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Jason Anderson
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Singletary names Smith new starter
San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary made his move today, naming former No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith the team’s new starting quarterback. Singletary told reporters in Santa Clara this is “not going to be a flavor-of-the-month kind of thing,” adding “we feel that, right now, we need to go with Alex, and I feel that Alex Smith gives us the best chance to win.”
Smith, who had not played since November 2007, replaced Shaun Hill in the second half of Sunday’s 24-21 loss to the Houston Texans. Smith orchestrated three impressive touchdown drives to lead the 49ers back from a 21-0 deficit. He completed 15 of 22 passes for 206 yards with a 118.6 QB rating, and, more importantly, he played with poise and confidence.
The question, in my mind, is this: When Alex Smith steps on to the field in Indianapolis this weekend, and the score is 0-0 instead of 21-0, will we still see the spread formation and a vertical passing game? Or will offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye crawl back into his shell? The 49ers would be wise to adjust to their changing personnel. They added one dimension when rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree took the field Sunday, giving them what turned out to be a four-pronged vertical attack with Crabtree, Isaac Bruce, Josh Morgan and Vernon Davis. Now they have Smith, and if the 49ers let him stretch defenses with the deep and intermediate passing game, they’ll see that his running ability gives them yet another dimension.