Chiefs Teicher:Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive - Page 47

**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.”

O.city · 06-25-2013, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Once again, loving a guy and spending a first or second round draft choice on him are mutually exclusive.

I'm sure that there were several GM's that loved Justin Houston. If he continues to ascend, how many GM's will have said the same thing about him?

Teams can "love" a guy but at the same time, assign a draft value to him.

Also, if guys are gonna come out an say he was "perfect franchise qb material save for the height" after the fact it just seems fishy too me that they wouldn't spend a high pick for that.

O.city · 06-25-2013, 10:27 PM

The whole geno smith debate just goes to show that while we may think we do, in the end there is just information we don't know.

Same with bray etc guys who fall. The media plays it out like its a huge deal, but it seems tea have/ha them usually slotted where they endm up going.

beach tribe · 06-25-2013, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

With no risk, there is no chance at a big reward.

I guess I would much rather have kept Eric Winston and drafted two quarterbacks high than use the first pick in the draft on an upgrade at right tackle and trading for Alex Smith, but I also recognize Andy Reids ability with quarterbacks.

But whats done is done...no sense rehashing old debates that were dead months ago.

At this point, I'm trying my best to hope they made the right decision on this one and i get to see Arrowhead rockin again and can actually enjoy watching the Chiefs play football again.

this is where I'm at.
I understand the dire want and need to draft a quarterback but it didn't happen this off season and it's time to ****ing get over it.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-25-2013, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

EJ Manuel has a shit ton of issues.

Only reason he was first picked is because he's huge.

While I agree that he has issues that may or may not be correctable, he was chosen for more reasons than his size.

The guy is smart and charismatic. He's dealt with adversity on the field and with his mother's breast cancer. He's a natural leader with a huge arm and top notch athleticism.

Again, he's the biggest Boom/Bust QB in this draft. There's no way he's average. He'll either be awesome or a bomb.

O.city · 06-25-2013, 10:29 PM

I thin kaepernick will be the one we will wish we didnt pass on

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-25-2013, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Also, if guys are gonna come out an say he was "perfect franchise qb material save for the height" after the fact it just seems fishy too me that they wouldn't spend a high pick for that.

Why? Are you stating that height shouldn't be an issue?

Look, I agree that teams missed out on him but that's for a reason. Sub-6'1 QB's have traditionally struggled in the NFL, especially in a day and time when offensive lineman are routinely as tall as 6'6 or taller.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-25-2013, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

The whole geno smith debate just goes to show that while we may think we do, in the end there is just information we don't know.

Same with bray etc guys who fall. The media plays it out like its a huge deal, but it seems tea have/ha them usually slotted where they endm up going.

Please don't include me in the "we" category.

O.city · 06-25-2013, 10:32 PM

I'm just not sure Manuel can ever be accurate enough. For all the talent he had aroun him at FSU, he always seemed to be missing something too

RunKC · 06-25-2013, 10:35 PM

The Bills haven't made the playoffs this century because of morons that draft guys like EJ Manuel in the first round.

They seriously give Scooter some contest for being the biggest moron in an NFL front office. I feel sorry for Bills fans too. They aren't so bad.
Idk if I could take the Chiefs going to the SB and losing every time. Talk about heartache.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-25-2013, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

I guess it's good to be optimistic.

I didnt necessarily mean win early in the season, just that they need to win THIS season.

I think they have some talent, but there are still a lot of question marks this early.

IMO, there are less question marks on this team since 1997.

They're loaded defensively, they have an accurate WCO QB, the league's best running back, a solid if not spectacular offensive line, weapons at TE, a true franchise WR and so on. They have the best coaching staff since 1993, IMO.

I don't think they'll click on all cylinders from Day One but by Week Eight, barring catastrophic injuries, this team should be in sync and rolling.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-25-2013, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunKC

The Bills haven't made the playoffs this century because of morons that draft guys like EJ Manuel in the first round.

They seriously give Scooter some contest for being the biggest moron in an NFL front office. I feel sorry for Bills fans too. They aren't so bad.
Idk if I could take the Chiefs going to the SB and losing every time. Talk about heartache.

Doug Whaley, their new GM, spent more than a decade spent in Pittsburgh before going to Buffalo. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt before slamming his draft class, which BTW, looks very good on paper.

O.city · 06-25-2013, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Please don't include me in the "we" category.

Oh I would never do that.

Probably wouldn't include myself either, in that I didn't really get that into it I guess.

I wouldn't have cared if we had drafted the guy, I'm as excited about a QB as the next guy, but if they didn't think he was worth it, I figure it was probably the right decision.

**BossChief** · 06-25-2013, 10:39 PM

Kaepernick
Wilson
Flacco
Braes
Rodgers

Just a matter of time until the list is added to...again.

O.city · 06-25-2013, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Why? Are you stating that height shouldn't be an issue?

Look, I agree that teams missed out on him but that's for a reason. Sub-6'1 QB's have traditionally struggled in the NFL, especially in a day and time when offensive lineman are routinely as tall as 6'6 or taller.

In todays game, with more spread concepts, I don't think it's as big of an issue as it was previously.

But I was more referring to Runkc's comment that the guy had everything you could want from a QB, save for height.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-25-2013, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

Outside of Sac and a couple others, nobody called Geno a "clean" prospect.

The narrative was to take him at 1.1 and sit him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

But, like any draft, all you can hope for (when you need a quarterback) is that you evaluate properly and come out with the best you could get.

And based on the pre-draft information that had been floating around since January, teams, coaches, scouts and mock drafters called this the worst draft for QB's in recent memory.

Judging by the lack of QB's taken early, that assessment was dead on, despite the fact that, once again, the Chiefsplanet narrative was that everyone leaking information was stupid and a "True Fan". Also, "Tons of QB's would go early because there's no risk due to the new CBA".

Wrong again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

No prospect is perfect.

Perfect? No. Close to it? Yes. Luck, Manning and Elway come to mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

I don't see this as any different than passing on Rodgers for DJ...or passing on Flacco for Albert and Glenn Dorsey...

Of course it's different. The Chiefs were choosing 1.1. They were not choosing 25th. They didn't want to take a major risk at 1.1, especially when everyone that evaluated and interviewed the available crop of QB's in this draft felt anything other than "meh" about the entire class.

Rodgers fell but he was still a first rounder. Flacco was a "reach" but he was still a first rounder.

Conversely, Smith fell to the second round. He wasn't worthy of a first round selection or 1.1. Barkley and Wilson fell to the fourth. Glennon to the third (and wow, I just can't see that working out at all in Arizona). Bray went undrafted.

This scenario is not like passing on Rodgers or Flacco.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

Until we get THAT GUY, this failed template should be scrapped.

In favor of what, exactly? Drafting a QB just to draft a QB? That's ludicrous.

John Dorsey and Andy Reid were and are not under any obligation to draft a QB unless they deem that QB worthy of the draft slot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

Hopefully, Reid can keep Alex progressing like he has been the last couple years and make fools of us guys that want the team to draft a quarterback.

As with KC Tattoo, this is a false narrative. There isn't a single person in this forum that would have objected to Andrew Luck or RGIII had either been available at 1.1. There may have been a few that objected to Sam Bradford and Cam Cameron, but both would have been wrong. And anyone that would have objected to Matt Ryan obviously didn't understand the issues with his surrounding cast in college.

The bottom line is that there were no slam dunks in this draft. There weren't even any guys that you could positively project as a long term starter.

It was a draft filled with QB's with question marks and very real risks. I personally have no problem with passing on guys with those issues.

06-05-2013, 06:26 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $952813	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.”
Posts: 42,033

06-25-2013, 10:27 PM	#692
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2784064	The whole geno smith debate just goes to show that while we may think we do, in the end there is just information we don't know. Same with bray etc guys who fall. The media plays it out like its a huge deal, but it seems tea have/ha them usually slotted where they endm up going.
Posts: 81,202

06-25-2013, 10:29 PM	#695
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2784064	I thin kaepernick will be the one we will wish we didnt pass on
Posts: 81,202

06-25-2013, 10:32 PM	#698
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2784064	I'm just not sure Manuel can ever be accurate enough. For all the talent he had aroun him at FSU, he always seemed to be missing something too
Posts: 81,202

06-25-2013, 10:35 PM	#699
RunKC Andy Reid Supporter Join Date: Apr 2012 Casino cash: $2289611	The Bills haven't made the playoffs this century because of morons that draft guys like EJ Manuel in the first round. They seriously give Scooter some contest for being the biggest moron in an NFL front office. I feel sorry for Bills fans too. They aren't so bad. Idk if I could take the Chiefs going to the SB and losing every time. Talk about heartache. __________________ Mike Greenberg@Espngreeny I can’t fathom what it must be like to be a fan of the #Chiefs. Adopt a Chief: Noah Gray
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06-25-2013, 10:39 PM	#703
BossChief SuperBowl or bust Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: BF Iowa Casino cash: $1914088	Kaepernick Wilson Flacco Braes Rodgers Just a matter of time until the list is added to...again. __________________ Dreams do come true... http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showp...postcount=1407
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