This is a rare offseason for Smith. This is just the second time in eight NFL seasons that he is not learning a new playbook this time of year. He does not have to devote every ounce of football work on mastering the offense -- not only his assignments, mind you, but the responsibilities of his 10 teammates, as well.
So, now, Smith has more time to work on his mechanics.
Smith said he fell into some bad mechanical habits after a shoulder injury and subsequent surgeries limited him to just three fully healthy games in 2007 and 2008. And as we can see, it's not just the upper body that needed help.
In the "before" picture, taken last season on the left, we see how Smith would get very little drive from his hips and lower body. He seemed to be throwing "all arm." In the "after photo, which was snapped this week during the 49ers' "football school," Smith's shoulders are square, there's more drive from his hips and back leg.
The most noticeable difference is that Smith also has greater flex in his left knee.ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, speaking in December, repeated what he has said since 2007: Smith's knee lock was a major issue.
"I still think that knee lock causes him some problems with his accuracy," Jaworski said prior to the 49ers' Monday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. "I think it's a detriment to quarterbacks when they don't have that flexed knee and a cushion."
