Alex Smith working with new targets

[John Walsh]

Alex Smith working with new targets

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Alex Smith looked one way, then another,
finding open receivers with such ease that the toughest part might've
been deciding whose turn it was in the rotation.

Smith's new choices at wide receiver -- Randy Moss, Mario Manningham
and first-round pick A.J. Jenkins -- zipped all over the field during
Wednesday's pad-free practice, giving the quarterback options he never
had last season.

"It's like waking up on Christmas," Smith said. "You have a lot of new
toys out there, new presents."

New expectations, too.

A year ago, the unproven San Francisco 49ers quarterback was
organizing informal offseason workouts at San Jose State during the
NFL lockout -- dubbed "Camp Alex" by teammates -- and not even certain
to be the starter. Coming off a 13-3 regular season and an overtime
loss away from the Super Bowl, the 49ers loaded up players around
Smith.

Now he also has a full offseason schedule to integrate the offense.

"Alex has really been, in the two days out here, has been spreading
the ball very well," coach Jim Harbaugh said. "He's got a lot of
options. That's been evident, too, for two days. "

Often outplayed and overshadowed by the NFL's best defense, Smith and
the 49ers offense became an easy target for San Francisco's
shortcomings.

Smith ranked 19th in the NFL with a career-high 3,144 yards passing
and struggled to find wide receivers in a 20-17 overtime loss in the
NFC title game to the eventual champion New York Giants.

One thing the 2005 No. 1 overall pick out of Utah no longer seems to
lack: confidence.

"This is the honest truth: I could absolutely care less on yards per
game," Smith said. "I think that is a totally overblown stat because
if you're losing games in the second half, guess what? You're like the
Carolina Panthers and you're going no-huddle the entire second half
and, yeah, Cam Newton threw for a lot of 300-yard games. That's great.
You're not winning, though."

Newton, the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, ranked 10th in the league
with 4,051 yards passing last season. The Panthers finished with a
6-10 record.

From boos to a breakout season, not much else has really changed with
Smith's status in San Francisco.

The 49ers flirted with free agent Peyton Manning -- who ultimately
chose Denver -- until settling on Smith with a three-year deal that
has some $16.5 million guaranteed. Josh Johnson and 2011 second-round
pick Colin Kaepernick are also there.

General manager Trent Baalke also signed former Giants receiver
Manningham, drafted Jenkins out of Illinois and LaMichael James of
Oregon. But no move made more splashes than signing the 35-year-old
Moss to a one-year deal.

Moss again declined to talk to reporters but has been Smith's No. 1
target during the open portions of practice and, by all 49ers
accounts, has dazzled.

"It's neat to watch our players watch a guy like Randy that they've
watched growing up," Harbaugh said. "And we have two fields. The
defensive field's on the far right and then the offensive field is
over here on the left. And I can always see the defensive players will
be looking over."

Said Smith: "The first day, it was surreal out there throwing balls to
him. The physical skills everybody knows. The thing you appreciate a
lot is the guy's a true pro. He's played a lot of football. He's
incredibly smart out there."

All the more reason the 49ers offense needs to make strides.

Smith showed incredible efficiency last season, tossing 17 touchdown
passes to only five interceptions, and led two late touchdown drives
in San Francisco's thrilling 36-32 division round playoff victory over
Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.

The problem that had been there all season -- often masked in
victories where the 49ers could build a lead, run the ball late and
lean on their defense.

Stuck in long third downs all season, Smith relied so much on Vernon
Davis and the other tight ends or running backs.

"We were so inconsistent when we had to throw the football," he said.
"Third-and-mediums, third-and-longs, we weren't very good. Red zone,
we weren't good at times. We got to get better there."


Notes
TE Delanie Walker fell to the ground in pain during one play,
clutching his left knee. A team trainer wrapped Walker's knee and he
was held out for the remainder of practice. Walker said he should be
fine, but was going to get checked out by trainers. ... The 49ers
signed three-time All-Pro punter Andy Lee to a six-year extension
through the 2018 season.