The San Francisco 49ers have more than just the Super Bowl to deal with now that Alex Smith wants out of the the Bay Area. The New York Jets have been facing quarterback deficiencies as of late. So is it time for the Jets to get over their obsession with Mark Sanchez and add a quarterback like Smith?
Smith doesn't have the strongest arm in the league, but he has matured in previous years and lowered his interception rate the last two seasons.
Coach Jim Harbaugh's decision to bench Smith for the entire season seemed more like a personal choice. Smith was winning and had decent numbers before he was left to rot on the sidelines. Here's what he did through nine starts in 2012:
1,737 passing yards, 13 Touchdowns, 5 Interceptions and a 104.1 QB rating
The numbers are decent. Sanchez finished 2012 with the same amount of touchdowns, but more than three times the interceptions as he threw 18 picks this past season.
Smith also took care of the ball when rushing proving he's not scared to take his game beyond the line of scrimmage and once out in the open field, he's efficient since his runs don't go for a loss or become turnovers.
In 2012, Smith rushed for 132 yards fumbling four times in 31 carries. Sanchez had 22 rushing attempts for 28 yards and 14 fumbles. One of those fumbles was the infamous butt fumble against the New England Patriots.
Can the Jets win a Super Bowl with Smith? That remains to be seen. First the team has to clean up all its locker room gossip and front office mess before focusing on their performance on the field. The Jets team always finds a way to stay relevant in the front pages of the sports section.
Smith almost took the 49ers all the way in 2011 before Ted Ginn Jr. muffed a punt which gave the New York Giants great field position and eventually the NFC Championship title.
The Jets need some changes and if they didn't get rid of Rex Ryan, then maybe they can try finding a true leader on the field to run their offense.
The 49ers look like they have a great young talent in Colin Kaepernick for years to come. He's simply the better option since he has made their ground game better which in turn opens up lanes for their passing game. The 49ers have a Top 5 defense and with Kaepernick behind center they are an offensive juggernaut.
Kaerpernick has the stronger arm and is on a run that can end with the 49ers crowned Super Bowl XLVII champions.
Which other NFL team should take their chances in acquiring the 28-year-old quarterback? Leave your thoughts in the discussion section. Stay tuned as we will keep you updated with more Alex Smith news.
