesn’t have it, so it’s up to Smith to prove he does. The right attitude can make it happen.
Second, John Dorsey was part of taking Aaron Rogers in Green Bay. Dorsey wasn’t afraid of Rodgers, but picked him to take over after Brett Favre.
My hope is Dorsey sees something in Smith, that he can still be that QB he was drafted to be and that Andy Reid can get Smith to that position.
Jim Harbaugh did, Smith played good football for Harbaugh, but Harbaugh didn’t agree with Smith’s total package.
Reid’s a nice guy, a player coach… so maybe it’ll finally be the right combo for Smith.
It’s not over for Smith, I have hope. But if there’s anything I’d change with Kansas City, it’d be that nice guy persona. Stay pleasant, but Smith… turn up the attitude.
Good day, Chief fans!
Good article. I’d like to say I’ve seen plenty of QBs take that “I don’t think so” attitude and utterly fail, so I think there’s a balance needed. But I think Alex has shown that in his career, he’s become more assertive, he’s told his coaches (Singletary and Raye) that there offense wasn’t working, he’s audibled into passing plays before, and as far as winning a game, I’d look at the Saints game in the 2011 playoffs and a few others in his career. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbxMz5h11CU
I am also of the opinion that Harbaugh never wanted Smith as his guy but was forced to stick with him when the lockout was there. Smith was talented enough and Harbaugh had a big enough ego that he thought it was viable. Smith was nice enough to run camp, without a contract, and teach Kaepernick and the rest the offense, rent a field, and pay for rookies to stay (they didn’t have their money or contracts, yet). Then Smith did so well that he had to stick with him until he did. Conventionally, he would have stuck with him, but Harbaugh saw his opportunity to get his guy, Kaepernick. I think it was physical ability, not mental attitude in why he wanted Kaepernick. On the other hand, Reid DID want Alex and Reid saw his opportunity to get his guy, Smith and took it. I think it was mental capacity, not physical ability in why he wanted Smith. So maybe the nice guy can succeed with a coach that wants him as the QB. This 29th in yards QB will have more with a pass happy offense and will turn the ball over less than Cassel did, though I think Cassel would, too. Reproducing last year would be hard.
These are not great examples, but they are something.
After beating the Giants in the regular season and being referred to a Giants’ players assertion of him being a game manager, he said, “I managed myself into a victory.”
Before the Saints game, the media was asking him if the Niners could keep up with the Saints’ high octane offense, specifically yards. His response – “I really don’t care,” Smith said. “I’m looking to outscore him. He can throw for as many yards as he wants.”
Last off-season, when asked about increasing yards in the offense, he responded, “I [couldn't care less] on yards per game,” Smith said. “I think that is a totally overblown stat because if you’re losing games in the second half, guess what, you’re like the Carolina Panthers and you’re going no-huddle the entire second half. Yeah, Cam Newton threw for a lot of 300-yard games. That’s great. You’re not winning, though.” – http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/05/23/alex-smiths-mantra-stats-are-for-losers/
There are arguments both ways, that’s not the point. The point is that he expresses his opinion more than he did before. Patrick Willis said he had a silent, but deadly swag that he exhibits through actions, not words. He tends to put the team first, often audibling into a run, for example. Something rare, but needed in the NFL.
“On the other hand, Reid DID want Alex and Reid saw his opportunity to get his guy, Smith and took it. I think it was mental capacity, not physical ability in why he wanted Smith. So maybe the nice guy can succeed with a coach that wants him as the QB.”
U hit it Michael. I like Smith, like his disposition, but just caught me when Nolan said he took Smith over Rodgers because of that “chip”. I noticed after the press conference Smith did show that he wants to “prove” to people he can b that guy in KC.
I think Reid will be that right coach for him, Reid was a big reason Smith wanted to come to KC… of the choices.
-Steve