Wow, the Alex Smith soap opera continues. Do we dare hope once more that he will finally become a good QB? After he has let us down so many times, can we really believe that this time will be different, based on only half a game? I think we should. Why? Let us count the reasons.

1. Urban Meyer told us the following, shortly after Smith was drafted:

"It's going to be interesting in San Francisco. 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.

"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. 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."

Mike Nolan, of course, thought he knew better than the guy who'd been coaching Alex Smith for years, and the Niners paid the price for it. But it explains how Smith could look so lost out there and then suddenly look good. They interviewed Staley after the game and he said that Alex spends all his free time going over the playbook. There is reason to hope that the light has turned on and he will be a different player.

2. He shows more confidence than I've seen from him before. It's clear when you see him speaking, and it shows in his body language.

3. The shoulder looks to be 100%. I wasn't sure he would ever come back completely from the injury, but it looks good right now, and he has said it feels as good as new. I know it sounded like an excuse at the time, but I think his failures the last time he played were largely physical. Before the shoulder injury two years ago, he seemed to be turning into a decent quarterback.

4. He was getting the ball out of his hands much quicker on Sunday. The old Alex held the ball too long. Hill has the same problem, which no doubt exacerbates the issues the team is having with its offensive line. On Sunday Alex was getting rid of the ball in a couple seconds most of the time. This is another sign that he gets it now.

5. Alex is showing touch on his passes that we never saw from him before. The old Alex had a tendency to overthrow, and as a result, passes would sometimes bounce off the hands of his receivers. Sunday he was throwing with zip, but his passes were much more catchable. He's changed his throwing mechanics. His passes are smoother, more fluid, less forced.

6. This is the best receiver corps Smith has had in his career. They are capable of getting open and giving him someone to throw to. He already is showing good chemistry with Crabtree and Davis.

7. Coaching. Singletary seems to have learned from Nolan's mistakes. He waited and brought Smith in when he was ready to play, and he never bad-mouthed him, even when most everyone had given up on Smith ever becoming an effective quarterback. I also give credit to QB coach Mike Johnson for the improvements in Alex's fundamentals.

8. Most of the fans seem to be behind him, which is amazing. I'm really stunned at all the positive comments I've heard about Smith from Niner fans this week, based on only half a game. Perhaps it's because Hill hasn't met some fans' expectations, or perhaps it's because Alex took a pay cut and we can stop obsessing over his salary. Or maybe we're just desperate. At any rate, I think any player in the league will play better if his fan base supports him.

9. Let's be honest here...what other choices do we have? It's clear what Hill brings to the table at this point; he was an effective placeholder, but he's a backup at best. Arm strength is overrated in the NFL, but a QB must be able to get the ball down the field. Nate Davis could be very good, eventually, but he isn't ready yet. It's pretty much Alex Smith or bust.

If he washes out this time, he needs to move on, no excuses. Until and unless that happens, fans should give him the full benefit of the doubt and cheer him on.

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