Matt Maiocco
CSNBayArea.com
The late Tony Razzano was the head of the 49ers scouting department and deserves as much -- if not, more -- historical accolades as Bill Walsh for the franchise's drafts that largely stocked the roster with players that won five Super Bowls.
His son, Dave, 50, spent his first season out of the game last year after more than two decades when the Arizona Cardinals let him go as a regional scout following the franchise's first Super Bowl.
Dave Razzano, who worked for the 49ers from 1988 to '92, has been with five teams that went to Super Bowls. Two of those Super Bowl teams had Joe Montana. Kurt Warner was the quarterback of the other three. Razzano has some strong opinions about the 49ers' current quarterback position.
He got fired after more than a decade as a Rams scout four years ago in large part because of his defense of a critical pre-draft evaluation of quarterback Alex Smith, Razzano told Comcast SportsNet.
"I had him rated as a non-starting player," Razzano said of Smith, whom the 49ers selected with the top overall pick in the 2005 draft.
Even as Smith enters his sixth professional season, 49ers followers are divided on Smith's ability to be a successful NFL quarterback. Smith has said he realizes he will not be able to win over all of his naysayers. And when it comes to those critics, Razzano is at the front of the line.
"I thought he was way over-drafted and way overrated," Razzano said. "I don't think I've been proven wrong. The guy hasn't done it, and he'll get another opportunity. He's getting a little better with the touchdown throws to Vernon Davis. But, boy, the guy I saw at Utah, I was shocked people had him rated that high."
Razzano said then-Rams general manager Charlie Armey asked him to change his grade on Smith to conform with the higher grades others in the Rams' draft room had assigned Smith. The scene escalated into an ugly shouting match. Razzano said he refused to alter his evaluation of Smith. It was the beginning of the end with the Rams for Razzano, he said. He was fired after the 2006 draft (Armey did not immediately respond to CSNBayArea.com's call.)
Razzano quickly landed with the Cardinals. Shortly after the Cardinals' appearance in the Super Bowl, Razzano's contract was not renewed after cuts to the team's scouting department, he said.
Having worked in the scouting departments for three NFC West franchises, Razzano pays close attention to the happenings within the division. He lives in Sacramento and remains intrigued by the 49ers' quarterback situation. He said he is a firm believer the 49ers are starting the wrong quarterback.
Smith got back on the field last season after missing most of 2007 and all of 2008 with shoulder injuries. He showed enough to head coach Mike Singletary and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye to nail down the starting job. Smith completed 60.5 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His 81.5 passer rating ranked 19th in the league. The 49ers were 5-5 in games Smith started.
Over the past several months, Smith drew lavish praise from his teammates and 49ers coaches for his offseason practice sessions and his leadership off the field. But Razzano remains skeptical. He said he does not believe the 49ers can win with Smith at quarterback.
"I think he's exactly what I thought he'd be -- maybe a little worse," Razzano said. "I thought he'd be a decent backup. But I watch him now, he just doesn't have the winning mentality. But he's a good kid and a smart kid and he probably looks good in practice. He misses simple 7-yard outs. He's just not accurate and he doesn't have the moxie."
One quarterback on the 49ers' roster Razzano said he believes can be a highly successful NFL player is Nate Davis, who entered the NFL draft following his junior season at Ball State. Razzano said he had Davis rated higher than Smith as an NFL prospect.
"When I evaluated him, I thought he was the same guy as Mark Sanchez," Razzano said. "I thought they were very similar. But you have to put a guy on the field and let him play. There's a reason Ball State was, like, 12-1 or 13-1 for the first time ever. And now they're back to winning two games. That guy was a heck of a quarterback.
"They might say, 'He doesn't learn this or that.' If they just handed him the keys, that's their answer. He'll make mistakes, but he won't make the same mistake twice. This kid made every throw imaginable. It wasn't a short-passing game (at Ball State). There would be guys in his face and he'd roll out, man, he hit guys on a 30-yard freakin' strike between defenders. The kid was unbelievable. I knew he'd fall (in the draft) because in the spring all that garbage comes in."
Davis tumbled down draft boards after he played his final game at Ball State, presumably because of a learning disability. The 49ers selected Davis late in the fifth round. He might get an opportunity this summer to compete with David Carr for the team's backup position, but he poses no immediate threat to Smith's status as the starter.
The Cardinals have won two consecutive NFC West titles. The 49ers, coming off an 8-8 record, are expected to seriously contend for the division title. In a survey of five preseason magazines, the 49ers were picked in each to win the division. But Razzano gives the slight nod to Arizona, he said.
"It's a two-horse race," Razzano said. "You just throw out Seattle and St. Louis. They are so far away, personnel-wise.
"It's really only two teams. Losing Warner, there are a lot of question marks for the Cardinals. You can pick one or the other, Cardinals or 49ers. (Cardinals quarterback Matt) Leinart is a big question mark. I know those coaches don't care for him. I was there. I know that for a fact. He just doesn't prepare.
"But Leinart, I feel, is better than Smith. In terms of that division, I still give the edge to the Cardinals. It'll be a dogfight. The 49ers will be what they are, 8-8, maybe 9-7 this year because of the division. But I don't see them being a legitimate playoff team because of Alex Smith."
I get a real kick out of that show.
