UPDATED: Jon Beason fires back.
Alex Smith, quarterback of the new and improved 49ers, had some things to say about our beloved Panthers yesterday. For me, it’s a tough pill to swallow when anyone takes a low-blow in the direction of the only team in professional sports I actually stress about. It’s even tougher when I hear Alex Smith, a guy who I have supported as a bright, mobile, passionate player in this league, let me down. No, Alex doesn’t care about what he said. He was just talking. Probably out of envy of Cam Newton. For those of you who haven’t heard what Smith said:
“This is the honest truth: I could absolutely care less on yards per game,” Smith said. “I think that’s a totally overblown stat. Because if you’re losing games in the second half, guess what? You’re like the Carolina Panthers and you’re going no-huddle the entire second half and, yeah, Cam Newton threw for a lot of 300-yard games, that’s great. You’re not winning, though.”
This reminds me of a middle school girl spreading rumors about the more popular girl. This is not a matter of simply standing up for a Panther player. It’s an issue that needs to be addressed. Alex Smith’s bluff needs to be called. Yes, the 49ers will come back even stronger next year. Alex is confident right now with his new coach and new fleet of wide receivers. It’s ironic however, that the guy with the best defense in the NFL is talking smack about another QB’s offensive approach when the Cats’ had one of the worst defenses. Thankfully, the Panthers lack of defensive support was a combination of three things: youth, new coaching, and injuries, all of which should not be factors this season. That being said, Alex, strap on your seatbelt… Panther Nation is coming for you in the playoffs.
Stat Comparison
Alex Smith’s rookie season: 97.2 yards passing per game, 1 TD, 11 INTs (103 rushing yards – 0 TDs)
Cam Newtons’s rookie season: 253 yards passing per game, 21 TDs, 17 INTs (706 rushing yards – 14 TDs)
I guess Alex Smith is right, Cam RAN the hurry up offense a lot in the second half. That’s why he set a rookie record for passing, and an all-time NFL record for rushing. All records set within a year of leading the Auburn Tigers to a National Championship. SuperCam is a champion.
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