Hey Jim - How Ya Like Alex Now?

Yes, we've seen this before.

Well, that didn't take long. Jim Harbaugh found out the hard way on Friday night that installing Alex Smith as your starting quarterback is a proven method of being on the wrong side of a lopsided score while fanning the first flames of what will eventually be called a "hot seat."

First things first. Friday night was an offensive abomination by the majority of the first and second-string units, as the 49ers' over-matched offensive line looked as clueless as their quarterback usually does when responding to a zone blitz audible. Aside from a long-range field goal, the 49ers couldn't do anything against any Saints defender from the top of their depth chart down to the guys who will be trying to collect UFL paychecks a month from now.

You want good news? Here it is: the Niners' first-team defense stopped Drew Brees and a vanilla Saints offense during the first quarter, Colin Kaepernick made a few nifty plays on the run and David Akers proved he still has a pretty decent leg.

The bad news? Everything else. The 49ers' performance was a debacle, with Alex Smith, as usual, leading the charge. Smith completed just 2 of 7 passes for a measly 10 yards, while coughing up one of three fumbles from the Niner QBs. "It just wasn't good," Smith said of his performance. Well, you gotta give him props for honesty, as understated as it may have been.

I'll say this for Jim Harbaugh - he seems to be a quick learner. It only took 15 minutes of live football for him to decide that an open competition is now underway for the starting quarterback job that was graciously handed to Alex Smith the day Harbaugh became the new head coach. And that competition may get a bit more crowded now that the team has already become desperate enough to give Daunte Culpepper a workout this afternoon at Niner HQ.

New coach, same old quarterback, same old results.

EDIT: The excellent sports blog "With Leather" doesn't think Mr. Smith is very good, either.