4 lessons SF 49ers can learn from Washington’s win vs. Steelers
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Alex Smith isn’t going to throw deep vs. SF 49ers
It might be a nice feel-good story for the Comeback Player of the Year favorite, Washington quarterback Alex Smith, facing off against the team that drafted him way back in 2005.
But the Niners aren’t going to be inclined to let Smith have himself a game in only his second start against his former squad. Instead, they’ll need to recognize his tendencies, both over the long run and most recently, to see what kind of game plan he’ll bring.
Smith never hesitates to target tight ends. He didn’t in San Francisco, and he didn’t with the Kansas City Chiefs. In Week 13, Smith hit Washington tight end nine times for 98 yards and a touchdown. That’ll likely continue in Week 14, too.
Yet the more important note is Smith will live just beyond the line of scrimmage with his passes, as this Next Gen Stats chart indicates:
Only four of his 46 total passes went beyond 10 intended air yards, albeit the touchdown being one of them. As for the rest? Either just beyond or even behind the line of scrimmage.
This isn’t unlike what the SF 49ers offense have done on offense a lot this season, and they’ve faced plenty of defenses cheating up and daring their quarterbacks to throw deep.
The Niners should do the same and challenge Smith to make those throws beyond 10 yards downfield to help slow the Football Team’s offense.