science I don't understand

Assuming football is a science, that is.

Although the answers look simple enough while I'm sitting at home watching the games on TV, I know that there is so much more to it than simply asking: Why don't the 49ers do this more and do that less? Why isn't so-and-so getting more minutes? It's like being a bunch of backseat drivers, but then again, that's what fans do. There's such a dynamic to sports: a close game against a league leader can be followed by a blowout loss against a struggling team followed by an unexpected upset then who knows what? Points come easy, points come hard.

Sports are complex. After all, they're human.

There have been past seasons when I was truly frustrated and didn't see light at the end of the tunnel, but this season isn't one of them. Like I mentioned before, if I'm going to enjoy football, I've got to remain positive. Leading up to yesterday's game, I watched episodes of past seasons when the 49ers ended up as the Super Bowl champs. Not all of those seasons were smooth sailing either. There were ups and downs and the team seemed anything but destined to win the championship.

I've tried to stay away from weighing in on quarterback Alex Smith. Some have labeled him a bust, others list the obstacles he's faced such as multiple changes in offensive coordinators/schemes. Not to mention the shoulder injury and consequent mishandling of it that he had to endure. One thing I like to keep in mind is what his college coach Urban Meyer said: "Alex is an extremely quick learner. However, he's a guy that, until he understands it, he is nonfunctional. He is a guy that -- I keep hearing how Brett Favre kind of makes something out of nothing and is a person that runs around to make a play -- Alex Smith is not that kind of player. Alex Smith is a person that, once he is taught, has to learn it all. He might struggle early, but once he gets it, he gets it."

Additionally, he said:

"I'm going to be anxious to watch his development with the 49ers. Alex is so careful with the ball. His touchdown-to-interception ratio the last 2 years was phenomenal (47 touchdowns and seven interceptions). That's because, unless he knows exactly what's going on, he won't throw it. He won't just try to guess and take a shot. He has to know.

"That's why, early in his career, and early in our career with him at Utah, he was not an effective passer, because he really didn't understand. Once he understood, there was no one better. He learns quickly, though. But he's not a guy that you throw the ball out there and tell him, 'Go play.' He wants to know what is exactly expected of him and then he becomes a dynamite player."

For the Niners, it seems that wrenches keep getting thrown in to what they are trying to accomplish. Even the multiple changes that happened with the coaching in past years weren't necessarily their fault. Sometimes they chose offensive coordinators that were so good that they were lured away by other teams to be their head coaches. But now is now, and I support the current management and coaching staff. And Alex Smith.

Oh yeah - the 49ers won last night.