Mellinger: The Chiefs are a mess and Alex Smith is the messiest part

[Hammock Parties]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...186621438.html

The Chiefs stink and their quarterback stinks and at this point it’s hard to separate where one ends and the other begins. More and more, the quarterback is claiming more of the stink.

Andy Reid has been an NFL head coach since most of his players were in grade school. He is fond of saying they all have a piece in it, good and bad, and that’s true but so is this: some pieces are bigger than others.

Seven weeks ago, actual humans had actual conversations about Alex Smith being the frontrunner for NFL MVP, and the bat-spit craziest part — it was true.

Today, we live in a world in which the Chiefs lost 16-10 at home to the Bills, a team that gave up 101 points the last two games, so we could have a reasonable debate about whether this was worse than losing to the Giants last week. But here’s a point that’s beyond dispute:

Right now, Smith is the Chiefs’ worst player, and a season that was so promising not that long ago is free-falling until that changes.

“Certainly frustrated, for sure,” he said. “And a little shocked there, no doubt.”

He was talking more generally about the team, with five losses in their last six games and what should’ve been rock bottom last week followed immediately by more incompetence this week.

But he could’ve been talking about himself, too. Whatever order you want to put them in, Smith has played his four worst games of the season in the Chiefs’ last four games.

Through seven weeks: 72.4 completion percentage, 8.7 yards per attempt, 283 yards per game, 15 touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 120.5 passer rating. That’s higher than any quarterback in the league since 2011.

Last four games: 63.1 completion percentage, 6.3 yards per attempt, 224 yards per game, four touchdowns, four interceptions and a 78.7 passer rating. That’s basically Matt Cassel’s passer rating with the Chiefs (77.5).

What in the world.

“It wasn’t anything we haven’t seen or haven’t been successful against,” Reid said. “We were off. We’ve got to get through this, and get it turned around.”

The only way through this is for the quarterback to be better. That’s often an incomplete analysis, and it’s true that Smith is far from the only one playing poorly right now, but it’s impossible to watch this team and not be convinced his “piece of it” is disproportionally big and important.

He is missing basic throws, against no pressure, often in crucial spots. Once, a drive stalled after Smith threw an uncatchable pass to a wide-open Demarcus Robinson. Another drive ended when Robinson was again open, but Smith instead decided to run for it, eventually taking a shot to the spleen short of the sticks.

Travis Kelce was open for a potential touchdown — a truly nice call by Reid, to beat zone coverage — but Smith instead threw incomplete to Albert Wilson, who was covered, short of the first down.

This is just a sampling. Smith appears to have no confidence in his offensive line, sometimes dropping way too far back, which ruins his blockers’ angles. On other plays he breaks the pocket far too early, occasionally even when a simple step up would create more time and protection.

“Especially these last few weeks there’s been some plays you’d love to have back,” Smith said. “That’s football, though.”

The Chiefs were once the best team in football, and for more than a month now they’ve been one of the worst. This is a complicated sport, layered with adjustment on top of scheme on top of sight-read on top of human imperfection, but the most obvious difference between the awesome 2017 Chiefs and the horrendous 2017 Chiefs appears to be a lack of respect for their passing game.

Defenses are stacking toward the line of scrimmage, and moving aggressively and freely toward the backfield once there. It’s aggression beating aggression, because when the line is overwhelmed with defenders, some of the Chiefs’ downfield talent — particularly Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce — is negated.

This is, essentially, a bet that defenses are making that Smith can’t make the right adjustments in time to beat them.

That’s been a winning bet, over and over and over again.

Smith is extraordinarily intelligent. Not just “athlete” intelligent, either. He earned an economics degree in 2 1/2 years, and runs what’s been called a model charity. But there are times it appears he struggles to make blink-quick decisions. When he makes the right diagnosis before the snap, it works. When he’s surprised, it doesn’t.

Far too often over the last month, he’s been surprised.

Opposing defensive coordinators saw the Chiefs’ first five games and seem to have collectively resolved to stop the run and force Smith to beat them with quick decisions and downfield throws. He has been fundamentally unable to do this, and as long as that remains true the Chiefs aren’t getting any better.

You might be angry that it took me this long to mention Patrick Mahomes. Many of you want him in, and Smith benched. Reid addressed that after Sunday’s game, quickly dismissing the suggestion that he’s even considering a switch.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think Smith should be benched, even now. We’ve seen him be effective as recently as this season. Mahomes is less than four years removed from his high school prom. He was drafted as a raw prospect, thought by most to need at least a year to learn.

Mahomes is taking no snaps with the starters during practice. A switch from Smith to Mahomes would require major practice adjustments, which would signal the switch to a locker room that has always been reverential toward Smith.

There is a point when this could become a real thing. But there is no indication that at this point Mahomes is anything more than an option for 2018. If Smith keeps at this pace, and Mahomes does enough in practice to convince coaches and teammates, maybe this conversation changes. You can’t fool the guys in the room. But we’re not there yet.

The bigger problem for the Chiefs is that this whole thing was built around Smith, to bring out his best, and we’re going on a month of seeing his worst. The reasons for staying with him are more about the backup not being ready, which is a bad enough sign.

The worse sign is that the only ways out of this include Smith playing a lot better. Reid is right. They all have a piece in it. But the defense has consistently done its part, the line can only do so much, and the receivers aren’t being given much of a chance.

This is what a free-fall looks like. Smith is the one man best positioned to stop it. He was a crucial part of their success early, and he’s an undeniable part of their failures lately. At this point, believing anything will change is based more on faith and hope than logic and reason.

Of all the ways the Chiefs have let their fans down over the years, this one is new, at least.

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

And you don't get your backup any snaps with the first team? None? Not even a series every once in a while?

That makes no sense unless you are wanting to make sure there is not a QB controversy or even any grumbles in the locker room.

How can the reporter be sure that Mahomes is not practicing with the first team?

Pro-Football Writers of America

3. PRACTICE ACCESS AND INFORMATION – Following the completion of Week 2 of the NFL preseason schedule and through the regular season and playoffs, daily practice (Monday through Friday) must be open to local media (those who regularly cover the team) for at least the first 30 minutes or until the start of “team” work. It is permissible to limit the videotaping or photographing of certain portions of practice. Starting the week prior to the opening of the regular season, clubs are required to designate on the NFL Intranet site and issue to local media the names of those players who missed any portion of 11-on-11 team or individual work on the specified days noted in the NFL Injury Report policy.

http://www.profootballwriters.org/nf...access-policy/

[Chief Roundup]

But if Mahomes comes in and succeeds it diminishes the/any value that Smith has or will have.
sarcasm but I am afraid that is in the FO thinking at least a small part.

[TribalElder]

[lmccluer]

Originally Posted by hitchief

Its true Alex has played like crap the last 4 games. Happy feet, missed open wr's and has thrown more picks than in the 1st 5 games.

But its just emotional and silly to say he's playing the worst football on this team.

If one's a rational evaluator of this team its clear that the oline is the main reason for the lack of production on O. We cannot run the football under any circumstance, period and that my friends is the end of the story. If a team cannot run the ball or I should say averages a yard a carry it cannot move the ball on a consistent basis. Hunt has not become a piece of s**t rb all of a sudden. No, the defense is literally in our backfield by the time he gets the ball. Same on at least half of the passing downs. We cannot get into a rhythm without better oline play.

Patrick is going to be the starter next year and looks to be a really good one but to put him in now is stupid. He would have no running game to rely on. He would be under constant pressure and sure he'd make some plays that Alex cant or wont but he would also start to accumulate bad habits as well.

Plus Andy's playcalling has been abysmal as of late. Wtf with the running on first down all the time and no motion or miss direction anymore.

This right here!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CasselGotPeedOn]

Originally Posted by stevieray

This.

I'd take ten BL's over any of the douches calling him out.

Of course you will, you're a Smith defending homer just like he is.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by CasselGotPeedOn

Of course you will, you're a Smith defending homer just like he is.

[petegz28]

IF this team practiced playing football as much as they do their end zone celebrations we might be 9-2

[Red Dawg]

How can Mahomes do worse? If he can't then there is no reason not to play him. I understand raw but good grief, if he was that raw or needed that much time then they should never have traded up to get him. Smith had already ruined everything so why not play Mahomes.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by petegz28

IF this team practiced playing football as much as they do their end zone celebrations we might be 9-2

They celebrate like they might not ever score a TD again........

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by notorious

They celebrate like they might not ever score a TD again........

they look like a bunch of dumb ****s....the TD didn't even give them the lead, FFS

[suzzer99]

Chiefs have become painful. If I literally had anything else to do I wouldn't have watched today. I'm 10x more excited about the college championship games next week - and I don't even have a rooting interest.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by CasselGotPeedOn

Of course you will, you're a Smith defending homer just like he is.

Incorrect.

....more like his post pegged you so precisely, you just had to "own" it.

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by CasselGotPeedOn

Of course you will, you're a Smith defending homer just like he is.

exactly

he will take 10 giant pussies to join him in his flappy menstrual bleeding

i mean duh

of course he will, theyre both worthless

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

BL brings a lot to this board IMO, enjoy his takes.

Yes I agree. The homers are a good balance to the haters. It is amusing to see the haters skirt around giving Alex credit and the homers skirt around calling Alex out. Alex continues to be what he is. A guy capable of more than haters like but not as consistent as he needs to be to win anything real, to the disappointment of his fans. Hence beating NE and PHI and then whatever the hell you want to call the last 4 plus games.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

Chiefs have become painful. If I literally had anything else to do I wouldn't have watched today. I'm 10x more excited about the college championship games next week - and I don't even have a rooting interest.

Im still on my, "ASTROS WON THE WORLD SERIES HIGH!!!"

So the Chiefs dont bother me. It is what it is.