This interesting exchange took place at Baalke’s pre-draft media confab today. One reporter — Matt Barrows wanted to know what Baalke learned from throwing Alex Smith into the fire in his rookie year. Matt prefaced his remarks by mentioning Baalke had been with the Niners when they drafted Smith. Baalke distanced himself from that in a flash and then continued:

“First of all I wasn’t here when we drafted Alex. I was in Washington when Alex was drafted. The volume of information that position has to process on a daily basis at game speed it certainly is an advantage to have them sit back and watch a true pro do it. Revisionist history says the 49ers should have drafted Aaron Rodgers. Had Rodgers come here and played in this system with all of the changes that this organization has endured over the years and Alex gone to Green Bay would it have been different? No one knows. Aaron is a talented guy that really benefited from sitting back and watching a true pro play the position.”

Maybe a rookie can come to the Niners and watch Smith, a true pro, play the position.