Chiefs Teicher:Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive - Page 12

**Tribal Warfare** · 06-05-2013, 06:26 PM

Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
One of the qualities the Chiefs like in new quarterback Alex Smith is his recent history with few turnovers. Smith threw just 10 interceptions in his last 25 games for the San Francisco 49ers, a stat that looks extremely pretty in Kansas City after Chiefs quarterbacks committed 27 turnovers last season.

Smith’s low turnover rate was due at least in part by his reluctance to throw the ball down the field. He was referred to by frustrated 49ers fans as Captain Checkdown for his habit of throwing shorter patterns to receivers for shorter gains.

Smith is in the process of being reprogrammed by Andy Reid, his new coach. Reid doesn’t want to turn Smith into a turnover machine but wants him to be more aggressive, particularly during offseason practice.

“You want to get a feel for the offense now, particularly when you’re new at it (and) if there are close throws, challenge it, see what you can get away with,” Reid said. “If it ends up being an interception, OK, it’s an interception. You learn from it. These are smart guys so they learn from it and once they get into the season, they’re not experimenting with it on game day and they know what they can get away with and know what they can’t.

“It’s a new offense. I would tell any quarterback that comes in new that that’s what you need to do. I’ve told them all that. Go ahead and take your shots and see what you can get away with, within reason. But if it’s a close throw, there are going to be a few of those in the National Football League on game day so you need to know what you can get away with on each route.”

Smith and the other Chiefs quarterbacks were rewarded with several long completions in Wednesday’s practice. Smith had three such plays, including two to Jon Baldwin, while Tyler Bray and Ricky Stanzi had one apiece.

Wednesday’s barrage of big passing plays isn’t necessarily an indication the deep ball is back in the Chiefs’ offense. But since such plays have been scarce for the Chiefs in each of the past two seasons, they’re taking it as an encouraging sign.

“We’re just kind of continuing to press to see what we can do … finding out what we’re capable of,” Smith said. “You’ve got to find that out at some point. This is what the practice field is for.”

Smith was the NFL’s highest-rated passer last season before he was injured, missed a start and then replaced by Colin Kaepernick as San Francisco’s starting quarterback. Smith was completing more than 70 percent of his passes, a high rate, and had just five interceptions.

Still, he had just 30 touchdown passes in his final 25 starts for the 49ers. While that’s a good number as a ratio with his 10 interceptions, it still represents a shortage of big plays.

Smith won’t turn into a mad bomber overnight, if he ever does.

“You want to stay aggressive,” Smith said. “But in the end I’m always trying to make the right read and throw where the defense is telling me to throw. You don’t come out here and predetermine anything, like ‘Oh, I’m going to chuck it deep on this play.’ I’m constantly trying to just trust my eyes and what I’m seeing out there, trust my reads and what I’ve prepared for and then come out here and throw good balls.”

For his part, Reid might be OK with that. But for now, when an interception costs the Chiefs nothing, he would prefer Smith be more of a gambler.

“Everybody is all on board (with Smith),” Reid said. “He’s a good football player. He’s showing that (along with) good leadership. I’m asking him to do a ton of things. He’s handling it. We’ve had an interception here or there but that’s all part of this thing. You’ve got to find out about the offense and you can’t do it with your hands in your pocket. You’ve got to go out and try things and experiment. That’s what he’s doing now.

“It’s just good stuff. He’s staying aggressive with the ball, and I appreciate that.”

The final offseason practice is today. The Chiefs won’t get together again as a group until training camp begins in July at Missouri Western State University.

Smith indicated he may try to throw to some Chiefs receivers during their downtime in an effort to stay sharp.

“We’re heads and shoulder above where we were a couple of months ago,” he said. “But that’s a never-ending thing. I don’t think it’s something like, ‘We’ve got a good feel for each other so we don’t need to work anymore.’ You’re constantly working at it. This is our job, this is our craft. Every single day, it’s coming out here and pushing to get better.”

**BigMeatballDave** · 06-17-2013, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Branden Albert's Huge Balls

Green had shown more ability as a passer to that point.

His one good season at Washington he threw for 3400.

Whoopty ****ing doo.

Coogs · 06-17-2013, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcaj22

I dont disagree with that balance, my argument was where are we getting a Matt Schaub-like QB from? Who is throwing for 4000 yards? Alex Smith?

What makes anyone think Alex Smith is capable of a 4000 yard season? Because he has Bowe now? That's literally ALL he has on this team in the passing game now until a bunch of borderline ***** bust draft picks decide to wake up and produce.

Small sample size, but Orton was throwing for nearly 300 a game... without the benifit of Charles for a RB. I think we have been so conditioned to suckage from Cassel that we think every QB we bring in is going to post small numbers.

And just for the sake of the discussion, Schaub threw for 3800 last season, with one huge game that went 3 socores into overtime aginst the Jags. The rest of his games we comparable to Smith's. So yes, I think Smith can duplicate Schaub yardage wise. I think he can out do Schaub TD/Int wise.JMO

Hammock Parties · 06-17-2013, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueFanDave

His one good season at Washington he threw for 3400.

Whoopty ****ing doo.

He also had a very productive half season in St. Louis.

And even that season in Washington was greater than anything Alex Smith has done.

That's how lousy Alex Smith is.

keg in kc · 06-17-2013, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueFanDave

His one good season at Washington he threw for 3400.

Whoopty ****ing doo.

He threw for just under 2000 yards and 15 TD in a 6 game stretch the year before the Chiefs traded for him.

**BigMeatballDave** · 06-17-2013, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Branden Albert's Huge Balls

He also had a very productive half season in St. Louis.

And even that season in Washington was greater than anything Alex Smith has done.

That's how lousy Alex Smith is.

So, in other words, you haven't got the slightest ****ing idea what you are talking about. Smith threw for 3100 2 seasons ago. Looks similar to when Green came to KC.

Sandy Vagina · 06-17-2013, 03:45 PM

The fantasy football world has contaminated minds.

**BigMeatballDave** · 06-17-2013, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

He threw for just under 2000 yards and 15 TD in a 6 game stretch the year before the Chiefs traded for him.

Come on, man.

NONE of us thought Green was going to be worth a shit after 01. TrINT?

**Tribal Warfare** · 06-17-2013, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueFanDave

Come on, man.

NONE of us thought Green was going to be worth a shit after 01. TrINT?

I knew Trent was good, and still believe he would've lead the Rams to SB victory in '99 if he wasn't injured by Harrison during that preseason.

Coogs · 06-17-2013, 03:52 PM

I expect for Smith to come in a get things done. He is a starting QB who was playing good football.

Cassel was a backup QB with minimal experience. So were many of the others we have brought in the past 30-40 years.

Smith is different. My expectations for him are to elevate this team to good things right from the get go.

**BigMeatballDave** · 06-17-2013, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coogs

I expect for Smith to come in a get things done. He is a starting QB who was playing good football.

Cassel was a backup QB with minimal experience. So were many of the others we have brought in the past 30-40 years.

Smith is different. My expectations for him are to elevate this team to good things right from the get go.

You crazy homer. How dare you be optimistic about your favorite team.

**BigMeatballDave** · 06-17-2013, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

I knew Trent was good, and still believe he would've lead the Rams to SB victory in '99 if he wasn't injured by Harrison during that preseason.

Really? Show me your posts where you said he'd throw for 4000 in 3 consecutive seasons.

BigBeauford · 06-17-2013, 04:08 PM

I guess if we all just drank the Alex Smith kool-aid and had no debate, there wouldn't be much point to a message board, and we could just rename this place arrowhead addict. Please, just because we don't support Alex Smith, doesn't mean I gotta give up following this team. I paid 300 bucks for sunday ticket on my PS3, I painted my address with a stupid chief logo in the driveway in El Paso, next to only Cowboy fans. I talk up this team, even though we suck ass. In mg mind, the haters will always be better fans than true fans.

keg in kc · 06-17-2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueFanDave

Come on, man.

NONE of us thought Green was going to be worth a shit after 01. TrINT?

You're using that as evidence that we should listen to you about Alex Smith? You weren't savvy enough to recognize what Green could do, and so that makes you an authority of some kind in judging QBs? Interesting logic.

Some of us actually noted at the time that Green's receiver corps was dominated by names like Snoop Minnis and Larry Parker and Chris Thomas, and noted the difference that Kennison made after his mid-season arrival. And it certainly appeared to certain of us that Al Saunders had figured out his offense in general, and Priest Holmes in particular, over the course of the 2001 season, which might have, at the time, been taken as evidence that things could improve for Green in year 2.

Which they did.

Not all of us called him TrINT, in other words.

Unfortunately, I see no parallel in the discussion about Alex Smith.

Sandy Vagina · 06-17-2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbsacker93

In mg mind, the haters will always be better fans than true fans.

If by better, you mean better chickenshit cowards? Then yes.

You said it yourself.. better to be negative and either be unexpectedly surprised or at least consoled by your brilliant, gloom-n-doom predictions coming true. You really keep your bases covered by this approach. Unfortunately, it's an approach that KC coaches and players would slap your pussy self for.

**BigMeatballDave** · 06-17-2013, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbsacker93

I guess if we all just drank the Alex Smith kool-aid and had no debate, there wouldn't be much point to a message board, and we could just rename this place arrowhead addict. Please, just because we don't support Alex Smith, doesn't mean I gotta give up following this team. I paid 300 bucks for sunday ticket on my PS3, I painted my address with a stupid chief logo in the driveway in El Paso, next to only Cowboy fans. I talk up this team, even though we suck ass. In mg mind, the haters will always be better fans than true fans.

True Fans exhibit the same behavior.

06-05-2013, 06:26 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-947187	Teicher:Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star One of the qualities the Chiefs like in new quarterback Alex Smith is his recent history with few turnovers. Smith threw just 10 interceptions in his last 25 games for the San Francisco 49ers, a stat that looks extremely pretty in Kansas City after Chiefs quarterbacks committed 27 turnovers last season. Smith’s low turnover rate was due at least in part by his reluctance to throw the ball down the field. He was referred to by frustrated 49ers fans as Captain Checkdown for his habit of throwing shorter patterns to receivers for shorter gains. Smith is in the process of being reprogrammed by Andy Reid, his new coach. Reid doesn’t want to turn Smith into a turnover machine but wants him to be more aggressive, particularly during offseason practice. “You want to get a feel for the offense now, particularly when you’re new at it (and) if there are close throws, challenge it, see what you can get away with,” Reid said. “If it ends up being an interception, OK, it’s an interception. You learn from it. These are smart guys so they learn from it and once they get into the season, they’re not experimenting with it on game day and they know what they can get away with and know what they can’t. “It’s a new offense. I would tell any quarterback that comes in new that that’s what you need to do. I’ve told them all that. Go ahead and take your shots and see what you can get away with, within reason. But if it’s a close throw, there are going to be a few of those in the National Football League on game day so you need to know what you can get away with on each route.” Smith and the other Chiefs quarterbacks were rewarded with several long completions in Wednesday’s practice. Smith had three such plays, including two to Jon Baldwin, while Tyler Bray and Ricky Stanzi had one apiece. Wednesday’s barrage of big passing plays isn’t necessarily an indication the deep ball is back in the Chiefs’ offense. But since such plays have been scarce for the Chiefs in each of the past two seasons, they’re taking it as an encouraging sign. “We’re just kind of continuing to press to see what we can do … finding out what we’re capable of,” Smith said. “You’ve got to find that out at some point. This is what the practice field is for.” Smith was the NFL’s highest-rated passer last season before he was injured, missed a start and then replaced by Colin Kaepernick as San Francisco’s starting quarterback. Smith was completing more than 70 percent of his passes, a high rate, and had just five interceptions. Still, he had just 30 touchdown passes in his final 25 starts for the 49ers. While that’s a good number as a ratio with his 10 interceptions, it still represents a shortage of big plays. Smith won’t turn into a mad bomber overnight, if he ever does. “You want to stay aggressive,” Smith said. “But in the end I’m always trying to make the right read and throw where the defense is telling me to throw. You don’t come out here and predetermine anything, like ‘Oh, I’m going to chuck it deep on this play.’ I’m constantly trying to just trust my eyes and what I’m seeing out there, trust my reads and what I’ve prepared for and then come out here and throw good balls.” For his part, Reid might be OK with that. But for now, when an interception costs the Chiefs nothing, he would prefer Smith be more of a gambler. “Everybody is all on board (with Smith),” Reid said. “He’s a good football player. He’s showing that (along with) good leadership. I’m asking him to do a ton of things. He’s handling it. We’ve had an interception here or there but that’s all part of this thing. You’ve got to find out about the offense and you can’t do it with your hands in your pocket. You’ve got to go out and try things and experiment. That’s what he’s doing now. “It’s just good stuff. He’s staying aggressive with the ball, and I appreciate that.” The final offseason practice is today. The Chiefs won’t get together again as a group until training camp begins in July at Missouri Western State University. Smith indicated he may try to throw to some Chiefs receivers during their downtime in an effort to stay sharp. “We’re heads and shoulder above where we were a couple of months ago,” he said. “But that’s a never-ending thing. I don’t think it’s something like, ‘We’ve got a good feel for each other so we don’t need to work anymore.’ You’re constantly working at it. This is our job, this is our craft. Every single day, it’s coming out here and pushing to get better.”
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06-17-2013, 03:45 PM	#171
Sandy Vagina Still Got The Blues (For You) Join Date: May 2013 Casino cash: $10014178	The fantasy football world has contaminated minds.
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06-17-2013, 03:52 PM	#174
Coogs In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Northern Kansas Casino cash: $-215651	I expect for Smith to come in a get things done. He is a starting QB who was playing good football. Cassel was a backup QB with minimal experience. So were many of the others we have brought in the past 30-40 years. Smith is different. My expectations for him are to elevate this team to good things right from the get go.
Posts: 21,801

06-17-2013, 04:08 PM	#177
BigBeauford MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lenexa, KS Casino cash: $1896717	I guess if we all just drank the Alex Smith kool-aid and had no debate, there wouldn't be much point to a message board, and we could just rename this place arrowhead addict. Please, just because we don't support Alex Smith, doesn't mean I gotta give up following this team. I paid 300 bucks for sunday ticket on my PS3, I painted my address with a stupid chief logo in the driveway in El Paso, next to only Cowboy fans. I talk up this team, even though we suck ass. In mg mind, the haters will always be better fans than true fans.
Posts: 14,404