For a second I thought we might draft a quarterback then but then I figured we would just take Jake Matthews.

I am already anticipating Friday's excuses:

"Jamaal isn't in there, Alex Smith doesn't have a running game."

"Fisher's thumb is sore! We can't expect Smith to play both RT and QB!"

Oh you can count on Fisher getting a lesson from one of the best in the business in Aldon Smith when he flips to the otherside. Brooks and Mac are no slouches either. Alex is going to be on the run the whole time. I have to believe that Alex, Reid and Pederson are well aware of it and will game plan for it. (even if it is a pre-season game) It's going to be interesting to watch.

When he hits his back foot there, ball shold have been coming out to Dex. He was open.

We ended up scoring, but he needs to be able to hit that throw.

He was open, but the lineman was in his face and had the lane... possible tip...and there was a guy on top..he'd have gotten 5 yards maybe.

just stoked that his one incompletion is being beaten to death.

Just awesome work.

This is called nitpicking, or beating a horse to death....

How about it's a preseason game and at the end of it all if they play well I could give a shit?

Scores matter in 3 weeks not this one.

Alex Smith could throw 3 TD's and 300 yards and Clay would still bitch because he didn't throw 40 yard lasers downfield every pass.

Let it be known that I think, despite all your shortcomings, that this was clever.

wow. Really? We had been using that on the 49ers forums for years lol.

So you're saying Clay stole somebody else's intellectual property? I find that hard to believe.

LMAO

oooo, I like your sarcasm....That rocks. ROFL

50 drives on that ball and either picks it or murders McCluster. You make that throw more than a time or two and your WRs are going to hate you.

And he was going backwards due to pressure straight at him (the worst kind) when McCluster cleared the middle.

There's probably a throw to be made there right when Clay pauses the GIF and circles McCluster, but it's not an easy one. He's going to have to throw while running and dropping back. He's being pushed backwards there and that's damn tough momentum to break.

But it's a makeable throw and one I'd like to see him try in the regular season, without question. The key is that he picks that up at that point and not 2 strides later when that CB almost certainly drives on the throw and turns it into a pick six.

It's not as easy as Clay makes it - because again, Clay knows nothing about actually playing the game of football - but it is one that a top 10 QB needs to be willing/able to make. So yes, I'd like to see him make that pass.

I'd like to see him make that pass, if it's necessary. If the game is on the line and time is short, absolutely.

But on the first drive? Not so much. Six points trumps three or an INT.

Hard to believe though it wasn't fed to him by the great one like baby food.

LMAO

Classic GoChiefs hating here.

That DB was half a ****ing football field away and not even thinking about a pick.

Wrong, by the time he was in Smith's field of vision, he was a mere 15 yards away and, as DJ said, Smith was being pushed back and would've been a very tough throw. You take the risk in the regular season, but in the preseason? No thanks.

He was going backwards, but that was after he should have ripped it to Dex if he's making that throw. And I agree that 50 drives on the football, but there is a window there to make said throw. It's one he's going to have to make, but in said sitatuion I understand not trying it.


Once he hits his back foot and has time to come forward, it could/shold have come out it that throw is to be made. I would like to see him make that throw, and if we're going to be as best as we can, he needs to hit it.

I'd argue that Baldwin was also open underneath for a smallish gain.

I don't get the whole preseason games are not when you want to see him making that throw thought process.

That's exactly when I want him to make that throw.

Test his limits when it doesn't matter.

Agree. Chuck shit around just to test receivers, cover D players, or even to challenge yourself. It's only preseason.

Seconded.

Clear unencumbered illustration of Alex's inability to see the open receiver, or unwillingness to pull the trigger. That end zone view is as crystal clear as you can get.

The sad thing is it doesn't take Manning, Brady or Brees to complete that pass. That is a complete Phillip Rivers, Carson Palmer, Andy Dalton, or Sam Bradford. You know, the average/below average QBs.

Perfect illustration, especially that gif from behind Alex toward the end zone. You can't get more open than that.

This has me flashing back to the Seattle game with a wide open Randy Moss racing the entire weight of the end zone waving his hands wildly for Alex to throw to him, while Frank Gore is pointing at Randy and shouting to Alex to throw to him. Which he finally does -- for a Seattle interception.

makes the most sense to me.......

holy jesus

http://uranus.ckt.net/~gochiefs/wtfalex.gif

Alex missed the Baldwin hotread too.

Best 9er game I've watched. (Minus the Super bowl against the Chargers)

He showed he could be viable starter in the league with that game.

Vernon completely dominated that last drive as well.

It was one of the only times in his career I saw him cover for the defense.

Usually it's the other way around. There's just like hella three and outs and field goals, and the defense has to not make any mistakes.

This was a shootout against Drew Brees. Great game.

He came back down to earth in the next game, but it was fun while it lasted.

Line-of-sight? The devil you say. Alex has line-of-sight between 2 spread defenders when the WR is circled in yellow. He HAS line-of-sight. WFT? 5'-10" Russell Wilson would have had line-of-sight on that pass, AND COMPLETED IT.

http://uranus.ckt.net/~gochiefs/wtfalex.gif

Somebody else made the Alexcuse that a DB is in the right corner. Yes, with the WR in the middle of the field wide open and half the field to work with. That is an EASY completion for most QBs. EASY.

Alex often can't see or is unwilling to pull the trigger down field. I've seen this too many times, too many years to buy your Alexcuses. Don't mind me. I'll let you wait until mid-season when you've also seen it too many times and are pulling your hair out in frustration. You are gonna learn this from first hand experience and it won't take many games to see it.

At this point in his career. His skill set is what it is.

He's going to be good at the stuff he's good at and bad at the stuff he's bad at.

I don't think pre-season is the only time you're going to see some of those throws. You guys will be debating ALL SEASON about this guy.

Could you imagine the outrage and furor if he had thrown that ball and it was intercepted?

That said, I'm in agreement with the overall notion but I have to admit that after last season (and actually, the past 8 seasons), it was nice to see competent QB play on the first drive.

Regardless of how far the ball was in the air.

So the guy goes 7/8 and all you guys can talk about is the one incomplete pass? No wonder the Chiefs have sucked for so long - the fan base is riddled with negative nancy's! You guys are trolls.

The gif of Alex not seeing a wide-open Randy Moss run the entire width of the end zone is probably more germaine to this post.

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/15..._Clips__5_.jpg

Left as a link because I can't find a smaller pic.

ROFL

I call bullshit. There is no way a pass that is across his body while running the opposite direction is an easy pass for any quarterback. Not to mention the defender in his face that could easily tip it.

I will generally call a spade a spade, but I think it was the right decision to take it out of bounds.

But this will be what you're going to get with him.

You're going to get very efficient play in terms of completions and Rating.

I think what was missing for me(when he was in SF) were impact plays from the QB position. Big plays, chunk yardage, things like that.

His completion pct will be high, that just how he plays. But I wonder if he'll be able to make the more difficult throws that he's struggled with throughout his career.

Are you kidding me? He's got 20+ yards of green grass ahead of McCluster to put the ball. If he can't make that throw... :banghead:

It definitely wasn't a bad decision. But do you play it that safe in a pre-season game? I'd to like to see him at least try to make the throw.

You have nothing to lose.

Again, these are things that are indicative of his play style.

If he's not making that throw in August, I don't see him making it in December.

People are dreaming if they think the DB had a chance at that ball, unless Alex held it too long, which would be entirely possible.

Some people are just not going to believe Alex's unwillingness to make throws until they see it first hand. This is a classic example of it.

Oh man. They haven't seen anything yet. Wait until there's a guy open 40 yards downfield and Smitty checks it down for a two-yard gain on 3rd and 5.

I can't tell you if Alex doesn't see it, or is just unwilling to throw the ball - but this is a very real flaw in Alex's play. The thing is, Alex is athletic enough to make the throw. It is not as if he CAN'T throw it. He just WON'T throw it.

That is a FACT. Alex gives you so much hope, you constantly think he is on the verge of turning the corner to becoming a top QB. Then he regresses. If you see that cycle enough times, you realize he has at his ceiling and quit hoping to see improvement.

Alex is a solid mid-tier QB, a 12-20 ranked QB and one who can certainly manage a top 10 team to a super bowl win. The gif is a perfect illustration of a mental weakness that, among others, will keep Alex ever from rising up to the top tiers. It is not as if he doesn't have the intelligence or athleticism to do so.

I get what you're saying, I'm a Niners fan too. But I came to respect Alex for his perseverance through all the bullshit that the organization put him and the rest of the team through. He never gave up, even when he should have.

Some QB's are physically gifted enough to come up with those plays on their own (like Kaep). Some QB's need a good system around them to succeed - their chunk plays come from repetition, study, and consistency. Over time, those plays become more common - not because they suddenly got a stronger arm, but because the system around them improved over time. Alex fits into the latter category.

There is a reason he was the #1 pick, and it wasn't because of his rocket arm and huge stature. He is a genius when it comes to football. Yes, he is conservative, but as he gained confidence the past season and a half, his yards per completion went up, and so did his completion percentage. Interceptions went down, and the wins starting coming. What he needs is time to develop with the same system, same team, so that he can gradually take more chances. Simply chucking the ball around to "find out" what he's capable of is ludicrous. This isn't Saturday flag football at the beach.

Ummm, we are kind of used to that level of ineptitude.

Hey sounds like a qb we just got rid of.

I get how much space was in front McCluster, that's not what I am talking about. The issue is the defender in front of him. He has no time to plant and throw. He would have to jump and throw to get it over the defender.

*Sigh* It's rough brotha. But again, this guy doesn't need to be Tom Brady to get you guys in the tournament.

The AFC is WIDE OPEN. I don't believe in any Peyton Manning lead team in the postseason, so I'm not sold on Denver.

Or throw it while you're running. Just a thought.

GTFO if you think that defender is a problem in making that throw. The problem is Alex Smith being a good ol' boy that doesn't want to entertain the idea of making a mistake and takes the safe route 99.9% of the time.

NO.

It is a clear illustration of Alex's success with the check downs and dump offs vs. he weakness being unwilling to pull the trigger on some passes. It illustrates perfectly what Alex can do -- putting the ball in the hands of his receiving backs to sustain drives, and what he can't do -- show willingness to throw into a window, to throw receivers open, to throw into coverage as needed.

I don't care if he went 49 for 50. The play stands on its own as a topic for discussion, when that topic is Alex's inability to see the open receiver, or unwillingness to throw the ball.

Alex is risk averse.

Here is a perfect example.

That is the difference between Alex and a guy like Eli Manning. Eli is in no way elite, but he is NOT risk averse. In clutch play, Eli still ATTACKS the defense. Often it ends in interceptions, but it also brought him 2 super bowl rings from the wild-card slot.

Alex is too cautious. No guts, no glory. We have seen that for years and years. Now the Chiefs fans will be seeing it.

Alex is risk averse. And that only takes you so far...

that's a broken play -- Hudson got plowed and the guy was in smiff's face when that play was designed to pull the trigger on Baldwin.

Hudson has got to get better than this -- was not impressed.

If he did that he would be throwing across his body, which is a big no-no. Sorry. Not a good throw to try. He tried to rush past the defender, but he wound up just accelerating faster than McCluster LMAO and then there was no play.

He accelerated faster than McCluster? At least we know you are blind as **** now.

We're talking about a 10 yard throw to a wide open McCluster.

It was the right call.

http://uranus.ckt.net/~gochiefs/wtfalex2.gif

Not just the defender in his face..that is part of it...but there is a DB sitting on top watching the whole thing..and he's not 20 yards out...he's not 15 yards out...he's less than 10 and in position to make a play.

If Alex wanted to try and make this play, he'd have to pop it up and short so that his guy could barely make it to the ball. At which point he'd get hit by either the LB that's 5 yards short of him or the DB on top.

It's just not worth it. He made the right call.

You don't see him try to run around the defender hoping McCluster would be there on the other side and McCluster stays at the same pace?

ROFL

If you think that DB had any play on the ball if it was thrown you're an idiot.

What you have to do is take the hit.

McCluster is faster than Smith. So it's only across the body once Dex is even with Smith. Smith has to extend his arm for the short flip and take the hit.

Now it's pre-season , so you're not trying to take unnecessary knocks.

So in that respect, I get it. But in terms of a football play?

There's a play to me made there. That's what you guys brought him in to do.

You're an idiot.

McCluster is done running at full speed by that point because he's wide the **** open and doing the classic "Throw the ball Casse... I mean Smith!"

And that's not throwing across his body btw.

I'm referencing the point that McCluster is circled in the gif, that throw would be across his body since he is running to the right and McCluster is never even with Smith. If Smith slows down to let McCluster even up, he's sacked. If he throws, he throws across his body.

I'll buy that, but again, look at Alex's play.

Makes me wonder if he even saw the reciever in midfield or just locked in on the receiver in the end zone all the way.

There was still risk in that throw. Why force it and take the chance when you can just set up for a better opportunity on the next play? They had driven the field and Alex didn't want to demoralize his players by taking a risk that results in a tipped pass INT or a ball that sails a little over and right to the DB.

Ripping into a QB for what amounted to a TD drive on the opening and only possession? That's pretty weak and petty.

Exactly.

Ha! I wish I could tell what players were thinking just from watching a gif. I'm the idiot? :thumb:

EDIT: If that is the case and McCluster let up on the play, then that play is on him since there could have been a completion once Smith out hustled the defender.

... Do you even understand that McCluster is running to the sideline and you dont throw at him and instead throw in front of him?

Kaep would have made that throw. On a ****ing rope.

Ya, it's a real mystery what he was thinking by extending his arms out in the universal "I'm open" way.

He starts to break on it and stops 5 yards from where McCluster would be if AS threw that ball. Keep in mind he's rolling to his right, arm isn't even cocked, and with 2 defenders in his face. How much zip is he going to put on that to travel 20+ yards that that defender isn't going to make a break on it?

If you watch, his head does turn once briefly...so he sees it...or at least I think he does. He made a choice. We can all argue if it was the right choice.

Yea, like why would you stop and throw it backwards?

The dude is still running a route. There's still a path to the ball.

He's going to either have to plant or throw on the run.

Either way he's probably going to get hit. So I get why he threw it away.

But at some point, if you want the team to be where you're aiming to be, that throw is going to have to be made.

You can really tell who has actually played football in their life by reading some of the posts in this thread.

Throwing the ball across your body on the run is a terrible idea.

Go look at Peyton Manning's INT in OT that sealed the Broncos season last year. Same exact situation. The difference was that Manning was stupid enough to try to make the throw.

Nah, the difference was Manning threw across his body whereas Smith wouldn't have.

Thank you!!

Alex COULD have made a throw...but it would have to be a floater with a defender in his face and short..so that he could be sure that McCluster would have a step on the DB. McCluster would have been slammed after the catch. It's preseason. And that wasn't 3rd down...he didn't need to force it.

To be fair, The pass I'm talking about would be near the sidelines and wouldn't have been across his body.

I think some are just ticked off that Alex didn't force a bad play. :)

ROFL

If you look at where McCluster is when he throws the ball out of bounds. There's a path to the right of Smith, not to the left, to throw the ball.

On the Peyton Manning pick, the WR is going the opposite way.

In this clip both guys are traveling in the same direction.

Again, my contention is there is a play to me made, you're just going to have to take a hit right in the chops.

To be fair, the new pussified Rivers would manage to do something like this:

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/17...rivers_INT.gif