QB Smith gives a winning effort in losing cause

From John Crumpacker, the San Francisco Chronicle

Since becoming the 49ers' No. 1 quarterback once again 6 1/2 games ago, the only thing Alex Smith has not done is win, at least not consistently. In six starts, he's 2-4, the latest being Sunday's 20-17 loss to Seattle.
The way the game unfolded, Smith's first career 300-yard passing game was wasted, through no fault of his own. In fact, he showed leadership on two drives in the fourth quarter that were undermined by a fumble and two dropped passes.

Frank Gore's fumble early in the period thwarted what had been a promising drive. Until Gore extended the ball trying to get another yard at the Seattle 22, it looked as if the 49ers were going to drive 98 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. "I was feeling great about it," Smith said. "You're already in field-goal position, so you're thinking that you have points to take the lead."

Instead, nothing.

On the next drive in the final period, Smith threw twice into the end zone, but Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree could not make the catches. Davis had his hands on the ball but could not secure it. The throw to Crabtree was hurried and he was not in position to make the play.

"It would have been a great play if he'd made it," Smith said of the throw to Davis, who did not look for the ball soon enough.

"I saw it at the last minute," Davis said. "I didn't know who he was throwing it to. I just wish I had looked earlier to see the ball." Smith's day - with 39 of 58 plays spent in shotgun formation - included 45 attempts and 27 completions, for 310 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. He said reaching the 300-yard mark in passing for the first time was "irrelevant" because it did not result in a victory.