He didn't use expletives, exclamation points, or all capital letters.
But Alex Smith subtly seemed to agree with fans who have questioned the play-calling of Niners offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye.
Smith effectively dinked-and-dunked on the Seahawks in the first quarter, completing 9 of 10 passes for 81 yards. But Seattle, which was already crowding the line to stop Frank Gore, eventually adjusted to the short-passing game, which almost never stopped.
Twenty-four of Smith's first 25 passes were described as "short" on the official play-by-play (Example: A. Smith incomplete short right to 15-M. Crabtree). After the Niners fell behind 28-6 in the third quarter, 14 of Smith's 20 passes were "short," with six labeled as "deep." (Intermediate isn't a category).
Smith was asked if the lack of balls down the field was a result of the play-calling or his own decision-making.
"We certainly didn't stretch them and take shots," said Smith, who completed 13 of his final 28 passes after a 13-of-17 start. "There were a few called, but obviously I wasn't trying to force anything. I was taking what they were giving me. But in the second half we didn't take any shots down the field either."
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