Smith completed his first six passes and finished 15 of 22 for 206 yards and
three touchdown passes to tight end Vernon Davis(notes). Davis is the first 49er since
Terrell Owens(notes) in 2001 to have three TD catches in a game.
The 49ers play at Indianapolis on Sunday, coincidentally the same team Smith
debuted against in 2005. This will be his first start since Nov. 12, 2007.
“I think right now overall Alex Smith really just kind of fit the bill in
terms of doing the things that we need to get done,” Singletary said.
Smith, the No. 1 overall draft pick out of Utah in 2005, missed all of last
season after reinjuring his surgically repaired throwing shoulder three days
before the season opener. He was set to be the backup to J.T. O’Sullivan(notes).
When this season began, Singletary decided Hill was the best man behind
center for San Francisco, a franchise desperate to end a streak of six straight
losing seasons.
The 25-year-old Smith has shown signs in practice of being more than ready
to handle this role. It was Smith who spent several days during the recent bye
week working with receiver and top draft pick Michael Crabtree(notes) to get him up to
speed on the offense before his debut against the Texans. Crabtree, who finally
signed his six-year deal Oct. 7, had five catches in an impressive first game.
Singletary, who insisted his decision wasn’t “premeditated,” sensed a
positive vibe from everybody—save maybe for Hill—with Smith’s calm,
confidence presence on the field. Not that Singletary didn’t have a feeling
Smith could take charge of his unit and lead the team again after all he’s been
through.
Singletary has seen Smith’s strides in recent months.
“Let him develop that hunger, let him get excited, ‘Well if I get an
opportunity again.’ Let him develop some confidence, ‘I think I can do that,”’
Singletary said of the time Smith needed to evolve. “Rather than just putting
him in at the beginning of the season and if you don’t have success right away,
then it’s, ‘Same old Alex.’ I don’t think it’s the same old Alex. I think Alex
has matured, I think he’s grown and I think he’s ready to play. We’re going to
find out. We’ll find out next week.
Hill began the season as a starter for the first time in his eight-year NFL
career and guided the 49ers to a 3-1 start and first place in the NFC West. He
lost his job Monday a year to the day after Singletary benched O’Sullivan in
favor of Hill during the coach’s debut against the Seattle Seahawks.
Hill struggled in the first half Sunday, when San Francisco had only 50
total yards and he was 6 of 11 for 45 yards.
Texans defensive end Mario Williams(notes) said he didn’t know who Smith was when
the QB came out to start the second half. That’s how far he had fallen off the
NFL radar.
Another outing like his performance Sunday would do a lot to boost Smith’s
status in the league.
“When I look at Alex, I really didn’t know what we were going to get when
he went in,” Singletary said. “I was hoping we’d get what we’ve seen out here
in practice, and that’s what we got. I was excited to see that, the excitement
and the enthusiasm on the sideline, the excitement and enthusiasm on the
defensive side of the ball, the receivers, the running backs, everybody.”