Alex Smith got walloped. So did Colin Kaepernick. Such was life
for the 49ers’ quarterbacks in their preseason debut against New
Orleans’ surprisingly blitz-heavy defense
Cam Inman, Contra Costa Times
NEW ORLEANS
Alex Smith got walloped. So did Colin Kaepernick. Such was life for the 49ers’ quarterbacks in their preseason debut against New Orleans’ surprisingly blitz-heavy defense.
“They brought pressure, and we weren’t expecting all that, especially for a first game,” Smith said after a 24-3 loss to the Saints on Friday night. “But we had to deal with it, and we didn’t.”
Coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t expect the Saints to come out so aggressively, either. But he refused to complain in his first 49ers postgame news conference.
“They’re allowed to do that,” Harbaugh said of the Saints’ blitzes. “We had some error in protection. When it comes down to it, with them bringing seven (pass rushers), we need to make them pay for that.”
Smith and Kaepernick were the ones who suffered. They got sacked a combined six times and were hit on many more occasions, with Kaepernick even losing his helmet in one collision.
“We probably pressured more in this preseason game than we have in (any) others,” Saints coach Sean Payton said.
The only way the 49ers avoided getting shut out: a 59-yard field goal by David Akers one second before halftime for a 17-3 deficit.
“I’m frustrated we didn’t get into a rhythm and get moving the ball,” said Smith, who completed 2 of 7 passes for 10 yards, his lowest total in any career exhibition game he has played.
“I’m not interested in the stats,” Smith added. “Statistically we did well last year in the preseason, and that doesn’t necessarily do much for you.”
The 49ers went 4-0 in exhibition games last season en route to a 6-10 campaign that got coach Mike Singletary fired with one game remaining.
Smith played the first five series Friday and got drilled by a defender on each of the first four possessions. Two of those hits resulted in sacks, two in incompletions — but no turnovers, a Smith staple in past years.
“I don’t think you can get a fair evaluation (of Smith) tonight,” Harbaugh said. “It was tough sledding in that first quarter.”
Smith was 0 for 5 and got sacked twice before completing his first pass, a 12-yard throw to Braylon Edwards that resulted in the 49ers’ initial first down.
Although it was a rough start for the 49ers’ offense, their first-string defense was stout and kept quarterback Drew Brees from producing a first down in any of his three series.
Kaepernick, a second-round draft pick, played the remainder of the game once Smith exited and went 9 of 19 for 117 yards with a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions. He got sacked four times, including on three consecutive plays after completing his first pass for 20 yards to Lance Long.
“After the first couple drives with Alex in there, I knew they’d be coming after us,” Kaepernick said. “Once their (second-string defense) went in, I thought they’d go to more base stuff and calm the blitzes down, but they kept coming. We weren’t quite ready and had to adjust.”
Harbaugh liked what he saw from Kaepernick, who also ran for a team-high 47 yards in six carries, including a 28-yard jaunt that set up Akers’ field goal.
Brees was 1 for 4 with a 6-yard completion and a 39.6 passer rating that matched Smith’s.
Although much of the 49ers’ offensive line returned intact from last season, Adam Snyder debuted at center and played the first two series before giving way to former Saints center Jonathan Goodwin. Running back Frank Gore played in an exhibition opener for the first time since 2008 and had four carries for 20 yards.
“It’s a new offense,” tight end Vernon Davis said. “We’re caught up with everything but still learning. We didn’t expect them to (blitz) like that. We have to take ownership for that, need to recognize it and make up for it.”
Added Harbaugh: “No, we didn’t expect this. I knew we were coming in with a lot of work to do. Tonight we had some good reps and saw things we need to work on.”
