See how Alex Smith performs in the red zone compared to rest of AFC West

[beach tribe]

It was a breezy, borderline chilly, Sunday afternoon in mid-November last season. The 7-2 Kansas City Chiefs were at home against the five-loss Tampa Bay Buccaneers, rolling with a five-game winning streak that included victories over the New Orleans Saints at home and the Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers on the road.

It was also ... confession time ... my first visit to Arrowhead Stadium.

I will say, it was an experience I’ll never forget. The atmosphere, the tailgating, the fans ... it was all amazing. But, at the same time, it was just about as frustrating a game as you’ll ever see.

The funny thing is, though, Alex Smith had your typical, average Alex Smith performance. The Chiefs QB threw for 261 yards, had one touchdown and one rushing touchdown, along with one interception. Pretty so-so, but that seems to be then norm for No. 11. Spencer Ware rushed for 69 yards on 17 attempts, a stat line that pretty much was his average performance on the ground in 2016.

I did some digging and found the postgame column of The Kansas City Star’s Sam Mellinger. You don’t have to read too much to remind yourself of how that game panned out.

What could’ve been another ugly Chiefs win turned into an ugly-as-vomit 19-17 loss to the mediocre Buccaneers at home on Sunday the moment quarterback Alex Smith executed a bad throw, poorly leading to an interception in the end zone when even a field goal would’ve probably been enough to win.

The biggest frustration, aside from the inability of the offense to score, was the red zone performance by Smith. Most notably, Smith threw a crucial interception from Tampa Bay’s six-yard line (the one referenced by Sam above) with KC trailing 12-10 early in the fourth quarter.

I won’t spend too much time dwelling on the Smith interception, but it appeared to be a predetermined read, where Smith failed to notice Chris Conte waiting in the middle of the end zone.

And as a Chiefs fan, you probably feel that this missed throw in the tweet below by Smith is one you see every Sunday.

Click here to see Tigerupyourbutt's lover boy make one of the throws that led to his AFCW ranking:
https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2017/...red-zone-stats

The Chiefs scored in the red zone 46 percent of the time in 2016, which was 26th-best in the league. That’s about 10 percent worse than Kansas City’s red zone conversion rate in 2015.

Plus, what really makes the red zone inefficiency by Smith & Co. so frustrating is that the offensive line for the Chiefs did a pretty good job in 2016. According to Pro Football Focus, the Chiefs offensive line allowed the fewest pressures in 2016 (they tied with the Raiders) and Smith saw the lowest percentage of pressures on third down.

For an offense that operates like the Chiefs, scoring in the red zone has to be one of the most important parts of their game. Minus Tyreek Hill running wild throughout the field, there isn’t a big-play threat out there. It’s reasonable to contribute the lack of a play maker to Smith’s inability or unwillingness to take shots down the field.

So, if you were asked a trivia question on where Smith ranked in red zone passing performance in the AFC West in 2016, you’d be a winner if you answered with ... “dead last.”
2016 AFC West Red Zone QB Stats
Quarterback Passing Completion % Passing Yards TD INT Passer Rating Yards/Attempt Rushing Yards
Derek Carr 44/90 47% 306 19 1 91.9 3.4 -7
Philip Rivers 45/96 47% 333 22 2 86.5 3.5 1
Trevor Siemian 28/55 51% 164 10 1 89 3 5
Alex Smith 29/63 46% 167 11 3 72.7 2.7 51
Statistics via Pro Football Reference

The only real edge that Smith has over the other three quarterbacks actually has nothing to do with his passing game. He has 51 rushing yards; the other three have -6 combined rushing yards. Congratulations.

Trevor Siemian threw for one less touchdown than Smith did in the red zone in 2016 but had eight less pass attempts. Smith’s passer rating was 16.3 percentage points worse than the next-best rating, owned by Siemian (89).

The Chiefs are at the point now where no one reasonably expects them to be any better than an average offense so long as Smith is behind center. The AFC West won’t be an easy division to play in in 2017 by any means, and if the Chiefs want to compete for a playoff run, improvement in the red zone should be one of their highest priorities.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

Let's face it.

On CP, I was going to be instantly and unwaveringly labeled as a Mahomo hater no matter what. My well known appreciation for Smith demanded this.

So I may as well pretend to be exactly that, and have fun with it. All the while, I will be hoping Mahomes does very well... but you and others will not remotely accept this as the reality.

What fun would that be, right? It's more fun to imagine I am heartbroken, wishing horrible things on the guy that took my boo's job... because after all.. I am only in this for him, right? I couldn't possibly want the Chiefs to do well.. it's ALL about the name on the QB's jersey!

So go with that, then.

You actually call Alex Smith "boo"

Wow.


You know how I know you`re gay?


NTTAWWT

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Alex smith QB rating of 102 with 4 or more receivers on field
...BUT HE CAN'T MAKE READS!

Smith #1 rated QB against the blitz per ESPN with QBR of 93 ,66% completion rate http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/p...skills-in-2016
...BUT HE CAN'T HANDLE PRESSURE

Thread: Dwayne Bowe cut from Browns ,Thread: Albert Wilson Sucks. , Fact: Jeremy Maclin has most efficient season of career in 2015
...SMITH IS HOLDING DOWN HIS RECEIVERS!

Travis Kelce leads league in receiving yards. Phenomenal reception rate > 70%
Tyreek Hill Rookie Season: 73% reception rate (61/83), 6 reception TDs, 31 First downs, 31% target rate for eligible routes (highest in NFL)
...SMITH DOESN'T USE HIS BEST WEAPONS!

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Originally Posted by tredadda

If it's everything but Smith's fault why did the Front Office trade up to draft the polar opposite of Smith? Why did they not trade up for a receiver, OL, or RB? Or if they thought there were none worthy to trade up for why didn't they just stand pat for one and get their QB in RD 2?

Dorsey gambled and wanted the QBOTF now, rather than later, to LEARN from Smith. And his gambling in addition to his unprofessional handling of Maclin got him fired.

Next question.

[RunKC]

Alex only threw 11 TD's that weren't at or behind the LOS.

I wonder why Andy and Dorsey traded up 17 spots for Mahomes?

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Alex put up more rushing TD's than Ware and West, combined.

I wonder why they drafted Kareem Hunt to play immediately.

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Dorsey gambled and wanted the QBOTF now, rather than later, to LEARN from Smith. And his gambling in addition to his unprofessional handling of Maclin got him fired.

Next question.

So Clark Hunt should fire himself because he gambled with the final say to trade up for Patrick Mahomes II. Dorsey couldn't have done that without Clark Hunt blessings and that deal was in the works prier to the draft.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Alex smith QB rating of 102 with 4 or more receivers on field
...BUT HE CAN'T MAKE READS!

Smith #1 rated QB against the blitz per ESPN with QBR of 93 ,66% completion rate http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/p...skills-in-2016
...BUT HE CAN'T HANDLE PRESSURE

Thread: Dwayne Bowe cut from Browns ,Thread: Albert Wilson Sucks. , Fact: Jeremy Maclin has most efficient season of career in 2015
...SMITH IS HOLDING DOWN HIS RECEIVERS!

Travis Kelce leads league in receiving yards. Phenomenal reception rate > 70%
Tyreek Hill Rookie Season: 73% reception rate (61/83), 6 reception TDs, 31 First downs, 31% target rate for eligible routes (highest in NFL)
...SMITH DOESN'T USE HIS BEST WEAPONS!

15tds...

11 past the the line of scrimmage.

Team traded up 17 spots and drafted his replacement.

The debate is OVER.

Your fake fan ass will be gone when Smith is cut.
Just do us a favor and leave now.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Which means he didn't read the field..

He just threw it to Reek.

Just like the amazing catch Reek made for his first Rec. TD.

Why am I still wasting my time on this loser?

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Arrowhead Pride article from an ignorant writer, and you consider yourself a knowledgable loyal fan despite bailing ship when this team faced adversity in the past.

Rid of yourself, child.

[RunKC]

Dorsey gambles behind Clark's back and got fired because he drafted Mahomes?

Holy shit the denial has reached epic proportions and the season hasn't even started yet.

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

Which means, he didn't read the field..

He just threw it to Reek.

Ignorant post. 4 or more receivers on field: QB rating of 102

Fact.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Ignorant post. 4 or more receivers on field: QB rating of 102

Fact.

Smith routinely throws WR screens with 4 Rec on the field you ****ing moron.

[RunKC]

I am old enough to remember Tigerclown saying "in Dorsey we trust!" and even having it above his avatar.

Boy has that story changed. Now Dorsey "went behind Clark's back" and drafted Mahomes which was why he was fired.

This poster is so hilarious to read. The denial and butt hurt is so so strong

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Arrowhead Pride article from an ignorant writer, and you consider yourself a knowledgable loyal fan despite bailing ship when this team faced adversity in the past.

Rid of yourself, child.

WTF are you talking about?

I've been a fan of this team since I was 8?

You are not even a Chiefs fan, you're a Smith fan.

You'll go when he goes, guaranteed.