Former 49ers Quarterback Alex Smith on Brock Purdy, “He’s got it.”

Alex Smith is a fan of 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and believes in what the team has done at the quarterback position.

Smith has worked the last couple years as an analyst for ESPN. The former 49ers quarterback was in Lake Tahoe over the weekend to play in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament. During a break in the action, he joined Matt Maiocco for the 49ers Talk podcast.

“Kyle Shanahan is a guy that I never got to play for,” shared Smith. “But I’ve played with so many guys who got to play for him. So many teammates that I’ve picked their brains and other coaches who have been with him.

“I’m such a fan of his. Not only from an X’s and O’s perspective, but also the culture he brings and sets. I love what he’s done, he and John Lynch, what they’ve built. I think it’s so sustainable the way they’ve built it.”

When asked how he would have done in a Kyle Shanahan system, Smith brought up a common refrain which has been used as a negative towards Jimmy Garoppolo in the past and again this offseason for Brock Purdy.

“I love to think about it sometimes,” said Smith. “It’s one of the best quarterback systems in the league.

“You’re just the point guard. The way it’s built and put together with the run game, the play action pass, the misdirection’s, and screens. You never feel like you have to do too much. Certainly, there are a few plays a game that you’re going to be expected to make. But there’s also a lot of freebies, a lot of gimmies out there for you.

“And then you look out there right now, they have playmakers at every position who do a lot with the ball in their hands. That’s such a nice place to be as a quarterback. Knowing you don’t have to force the ball anywhere. Just go out there and run the system, ‘where’s the defense telling me to throw it,’ throw it on time and let the offense work for you”

Throughout his career Smith went through some interesting situations with other quarterbacks. These included splitting reps during games with Colin Kaepernick early in the 2012 season with the 49ers and later mentoring Patrick Mahomes with the Chiefs.

That experience gives him a unique perspective on the dynamics of San Francisco’s current quarterback room consisting of two players taken third overall, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold, along with one who played like he should have been taken that high, Brock Purdy.

“I think it stars with the guy at the top, Kyle (Shanahan)”, said Smith. “We’ve seen him do it before I think his communication, his transparency, everyone knows what’s going on.

“I’ve been a part of some great quarterback rooms. I get too much credit often times for mentoring a young kid named Patrick Mahomes. It’s no different. With Andy (Reid) we all knew the deal and were on the same page, and there weas a mutual respect between everybody. It can work.”

San Francisco used three first round picks to move up in the draft to select Trey Lance. Despite a rough start to his time in San Francisco, Smith still believes in the potential the team saw in the quarterback when they took him third overall in 2021.

“I still love Trey’s future,” Smith said. “I think he’s incredibly talented. I think he’s a great kid that works really hard. He was so young; he was 20 years old when he got drafted. His college experience was so unique. He’s battled some injuries.

“So for him, he needs to block out the noise, block out the distractions, and continue to go to work, and just become the player he wants to be, and work towards that. And that’s hard. That’s not easy to do, especially as a young kid.”

Smith also addressed the criticism Kyle Shanahan has faced regarding the use of Lance in the running game. During his time at North Dakota State, Lance was asked to run the ball 192 times, including 98 over his final six games for the Bison.

“I think it’s all dependent upon who’s in,” said Smith. “If Brock is under center I’m going to run the plays that put Brock (Purdy) in the best position to succeed. If Trey’s under center I’m going to put Trey in the best chance to succeed.

“Certainly, Trey’s athleticism and ability to run the football should be on your play sheet. Third and three, let’s use him or fake it. I know I would want that.

“As the coach and play caller that’s your job. To put the 11 guys out there in the best possible situation. I do think that’s the beauty of Kyle. This isn’t just a system. He can adapt and change depending on his players talents.”

While Lance was the player with the traits necessary to go high in the draft, Brock Purdy fell to the last pick in the draft. Despite this, Purdy executed the 49ers offense at a high level when called upon following injuries to Lance and veteran Jimmy Garoppolo.

Smith was asked to put Purdy’s rookie season into perspective and how he has set himself up for the future.

“We love to get caught up in the Combine, and kind of the underwear Olympics, and all the measurables like height, weight, speed, hand size, arm strength, how far can you throw it, and how many miles per hour does he throw it and all that stuff,” said Smith. “In the end, quarterbacking, certainly, there’s a level of accuracy. You’ve got to be able to throw on time and hit your targets. But it’s really processing. It’s really between your ears. You’ve got to be able to process a lot, fast, and there’s not a great way to quantify that yet.

“In our interview process, and the Combine, and all the weird tests you take, they haven’t really found a great way to quantify that. And I think Brock showed he’s got it right between the ears. It’s not too big for him. This is a guy I know didn’t get many reps in training camp. He finally got back up to number two, so he’s running scout team. You’re still not getting many reps. And then to step in and just operate the way he did, it wasn’t too big. You could see him dial in.

“And I know, in that system, there’s a lot on the quarterback’s plate, from a processing standpoint, and I think he showed enough that, absolutely, he’s got it. And again, height, 40, arm strength, that stuff really is secondary at the NFL level, and I think he’s got the things that you’re looking for to win sustainably. Again, accuracy, timing, and processing”