Alex Smith: Timeline of the quarterback’s highs and lows with San Francisco 49ers
2010: Season of the 49ers Quarterback Carousel
August 2010: For the first time in his NFL career, Smith had the same offensive coordinator, Jimmy Raye II, from the previous season. He was named the starting quarterback in the preseason.
September 8, 2010: Smith was named as one of the team’s captains.
September 27, 2010: Despite retaining the same offensive coordinator, Smith did not flourish in the system. After the third game of the season, which the 49ers loss 31-10 to the Chiefs, Raye was fired as offensive coordinator and was replaced by quarterbacks coach Mike Johnson. Smith entered Week four of the season with his sixth offensive coordinator in six seasons.
October 10, 2010: San Francisco started the season on a four game losing streak and by the time the Eagles came to town for a showdown on Sunday Night Football, the 49ers Faithful had enough. In the game, Smith was booed at home on national TV and the crowd chanted “We want Carr”, as in backup QB David Carr. Down 24-10, Smith would mount a comeback with two fourth quarter touchdown passes, but fell short. San Francisco would go on to lose, 27-24, thanks in part to a late fourth quarter INT thrown by Smith. In the loss, Smith throw for his 300-yard passing game in his career.
October 24, 2010: Déjà vu. In Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers, Smith reinjured his shoulder and would miss the next five games. By the end of the game, David Carr was under center and the 49ers had a dismal 1-6 record.
November 15, 2010: Despite being healthy enough to play, Smith was once again demoted to backup duties. Singletary decided to stick with Troy Smith at quarterback who started the season as the third-string QB and only had 14 games of experience before the season started. Troy Smith had the 49ers on a two game-winning streak at the time, their first winning streak of the season.
December 6, 2010: After a 34-16 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Singletary continued the Quarterback Carousel by renaming Alex Smith the starter at quarterback.
December 12, 2010: In his first start in almost two months, Smith was booed at home on the second play of the game by 49ers fans. While he started the game inconsistent, he went on to pass for 255 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He finished with a QB rating of 130.9. The 49ers went on to beat the Seahawks, 40-21.
December 16, 2010: The up and down season continued for Smith as he struggled against the San Diego Chargers on Thursday Night Football. Smith regressed badly as the 49ers were routed 34-7.
December 26, 2010: With the 49ers playoff hopes still alive, thanks to a terrible NFC West, Singletary did the unthinkable and named Troy Smith the starter for the Week 16 game against the Rams. Singletary showed signs in the game he was out of his element as a head coach. Mid-way through the game, he had Alex relieve Troy to finish out the game. Smith would pass for 120 yards and completed 67% of his passes, but San Francisco went down to the Rams, 25-17. That would be one of Singletary’s last decisions as the 49ers head coach.
Final stats for 2010: 10 starts (3-7), 2,370 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 59.6 completion percentage, 82.1 QB rating and 25 sacks.