Alex Smith Rewrites His Story In Playoff Debut
Alex Smith has been hit with many labels: bust, waste of talent, any negative viewpoint in his career with the San Francisco 49ers.
He's had his contract restructured before, and was on his final chance with the 49ers, who even drafted a quarterback in the second round. So with that said, it was up to Smith to gain control of the situation.
He has done that, and on Saturday, he continues to silence critics and change minds.
Smith's determination this season has been one of the many factors in his resurgence. In the divisional playoff game against the New Orleans Saints, he went 24-42 for 299 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for a 28 yard touchdown run in part of a wild fourth quarter in which the lead changed four times in the past four minutes. He then had what was probably his best drive of his career when he hit Vernon Davis on a 14-yard touchdown pass that gave Candlestick Park a new twist on a classic moment in the same stadium: The Catch.
Granted Smith has had seven different offensive coordinators in seven seasons, along with four different head coaches (one interim). However, his current head coach, Jim Harbaugh, was a NFL quarterback, and an offensive-minded head coach, whereas his predecessors, Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary were defensive head coaches, and Jim Tomsula was head coach for a couple of games. Compared to the most successful of his draft class among quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers, Smith has not had the continuity of a staff and system, but he has flourished this season, with five interceptions and 17 touchdowns to go with 3,144 yards for the season. And in the big game, when he needed to match one of the game's best in Drew Brees, he was up for the challenge and he won, putting the 49ers within a win of the Super Bowl.
Will Alex Smith's legend grow? Or will it end next Sunday? Either way, this year he has erased numerous doubters and has silenced his critics.
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