QB Shuffle

Some 49ers fans momentarily rejoiced when David Carr came into the game and wasn’t called
right back. This time Alex Smith wasn’t benched, he was injured but the results were disastrous. Fans everywhere who support Alex Smith will say anyone who chanted for Carr got what they wanted and can see he is not the answer. They would be right. But does that mean Alex Smith is the answer? They were 1-5 before he got hurt right? Haven’t been to the playoffs since he was drafted. Haven’t finished above .500 since he was drafted. No, Alex Smith is clearly not the answer either. No word yet on the severity of Smith’s injury so David Carr may end up starting in London next week against Denver. If the play calls there are anything like they were today against Carolina then why bother? If the coaches don’t
trust Carr then why keep him on the team? Release him, Troy Smith is a capable backup and fill in starter if necessary. He might turn out to be a full time starter, no one really knows since the kid hasn’t had much of a chance yet in the NFL. Releasing Carr would also allow Nate Davis to rejoin the team as the third quarterback and he could stop playing linebacker or whatever position they have him at now on the practice squad.

Mike Singletary will not be back next year. If Alex Smith’s injury is serious and he misses several games or possibly the season he definitely will not be back next year. The 49ers had better see what they have in either Troy Smith or Nate Davis while they have the chance. The way things are going the 49ers will no doubt have a top 5 pick in next years draft, possibly top 3 and even #1. Do they really want to throw another rookie QB to the wolves like they did Alex Smith?

On a positive side, Offensive Coordinator Mike Johnson called some great plays in the first half.
They got Gore and Westbrook on the field at the same time. Got rookie Anthony Dixon involved as well. Of course Dixon and Westbrook had negative yards on their carries. By the second half however, the entire offense outside of Frank Gore was inconsistent which is really the story of the season. The team didn’t get inside the 10 yard line of the Panthers after their opening drive ,which was a thing of beauty, but one great drive isn’t going to win many games. They only play the Raiders once a year, and thank God it wasn’t this week! Another positive to this loss is that having a high draft pick might help the team lure a better coach. Seeing as the team already has established weapons at various positions, a great coach and QB could put this team over the top. This is the NFC West after all.

So what will turn this team around? Any hope for this year? Mike Singletary said they will make
the playoffs. What say you?