Let's do the Alex Smith thing again.

[Direckshun]

Shall we.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-...a-game-manager

The Week in Overreactions: Alex Smith is more than a game manager
By Ryan Wilson | CBSSports.com
October 21, 2014 8:16 am ET

Alex Smith isn't a game manager

It's easy -- and, frankly, lazy -- to categorize Alex Smith as a game manager because that appeared to be his ceiling early in his career. Some of those growing pains can be attributed to youth (he came into the league as a fresh-faced 20-year-old), expectations that come with being the first-overall pick in the 2005 draft, and landing on a bad 49ers team that had six different offensive coordinators in Smith's first six seasons.

That's the definition of setting someone up to fail. And while the perception of Smith didn't change once coach Jim Harbaugh arrived in 2011, the reality was that he became a more complete player.

• In 54 games (50 starts) from 2005-2010, Smith completed 57 percent of his passes (6.2 YPA) with 51 touchdowns and 53 interceptions.

• In 2011-2012 under Harbaugh, Smith played in 26 games (25 starts) completed 64 percent of his passes (7.4 YPA) with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

• And in a season and a half with the Chiefs and Andy Reid, Smith has started all 21 games, completing 62 percent of his passes (6.6 YPA) with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

We've been as guilty as anyone as taking Smith's accomplishments for granted, even regularly referring to him as "a bridge quarterback" to whomever is pegged as the next face of the franchise in Kansas City. But he's proven to be much, much more than that. We saw it in last season's playoff loss to the Colts, when he was 30 of 46 for 378 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

We saw it again in Week 4 when Smith completed 20 of 26 passes for 248 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions as the Chiefs throttled the Patriots, 41-14. And we were reminded once again on Sunday in San Diego when Smith, who has long been criticized for his inability to play from behind, did just that.

He led the Chiefs on a late-fourth-quarter, eight-play, 62-yard drive that began on their 8-yard line, and included a nine-yard scramble and passes of 19, 16 and eight yards to set up Cairo Santos' 48-yard field goal.

It wasn't spectacular but that's not Smith's game. (And when did spectacular equate to franchise savior, anyway? Jay Cutler has plenty of "spectacular" plays on his highlight reel but he's regularly played some truly awful football.)

According to Football Outsiders, Smith ranks 15th among all quarterbacks this season, ahead of Tom Brady, Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger, but his steady-as-she-goes approach fits nicely with what Reid wants to do offensively. And even if it means fewer big plays down the field, it's hard to argue with the results; the Chiefs started 9-0 last season before finishing 11-5. And after an 0-2 start this season, they have won three of four, their only loss an eminently winnable game in San Francisco in Week 5. And this all comes after the Chiefs, prior to Reid and Smith's arrival, won a grand total of two games in 2012.

When Smith signed a four-year, $68 million extension just before the season, our only reservation was that it would mean the Chiefs would put off finding their next young quarterback. But at 30 years old, he's entering his NFL prime; there's no reason to rush him off the field. In fact, he could be the key to helping the Chiefs to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2005-2006.

[WhiteWhale]

Who gives a shit what you call him?

He's the same QB now as he was 3 years ago. Nothing has changed. Alex is going to Alex.

Game manager and franchise QB are nothing more than vague buzz words with subjective definitions. Arguing about it is stupid. If you don't know what kind of QB Alex Smith is by now, you're pretty dense.

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by Three7s

The one short-coming Alex Smith has is the unwillingness to take chances. Solomon Wilcotts pointed out yesterday that he had a 1v1 matchup deep that he could've taken a shot on. He just refuses to do it.

Pfff... on the sideline Kelce had totally beaten 2 guys.

Jenkins sucks, and probably would not have caught it. I don't trust him 1 on 1. The DB probably wins the battle, because AJ is awful. Smith could have floated a ball to Kelce and it's a race to the endzone. Instead he got sacked.

Alex is gonna Alex.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

Most of the time, I think the friction between people about Smith comes down to misunderstandings. Most agree that he is a good QB.. but the "sides" see criticism as extreme hate... and any applause as extreme adoration.

There is a large, grey area. Just about everyone is in this.. but somehow, get pushed further to one end or the other by the misunderstandings and overreactions from others.

I think Smith is every bit in that "2nd tier" of all QBs. Anywhere in the 7-15 range, and it fluctuates, as all QB's performances do each week. (except maybe Forehead)

Some feel he has hit his ceiling... that's fair enough.. but I don't agree. Another year in the system... an upgrade at OL here and there... and an upgrade at one WR spot... and I believe Smith can evolve even more.

He is NOT flawless... he is NOT without blame...
He is NOT a shitbag... he is NOT teh suxxorz...

Smith is simply a good, 2nd tier QB that can have a whole lot of success for a team that doesn't completely suck.

Perfectly stated. Exactly this. Well done sandy.

[-King-]

This thread will surely turn out differently than all the other Smith threads.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by -King-

This thread will surely turn out differently than all the other Smith threads.
Posted via Mobile Device

Hey, at least it's entertaining at work?

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by temper11

Perfectly stated. Exactly this. Well done sandy.

Not really

this is like arguing the importance of winger in musical history and whether or not they were a second tier or a shit tier band or whether they were 12th or 18th best that week

they had their rockin moments but if you had a choice, you wouldnt sport a winger shirt or blast winger in your camaro

you would put on a zeppelin shirt or blast metallica out of the t-tops as you thunder down the road any day

theyre just not important, nor will they ever be

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by MahiMike

Love the comparison to Cutler. Many Alex-haters think arm strength is the most important thing to a good QB. Alex proves that it's the 6 inches between the ears that is even more important.

Finding arm strength in the draft is easy. Finding QBs is not.

[Ming the Merciless]

"hes not a game manager"

"see he completed 62% of his passes and has way more TD's than INTS"

see

SEE?

[dj56dt58]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

I see where it says to stop calling him a game manager. I couldn't find the statistics to back that claim up, especially when it takes him 21 games to put up Andy Dalton numbers.

The Andy dalton that had like 21 yards at halftime and got shut out without AJ green against the colts defense that Alex put 370+ yards and 4 tds on?

[BlackHelicopters]

[JENKINSWINS]

Alex Smith is a Franchise QB!

http://www.kcchiefs.com/media-center...e-c8d3e116ecdd

[MahiMike]

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

Pfff... on the sideline Kelce had totally beaten 2 guys.

Jenkins sucks, and probably would not have caught it. I don't trust him 1 on 1. The DB probably wins the battle, because AJ is awful. Smith could have floated a ball to Kelce and it's a race to the endzone. Instead he got sacked.

Alex is gonna Alex.

Correct answer. I think as Kelce and Alex get to know each other more, this pass will be attempted. Alex knows his WR's suck.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by dj56dt58

The Andy dalton that had like 21 yards at halftime and got shut out without AJ green against the colts defense that Alex put 370+ yards and 4 tds on?

That's not the same defense we played in the playoff game. If that unit keeps playing the way it is, that team will be a legit Super Bowl contender.

Dalton's been putting up 4,000 yard 30 TD seasons since he came in the league. He's not getting all that production out of one guy.

[dj56dt58]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

That's not the same defense we played in the playoff game. If that unit keeps playing the way it is, that team will be a legit Super Bowl contender.

Dalton's been putting up 4,000 yard 30 TD seasons since he came in the league. He's not getting all that production out of one guy.

they have a good defense, you make it sound like they are the 2000 Ravens. Chiefs would put up 27+ on them. Dalton put up absolutely nothing. They are superbowl contenders because of Andrew luck, not their D

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

That's not the same defense we played in the playoff game. If that unit keeps playing the way it is, that team will be a legit Super Bowl contender.

Dalton's been putting up 4,000 yard 30 TD seasons since he came in the league. He's not getting all that production out of one guy.

Yeah, not the same defense.

They lost their stud pass rusher that amassed 19.5 sacks last year.

So to suggest that their middling defense is somehow better now? Get real.

I don't condemn Dalton for one game... but making excuses like this for him is ironic and weak at best. Other than Corey Redding and CB Davis, that Colts defense has nothing for offenses to fear.

Dalton doesn't just get production out of Green. You are of course right about that. Thing is.. just having a talent like Green on the field opens up everyone else... so directly or indirectly... Green is a huge presence for Cincy.