Newton: A Word of Caution
A Word Of Caution - By Nick Newton (Seein' Red)
10/08/05
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Smith,
We regret to inform you that your son Alex was a victim of the Colts ferocious pass rush this past weekend. Enclosed in the box to which this letter is attached are the contents of his locker; Practice Jersey, cleats, a photograph of the Vince Lombardi trophy, and a football signed by Tim Rattay. There will be a ceremony this Thursday for his fingernail and tooth that were recovered from the passing pocket.- Sincerely, Coach Mike Nolan
Whether that letter actually has to be mailed or not, is yet to be seen. The optimist in me hopes for a Ben Roethlisberger-esque debut. The realist in me knows that Mike Nolan has already licked the envelope and bought the stamp. Margie? Could you mail this on your way out?
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Regardless of any of that. Regardless of this game, or even the rest of this season, Mike Nolan must take a page from Marvin Lewis' book. In the roundtable discussion this week, I touched on a few areas of caution that are usually determining factors in whether or not a new (expensive) QB is successful or a bust. Heres one more that woke me up in sweats last night; Whatever happens to the kid out there, if he is crushed, if he wins, if he loses, if he flips the crowd off coughJakePlummercough, KEEP HIM AS THE STARTER. Do not under any circumstances bench the guy. Confidence is so often overlooked by coaches and fans. In fact, I believe the line between driving for UPS next season and pulling out 14 wins with your football team is defined by the confidence that is so fragile at this stage. Just think of it, Akili Smith could've been the next Dante Cul.....The next Aaron Brook....The next Jeff Bla.......We wont go there.
Instead, let's look at a more positive example. Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals. Alex Smith reminds me alot of Palmer (Smith is more mobile, and also more intelligent but nevertheless they are similar), so excuse me while I squeal with glee at making this comparison. Kitna had a seat last season and Palmer made his debut. And what a crappy debut he was having. But something that was mentioned on the NFL Network that really stuck in my brain was that Marvin Lewis let Plamer take his lumps. He let him lose games, take hits (careful, now), and made the rest of the team and the fans endure the losses of a tanked season. He didn't play musical quarterbacks and try to pick up those few extra meaningless wins. And Carson Palmer is a better quarterback because of it this year, sitting pretty at 4-0. If a player with Carson Palmers game intelligence (again, im not saying it's low, just saying that its not as high as Alex Smiths) can take those losses and hits to heart, study, practice, use the momentum to better himself and the team, and become what he is in Cincinnati, than Alex Smith can be a pro-bowl QB in the long-short of things.
Of course, many things factor into the success of this team next year, but I trust Nolan and company to handle those things as they come. Right now, what's important, is the success and growth of Smith.
My Take:- I've said it since the begginning, and I'll say it again. This team is headed in the right direction, but getting there is going to be painful. I have a feeling huge roster changes are coming after this season, and don't be surprised if Nolan makes some cuts that hurt. (Just keep the Winborn situation in mind. More of that to come.) Rattay, thanks buddy, you've been real.......mediocre, and you're welcome to stay as a guest, but this is Alex's house now.
Filed Under: 49ers - Alex Smith
10/08/05
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Smith,
We regret to inform you that your son Alex was a victim of the Colts ferocious pass rush this past weekend. Enclosed in the box to which this letter is attached are the contents of his locker; Practice Jersey, cleats, a photograph of the Vince Lombardi trophy, and a football signed by Tim Rattay. There will be a ceremony this Thursday for his fingernail and tooth that were recovered from the passing pocket.- Sincerely, Coach Mike Nolan
Whether that letter actually has to be mailed or not, is yet to be seen. The optimist in me hopes for a Ben Roethlisberger-esque debut. The realist in me knows that Mike Nolan has already licked the envelope and bought the stamp. Margie? Could you mail this on your way out?
Full Story...
Regardless of any of that. Regardless of this game, or even the rest of this season, Mike Nolan must take a page from Marvin Lewis' book. In the roundtable discussion this week, I touched on a few areas of caution that are usually determining factors in whether or not a new (expensive) QB is successful or a bust. Heres one more that woke me up in sweats last night; Whatever happens to the kid out there, if he is crushed, if he wins, if he loses, if he flips the crowd off coughJakePlummercough, KEEP HIM AS THE STARTER. Do not under any circumstances bench the guy. Confidence is so often overlooked by coaches and fans. In fact, I believe the line between driving for UPS next season and pulling out 14 wins with your football team is defined by the confidence that is so fragile at this stage. Just think of it, Akili Smith could've been the next Dante Cul.....The next Aaron Brook....The next Jeff Bla.......We wont go there.
Instead, let's look at a more positive example. Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals. Alex Smith reminds me alot of Palmer (Smith is more mobile, and also more intelligent but nevertheless they are similar), so excuse me while I squeal with glee at making this comparison. Kitna had a seat last season and Palmer made his debut. And what a crappy debut he was having. But something that was mentioned on the NFL Network that really stuck in my brain was that Marvin Lewis let Plamer take his lumps. He let him lose games, take hits (careful, now), and made the rest of the team and the fans endure the losses of a tanked season. He didn't play musical quarterbacks and try to pick up those few extra meaningless wins. And Carson Palmer is a better quarterback because of it this year, sitting pretty at 4-0. If a player with Carson Palmers game intelligence (again, im not saying it's low, just saying that its not as high as Alex Smiths) can take those losses and hits to heart, study, practice, use the momentum to better himself and the team, and become what he is in Cincinnati, than Alex Smith can be a pro-bowl QB in the long-short of things.
Of course, many things factor into the success of this team next year, but I trust Nolan and company to handle those things as they come. Right now, what's important, is the success and growth of Smith.
My Take:- I've said it since the begginning, and I'll say it again. This team is headed in the right direction, but getting there is going to be painful. I have a feeling huge roster changes are coming after this season, and don't be surprised if Nolan makes some cuts that hurt. (Just keep the Winborn situation in mind. More of that to come.) Rattay, thanks buddy, you've been real.......mediocre, and you're welcome to stay as a guest, but this is Alex's house now.
Filed Under: 49ers - Alex Smith
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