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.”

[Hammock Parties]

Moss was old but still a goal line threat.

Not that Alex could hit him.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

BRODIE CROYLE went in the 3rd.

Geno Smith fell only due to the post-Luck/RGIII draft climate.

More proof that you don't know ****ing DICK about QB's, college football, college personnel, etc.

Geno Smith displayed a lack of maturity on the field and off the field. When faced with pressure, like that of K-State and Texas, he was completely destroyed. His decision making under pressure was ****ing awful.

While he possesses the physical attributes that GM's and scouts like, mentally, he's a mess. Nolan Nawrocki's piece on him, despite the hate you created around it because it fails to fall in line with the False Narrative that you've created, was dead on.

His behavior at the NFL Draft was atrocious. He threatened to leave until that was made public, then he decided to stay. Shortly thereafter, he fired his agents because he wasn't chosen in the first round (as if that was THERE fault), then decided to sign with Jay-Z.

He's been less than impressive at Jets camp and the veterans have been vocal about Mark Sanchez as the starting QB.

So as usual, you're playing the game of Attention Whore, and it's a game you'll likely continue to play until the season starts.

Yay.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

BRODIE CROYLE went in the 3rd.

Geno Smith fell only due to the post-Luck/RGIII draft climate.

You mean the climate created by Rookie QBs TEARING up the league
Even 3rd rounders?
THAT climate?
The one that instilled faith in Rookie QBs?
Good
God
Man

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

Moss was old but still a goal line threat.

Not that Alex could hit him.

He was such a threat that he wasn't even targeted once in the goal line, game ending stand and his alligator arms cost the 49ers an interception at the hands of Ed Reed.

Your ass must really hurt because it's been talking nonstop now for days on end.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

BRODIE CROYLE went in the 3rd.

Geno Smith fell only due to the post-Luck/RGIII draft climate.

Stop commenting on college QBs.

You admitted just a few years ago that you didn't watch it.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by TrueFanDave

Stop commenting on college QBs.

You admitted just a few years ago that you didn't watch it.

That was true up until three years ago. I watched Geno Smith constantly last year.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

You mean the climate created by Rookie QBs TEARING up the league
Even 3rd rounders?
THAT climate?
The one that instilled faith in Rookie QBs?
Good
God
Man

Threads like these are fantastic for exposing those people like SDH (not that his dumbassery is anything new) but for those people that consider themselves "experts", just because they have a lot of posts on a football forum.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

That was true up until three years ago. I watched Geno Smith constantly last year.

And you were sure right about him!

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Geno Smith displayed a lack of maturity on the field and off the field.

The biggest lie to come out of the offseason.

Cam Newton makes Geno Smith look like Pope John Paul II.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

More proof that you don't know ****ing DICK about QB's, college football, college personnel, etc.

Geno Smith displayed a lack of maturity on the field and off the field. When faced with pressure, like that of K-State and Texas, he was completely destroyed. His decision making under pressure was ****ing awful.

While he possesses the physical attributes that GM's and scouts like, mentally, he's a mess. Nolan Nawrocki's piece on him, despite the hate you created around it because it fails to fall in line with the False Narrative that you've created, was dead on.

His behavior at the NFL Draft was atrocious. He threatened to leave until that was made public, then he decided to stay. Shortly thereafter, he fired his agents because he wasn't chosen in the first round (as if that was THERE fault), then decided to sign with Jay-Z.

He's been less than impressive at Jets camp and the veterans have been vocal about Mark Sanchez as the starting QB.

So as usual, you're playing the game of Attention Whore, and it's a game you'll likely continue to play until the season starts.

Yay.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

And you were sure right about him!

He's going to be a good quarterback. I'm sure of it.

Wait and see.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

And you were sure right about him!

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

Cam Newton makes Geno Smith look like Pope John Paul II.

While this may be true, we've seen legit talent from Cam.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

He's going to be a good quarterback. I'm sure of it.

Wait and see.

Mecca went down the path of Absolutes.

Where is he now?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

The biggest lie to come out of the offseason.

Cam Newton makes Geno Smith look like Pope John Paul II.

Lie? It's not surprising that you have failed to recognize that Geno Smith has acted nothing like a leader of men since draft day or thereafter because you're an immature nitwit that's admitted to cherry-picking stats in order to create a false narrative about Alex Smith.