Utah Man | 6:26 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
Four offensive coaches in four years, no wide recievers, horific offensive line and to boot your the scape goat for a coach who is more worried about being able to wear a suite on the side lines than he is about coaching. Alex needs a new start, and there are pleanty of teams he would fit in with. I wish him the best, and hope he gets a legitimate shot somewhere else.
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Tough Reality | 7:00 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
Sounds like a Ute Homer to me. Guess you haven't heard of Jason Campbell with the Washington Red Skins. 4 years with Auburn, 4 different offensive coordinators, 5 years with the Red Skins and 4 different offensive coordinators. Alex Smith was a system quarterback who could and never will make it in the pros. They just don't produce good quality players at the U.
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Blowing in... | 7:41 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
the San Franscico wind.

Sounds like Alex's days as a 49er are over. He's just playing out the string.

He'll be better off going to a better team with a proven system, ala Steve Young.

Young lived through the ignomy of playing for Tampa, with no O line, no receivers, no running backs, and looking awful.

Ironically, he got his chance to shine when he joined the 49ers.

Alex is going to have to do just the opposite. Either he'll find a team with the right system for his talents after this season and go on to great success. Or, he'll end up being one of the biggest busts in NFL history, through no fault of his own.
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Mike Johnson Fallon NV | 7:54 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
re: Tough Reality,

Alex Smith started 32 games in the NFL, Jason Campbell drafted the same year (he is entering his fourth year--he has not had five years with the Redskins), has started 20 games in the NFL.

Smith has completed 435 passes for 4679 yards and 19 TDs.
Campbell has completed 360 passes for 3997 yards and 22 TDs.

But, I am not sure of your point. Campbell has had a better line and better receivers. He didn't play at all his first year and had a chance to learn the system on the bench. Smith was thrown into the fire from the beginning. BTW, they produce quality players at the U, which pretty much invalidates your comment.

Smith has struggled. He was expected to be the starter, but O'Sullivan (who was the 2007 Offensive MVP in NFL Europe last year) surprised. O'Sullivan has yet to prove himself in the NFL (he has only 148 yards and 1 TD in the NFL). O'Sullivan is getting his chance to prove himself as well.
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re: Tough Reality | 8:00 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
"They don't produce quality players at the U."

FYI- John Beck isn't doing so hot either.

I can name at least one Ute who is playing pretty good in the NFL - Eric Weddle.
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re: Tough Reality | 8:43 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
and Steve Smith.
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Gretzky | 8:52 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
I would love to see Alex go to the Jets and get tutored by Favre but Ratliff is there. perhaps Alex can go to Green Bay. the fans are great there not like in san fran.
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To: Tough | 9:00 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
RE: Tough Reality
You�re so transparent it�s pitiful.

You sound like you know very little about football other than what you pick up from other people who act like they know football; and you�re a little bitter towards the Utes.

Look at Beck out of BYU. Or Eli Manning in his first few years with Giants.
You put a QB in with a poor O-line and very little weapons and it�s tough to look good. Add to that having to learn a new system every year & battle injuries; that�s a tough situation. Look at Steve Young, another successful college QB. He was in the NFL for years, with several teams before he finally had a situation where he could play with a talented team, before he finally found success in the pros.

Plus, if you read the article, McCloughlin thinks Alex is more talented than current starter O�Sullivan. O�Sullivan just happens to know the new offense better because he�s a veteran with previous experience with that type of Offensive system.

Smith just needs to get away from Nolan and find a better situation (team).

And you �Tough Reality� need to find some smarter friends.
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re: Tough Reality | 9:10 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
Bitter much?

Your comment on quality players at the U is laughable. Jordan Gross, Steve Smith, Eric Weddle, Chris Kemoeatu.....the list goes on and on. On the other hand, I'm having trouble thinking of a single BYU alum who's doing ANYTHING in the NFL besides hold a clipboard (a proud tradition started by legendary clipboard-holder Ty Detmer). And now I'll sit by and wait for one of you BYU shills to tell us how Reno Mahe is tearing up the league......
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Re: Tough | 9:09 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
Did you watch Campbell's game last night? They don't let him throw the ball. He has a lot of talent, but he's not in a great position. That's a statement that fits Smith and Campbell.
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To both you guys... | 9:18 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
It dosn't matter what Campbell does, he will be replaced in game 6 by Colt Brennan.
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re: Tough Reality | 9:20 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
It�s been said that it�s better to say nothing and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. You�ve removed all doubt.
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Yeah but.... | 9:28 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
Hey Tough Reality:

Jason Campbell looked terrible last night. Did you see the game or his stats?

It's tough having to pickup a new offense every year. Especially in the NFL. It's extremely fast. At least Campbell had the luxury of having a veteran to watch and learn from the first year and half before he was thrown in. And Campbell had a better head coach the first few years (Hale of Fame Coach GIBBS).

FYI- Beck lost his start too. Though Miami didn't want to give it to him in the first place.
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Lance | 9:34 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
Hopefully Smith can rebound like Steve Young and finish strong. Young had a horrible career in Tampa and didn't develope until he had better coaching and talent around him.
3 fumbles in 5 plays or TYing an NFL record for interceptions....Smith hasn't come close to that yet.
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Not so Tough Reality | 9:36 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
is that those checks for $9 Million dollars, THIS year alone, will continue to get cashed. ALex might end up being the Shawn Bradley of the NFL but that aint so bad.

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AFL | 9:37 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
Well there's always Arena Football. Maybe Smith can make it there since it's a lot easier. Won't be making nearly as much money however. He'll have to supplement that job by pumping Lenny Gomes' gas.
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Quality Players | 9:40 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
Luther Ellis
Kevin & Andre Dyson
The Brothers' Kemoeatu
Jordan Gross
Steve Smith
Jamal Anderson
Mike Anderson
Sione Pohua

Enjoy "Tough Reality"
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Anonymous | 9:46 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
maybe Utah hasn't produced the quantity of NFL players that other schools have, but Steve Smith, Jamal Anderson, Luther Ellis, Jordan Gross, Mike Anderson, Kevin Dyson & Roy Jefferson all come to mind as quality Ute players who have made their mark in the NFL. I'm sure there are others that could be named if anyone took the time to investigate.
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Just Wondering | 9:47 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
Outside of Weddle and I will give you Steve Smith because you missed him, is there anyone else?

Just Wondering
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Smith is a bust | 9:56 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008
One of the worst #1 picks ever. He and Bogut in the same year. Still can't believe it.

Smith could still be a decent quarterback if he found the right team, but he was never going to be a steve young, joe montana type.

For those ripping on John Beck, he was on a much worse team and got less of a chance than Alex Smith so i wouldn't say anything. Not that he did much with the chance he got. Neither of them did.
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