Alex Smith’s Amazing Comeback(?)

Alex just did the unthinkable. He can do whatever the F he wants in my book.

In an ideal world yes, but as far as playing QB in the NFL again, or at least starting, he's got a lot to prove, not just his ability to take hits. It's not up to him IF he can't play better than any of the 32 starting QB's in the league. But truth is, the fact he can play at all has taken that decision out of his own hands. The team could (and arguably should) have released him last year, but they stuck by him, and now it makes sense to at least keep him around until next year, when cutting him would give us a 'smaller' cap hit of, I believe, $10.4M.

But will he play well enough again, indeed especially here, to warrant keeping him on a starters salary? If we draft the new wunderkind, and logically keep Allen as backup, Smith would again be #3, assuming he couldn't become #1 or 2 in camp. We could hardly justify keeping a #3 let alone such an expensive one. But he's still not likely available to other teams until the spring, and he'll be 37 with little playing time in 3 years (assuming Allen doesn't get hurt again or shit the bed). Who's going to give him the chance to win the starters job at that age, with that lack of recent playing time? With the likely 2 or 3 top QB's in next years draft, there's going to be younger QB's available with a better portfolio of recent game film that can probably compete better for the #2 job, let alone starters. I just can't see a market for him unless he comes onto the field again this year and wow's us. And considering he hardly wowed us before the injury...

In an ideal world yes, but as far as playing QB in the NFL again, or at least starting, he's got a lot to prove, not just his ability to take hits. It's not up to him IF he can't play better than any of the 32 starting QB's in the league. But truth is, the fact he can play at all has taken that decision out of his own hands. The team could (and arguably should) have released him last year, but they stuck by him, and now it makes sense to at least keep him around until next year, when cutting him would give us a 'smaller' cap hit of, I believe, $10.4M.

But will he play well enough again, indeed especially here, to warrant keeping him on a starters salary? If we draft the new wunderkind, and logically keep Allen as backup, Smith would again be #3, assuming he couldn't become #1 or 2 in camp. We could hardly justify keeping a #3 let alone such an expensive one. But he's still not likely available to other teams until the spring, and he'll be 37 with little playing time in 3 years (assuming Allen doesn't get hurt again or shit the bed). Who's going to give him the chance to win the starters job at that age, with that lack of recent playing time? With the likely 2 or 3 top QB's in next years draft, there's going to be younger QB's available with a better portfolio of recent game film that can probably compete better for the #2 job, let alone starters. I just can't see a market for him unless he comes onto the field again this year and wow's us. And considering he hardly wowed us before the injury...


Smith showed that he has little to offer as the backup. Even when he brought the team to 6-2 in 2018, defenses had finally figured how to stop him. Put “8 in the box” and daring Alex to throw long. They were crushing Alex when he got hurt in 2018 and this last game when he took 6 sacks. Of course, part of it is that our OL is full of holes. Glad to see Martin moved out as the LG.

Smith was rusty and may play again if Allen is hurt. It is interesting that Smith is exactly the same type of passer as BRUNNELL, who also was an aged QB who loved the dunk and dunk sort of pass games. Why do we keep bringing in guys like that? Because SNYDER was making the personnel decisions. He’s happy to win 5-6 wins, so he can say, “Winning is just around the corner”. That’s what you get with that sort of passer.

Smith probably will retire and perhaps coach like Zorn did. But he is WAY, WAY too expensive as a backup. On this team, he will be gone. He had a amazing comeback and he was a wonderful tutor to Haskins but the NFL of 2020 has passed him by. You need to be a great passer with excellent mobility for this league. That’s what we’ll draft next year in the draft.


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Smith showed that he has little to offer as the backup. Even when he brought the team to 6-2, defenses figured how to stop him. Put “8 in the box” and daring Alex to throw long. They were crushing Alex when he got hurt in 2018 and this last game when he took 6 sacks. Of course, part of it is that our OL is full of holes. Glad to see Martin moved out as the LG.

Smith was rusty and may play again if Allen is hurt. It is interesting that Smith is exactly the same type of passer as BRUNNELL, who also was an aged QB who loved the dunk and dunk sort of pass games. Why do we keep bringing in guys like that? Because SNYDER was making the personnel decisions. He’s happy to win 5-6 wins, so he can say, “Winning is just around the corner”. That’s what you get with that sort of passer.

Smith probably will retire and perhaps coach like Zorn did. But he is WAY, WAY too expensive as a backup. On this team, he will be gone. He had a amazing comeback and he was a wonderful tutor to Haskins but the NFL of 2020 has passed him by. You need to be a great passer with excellent mobility for this league. That’s what we’ll draft next year in the draft.


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I'm sorry, but I disagree with you about Brunell. He was one of my favorite players here, along with Stephen Davis, and Champ Bailey. Joe Gibbs' first year back in 2004 was obviously not successful, and Mark Brunell IMO bore a lot of the blame when it wasn't 100% his fault. Compare in 2005, what a great year he had. Over 3K yards passing, 23 TD's, and 10 INT's. He was throwing the ball downfield well. Remember those two bombs he throw to Santana Moss to beat the Cowboys? I'll never forget that game.

I'll still never know why they brought in Al Saunders and his 2 thousand page playbook in 2006. Joe Gibbs' offense was pretty good in 05'. But it made us suck, because nobody knew what they hell they were doing. Cooley has said it many times. Brunell had to go with the dink and dunk because it was the safe easy throw when nobody knew what else they were doing out on the field. I will always believe that Brunell was the scapegoat for an entire team that was underperforming.

I'm sorry, but I disagree with you about Brunell. He was one of my favorite players here, along with Stephen Davis, and Champ Bailey. Joe Gibbs' first year back in 2004 was obviously not successful, and Mark Brunell IMO bore a lot of the blame when it wasn't 100% his fault. Compare in 2005, what a great year he had. Over 3K yards passing, 23 TD's, and 10 INT's. He was throwing the ball downfield well. Remember those two bombs he throw to Santana Moss to beat the Cowboys? I'll never forget that game.

I'll still never know why they brought in Al Saunders and his 2 thousand page playbook in 2006. Joe Gibbs' offense was pretty good in 05'. But it made us suck, because nobody knew what they hell they were doing. Cooley has said it many times. Brunell had to go with the dink and dunk because it was the safe easy throw when nobody knew what else they were doing out on the field. I will always believe that Brunell was the scapegoat for an entire team that was underperforming.


You’re right, I forgot about that monster offensive playbook during the latter part of the Gibbs era. Even Tom Brady, the best QB of all-time, and who played 2 decades for the same team only had 800 plays for the Patriots. I think Gibbs felt that he had to bring in the best Offensive Coordinator and that this Uber-complex offensive plan would help Brunnell. It didn’t. I still think Brunnell had a real tendency at this late stage of his career to play it save and keep his passes short - hoping for lots of YAC.

But eventually defenses used the same program to stop Haskins, Smith and yes, even Brunnell (last year as a Redskin). They play “8 in the box” which jams the run and short passing game. The way to beat it if course is the throw it long and successfully a couple times. I’d like to see some long passes from Turner to open up the Giants and to keep them honest.


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I’d like to see some long passes from Turner to open up the Giants and to keep them honest.
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My memory isn't 💯, but I recall us opening up a game (season opener even?) With a beautiful PA pass for a TD, to I think it was Santana Moss. Something like that would set things up nicely.

2 weeks ago this conversation didn't seem possible, but here we are

Rivera: Alex Smith has proven he is 'back', has chance to be the guy beyond 2020 (https://www.nfl.com/news/rivera-alex-smith-has-proven-he-is-back-has-chance-to-be-the-guy-beyond-2020)

2 weeks ago this conversation didn't seem possible, but here we are

Rivera: Alex Smith has proven he is 'back', has chance to be the guy beyond 2020 (https://www.nfl.com/news/rivera-alex-smith-has-proven-he-is-back-has-chance-to-be-the-guy-beyond-2020)

Good lord no

If he keeps balling like he's been it's a legit discussion to be had. He's certainly proving to be a much better fit in Turner's offense than he ever was in Jay's. At the very least he can be a bridge to a rookie and take the pressure off having to get a QB in the top 5.

If he keeps balling like he's been it's a legit discussion to be had. He's certainly proving to be a much better fit in Turner's offense than he ever was in Jay's. At the very least he can be a bridge to a rookie and take the pressure off having to get a QB in the top 5.

I just don't see him holding up for a full season.. He has played well

Cant lie ... Id be fine with Alex Smith in 2021, especially if we dont add a blue chip QB in the top end of the draft. Seems like there is Lawrence/Fields then Lance/Wilson.

Alex Smith seems to fit Turner's quick read/throw scheme and perhaps his legs and escapability comeback to him as he plays more.

The idea of keeping Alex Smith then being able to add a stud LT (Sewell/Darrisaw) or LB (Parsons) or CB (Surtain) is not a bad second result if we dont get Lawrence/Fields and are not sold on Lance/Wilson.

The current top 8 players of the draft fits our needs nicely. ^^ These guys mentioned above are the top 8 prospects and fit our need of QB, LT, CB or LB.

We have good options ... as long as we dont drop out of the top 8.