Alex Smith is a Chief

[niel89]

Originally Posted by J-Mike88

Is Colin Kapernick "elite"?
Is Russell Wilson "elite"?
Is Joe Flacco "elite"?
How can so many QB's be considered "elite" if so?

Joe Flacco's statistics:

2008: 80.3 passer rating, 14 TD, 12 Int, 2971 yards, 60.0 comp %
2009: 88.9 passer rating, 21 TD, 12 Int, 3613 yards, 63.1 comp %
2010: 93.6 passer rating, 25 TD, 10 Int, 3622 yards, 62.6 comp %
2011: 80.9 passer rating, 20 TD, 12 Int, 3610 yards, 57.6 comp %
2012: 87.7 passer rating, 22 TD, 10 Int, 3817 yards, 59.7 comp %

Is there anything in that 5-year trend to indicate "elite"?

Alex Smith's last 3 passer ratings has gone:
2010: 82.1
2011: 90.7
2012: 104.1

His TD/Int ratio the past 3 seasons is 44-20, which is the same proportion as Flacco's last 3 years.

Both guys are 28 years old.

Those are facts.

First, don't pick and choose words and cut off my quote. I said that teams generally need elite QB play to win a superbowl and that remains true. There are rare times were decent QBs have a shot, but they are far and few between.

Unless your team is stacked with talent (like the 49ers), the QB is the one who has to shoulder the burden and seize the moment, especially in the playoffs. Alex Smith didn't carry squat. The 49ers are a damn good team and Smith's job is/was incredibly easier than what most QB have to do. He drove the bus. 1 great game against NO doesn't change the fact that he is only a good-level QB. His responsibilities are consistently less than top level QBs.

I'm not saying Alex Smith is complete garbage and not worth a roster spot or something. He was incredibly fortunate to be on a very talented offense with a phenomenal offensive mind in Harbaugh. Harbaugh never put too much of Smith plate because he frankly couldn't handle it. Harbaugh jumped ship the first real opportunity he could to Kaepernick. Spin your numbers all you will, but it doesn't change the fact that Alex Smith only performed above average in a very QB spot and then was replaced in a hurry.

I firmly believe Alex Smith doesn't beat the Packers in the playoffs. Kaepernick's running was a something the Packers had no answer for.

Second, I think there are 3 elite QBs in the league; Manning, Brady, and Rodgers. I have a couple different criteria including consistency year to year, consistency on the field, control of his offense, and clutchness at the end of the game. That doesn't preclude other QB from playing at an elite level.

You have to be blind to not see that Flacco played at an elite level in the playoffs. He had a really down year in the regular season but killed it in the playoffs. He had an all time great post season. Alex Smith has never played at that level and he never will.

Originally Posted by J-Mike88

Can Kaepernick win a Super Bowl?
Can Wilson win a Super Bowl?
Can Matt Ryan win a Super Bowl?
Are they "elite"?
If so, how many QB's are elite?


CORRECT.
Or what the Cardinals traded for Kolb.

What's the difference between Smith & Flacco, aside from the run the Ravens just had with Flacco playing great in the playoff run?

Kaepernick and Wilson obviously can win a superbowl. They are greatly aided by the outstanding team around them, but even with that they still need to play at a near elite level in the playoffs to win a championship. It is extremely rare that teams win now with only good QB play. Neither is elite. The could be but they obviously need more time and experience.

Matt Ryan is getting really close to those top QBs. He is extremely tied to his teams success. He isn't elite still though.

How can you ask for the difference between Smith and Flacco, and then ignore Flacco playing at an all time level in the playoffs and winning a superbowl? That is just stupid. Flacco has 9 playoff wins to Smiths 1. Flacco can do more, he does more, and he has done more than Alex Smith. Smith just got traded for a 2nd and people are calling it a terrible trade; Joe Flacco just signed for probably ~$100 mil.