Ex-Buckeye Troy Smith to get start for 49ers in London

[Jax Dawg]

Alex Smith Out, Troy Smith To Start - ESPN Video - ESPN


LONDON -- With quarterback Alex Smith ruled out because of a separated shoulder, San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary is gambling on Troy Smith being able to turn his struggling team around.

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Singletary said Wednesday the former Heisman Trophy winner will get his first NFL start in three years after Alex Smith was ruled out for 2 to 3 weeks with a separated left shoulder. The Niners play the Denver Broncos at London's Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Singletary picked the former Ohio State standout ahead of David Carr, who came on against Carolina after Alex Smith was injured on Sunday but threw a costly late interception that led to the winning field goal for the Panthers.

"Troy Smith gives us a good opportunity to win this game," Singletary said. "I talked to David Carr about it. He understands. We had a couple of conversations about it. That's a personal thing between he and I, and I'm going to leave it there. Troy Smith is our starting quarterback."
With the Niners off to a 1-6 start, Singletary has little to lose by taking a gamble.

Troy Smith spent the last three years with Baltimore, where his only two starts came in the 2007 season as he struggled to live up to the hype from his college days. But the mobile quarterback, who could give San Francisco's offense extra options with his scrambling ability, said he wasn't surprised by Singletary's decision.
"The way that you prepare as a professional athlete, you have to be prepared when your number is called. And that's exactly where I'm at," he said.
The Niners have a bye following the game at Wembley, giving Alex Smith a chance to heal before San Francisco faces the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 14. He was tackled from the blind side by Carolina's Charles Johnson, driving his shoulder into the turf. He arrived in London on Monday -- along with the rest of the team -- and spent the morning at the hospital, still with his non-throwing arm in a sling.

Singletary said Troy Smith had never taken first-team snaps in practice with the Niners before this week, but that he's catching on quickly.

"He's been studying since we got here, and has been getting with the coaches as much as he possibly could," Singletary said. "He has enough of the offense to play."
Troy Smith said he was told "a couple of days ago" that he would start and would "continue to prepare like a madman" for the rest of the week.

"I think the easiest way to get through to your teammates that you're serious about what's going on is to know exactly what your job is, know exactly what everyone expects from you and go out and execute," Troy Smith said. "At the same time you have to respect your boundaries. I believe in not stepping on anybody's toes, I believe in getting in where you fit in."

While the quarterback will be leading a new team in completely new surroundings -- in front of about 85,000 British fans -- there is one reason he might feel right at home.

Troy Smith will be linking up once again with wide receiver Ted Ginn, one of his best friends from childhood and a favorite target throughout his playing career.

The duo played together both in high school in Cleveland and at Ohio State, and Ginn said they can't wait to get out on the field again together.

"It's great to be able to get back in tune with a guy that you've been playing with your whole life," Ginn said. "For us to go out and continue our journey that we've been [on] so far is great."

Ginn, who joined the Niners from Miami this season, said he first met Troy Smith when they were 7 years old and their families went to the same church. Back then though, their conversations didn't focus on football, but on who was going to sneak out to get some snacks.

"It was at church, and we had a McDonalds to our left, and we had a little candy store to our right," Ginn said. "And we would sneak out of the church, and either I would hold the door and he would run to McDonalds, or he would hold the door and I would run to the candy store. That's how we started off, and then we just grew from there."

Troy Smith said he isn't about to favor his old buddy if other targets are open.

"It's not just about my brother Ted Ginn, it's about the other receivers that are going to be out there also," he said. "We have tremendous playmakers everywhere, and it's my job, my duty, to get everybody the ball."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press


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526 comments

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• krzanowski2 says:
  
  October 27, 2010, 8:55 AM ET
  
  The 49ers' inability to develop a QB option superior to Smith is stunning. Let's see who they've gone through: Shaun Hill, David Carr, Trent Dilfer, Chris Weinke, Jamie Martin, J.T. O'Sullivan, Damon Huard, Nate Davis and...Troy Smith. I don't know what's worse: that pathetic lineup or the fact that Smith is still probably the best option of the bunch. The 49ers need to straighten this out immediately if they hope to contend.
  As for Smith, I really have no reason to believe he'll be successful. He was great in college, but so were a lot of NFL flameouts. He represents hope, but I'd be more excited about Nate Davis' future, even with the low likelihood of him ever taking the reins.
  
• b.d.f.00 says:
  
  October 27, 2010, 8:51 AM ET
  
  i'm just not sure why they don't give Nate Davis a shot at this point
• Goatherder55 says:
  
  October 27, 2010, 8:12 AM ET
  
  Finally, Troy Smith gets the chance he has deserved for years. Don't forget, he was going to be the starter for Baltimore ahead of Flacco but he had a raging throat infection and was sidelined for a month. He was awesome in college. He was great when he played as the backup in Baltimore. He'll make things happen.

[nickers]

Goodluck Troy...youre gonna need it.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by nickers

Goodluck Troy...youre gonna need it.

I'm happy for Troy. I haven't understood the reluctance to yank the interception volume in front of him.

Just think if Philip Rivers never held out for the excessive length he did - Drew Brees might have been the same unknown player. After all, a team doesn't draft a QB #1 overall if they were impressed with Brees during hius first 2 years right?

Guys can't show you what they can do standing on the sidelines in a baseball cap. SF has some talent on that offense that seems to be held back by their QB, which got more than 1 OC fired and blamed for bad play calling.

I can't say for sure how Troy will do but alot of people hate the guy from some inexplicable reason. If Terrelle Pryor was HALF the QB Troy is, Ohio State be competing for something a lot more significant after the Michigan game. One of my best memories as an OSU fan was seeing Troy Smith beat a favored Michigan team with the poise and precision necessary to overcome a second half deficit. I think he beat them twice in a row erasing 2nd half deficits back when beating Michigan was quite a bit more challenging than it is in recent years.
- Tom F.

[Enigmatic Evil]

I would love to see Troy have a good game but this is a good opportunity for Troy to make an impact with his new team. If he can get the 49ers a win he will be a large step forward to being a more productive QB than Bizarro AKA Alex Smith. I'd like to see him do well, he never really got a fair shake in Baltimore and will have to fight to gain recognition because he's not the prototypical size for a good QB.

[Greythan]

I think its a perfect situation for a guy who lacks some of the NFL sought qualities (height, big arm) to potentially break through. The Brees and Brady analogies are always good to keep in mind. You just never know until a guy is given a chance. Good luck Troy.

[nickers]

Originally Posted by Flugel

I'm happy for Troy. I haven't understood the reluctance to yank the interception volume in front of him.

Just think if Philip Rivers never held out for the excessive length he did - Drew Brees might have been the same unknown player. After all, a team doesn't draft a QB #1 overall if they were impressed with Brees during hius first 2 years right?

Guys can't show you what they can do standing on the sidelines in a baseball cap. SF has some talent on that offense that seems to be held back by their QB, which got more than 1 OC fired and blamed for bad play calling.

I can't say for sure how Troy will do but alot of people hate the guy from some inexplicable reason. If Terrelle Pryor was HALF the QB Troy is, Ohio State be competing for something a lot more significant after the Michigan game. One of my best memories as an OSU fan was seeing Troy Smith beat a favored Michigan team with the poise and precision necessary to overcome a second half deficit. I think he beat them twice in a row erasing 2nd half deficits back when beating Michigan was quite a bit more challenging than it is in recent years.
- Tom F.

Im not down on Troy at all I hope the kid does well...Im somewhat a niners fan and Alex Smith has been one big dissapointment to Me...I was against him going #1 in the draft when he came out because I just dont think he has the mental toughness a QB needs to play in this league but thats just Me...

[Vegasdogg]

So do I play Michael Crabtree this week?

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Wouldn't be surprised one bit if Troy takes the ball and runs with it. (no pun intended) Singletary will start him the rest of the year if he has a good showing.

[Tobalaz]

Go Troy!
Given the facts that Troy isn't a Ratbird anymore and OSU has never produced a decent pro qb, I'd love to see him break out!

[Riffer X]

I wanted Troymont instead of Wallace in the offseason, but it's possible Bmore was not going to deal with us regardless. I think he has the potential to become a real starter, whereas Wallace is what he is, a good backup.

I also disagree with Grey's assertion that he doesn't have much arm, cuz he does. Troy can sling it pretty good.

I'd like to see him take it and run with it like Gabe says.

[Legendary]

I will be at the game on Sunday. It will be 2nd time I see Denver Broncos and 4th NFL match.

[Thaid_Up]

Originally Posted by Legendary

I will be at the game on Sunday. It will be 2nd time I see Denver Broncos and 4th NFL match.

Sorry we're sending you a couple of struggling teams. Hope they give you a good game.

Always liked Troy. Too bad his illness kept him from getting his shot a couple of years ago. Like him more now that he's out of Baltiless.