49ers notebook: In need of a QB, too

Dec. 26, 2010MAIOCCO ARCHIVE49ERS PAGE49ERS VIDEOMatt MaioccoCSNBayArea.comST. LOUIS -- The 49ers will need a new quarterback next season to go along with a new general manager and a new head coach."We can't get a quarterback until the draft," 49ers team president Jed York said Sunday, following the 49ers' 25-17 loss to the St. Louis Rams that knocked the team out of playoff contention."Is that a need? Yeah, absolutely."Coach Mike Singletary switched quarterbacks four times over the past six weeks. Last week, he benched Alex Smith in favor of Troy Smith. When he told Alex Smith to begin warming up in the third quarter Sunday, Singletary and Troy Smith got in a heated confrontation."The bottom line was that I thought about changing quarterbacks at that time and he thought that at that particular time he could do this," Singletary said. "I decided to leave him in and give him some more opportunity."NEWS: Source: Singletary will not return as head coach
Troy Smith completed 7 of 19 passes for 153 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the game."Through the course of the game, obviously, you want to win," 49ers quarterback Troy Smith said. "Your competitive nature comes out."And, obviously, the passion that coach Singletary has for the game and the passion that I have for the game combined, I'm not going to say it'll lead to situations like that on the sideline, but with competitive natures you want to win. I understood where he was coming from."Throughout the week, Singletary and offensive coordinator Mike Johnson said Alex Smith was getting practice time so he could be ready if called upon. But Alex Smith said following the game Sunday that he did not receive any practice snaps in preparation for facing the St. Louis Rams."It's frustrating but it's part of this game," Alex Smith said. "I got put back in a different role. Part of being a part of this team is you have to deal with that and be there and be ready to go if my number got called."Alex Smith, who entered in the fourth quarter, completed 10 of 15 passes for 120 yards against the Rams.STATS: Alex Smith 2010 splitsTroy Smith 2010 splits
Neither Alex Smith nor Troy Smith is signed for next season, and Alex Smith's career with the 49ers appears to be winding to a close. He was the No. 1 overall pick of the 49ers in 2005.When asked if this feels like the end, Alex Smith answered, "One more week. We can start talking about that after one more week. I understand my contract is up and what's at stake, but I still have a job here."Ginn's return: Ted Ginn provided a spark for the 49ers with a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown at the beginning of the second quarter with the 49ers trailing 9-0."It was our first kickoff or punt return for a touchdown with no penalties," Ginn said. "That was great for our special teams because we have been practicing so hard to make a play there, and when we did, it was exciting for us. We loved it. We just tried to keep capitalizing off it."Injuries: Rookie cornerback Philip Adams sustained a fractured left ankle while blocking on a kickoff return at the start of the third quarter. It was not immediately known if he will require surgery.Rookie linebacker Keaton Kristick sustained a concussion and did not return. Center David Baas sustained a ribs injury and missed some playing time. Tony Wragge filled in for Baas, who returned to action.Notable: Although Troy Smith's 60-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree appeared targeted for tight end Vernon Davis, Smith said the throw was definitely intended for Crabtree. . . . One of the 49ers' final chances ended when right tackle Anthony Davis was beaten around the edge by Rams defensive end Chris Long, who stripped Alex Smith of the ball while recording the sack. Defensive tackle Fred Robbins recovered the fumble with 2:27 remaining in the game. . . . Rookie running back Anthony Dixon, hobbled with an ankle sprain all week, carried six times for 17 yards.