As a chase-down tackler, 49ers QB Alex Smith has never been better. As a blocker, Smith was in all-time, all-pile-drive form.
As Joe Smash-mouth, Smith was all over the field Saturday night in his one hurly-burly quarter of exhibition action in the 49ers' 21-20 victory over the Raiders.
"It shows he's not afraid," coach Mike Singletary said of Smith's one-man wrangling show.
But as a quarterback? That was different.
Put it this way: In back-to-back physical plays when he knocked Raiders defenders to the ground, Smith emphatically proved that his surgically repaired shoulder is sound.
But in the throwing and completing departments, Smith did little to help himself win the 49ers' starting QB job, which is generally presumed to be Shaun Hill's to lose.
Any more clarity in the QB competition? "No," Singletary said. "No."
Any chance the 49ers name a season starter soon? "Don't know. Don't want to get into that."
Smith's stat line after playing the entire first quarter: 3 completions in 9 attempts, one interception (high pass tipped up, possibly not his fault), a soggy passer rating of 4.2.
49ers news
