Jim Harbaugh Betting on Alex Smith to Start at Quarterback for 49ers

Here I was thinking Jim Harbaugh was some sort of genius coach only to find out he’s planning on having Alex Smith back as his starting quarterback this season. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Harbaugh gave Alex Smith the team’s playbook to prepare for the upcoming season even though he is a free agent.

“Alex is definitely going to have a head start,” Harbaugh said after the draft. “He’s played in the NFL, he’s won games in the NFL. If I’m a betting man, then I’m betting on Alex Smith.”

Maybe Colin Kaepernick (the team’s second-round pick) is the team’s future at quarterback and Harbaugh just realizes he needs time to develop. I sure hope that’s the case because I don’t envision either man being the quarterback of a playoff team. You already know how I feel about Alex Smith as a quarterback, I’m just surprised Harbaugh doesn’t feel the same way. Maybe he hardly watched pro football while he was busy coaching collegiately the past several years. That has to be it.