Following a great second-half performance on Sunday in which he threw three touchdown passes against the Houston Texans, Alex Smith was named the starting quarterback for this weekend’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Smith entered the game at halftime with the 49ers down 21-0. He threw three touchdown passes to tight end Vernon Davis, the third of which cut the Texans lead to 24-21.
Smith had one chance to lead a game-tying drive with under two minutes to go, but his 4th-down pass was intercepted by safety Eugene Wilson, effectively ending the game.
Smith’s performance, albeit for one half against a notoriously bad defense, was the best I have seen a 49ers quarterback play since Jeff Garcia wore red and gold.
He showed his arm strength with several throws to Michael Crabtree on the outside, who caught five passes for 56 yards in first career NFL game. Smith also showed he could throw the ball with touch, leading Davis over the middle.
His third touchdown pass to Davis, a 23-yard post between a linebacker and a safety, was the type of throw that has been missing from the 49ers for a long time. The coverage was there, but Smith made a play when the 49ers needed one.
With the Arizona Cardinals suddenly on fire, the 49ers have little room for error if they want to make the postseason. A 9-7 season probably will not be enough to win the NFC West.
But making the postseason this year is the least of my worries. What worries me is the long-term future of the team.
Even when the 49ers were winning ugly with Shaun Hill, I always knew deep down that we needed a franchise quarterback if we ever wanted to make a deep playoff run.
And if Alex Smith can continue to play with confidence, he may be that guy. He is only 25, and San Francisco now has playmakers all over the field for him to gel with.
But, if Smith fails miserably, there is a backup plan in store for San Francisco.
With two first round picks in the 2010 NFL draft, it is imperative for the 49ers to assess whether they need to draft a quarterback. And at the very least, with Alex Smith starting, we will find out if the 49ers need to draft their quarterback of the future next year.
Joey Akeley
-Sports Editor
