The son of a principal, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith is no dummy. He can spot the story line this week as if it were a wide-open receiver in the end zone.

It’s Smith vs. Vince Young, the two young quarterbacks with parallel career paths and a second chance at NFL success.
Heck, even their career totals are identical.
Smith has 23 career touchdown passes, just like Young.
Young has 33 interceptions, just like Smith.
It’s their journeys, however, that forge the common bond between Smith and Young as they prepare for the game Sunday between the 49ers (3-4) and the Tennessee Titans (1-6) at Candlestick Park.
Both are highly drafted quarterbacks who took unexpected detours to the bench.
Both had to watch a steadier quarterback win games in front of them despite playing with lesser physical tools.
And, starting a week ago, both got their jobs back and a chance at a career rebirth.
“I know what he was going through,” Young said Wednesday in a conference call with Bay Area reporters. “And I’m pretty sure he knows what I was going through.”
Their latest opportunities came Sunday, when Smith started for the first time since Nov. 12, 2007. Young started for the first time since Sept. 7, 2008.
Considering their similar steps, it’s no wonder Smith and Young have crossed paths several times. They bumped into each other over the years at NFL functions.
“Oh, yeah, I have much respect for Alex,” Young said. “I saw him a while back, and he always has inspiring words for me, and I give him the same inspiring words when I see him.
“That’s what all quarterbacks do. We stick together.”
Smith was the No. 1 pick in 2005; Young went No. 3 in 2006. It took a while, but they have provided reminders lately of why they were so highly regarded.
Smith has a 95.0 passer rating in six quarters since taking over for Shaun Hill. He has looked so capable and confident that the 49ers are looking for ways to take better advantage of his skill set.
Asked Wednesday if Smith’s play could result in greater responsibility in the offense, coach Mike Singletary said: “A lot of other intangibles go into it, but absolutely. This guy is ahead of schedule. .” .” . I’m excited about where he’s at. I’m excited about where he can go.”
The 49ers rank just 27th in the NFL in total offense, but this is a tempting week to open things up. The Titans’ defense ranks last in the league against the pass, having surrendered 282.4 yards per game.
Tennessee also is last in points allowed (30.1 per game) and next to last in total yards (394.9).
The Titans, though, looked like a different team when Young was reintroduced at quarterback. He completed 15 of 18 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown in a 30-13 victory over Jacksonville.
Young, a running threat, helped open up a ground game that featured Chris Johnson zooming for a franchise-record 228 yards in 24 carries.
Young credits his performance against the Jaguars to spending a year watching veteran Kerry Collins in action. Collins’ steady play — and ensuing success — taught Young the value of patience.
“Definitely,” Young said. “Everybody expected me to go out (last week) and force it, but I stayed relaxed. Sitting back and watching Kerry helped me understand how the offense functioned and why the coach called certain things.”
By this point in the story, it shouldn’t be surprising that Smith had the same experience. He sat behind Hill and learned a few things about playing under control.
“I think when you’re really young, at least in my case, you try to make too much happen,” Smith said. “But you watch a lot of football and you see that good quarterbacking is making good decisions.”
Unlike Smith, Young had success earlier in his career. He was the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year in 2006, when he went 8-5 in his first career starts.
That was before his career went south.
On Sunday, it’s all about second chances — for both quarterbacks.
“We both were being very patient and just waiting for when the coach makes that move,” Young said. “When we get in there, we want to make the best of it.”