Key Takeaways:
– Former first overall pick Alex Smith has openly discussed his challenging time with the San Francisco 49ers.
– Smith’s spell with the 49ers featured numerous injuries and unbeatable pressure.
– While current 49ers QB Brock Purdy has sparked hopeful prospects for the franchise, the team anticipates a battle for the backup quarterback position between Josh Dobbs and Brandon Allen.
Following the Performance of San Francisco 49ers Quarterbacks
While the San Francisco 49ers currently hold high hopes for quarterback Brock Purdy, the franchise’s struggle to find a sturdy QB like Purdy has spanned decades. The comparison of the Niners’ latest quarterback with their former first overall pick, Alex Smith, is intriguing. Smith, recently, opened up about his challenging tenure with the team that began in the 2005 NFL draft.
“When you’re the No. 1 pick as a 20-year-old and you’ve only ever had a single college scholarship offer, the pressure mounts,” Smith told NBC Sports Bay Area. His statement reflected the overwhelming expectations he faced as a rookie.
Alex Smith’s Injury-plagued Tenure with 49ers
Coming in with unmet high expectations, Smith’s rookie season, unfortunately, unfolded as a recipe for disaster. The prevailing shift back-forth between first-year Smith and former 49ers coach Mike Nolan semed problematic, amplified by Smith’s multiple injuries.
In his inaugural year, he attempted nine appearances, averaging 98 yards per game and throwing 11 interceptions against a single touchdown. The succeeding year saw a healthier Smith but offered little improvement in performance.
In 2007 and 2008, a shoulder injury coupled with a problematic surgery put Smith’s career on halt. Smith missed the entirety of the 2008 season after playing only seven games in 2007. A turning point came later as he revived his career, his best years emerging during his tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he made the Pro Bowl thrice in five seasons.
An Upcoming Backup QB Contest in Focus
While Brock Purdy firmly holds the starter’s position for the 49ers, the backup quarterback slot is up for grabs. As projected by Matt Barrows of The Athletic, fourth-round pick Josh Dobbs and sixth-rounder Brandon Allen may offer a promising contest for the second quarterback spot in the team.
Both quarterbacks have had their fair share of nomadic careers within the league before settling in San Francisco. However, Dobbs appears to have the upper edge, completing 262 of 417 passes for 2464 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in a career-best 12-start season, according to Pro Football Reference.
In recap, despite Smith’s not-so-pleasant tenure with the 49ers, it seems the franchise is on an upward trajectory with a reliable quarterback, Brock Purdy, in place. Meanwhile, the battle for the backup slot between Dobbs and Allen is expected to make headlines.