San Francisco 49ers veteran receiver Torrey Smith joined Murph & Mac Wednesday morning to talk about the importance of getting quarterback Blaine Gabbert and the team’s passing attack going if they are to make any noise in the NFC West this season.
“It always boils down to execution,” Smith said. “Everything is not going to be perfect at times, so we have to help him out, and he’s also going to have to give us a chance at times, too. Our team is going to go as our passing game does.”
Against Carolina, that execution was wildly inconsistent, with Gabbert throwing two touchdowns, but also two interceptions, and finishing with a completion percentage of 47.2. It wasn’t enough to get the best of the staunch Carolina defense, and unless improvements are made, it will be the same story this Sunday against a Seattle unit that has been the best in the NFL in the season’s first two games.
Despite catching three balls for 55 yards and a touchdown, Smith included himself as part of the problem in the losing effort, saying that he was to blame for Gabbert’s second interception, when he tripped over Panthers rookie cornerback James Bradberry’s feet.
“No one is going to talk about that, but it’s my fault,” Smith said. “I’ll take the blame for that because I shouldn’t have tripped.”
In addition to being another tough test for the 49ers, the matchup against Seattle will be a measuring stick for Smith, who is likely to be shadowed by All-Pro Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman.
“I know who my matchup will be,” Smith said. “I’ll be ready. We don’t shy away from it at all. We’re just going to play ball.”