"NFL Total Access" continues with its "32 teams in 32 days" series. We decided to score some brownie points by writing an accompanying post each night. We'll focus on one goal that each team needs to accomplish before Week 1.
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Alex Smith must get comfortable with his new toys
If there was a Game Manager Hall of Fame, the five-year waiting period would be waived to enshrine Alex Smith after last season.
Smith was that efficient in 2011, steadily guiding the San Francisco 49ers to the NFC West title and a run to the NFC Championship Game. Smith piloted the offense, rarely turned the ball over and made the throws when called upon.
He never had a 300-yard game, and had 11 weeks in which he threw one touchdown or fewer. But he did what Jim Harbaugh asked, and he did it well.
If San Francisco's offseason moves are any indication, more will be asked of Harbaugh in 2012. Randy Moss, Mario Manningham and first-round pick A.J. Jenkins have been added to a wide-receiver group that needed a serious lift.
Now comes the hard part -- establishing a rapport between Smith and his new weapons. Smith proved in the divisional playoffs against the New Orleans Saints he could be more than just a game manager. The 49ers will use training camp and the preseason to gauge if they can expect more performances like that in 2012.