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Alex Smith

 

Alexander Douglas Smith (born May 7, 1984) is a professional American football player and starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. Smith was drafted with the 1st-overall pick in the 1st round of the 2005 NFL Draft by San Francisco from the University of Utah. He started his first game during Week 5 of his rookie season, replacing former starter Tim Rattay. Though he started a total of seven games that season, he did not play well, throwing only one touchdown to eleven interceptions. In 2006, he was named the starting quarterback before the season and started all 16 games for the team, as well as seven games of the 2007 season. Nagging shoulder injuries would keep him out of eight games in 2007, and following shoulder surgery, he missed all of 2008. He returned in 2009 and alternated as starting quarterback with Shaun Hill. He went into the 2010 season as the team's primary starting quarterback, but shoulder injuries again kept him on the sideline for several games. He was named the team's starter for 2011 and started every game of the 2011 season. He helped lead the 49ers to a 13-3 regular season record in 2011. On March 20, 2012 he signed a new 3-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers worth a reported $24 million.

 

2011 Season

The 49ers hired Jim Harbaugh as the new head coach, and Greg Roman replaced Johnson as the new offensive coordinator. Harbaugh, a former quarterback, was the best teacher the 49ers had since Norv Turner in Smith's second season. Harbaugh made it known to Smith that he was welcomed back on the team. Smith's family wanted him to leave San Francisco. Although he was unsigned, Smith organized the players' workouts during the 2011 NFL lockout and helped to install Harbaugh's new offense. After the lockout ended, Smith signed a one-year $5 million contract with the 49ers. Smith was named the starting quarterback heading into the regular season, and Harbaugh believed Smith could succeed in the coach's West Coast offense.

During the season, Smith's game showed marked improvement, especially in his leadership and intangiables. While he did not put up big numbers like Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford and Eli Manning did that year, he helped the 49ers win games through efficient play, minimizing mistakes and controlling the clock. In Philadelphia in week 4, Smith rallied the team from a 23-3 second-half deficit to win 24-23, completing 9 of 9 passes for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns in the third quarter alone. Two weeks later Smith led his third come-from-behind road victory of the year with a six-yard fourth and goal touchdown pass to tight end Delanie Walker, beating the Lions in Detroit 25-19. In a week 10 matchup against the New York Giants, he completed 19 passes out of 30 attempts for 242 yards. The Giants shut down the 49ers' run game (Frank Gore was held to zero yards on six carries before leaving the game in the second half) and Smith was instrumental to the 27-20 victory. Smith led the 49ers to a 13-3 record in the regular season and a first round bye in the playoffs. It was his first playoffs in seven seasons after three head coaches, seven offensive coordinators, and 17 different starting wide receivers. He finished the season with a 61.3 completion percentage and a QB rating of 90.7, both career highs, as well as leading five come-from-behind victories during the regular season, four of which were on the road. He also had his first season with over 3,000 passing yards. Despite throwing only 17 touchdowns during the regular season, he also had a career low of 5 interceptions including a league best 1.1 percent interception rate.The 49ers finished 26th in the NFL in total offense. The New York Times wrote that Smith in 2011 was "a steady, if unspectacular, player surrounded by a solid team", whose career year "underscored how much he struggled previously." He was often referred to as a game manager.

In the NFC Divisional round of the playoffs, Alex Smith led the 49ers to a win over the New Orleans Saints, with a final score of 36-32. Smith threw for 299 yards, three touchdown passes with no interceptions while rushing for an additional touchdown. Smith led touchdown drives of 80 and 85 yards in the final 4:02. He scored on a 28-yard touchdown run, and he threw a game-winning 14-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis with nine seconds remaining, eschewing a more conservative open receiver that would have settled for a field goal and a tie.Analysts Ron Jaworski said "Alex Smith won the game, not Alex Smith by not making mistakes. His performance won the game for them." Smith also became the first quarterback in NFL playoff history to lead two go-ahead touchdowns in the final 3 minutes of a game. The 49ers lost 20–17 in overtime to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game. Smith completed 12 of 26 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, but the team turned the ball over twice on special teams. Smith was chosen by teammates as winner of the Ed Block Courage Award, annually awarded to the player that exemplifies a commitment to sportsmanship and courage.All though not going to the pro bowl despite getting close, Smith did make the USA All Joe Team which awards players that were good enough for the pro bowl but didn't get it.