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.”

[RunKC]

I think luck was a big part of it too.

4th and 26? Probably one of the craziest plays in NFL history. Never thought they would get that.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by TrueFanDave

And then you went on to list some shitty QBs.

Bono

Steve Bono went 13-3 that year. That's no different than people arguing for Reid saying "he made Jeff Garcia/AJ Feeley look good"

It's the same thing. They are are on the same level with QB development, McCarthy might have the edge in that too

but what McCarthy absolutely crushes Andy Reid in, is game management. Ask any Eagles fan.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by milkman

I think he'll get better numbers from Smith than Harbaugh, but that is simply a function of more attempts.

He'll still get the middle of the pack game manager that Harbaugh got out of him.

This is what worries me. It took SF years to Dilfer him to the point he could be effective and now we're trying to make him a gunslinger.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Rausch

This is what worries me. It took SF years to Dilfer him to the point he could be effective and now we're trying to make him a gunslinger.

No, a gunslinger is a guy that takes his shots all game.

Tight windows, deep balls.

Andy Reid is going to turn him into a pop gun.

Quick short passes, slants, screens, with an occassional shot over the top.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Rausch

This is what worries me. It took SF years to Dilfer him to the point he could be effective and now we're trying to make him a gunslinger.

You are looking at this only half way. Alex Smith, couldn't even dilfer his way under Nolan and Singletary. They wanted to run run and throw, and in the nfl, you cant always live in 3rd and forevers. I have tried on numerous occasions to explain this. And im being very respectful to you about this because you are always courteous to me. Alex Smith, or any qb, had zero chance at success under Nolan, and Singletary. While the rest of the league values the qb, those guys didn't. They just didn't. They valued their defenses, and their running games. We only just saw the past two years, any potential of what Alex Smith could be. Now, myself, im very pessimistic as to whether Alex Smith can be opened up to being more than he was the past two years. I think that Nolan, and Singletary, completely broke him, not mentally, but they preached about not making mistakes so much, and in the NFL, as the qb, you have to be willing to take chances. Now, can Andy Reid trigger that in him? We as niner fans saw a glimpse of that in his last full start against Arizona. He made plays in that game, that he hadn't made in his entire career.

[Hammock Parties]

AGAINST THE CARDINALS! WOW!

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by Branden Albert's Huge Balls

AGAINST THE CARDINALS! WOW!

lol

[Mav]

Originally Posted by milkman

Jeff Garcia was a pretty damn good QB in San Francisco.
And he was ****ing terrible in Cleveland, and in Detroit, and mediocre in Tampa Bay. You love to call people out all the time, but you make a lot of stupid statements.
Reid runs a QB friendly system, and he's good at putting his QBs in position to succeed.

I believe he could have done the same for Cassel.

But unlike a Sean Payton or a Mike McCarthy, he's not developing these guys into outstanding QBs.

He just does a good job of masking the deficiencies, much like Charlie Weis.

On another note, to the idiot that suggested that the Packer defense fueled that Packer SB run.

You are ****ing dumbass.

What ever you have to tell yourself. You should go back and look at that run. Their defense was HORRID during the regular season, but was LIGHTS OUT in the playoffs. Do some research before you go to calling people a dumbass, or do you not remember that it was in fact, BJ RAJI, with the game clinching INT for a td that sealed the super bowl. And, IM the dumbass lol.

Originally Posted by Branden Albert's Huge Balls

A 75.4 QB rating is good?



Jeff Garcia had always been a good QB.
Terrible in Cleveland, Terrible in Detroit, average in Tampa Bay........
Michael Vick was a big wet fart in Philly.

Originally Posted by Branden Albert's Huge Balls

And yet still better than Alex Smith.

Reid is not going to get more out of this guy than Harbaugh did. You are delusional if you believe that.

Lol, Yes, you know this how? Alex Smith will have a career year under Reid this year. I tried to bet you on this a couple months ago, but you bitched out, so its not for discussion. But, Alex Smith, has gotten better every year since 2009. There is no reason to believe that with the full support, of his head coach, that you should expect him to fail. I could be wrong, but I would bet more on him succeeding, faster than I would him failing.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Branden Albert's Huge Balls

AGAINST THE CARDINALS! WOW!

Well yes. The very same cardinals that the week after, PICKED OFF MATT RYAN 5 TIMES. Yes, the cardinals.........

18/19 with three tds, against anyone is impressive......

care to argue?

[Mav]

Clay, I am glad that you can enjoy this offseason with such pessimism. Gonna suck for you during the regular season when the Chiefs are actually winning, and Alex Smith isn't sucking like you are trying to hard to have everyone believe. Im sure you will rage and destroy your computer........

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by Maverick91579

Well yes. The very same cardinals that the week after, PICKED OFF MATT RYAN 5 TIMES. Yes, the cardinals.........

18/19 with three tds, against anyone is impressive......

care to argue?

49ers defense held Arizona to 5 yards rushing. I guess Alex Smith does have all the time to put up nice stats when his #1 defense gives him good field position and the Arizona defense is relying on John ****ing Skelton to score them points/move the ball

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

49ers defense held Arizona to 5 yards rushing. I guess Alex Smith does have all the time to put up nice stats when his #1 defense gives him good field position and the Arizona defense is relying on John ****ing Skelton to score them points/move the ball

So basically if he does good it's because of someone else, however, if he steps in poo it's all on him.

That's what we refer to as a double standard.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

Steve Bono went 13-3 that year. That's no different than people arguing for Reid saying "he made Jeff Garcia/AJ Feeley look good"

It's the same thing. They are are on the same level with QB development, McCarthy might have the edge in that too

but what McCarthy absolutely crushes Andy Reid in, is game management. Ask any Eagles fan.

Bono was the King of game managers.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

49ers defense held Arizona to 5 yards rushing. I guess Alex Smith does have all the time to put up nice stats when his #1 defense gives him good field position and the Arizona defense is relying on John ****ing Skelton to score them points/move the ball

Again. 18/19, 3 tds, no picks, and that same defense, IN ATLANTA, forced Matt Ryan who is a much better qb than Alex Smith, into 5 ints. Take it, twist it, however you want. He had his best game of his career, and one pass away from going down as the all time leader in completions in a game. The only reason he didn't get it, was he didn't throw a pass.

Originally Posted by J Diddy

So basically if he does good it's because of someone else, however, if he steps in poo it's all on him.

That's what we refer to as a double standard.

No, those are the Alex rules. And, if you defend them, you are called an alex sexual, or an alexexcuser. There aren't ordinary rules when it comes to Alex Smith. It's Alex's fault that the 49ers have an elite defense, its alex smiths fault that they had elite special teams, and an elite run blocking oline, and an elite running game. That is all alex smiths fault. That's the way this game is played.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Maverick91579

Well yes. The very same cardinals that the week after, PICKED OFF MATT RYAN 5 TIMES. Yes, the cardinals.........

18/19 with three tds, against anyone is impressive......

care to argue?

He threw for 232 yards.

If this is the benchmark for "WOW WHAT A GAME BY ALEX" I'm horribly disappointed.