Is It Time To Give Troy Smith and Colt McCoy A Chance To Start
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 8:21AM Joe Simmons 
OK here is the situation, your team is 0 – 5. You were predicted to win the NFC West. You still legitimately have a chance since your division is all over the place without a clear cut leader. You only trail the rest of the division by 3 games. Your owner even goes out of his way on Monday to text Adam Schefter with a message saying “We will win the division.” He is trying to provide a spark. Your team needs a spark. Newsflash: “DAVID CARR IS NOT A SPARK”!
Yeah I know that Mike Singletary has already gone on record saying that he is standing in support of Alex Smith, but maybe now is the time for the 49ers to give Troy Smith his chance at leading the team. One thing about Troy Smith is he’s a winner. He won in high school, he won in college and when given a chance in the preseason he won games then as well. He was a victim of his own success as he got tonsillitis right before the home opener in Baltimore and he never got a chance to lead the team he was so destined to lead.
Well I am a firm believer in being in the right place at the right time and I think this might just be Troy Smith’s destiny. I think the football Gods are yelling at Mike Singletary and telling him “You idiot, I sent you the savior and you still insist on trying to do it your way.” Really, what do they have to lose? The division is lousy so any change will be welcomed and any spark can lead your team to a better record. What’s not to like about Mr. Troy Smith?
By playing Troy, the 49ers get more mobile at quarterback. They get a player with a stronger arm. They also get a person that knows how to win. They also get a man who made Ted Ginn Jr. look good in high school and good enough in college that he got drafted in the top 12 picks in the draft. I would think that would be incentive enough since the 49ers traded picks and invested in Ginn in the off season.
It’s obvious the man can play the position. He has been playing against the best defensive unit in the NFL for the past 3 seasons in practice. The defensive players obviously respected his ability and recognized his value, as to a man they all were shocked and disappointed when he was released. Ed Reed even went as far as to say that he did more against them in practice than some teams they played did and he was playing the role of that team all week.
Chances are he will never get that chance because history tells us that number one loses position, number two comes in and plays bad, and number one gets position back. Since Troy was signed when the season began he is delegated to the number 3 position.
The Browns are an even bigger mess. They have everything a team could need but a quarterback. Seneca Wallace is a great guy and a better leader, but he is not going to be 100% on Sunday as the Steelers face the Browns. I am not so sure I want Jake “the Goat” Delhomme leading my team if I am the Browns. Besides Jake is the master of injury and interceptions.
Mangini may have no other choice but to play McCoy after Wallace sustained what appeared to be a severe ankle injury in Sunday's loss to Atlanta and Delhomme came in and appeared to re-injure the badly sprained right ankle that sidelined him for three games.
Following the game, Delhomme walked with a noticeable limp. Wallace was much worse. He could barely make it to the shower, and family members who had been waiting in the corridor outside Cleveland's locker room to see him, were brought to his cubicle.
If I am Mangini, it is the perfect time to play the rookie. Nothing to lose, that is the best situation for the kid. If he does well it’s a bonus. If he doesn’t, it’s the Steelers. Either way he is a better choice than Jake Delhomme.
Reader Comments (5)
Colt is ready but it will be hard for the 49ers to give Smith a chance before Carr.
I like the idea of Troy Smith taking over the 49ers. But really Alex Smith hasn't played that badly. They just can't get right!
LOL @ the football gods calling Singletary an idiot. Man, Singletary is experiencing a fall from grace that I haven't seen in a while.
I want Troy Smith to get a shot. At this point, why hasn't he? Like you said, he's number three, but he should be given an opportunity to show what he can do. Carr can't get it done, and as much as I admire Alex Smith's tenacity, it's not enough to get the Niners a dub.
As for Colt, wow...what a way to get our first start. Then again, Max Hall's first start was against the champs last week, and we saw how that turned out.
Man I forgot they even had Troy Smith. He could be just the spark they need to get things going. This reminds me of the Titans from last year. Vince came in and wasn't doing anything spectacular and the team started winning. Sometimes it's just about believing your leader can lead you.
Colt starting against the Steelers. What a way to start your career. Good luck young man.