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

[Tribal Warfare]

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]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

There is no good argument in favor of a team not drafting a quarterback for 30 years.

There isn't. But, how many times have they been in this position since the 80s?

Don't forget, the NFL in the 90s were much different from today. Back when guys like Mark Rypien won a SB.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I think that stats are only part of the equation. I do think that they're important but as you stated, they can be misleading.

So if we're just going to let our eyes be the judge, I'd say that Alex Smith has had a couple of really nice seasons recently and appears to have either put it all together or he's really close to putting it together.

But according to GoChiefs False Narrative (in which he admitted cherry-picking stats in order to promote his point of view), stats are everything. He's formed a narrative in which stats prove that Alex Smith is a bottom-tier QB and he'll continue to be a bottom tier QB, regardless of coaching or scheme.

Personally, I think the truth lies somewhere in between the stats and the eye test. But the quarterback rating, coupled with wins, does tell a pretty compelling story, especially if there are multiple seasons of data available.

The truth does lie somewhere in the middle, which is why I will not completely dismiss the idea that Smith can take a step into the next teir.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Personally, I think the truth lies somewhere in between the stats and the eye test. But the quarterback rating, coupled with wins, does tell a pretty compelling story, especially if there are multiple seasons of data available.

This is likely to be a real problem for some. This eye test must be for those with open minds. Those minds that are already closed with hate and bitterness will always twist what they see to fit their agenda.

So for some, no matter what he does.. it will be picked apart and twisted into failure.

+ Plays flawless? The team carried him.
+ Throws a pass that gets intercepted because Baldwin volley-tips it in the air? QB sucks.
+ Throws a 7 yard slant route completion on 1st down? QB sucks because someone somewhere else was perceived to be open for more yards.
+ QB gets sacked in under 2 seconds? QB sucks because the LG allowed instant penetration up the A gap.
+ QB throws for 17 of 18 with 220 yds and a 2:0 TD/INT ratio, yet they lose 24-23? QB should have done more, so he sucks.

Many fans will likely be fair... but some? No..

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

This is likely to be a real problem for some. This eye test must be for those with open minds. Those minds that are already closed with hate and bitterness will always twist what they see to fit their agenda.

So for some, no matter what he does.. it will be picked apart and twisted into failure.

+ Plays flawless? The team carried him.
+ Throws a pass that gets intercepted because Baldwin volley-tips it in the air? QB sucks.
+ Throws a 7 yard slant route completion on 1st down? QB sucks because someone somewhere else was perceived to be open for more yards.
+ QB gets sacked in under 2 seconds? QB sucks because the LG allowed instant penetration up the A gap.
+ QB throws for 17 of 18 with 220 yds and a 2:0 TD/INT ratio, yet they lose 24-23? QB should have done more, so he sucks.

Many fans will likely be fair... but some? No..

It's dumbasses like you that fuel the hate.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

Many fans will likely be fair... but some? No..

This forum in no way, shape or form, represents the overall fan base of those living in Kansas City.

In KC, the Smith trade was hailed. On KCChiefs.com, it got something like an 85%+ approval rating. The fans there are psyched. Season ticket sales are up. People are excited.

GoChiefs has created a false narrative and for some reason, people fail to question it and blindly follow it.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by milkman

It's dumbasses like you that fuel the hate.

Well then, that would make you remarkably impressionable.. showing an inability to focus beyond your childlike emotions onto what you should really be drawing conclusions of.

[crazycoffey]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The San Diego Chargers, for example, have drafted three quarterbacks since 1998. Ryan Leaf was a bust, Drew Brees never won a playoff game and Philip Rivers (who's on his last legs in that town).

That's two first round QB's in 16 years and another that would be considered a first rounder today (#32 overall). How many championships have they won?

There is more than one way to build a Super Bowl team.

But it has to happen! The only way the chiefs can ever win anything in this league is to trade for geeno at this point!

I know this debate is just starting, but have we considered anyone's opinion of Alex here could be correct and we'll just have to see how it turns out. Opinions have been well documented for the, "I told you so." moments as they are needed.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

This forum in no way, shape or form, represents the overall fan base of those living in Kansas City.

In KC, the Smith trade was hailed. On KCChiefs.com, it got something like an 85%+ approval rating. The fans there are psyched. Season ticket sales are up. People are excited.

GoChiefs has created a false narrative and for some reason, people fail to question it and blindly follow it.

Yeah, true story. CP is the only site I have come across that exhibits such a level of hate and hostility towards Alex and the forum members with differing points of view.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

GoChiefs has created a false narrative and for some reason, people fail to question it and blindly follow it.

Solely because of Matt Cassel.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

Well then, that would make you remarkably impressionable.. showing an inability to focus beyond your childlike emotions onto what you should really be drawing conclusions of.

You are one clueless dumbass.

I know what Alex Smith is.

Your Smith slurpage isn't going to sway my opinion, and those with blind hate are not going to sway it.

The people who already hate him are being given more reasons because you come here to regale us with the glory of his cock in your mouth.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

Yeah, true story. CP is the only site I have come across that exhibits such a level of hate and hostility towards Alex and the forum members with differing points of view.

Keep in mind, those who "Hate Most" have a history of dumbassery.

Oh sure, GoChiefs likes to pretend that he was "right" about Cassel and Pioli because of 2011 and 2012, but he fails to mention that he wrote articles praising Cassel before he even took a snap, praising Cassel during his dreadful season of 2009 and created threads about Pioli, calling him a "Balla Ass GM".

But he won't talk about those because they are in direct contradiction with the false narrative he's created. And the guy doesn't know a damn about about college football, despite his thoughts on Geno Smith.

He once wrote an article about Brodie Croyle and repeatedly typed the words "Mark Rick" when in reality, Croyle was talking about Georgia head coach, Mark Richt.

I mean, really?

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by milkman

You are one clueless dumbass.

I know what Alex Smith is.

Your Smith slurpage isn't going to sway my opinion, and those with blind hate are not going to sway it.

The people who already hate him are being given more reasons because you come here to regale us with the glory of his cock in your mouth.

Never met the dude, and I don't go that way anyway. You sure have lots of homosexuality in your mind though. Sounds like you are trying to repress your own gayness for Smith. Either way, it's a childish and impotent attempt on your part. Try and elevate your social skills above this tiresome drivel. You are not gonna manage to hurt anyone's feelings with this kind of dialogue. Grow up.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Keep in mind, those who "Hate Most" have a history of dumbassery.

Oh sure, GoChiefs likes to pretend that he was "right" about Cassel and Pioli because of 2011 and 2012, but he fails to mention that he wrote articles praising Cassel before he even took a snap, praising Cassel during his dreadful season of 2009 and created threads about Pioli, calling him a "Balla Ass GM".

But he won't talk about those because they are in direct contradiction with the false narrative he's created. And the guy doesn't know a damn about about college football, despite his thoughts on Geno Smith.

He once wrote an article about Brodie Croyle and repeatedly typed the words "Mark Rick" when in reality, Croyle was talking about Georgia head coach, Mark Richt.

I mean, really?

Yeah, I hear ya. I have "known" many of these people over the years on SF boards.



To everyone including myself at times, we should try harder to talk about the topic at hand instead of getting all upset and talking about posters. I know some of you have developed forum "relationships" with each other over time... but ultimately, this is a forum of anonymous nobodies talking football. Does anyone really give a damn what some anonymous nobody thinks of them personally?

I think we can all rise above interacting like a bunch of silly grade-schoolers... maybe.

[Hammock Parties]

Oh sure, GoChiefs likes to pretend that he was "right" about Cassel and Pioli because of 2011 and 2012, but he fails to mention that he wrote articles praising Cassel before he even took a snap, praising Cassel during his dreadful season of 2009 and created threads about Pioli, calling him a "Balla Ass GM".

But he won't talk about those because they are in direct contradiction with the false narrative he's created.

This is not true.

I admit I was wrong all the time. I talk about how embarrassed I am that I was in Cassel's corner so much in 2009.

Of course that's still less embarrassing than thinking he could lead the 2012 Chiefs to a playoff win. DANE.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

This is not true.

I admit I was wrong all the time. I talk about how embarrassed I am that I was in Cassel's corner so much in 2009.

Of course that's still less embarrassing than thinking he could lead the 2012 Chiefs to a playoff win. DANE.

ahhh, okay, now I get it. You refuse to be wrong twice, so you figure hating alex smith from the get go, protects you from looking like a total douche twice. I can relate to that.