Alex Smith

Boy, the Niners had a real chance today to steal one from the Cowboys. They couldn't catch a break, the Cowboys made a few clutch plays, and it is very difficult to win with Alex Smith as your quarterback.

He is the definition of a loser. Not as a bad person, but as a player. He plays not to lose rather than to win. He inspires no confidence in his team. He has no confidence in himself. He does not see plays early enough. He does all the little things one needs to do in order to lose the game. He isn't like Favre or Romo, who are self destructive cowboys who save their team occasionally and usually make crucial mistakes in big moments. I was hoping for one of those Romo moments today. But see, guys like Romo are more likely to make mistakes when they feel pressure. Alex Smith puts no pressure on the other team.

The crucial mistakes I saw today were taking big second down sacks. There was a play towards the end of the game, a screen pass, that was busted the moment they hiked the ball. The Cowboys totally read it. It took Smith several beats to realize the play was busted and by then, he took a sack. The Niners can't make first downs on 3rd and 10 or more. Few teams can. Smith took another sack on an earlier drive on 2nd down, when a Cowboy came in totally unblocked. That play wasn't technically his fault, but still, the worst thing he can do in those situations is take a sack like that on 2nd down. I don't taking a sack on 3rd down if no one is covered. But on 2nd down, you don't put yourself into position to win the game. Those were key possessions. The Niners had the lead. They needed to hold the lead. They couldn't.