Patrick Willis backs Alex Smith in the wins-stats debate
Alex Smith started a mini-firestorm when he cited Cam Newton as an example of why passing yards don’t matter too much as a stat. Newton’s teammate Jon Beason, a linebacker with the Panthers, supported his quarterback by challenging Smith’s credentials.
Not to be outdone, 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis chimed in via Twitter late Friday night:
Wins are Wins I stand with My Qb Alex Smith and all my teammates. I can’t wait for the season.
— Patrick willis (@PatrickWillis52) May 26, 2012
It’s a sweet gesture from Willis, but like I said when Beason made his statement, neither passing stats nor wins is the proper way to evaluate a quarterback. Without the dominant Willis-led defense, Smith’s win-loss record wouldn’t be very good. Give Cam Newton the 49ers’ defense, and he would have won double-digit games.
