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.”

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by themanwithnoname

But hey, yeah let's buy into the Chiefs way of doing the same thing and expecting different results.


Hey, great to have optimism, but calling people idiots for being able to see a recurring pattern of mediocrity and failure is just well, stupid.

In what way do past KC QB's have any effect on how Alex Smith performs?

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by themanwithnoname

Awesome you prop up your argument by citing what is by far proven throughout the history of the league as the far less successful way of building a team.

Drafting and developing your own QB accounts for what ~75% of Super Bowl winners? And the rest almost all either were from a very different era or had one off success (like the Ravens and Bucs both of which needed exceptional defense). Brees is the only one I can think of off the top of my head that actually won one that is comparable to the Alex Smith situation, and that required a lot. Brees stepped up his game so dramatically coming off a serious injury. Smith already had a serious injury and did not come back any better, and certainly nowhere close to the improvement that Brees showed.

Your argument is like the idiots that cite some "scientists" that don't believe in something like evolution. Of course if you compare the numbers of them to the opposite then you see just how stupid it is to use them as an argument.

Brady, Aikman, Elway, Favre, Rogers, Roethlisberger, Manning, Manning, Montana, Young, Starr, Naimath, Bradshaw, Staubach, Namath, Griese, Stabler, Flacco...do I really need to continue?

I'd have to check but I think even just making the Super Bowl would have a similar ratio.

But hey, yeah let's buy into the Chiefs way of doing the same thing and expecting different results.



Granted I haven't read all the posts but I don't see anyone saying they haven't gotten any better, but most people seem to accept that they really haven't done enough to actually move towards seriously competing for a championship. And short of Alex Smith having his skin grafted over an android, anything that will get them where they want to go (Super Bowl) will require years of development (although if we get lucky maybe that has already started via either Bray or Stanzi but I'm not holding my breath; that's still the most interesting thing to me though is if either of them can make enough improvement to push for becoming the starter).

And what happens if the negative "idiots" are right? Oh let me guess you'll be all for "giving them a chance" to the next QB/coach/etc. Hey, great to have optimism, but calling people idiots for being able to see a recurring pattern of mediocrity and failure is just well, stupid.

Your list doesn't help your argument all that much...

Brady- 6th round really want to gamble on late round QB talent?
Elway- drafted by Colts
Farve- drafted by Falcons
E. Manning- drafted by Chargers
Young- USFL then Bucs
Starr- 17th round pick (see Brady)

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by themanwithnoname

Awesome you prop up your argument by citing what is by far proven throughout the history of the league as the far less successful way of building a team.

And you're full of shit.

Originally Posted by themanwithnoname

Drafting and developing your own QB accounts for what ~75% of Super Bowl winners? And the rest almost all either were from a very different era or had one off success (like the Ravens and Bucs both of which needed exceptional defense). Brees is the only one I can think of off the top of my head that actually won one that is comparable to the Alex Smith situation, and that required a lot. Brees stepped up his game so dramatically coming off a serious injury. Smith already had a serious injury and did not come back any better, and certainly nowhere close to the improvement that Brees showed.

Yeah, Doug Williams, Brett Favre, Joe Theisman, Brad Johnson, Kurt Warner, Jim Plunkett and Steve Young were all drafted and developed by their teams, then won a Super Bowl.

Originally Posted by themanwithnoname

Your argument is like the idiots that cite some "scientists" that don't believe in something like evolution. Of course if you compare the numbers of them to the opposite then you see just how stupid it is to use them as an argument.

You're clearly NOT a scientist.

And your percentage is far off the mark.

Originally Posted by themanwithnoname

Brady, Aikman, Elway, Favre, Rogers, Roethlisberger, Manning, Manning, Montana, Young, Starr, Naimath, Bradshaw, Staubach, Namath, Griese, Stabler, Flacco...do I really need to continue?

Farve and Young? Really?

I know you're a reerun but you don't have to put on display like this, do you?

Originally Posted by themanwithnoname

But hey, yeah let's buy into the Chiefs way of doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Mutually Exclusive, reerun. Mutually Exclusive.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by themanwithnoname

And what happens if the negative "idiots" are right? Oh let me guess you'll be all for "giving them a chance" to the next QB/coach/etc. Hey, great to have optimism, but calling people idiots for being able to see a recurring pattern of mediocrity and failure is just well, stupid.

What is stupid is people calling themselves fans.. seeing so many changes to key positions.. and yet giving up before football even begins. Whether those people turn out to be right or wrong is fairly irrelevant. The bottom line is.. they are prematurely quitting on their team.

Just imagine for a moment that both "sides" here were surrounded in Arrowhead by the KC GM, coaches and players. Now which side would the GM, coaches, and players respect as fans?

Thing is... no one is demanding blind homerism here. In truth, if the Chiefs had the EXACT same coaches and players going into this season? I can see a reason to feel deflated.. defeated. But that's just clearly not the situation... and that is why the truly open-minded, loyal Chiefs fans are either taking a wait-n-see approach..or even finding a level of optimism in their team being rather good.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

What is stupid is people calling themselves fans.. seeing so many changes to key positions.. and yet giving up before football even begins. Whether those people turn out to be right or wrong is fairly irrelevant. The bottom line is.. they are prematurely quitting on their team.

Just imagine for a moment that both "sides" here were surrounded in Arrowhead by the KC GM, coaches and players. Now which side would the GM, coaches, and players respect as fans?

Thing is... no one is demanding blind homerism here. In truth, if the Chiefs had the EXACT same coaches and players going into this season? I can see a reason to feel deflated.. defeated. But that's just clearly not the situation... and that is why the truly open-minded, loyal Chiefs fans are either taking a wait-n-see approach..or even finding a level of optimism in their team being rather good.

CLEARLY an unproven GM, a Head Coach whose latest work can best be described as "southward bound", and yet ANOTHER goddamned retread from the Bay, should have us ALL SHITTING DAISIES!

Jesus H. Balls I wish you would just die.

[BigBeauford]

Fans paying money for merchandising, game day seats, ect can be as critical as they want. We are not obligated to kiss anyone in the FO's ass. We do not have to shut up on a BB, that is just ****ing stupid and the board is worse for the lack of debate. Truth be told, only Maverick has supplied any kind of decent arguments in favor of Smith. Calling detractors who come up with stats, and historical references idiots makes you look like jackasses.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

Please explain this efficiency you speak of.
You talkin about drops? Ypr? Yac?
How do you go about this breakdown?

Yes

guy averaged 3.7 YAC and was targeted about 120 times and caught 60 balls.

I just dont consider that efficient. McCluster and Baldwin contributed more with Cassel/Brady Quinn, I think those two would have put up similar numbers with Luck throwing to them last season instead of the garbage they had to deal with.

Why else would the Colts let him walk and replace him with Darius Heyward Bey.

Ty Hilton also passed him very quickly statistically as the season progressed, though Hilton plays the slot, the reads definitely ended up changing.

So by the end of the year he was the fourth maybe even fifth option. There were games were he was targeted 12 to 14 times and he come away with 3 or 4 ****ing catches. That's horrible in my opinion. If he gets targeted that many times in a Chiefs game and only has 3 catches to show for it I'll be screaming at my television.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

Fans paying money for merchandising, game day seats, ect can be as critical as they want. We are not obligated to kiss anyone in the FO's ass. We do not have to shut up on a BB, that is just ****ing stupid and the board is worse for the lack of debate. Truth be told, only Maverick has supplied any kind of decent arguments in favor of Smith. Calling detractors who come up with stats, and historical references idiots makes you look like jackasses.

Who the **** are you? Which of these people you speak of are season ticket holders? The biggest Smith the detractor is a dumb **** that breaks federal law each and every by pirating video, editing it and sharing it with anyone that will watch it.

You want to be critical? Fine. But your argument doesn't hold an ounce of water if it's based on the actions of past coaches and administrations.

That's just lazy and dumb.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMc****

The biggest Smith the detractor is a dumb **** that breaks federal law each and every by pirating video

Dane's butthurt is so strong, his english is failing him.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Who the **** are you? Which of these people you speak of are season ticket holders? The biggest Smith the detractor is a dumb **** that breaks federal law each and every by pirating video, editing it and sharing it with anyone that will watch it.

You want to be critical? Fine. But your argument doesn't hold an ounce of water if it's based on the actions of past coaches and administrations.

That's just lazy and dumb.

If this year is a losing season what are you going to say this time next year after this current coaching staff and administration already had a year to showcase? Are you still going to give them a pass? Or can people be critical after the sample size of one year? Is your stance to buy in fully or are you looking for results in year one. People on here are different so I am curious where you stand on this personnel for the upcoming season.

[BigBeauford]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Who the **** are you?Which of these people you speak of are season ticket holders? The biggest Smith the detractor is a dumb **** that breaks federal law each and every by pirating video, editing it and sharing it with anyone that will watch it.

You want to be critical? Fine. But your argument doesn't hold an ounce of water if it's based on the actions of past coaches and administrations.

That's just lazy and dumb.

Please, trying to marginalize my argument because I am new is dumb and lazy.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

Yes

guy averaged 3.7 YAC and was targeted about 120 times and caught 60 balls.

I just dont consider that efficient. McCluster and Baldwin contributed more with Cassel/Brady Quinn, I think those two would have put up similar numbers with Luck throwing to them last season instead of the garbage they had to deal with.

Why else would the Colts let him walk and replace him with Darius Heyward Bey.

Ty Hilton also passed him very quickly statistically as the season progressed, though Hilton plays the slot, the reads definitely ended up changing.

So by the end of the year he was the fourth maybe even fifth option. There were games were he was targeted 12 to 14 times and he come away with 3 or 4 ****ing catches. That's horrible in my opinion. If he gets targeted that many times in a Chiefs game and only has 3 catches to show for it I'll be screaming at my television.

Mike Wallace was targeted 119 times and had 64 catches and was under 1000 yds., and he was the most sought after free agent on the market. His YAC was slightly better than Avery's at 5.1 and he had a solid veteran throwing to him. Stats can be cherry picked to make any argument.

[BigBeauford]

I am critical of Alex Smith because he is Alex Smith. I wouldn't care if the Chiefs have taken 20 miners qbs, that's just a bad argument. In other words, if we had taken 4 green bay qb's, and then picked up Rogers, I wouldn't complain.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

Yes

guy averaged 3.7 YAC and was targeted about 120 times and caught 60 balls.

I just dont consider that efficient. McCluster and Baldwin contributed more with Cassel/Brady Quinn, I think those two would have put up similar numbers with Luck throwing to them last season instead of the garbage they had to deal with.

Why else would the Colts let him walk and replace him with Darius Heyward Bey.

Ty Hilton also passed him very quickly statistically as the season progressed, though Hilton plays the slot, the reads definitely ended up changing.

So by the end of the year he was the fourth maybe even fifth option. There were games were he was targeted 12 to 14 times and he come away with 3 or 4 ****ing catches. That's horrible in my opinion. If he gets targeted that many times in a Chiefs game and only has 3 catches to show for it I'll be screaming at my television.

For those who want to see an actual breakdown of Donnie Average.
Mcaj22 seems pretty Accurate.
http://www.kffl.com/player/18254/nfl...ery?uyear=2012

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

Dane's butthurt is so strong, his english is failing him.

Eh, iPad