First Act of 49ers’ Quarterback Controversy
The team that anointed its number one draft pick as its starting quarterback has now relented in the face of his preseason performance and has reinstated last year’s starter. A comparison of their numbers makes it hard to argue against the move, but it doesn’t say much for the direction of the team. If you go back to the weeks leading up to the draft, the 49ers made it pretty clear that they really didn’t have a clue who they would take up until days before the draft. To then anoint Alex Smith without really seeing what he could do only to reverse field the minute they see that he has some learning to do, makes the 49ers coaching and management look wishy-washy and unprepared. It is possible to throw a rookie in and have success—Pittsburgh certainly had success with Ben Roethlisberger—but it is more normal to destroy a rookie quarterback that way. I guess Tim Couch would be the best recent illustration of what playing behind an incompetent offensive line with untested skill players can do to a rookie quarterback. The 49ers are in serious danger of dividing their locker room if they aren’t careful. Despite their stated intent of playing Alex Smith from day one, Tim Rattay is not a bad quarterback. As beat up and poorly protected as he was last year, he kept his head, didn’t get happy feet and played well when he was moderately healthy. I think some people are underestimating the severity of a ruptured groin, but it is the kind of injury that can take a couple of years to fully recover from. It can be particularly discombobulating to a quarterback since it throws off the timing of their drop steps. It can also make it almost as difficult to plant to throw as an ankle sprain. For him to have played as well as he did under the circumstances says something about his character and toughness. A co-worker of mine has a note posted above his desk that warns not to mistake kindness for weakness or silence for stupidity. I think it would be an appropriate sign to tack above Rattay’s locker. Next season if the 49ers feel Alex Smith is their best option, don’t be surprised to see several teams eager to claim him.