Phred
07-18-2008, 11:53 AM
Easy answer to the 'bust' question
Matt Maiocco
Instant 49ers
It was a question that was quick and to the point. In other words, it was the perfect question to read and ponder.
When is a bust officially a bust?
And it's an easy question to answer. A bust is a bust when the bust has left the team and everyone can agree he did not produce up to expectations.
Until that point, he might be performing below expectations, his play might be disappointing - heck, he might be toiling on the bench -- but he is certainly not a bust.
As long as the book has not been closed on a player's tenure with a team, it is premature to label anyone "a bust."
* * *
And, remember, one team's bust might be another team's treasure - or Hall of Famer.
You all the story of Jon Steven Young - one of the great busts in Buccaneers history.
He was chosen with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1984 supplemental draft. He played in the USFL in springs of '84 and '85, so when he arrived on the scene with the Buccaneers later in '85, he had already gotten a taste of pro ball.
His first season was bad. His second season, at age 25, was worse. He started 14 games for a team that went 2-14. He completed 53.7 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and 13 interceptions. His passer rating was 65.5. The Bucs rated 27th in the league in passing out of 28 teams.
In 1987, the Bucs gave up on Young. They selected Vinny Testeverde with the No. 1 overall draft pick and shipped Young to the 49ers.
With the 49ers, Young became a Hall-of-Famer. But he was forever considered a bust in Tampa Bay.
* * *
Although no name was mentioned in the original question, it is reasonable to assume that Alex Smith was the inspiration for the question.
I still contend that your opinion of Smith should not have changed last year. He played three games last season. Anything else you saw from him after his shoulder injury is irrelevant. The man simply could not throw after he tried to return to the field.
Everyone - myself included - likes to cite the famous comments of Urban Meyer after the 49ers selected Smith with the No. 1 pick in 2005. Here is exactly what Meyer, Smith's college coach at Utah, said when he addressed Smith's ability to adapt:
"It's going to be interesting in San Francisco," Meyer said. "Alex is an extremely quick learner. However, he's a guy that, until he understands it, he is nonfunctional. He is a guy that -- I keep hearing how Brett Favre kind of makes something out of nothing and is a person that runs around to make a play -- Alex Smith is not that kind of player. Alex Smith is a person that, once he is taught, has to learn it all. He might struggle early, but once he gets it, he gets it."
I asked Meyer what he meant by the word "nonfunctional."
Meyer answered: "I'm going to be anxious to watch his development with the 49ers. Alex is so careful with the ball. His touchdown-to-interception ratio the last 2 years was phenomenal (47 touchdowns and seven interceptions). That's because, unless he knows exactly what's going on, he won't throw it. He won't just try to guess and take a shot. He has to know.
"That's why, early in his career, and early in our career with him at Utah, he was not an effective passer, because he really didn't understand. Once he understood, there was no one better. He learns quickly, though. But he's not a guy that you throw the ball out there and tell him, 'Go play.' He wants to know what is exactly expected of him and then he becomes a dynamite player.''
* * *
While the Smith skeptics certainly have fuel for their arguments, there is no way I'm closing the book on Smith.
When you think about it, you'd be hard-pressed to think of bad interceptions Smith has made in his career. There have been times when he simply made a bad throw. But there have also been interceptions where the receiver ran the wrong routes or the ball tipped off the hand of the intended target. There have been times when he's tried to force the ball into a receiver in a desperation situation. But there haven't been the instances in which he made a horrible read and took an unnecessary, careless risk.
One point Smith made this offseason when talking about the new system is that Mike Martz leaves nothing to chance. Smith said that Martz gives the quarterbacks all the answers. If this and this and this happens, then the quarterback has been taught exactly what to do.
That seems to be exactly the kind of system in which Smith can thrive.
* * *
The Raiders have agreed to a joint practice with the 49ers, Raiders senior executive John Herrera told the Contra Costa Times. The 49ers could not immediately confirm, as Mike Nolan is out of the office until Monday.
The joint practice is expected to take place in Napa, leading up to the teams' exhibition game on Aug. 8. The talks of a joint practice first surfaced last week.
The 49ers last had a joint practice in 1998 with the Chargers in Stockton. While the Raiders last practiced with the Cowboys in El Paso, Texas, also in 1998.
Quick story about the 49ers practice: I remember it was 1998 because that was R.W. McQuarters' rookie season. It was a night practice at the University of the Pacific stadium. In order to get to the stadium, I had to walk past Dwight Clark's office. It was dusk, and Clark's lights were on in his office. The blinds were open. As I past Clark's office, I noticed out of the corner of eye that something was written on his white board. I walked back and peered through the window. McQuarters and the 49ers had not yet agreed on a contract. But on the board were the terms of McQuarters' contract, written neatly with a blue marker. I copied down the information in my notepad. When I saw Clark out on the field, I asked if the sides had agreed to terms. He confirmed the agreement and, bingo, I had a story with all the financial details.
* * *
Posted July 18, 2008 9:09:23 AM
Matt Maiocco
Instant 49ers
It was a question that was quick and to the point. In other words, it was the perfect question to read and ponder.
When is a bust officially a bust?
And it's an easy question to answer. A bust is a bust when the bust has left the team and everyone can agree he did not produce up to expectations.
Until that point, he might be performing below expectations, his play might be disappointing - heck, he might be toiling on the bench -- but he is certainly not a bust.
As long as the book has not been closed on a player's tenure with a team, it is premature to label anyone "a bust."
* * *
And, remember, one team's bust might be another team's treasure - or Hall of Famer.
You all the story of Jon Steven Young - one of the great busts in Buccaneers history.
He was chosen with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1984 supplemental draft. He played in the USFL in springs of '84 and '85, so when he arrived on the scene with the Buccaneers later in '85, he had already gotten a taste of pro ball.
His first season was bad. His second season, at age 25, was worse. He started 14 games for a team that went 2-14. He completed 53.7 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and 13 interceptions. His passer rating was 65.5. The Bucs rated 27th in the league in passing out of 28 teams.
In 1987, the Bucs gave up on Young. They selected Vinny Testeverde with the No. 1 overall draft pick and shipped Young to the 49ers.
With the 49ers, Young became a Hall-of-Famer. But he was forever considered a bust in Tampa Bay.
* * *
Although no name was mentioned in the original question, it is reasonable to assume that Alex Smith was the inspiration for the question.
I still contend that your opinion of Smith should not have changed last year. He played three games last season. Anything else you saw from him after his shoulder injury is irrelevant. The man simply could not throw after he tried to return to the field.
Everyone - myself included - likes to cite the famous comments of Urban Meyer after the 49ers selected Smith with the No. 1 pick in 2005. Here is exactly what Meyer, Smith's college coach at Utah, said when he addressed Smith's ability to adapt:
"It's going to be interesting in San Francisco," Meyer said. "Alex is an extremely quick learner. However, he's a guy that, until he understands it, he is nonfunctional. He is a guy that -- I keep hearing how Brett Favre kind of makes something out of nothing and is a person that runs around to make a play -- Alex Smith is not that kind of player. Alex Smith is a person that, once he is taught, has to learn it all. He might struggle early, but once he gets it, he gets it."
I asked Meyer what he meant by the word "nonfunctional."
Meyer answered: "I'm going to be anxious to watch his development with the 49ers. Alex is so careful with the ball. His touchdown-to-interception ratio the last 2 years was phenomenal (47 touchdowns and seven interceptions). That's because, unless he knows exactly what's going on, he won't throw it. He won't just try to guess and take a shot. He has to know.
"That's why, early in his career, and early in our career with him at Utah, he was not an effective passer, because he really didn't understand. Once he understood, there was no one better. He learns quickly, though. But he's not a guy that you throw the ball out there and tell him, 'Go play.' He wants to know what is exactly expected of him and then he becomes a dynamite player.''
* * *
While the Smith skeptics certainly have fuel for their arguments, there is no way I'm closing the book on Smith.
When you think about it, you'd be hard-pressed to think of bad interceptions Smith has made in his career. There have been times when he simply made a bad throw. But there have also been interceptions where the receiver ran the wrong routes or the ball tipped off the hand of the intended target. There have been times when he's tried to force the ball into a receiver in a desperation situation. But there haven't been the instances in which he made a horrible read and took an unnecessary, careless risk.
One point Smith made this offseason when talking about the new system is that Mike Martz leaves nothing to chance. Smith said that Martz gives the quarterbacks all the answers. If this and this and this happens, then the quarterback has been taught exactly what to do.
That seems to be exactly the kind of system in which Smith can thrive.
* * *
The Raiders have agreed to a joint practice with the 49ers, Raiders senior executive John Herrera told the Contra Costa Times. The 49ers could not immediately confirm, as Mike Nolan is out of the office until Monday.
The joint practice is expected to take place in Napa, leading up to the teams' exhibition game on Aug. 8. The talks of a joint practice first surfaced last week.
The 49ers last had a joint practice in 1998 with the Chargers in Stockton. While the Raiders last practiced with the Cowboys in El Paso, Texas, also in 1998.
Quick story about the 49ers practice: I remember it was 1998 because that was R.W. McQuarters' rookie season. It was a night practice at the University of the Pacific stadium. In order to get to the stadium, I had to walk past Dwight Clark's office. It was dusk, and Clark's lights were on in his office. The blinds were open. As I past Clark's office, I noticed out of the corner of eye that something was written on his white board. I walked back and peered through the window. McQuarters and the 49ers had not yet agreed on a contract. But on the board were the terms of McQuarters' contract, written neatly with a blue marker. I copied down the information in my notepad. When I saw Clark out on the field, I asked if the sides had agreed to terms. He confirmed the agreement and, bingo, I had a story with all the financial details.
* * *
Posted July 18, 2008 9:09:23 AM