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McCarthy returns to Bay Area as Packers visit 49ers

Dec 5, 2006 - 5:43 PM Green Bay (4-8) at San Francisco (5-7) Sunday 4:05 pm EST

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Alex Smith struggled as a rookie under Mike McCarthy last season. McCarthy likely will notice a few changes in his former pupil when the duo cross paths again.

McCarthy makes his return to the Bay Area on Sunday when the Green Bay Packers visit Smith and the San Francisco 49ers.

After serving as San Francisco's offensive coordinator last season, McCarthy was hired to coach the Packers in January. Coming off a 4-12 campaign, Green Bay has shown signs of progress under its first-year coach but enters Sunday's contest with three consecutive losses.

Smith also has vastly improved in 2006, passing for 2,143 yards and 12 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in 12 games.

Those numbers constitute a major jump from last season for Smith, the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft. In nine games under McCarthy's tutelage, Smith registered a 40.8 quarterback rating, completing 51 percent of his passes for 875 yards and one TD with 11 interceptions.

But the 22-year-old Smith clearly has adapted to the speed of the NFL in his first full campaign as a starter, posting a 76.3 rating and a completion percentage of just under 60.

Smith has played particularly well at home this season, completing 64 percent of his passes and throwing eight TDs for a 93.9 rating in six games. He hopes to rebound from a poor performance in last weekend's 34-10 loss at New Orleans, when he completed 14-of-28 passes for 171 yards and one TD with three interceptions.

San Francisco's Frank Gore leads the NFC with 1,217 rushing yards but was held to a season-low 40 on 13 carries against the Saints. Antonio Bryant hauled in four catches for 79 yards and a score for the Niners, who fell to 1-5 on the road.

While their record away from the Bay leaves much to be desired, the Niners have thrived at Monster Park, yielding an average of just 12.5 points in their four home wins.

The Packers have surrendered at least 34 points in each of their last three contests and have committed eight turnovers over that stretch.

McCarthy's team looked inept in nearly every facet of last weekend's 38-10 home loss to the New York Jets. Despite playing in favorable cold weather conditions, the Packers allowed 441 yards of total offense and turned the ball over three times to fall to 1-5 at home.

Brett Favre completed 24-of-47 passes for 214 yards in the contest but threw two interceptions to surpass Fran Tarkenton for sole possession of third place on the all-time list.