This week, the San Francisco 49ers announced that due to a knee strain, first overall draft choice, rookie quarterback, Alex Smith will not start for the 49ers – instead third year player, Ken Dorsey will. Smith was made the starter in place of Tim Rattay, who struggled in his starts with the 49ers. Ironically, the 49ers will face Rattay's new team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this Sunday. Naturally, this quarterback change raises a couple of eyebrows.The first question I ask is how badly is Smith hurt? I have been a proponent of 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
starting him since I found out the San Francisco 49ers were not going to bring in a veteran who could teach him anything. Of course behind the 49ers makeshift offensive line, there was always a risk to shattering his confidence, or his body. Smith's mobility is obviously in question, which against the ‘Bucs' defense, could have the 49ers worried at the potential for Smith to be further injured. So the team decides to sit him, and let him get healthy. After all, there is no pressure right? Tim Rattay is not there to take back the starting spot.But what if Ken Dorsey steps up to the plate and hits a grand slam? What if Dorsey pulls a Drew Brees and flat out shines in his start? The 49ers are financially and outwardly committed to Alex Smith being the team's starter for the future, and the rest of the season, but if Dorsey lights things up on Sunday the team could have a serious quarterback controversy on the plate. If Dorsey is effective as the team's starter, the 49ers may go back on their word of starting Smith for the rest of the season. All along head coach Mike Nolan has reiterated time and time again, the team's goal is to win the NFC West. If Dorsey can legitimately give the team that chance then what?Having a competent quarterback is something the San Francisco 49ers have been missing for a while. That is why they drafted and paid big time for Smith this off-season. Personally, I have always been a fan of Dorsey's, and although I do not know if he can be a legitimate quarterback in the NFL, I would not be shocked if he is able to put up a good performance this weekend. If Dorsey is successful, the 49ers will have a very hard time sitting him back down on the bench and starting Smith. This could damage Smith's confidence more than playing him against a blitz-heavy team. It will also put strain in the 49ers locker room, possibly dividing Dorsey and Smith supporters.The real question is for the future though. If Dorsey steps up and shines, do the 49ers give up on Smith? I really do not know what the answer to this question is. The Chargers stayed with Brees when he began to perform, but they had much more invested in Brees than the 49ers have in Dorsey (a former 7th round pick). The team has a ton of financial considerations invested in Smith. It could benefit from him learning behind a competent quarterback (unlike learning behind Tim Rattay), if Dorsey can be that competent quarterback, it could really help develop Smith. But the question still remains, who would be the present, and who would be the future? Is it the same player?I suppose if Dorsey does shine, the 49ers will be able to go back to the original plan of sitting Smith and just playing him in 43 Polamalu white jersey
opportunities that give him the chance to succeed a la Joe Montana and Steve DeBerg. But with such a commitment to Smith as the starter, pulling him, and pushing him in every direction may be the worst thing the 49ers can do to his development. It may also make Dorsey, a young quarterback, very unhappy with his situation.All this is of course based on the hypothetical that Dorsey performs well this weekend. Is it far fetched? Sure. But is it impossible? Absolutely not.
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