SANTA CLARA – Mike Singletary tapped Alex Smith as his new starting quarterback Monday not only to help a 49ers passing offense that ranks in the bottom third of the league but, perhaps more importantly, to provide some breathing room for the team's rushing attack.
At his best, Smith is an accurate downfield passer, as he showed in the second half Sunday in Houston, where he hit Vernon Davis on touchdown passes of 29, 14 and 23 yards. So far this season, defenses have not felt threatened by the 49ers' passing game. Instead they've focused on Frank Gore by stacking eight and nine men "in the box" – that is, close to the line of scrimmage.
"Hopefully, we are able to make some throws," Singletary said after declaring Smith the starter. "Hopefully, we are able to make them get the heck out of the box and hopefully, we are able to make (defenses) play us right, make them play us fair.
"We certainly have some playmakers out there, and having a quarterback that can consistently make the throws that Alex can make, it gives us a chance to really branch out a bit and open things up a bit."
Singletary said he broke the news to former starter Shaun Hill in the morning. He said he made it clear to Hill the switch was not premeditated, that there wasn't a long-standing plan to have Smith take over at midseason.
"It was important for me that he understood that as the head coach, I think my most important responsibility is to put us in a position to win," Singletary said.
Still, the timing has seemed to work out well for Smith. To this point, he has struggled with the expectations that came with being the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2005 and the 49ers' constantly changing offensive systems.
The team hired a new offensive coordinator again this season, but Jimmy Raye's system is similar to the one run by Norv Turner in 2006 and Jim Hostler in 2007. That familiarity, combined with the fact Smith has been an observer for nearly two years, has allowed the cerebral quarterback time to soak in an offense before applying it on the field.
"I think the more comfortable you get with an offense, when it's your shot to play, the higher chance of success you're going to have," Smith said. "I don't think there's any doubt about that."
There were mitigating factors in Smith's performance Sunday. Houston has a middling defense, and it was playing with a three-touchdown cushion when Smith entered.
Still, Smith looked as poised and as in control as he has since entering the NFL. He and the 49ers converted 5 of 6 third-down situations – scenarios that have heretofore flummoxed the 49ers – and he was particularly adept at hitting playmakers such as Davis, Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan.
In one game, the 49ers' passing offense jumped from 28th in the league to 24th. But the running game again was stagnant, and its league ranking fell from 16th to 23rd.
Singletary said he was open to a more varied passing attack if it helps the offense. But the core of his philosophy remains the same.
"Three receiver, four receiver, five receiver, I don't care," Singletary said. "We're going to do whatever we need to do to win. But we're going to run the ball."
Read Matthew Barrows' archives and blogs at www.sacbee.com/sf49ers.
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