Alex Smith sprinted out of the pocket on the San Francisco 49ers' first snap at Seattle on Monday night, while Darrell Jackson raced past the cornerback along the sideline.

Yet the deep throw that Smith launched was late and short, and Jackson was unable to get more than a hand on the football.

Some statement.

It was more of an omen that Smith — the quarterback chosen No. 1 overall in the 2005 NFL draft — and the 49ers offense were in for another long and unproductive game.

"No one said this would be easy," Smith said after the 49ers were not only shut out 24-0 but also were held under 200 yards passing for the 22nd consecutive game — the longest streak in the NFL since 1978, the year the league liberalized passing rules.

Smith is the NFL's lowest-ranked quarterback, with a 57.2 passer rating that is a residual of the fact that he hasn't completed half of his passes this season.

Whatever progress Smith, 23, made last season, when he took every snap, has seemingly escaped the struggling young passer. Monday night, when he completed just 12 of 28 attempts, several passes sailed to nowhere. Others were misfired into the turf. He fumbled twice, too, reflective of a tendency to sometimes hold onto the football too long.

He was unsteady in the pocket, wild on the run.

It was enough to make a Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon cringe.

"You see how he was missing guys tonight? Ugly," said Moon, an analyst for the Seahawks' radio network. "Every throw is the same: Hard as a rock. Nothing with touch. Nothing with accuracy. It's one thing if you miss on some, but every throw was hard, some whizzing by receivers who never had a chance to make a catch.

"He's not a passer, he's a thrower."

Monday marked Smith's third start since missing two games with a Grade 3 separation of his right shoulder. He says his throwing shoulder still doesn't feel as strong as it did before he suffered the injury, but it has gradually improved.

Seahawks linebacker Julian Peterson said after Monday night's game that he noticed Smith wincing on throws, but 49ers coach Mike Nolan will not pin the growing pains on the shoulder — at least not publicly.

Nolan saw some of the same erratic play before the injury.

"I don't want to go to the shoulder thing," Nolan said, "because I don't believe that's it."

Is it mental?

"The ineffectiveness of his play would get anybody down," said Nolan, whose squad has lost seven consecutive games. The 49ers rank last in the NFL in total yards, scoring and passing yards per game (128.4). On Monday night, they converted just one of 15 third- or fourth-down plays.

"I've got my issues and he's got his," Nolan said. "Everybody's got their own, for what they can do to make it better. Without question, it's got to be on his mind. If not, he's not a pro."

Said Smith: "Obviously, when you lose seven games in a row ... that trust and confidence, it becomes a question."

The bigger question is whether Smith, a Heisman Trophy finalist at Utah, will be remembered as another monumental draft bust. In the past 10 drafts, eight quarterbacks were chosen No. 1 overall. Only Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer have been sure-fire hits, while Eli Manning has struggled to blossom. This year's No. 1, JaMarcus Russell, has yet to take a snap for the Raiders.

Three other quarterbacks chosen No. 1 overall during that span have flopped. David Carr is trying to revive his career with the Carolina Panthers after being dumped by the Houston Texans; Michael Vick, awaiting sentencing on felony charges linked to a dogfighting ring, sizzled as a runner but bombed as a passer and Tim Couch is out of football.

Now such a prospect for failure hangs like a cloud over the head of Smith, who plays for a franchise with a rich quarterback tradition steeped in the memories of Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Steve Young and Y.A. Tittle.

Before putting on his uniform Monday night, Smith walked around the playing surface at Qwest Field in workout gear. He was seen glancing up at the huge end zone scoreboard, which was tuned to an ESPN pregame show.

The segment was about Smith, and how long the 49ers should stick with him.

Nolan was noncommittal when asked after the game about Smith's long-term status, preferring to focus on the rest of the current season.

"I'd give him one more year, and then I might start thinking about someone else, because I haven't seen any improvement since last season," Moon said. "I saw improvement between Year 1 and Year 2, but Year 3 looks like Year 1."

Smith started seven games as a rookie, throwing just one TD pass with 11 interceptions and a 40.8 rating. Last year he made tremendous strides, sharpening his mechanics and bonding with new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

The first time Smith popped into his office after Turner became coordinator, Turner took him straight to the practice field to work on dropbacks. Turner's departure after just one season to become the Chargers' head coach has undoubtedly affected Smith.

Turner's replacement, Jim Hostler, was Smith's position coach last year but never a coordinator on the NFL level before this season. The questions about Smith's accuracy that were there before he was drafted have popped up again.

"He had it going on with Norv," Moon said. "I don't know what's there with Hostler. I don't know if he does all the things that Alex does best. Sometimes, it takes awhile to figure out what he does best, and that's how you call a game. Maybe it'll take another year for that to happen. But I just don't know right now."

Smith still has supporters in the locker room.

"He should be all right," said veteran guard Larry Allen. "He's coming off a tough injury. He'll bounce back. I believe in him enough to stick with him."

Jackson was not so forgiving when considering that first play.

Should it have been a touchdown?