Teicher:On first play at camp, Chiefs show their new look

[Tribal Warfare]

On first play at camp, Chiefs show their new look
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Andy Reid delivered a not-so-subtle message Friday with the first play at Chiefs training camp. He had quarterback Alex Smith heave a pass deep down the middle that was hauled in for a touchdown by wide receiver Dexter McCluster.

The play served notice that after two seasons with a dormant passing attack, the Chiefs intend to revive it in a big way.

“I wasn’t ready for that,” Smith said. “I came up and I got a good look for it. Crowd pleaser.”

Much more needs to happen before the passing game can be called successful. But the intent is obviously there. Smith completed another deep pass to McCluster a few plays later.

As much as Reid enjoyed the big plays, he liked the consistency of the passing game. Smith, who completed 70 percent of his passes for the 49ers last season, went several plays into practice before throwing his first incompletion.

“There weren’t a lot of balls on the ground, and it looked like the defense had people covered,” Reid said. “They were in position.”

The trade for Smith was the biggest of the offseason moves aimed at revitalizing a sluggish offense. Smith, the first pick in the 2005 draft and San Francisco’s long-time starter, is used to such pressure.

“I’m much better equipped to handle it now,” Smith said. “When you’re a young guy and coming in and playing early, I dwelled on (negative things) too much. I let it affect my play too much. I tried to please everybody.

“I’m going to play my game. I’m going to try to work as hard as I can to get as good as I can and try to reach my potential and win a bunch of games. That’s the goal. I’m not worried about a bunch of other things.”

Smith received another peek at the expectations waiting for him at the end of practice, when a fan called to him asking Smith to be the Chiefs’ savior.

“That’s a strong word,” Smith said. “That’s a great example. When I was younger, I would have taken that literally. I tried to make every single throw and I tried to prove to everybody on every single play that, yeah, I could do this.”

That McCluster was on the receiving end of Smith’s long passes was another bonus for the Chiefs. They practiced without their most accomplished receiver, Dwayne Bowe, who is on the non-football injury list with a viral condition.

Bowe may return to practice as soon as Saturday. But no matter when he plays, the Chiefs are still in search of a consistent threat to go along with him. The diminutive McCluster has long tantalized the Chiefs with his big-play ability, but he has delivered precious few such plays since arriving as a rookie in 2010.

He bounced from receiver to running back and again to receiver, never seeming to find a comfortable spot. While it’s far too early to call him a changed player in Reid’s offense, it’s a start.

“It’s always good to start a first practice … with a big one,” McCluster said. “I’m happy I held on to the ball.”

Reid’s arrival could rescue McCluster’s career, which stalled last season under coach Romeo Crennel. Reid, then coaching the Philadelphia Eagles, was intrigued by McCluster when he was available in the 2010 draft.

The Chiefs got to him first, but Reid began making plans for McCluster shortly after arriving in Kansas City in January.

“He gives you a little flexibility,” Reid said. “You can move him around a Iittle. We’ll use him here and there.”

During offseason practice and again on Friday, McCluster lined up in a variety of spots.

“I don’t know where he couldn’t line up, to be honest, as far as skill positions go,” Smith said. “He’s got that many tools in the belt.”

Another offensive player the Chiefs are counting on is rookie running back Knile Davis. The Chiefs hope he can be turned into a kickoff return specialist, even though he never returned a kick during a game in college at Arkansas.

That process got off to a rough start Friday when Davis, who was a frequent fumbler in college, dropped a kickoff.

“We’ll get that fixed,” Reid said.

[keg in kc]

We've gotten off track. Wasn't this originally about the awesome deep passing game we're going to see featuring Dexter McCluster?

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

If you can't objectively analyze this guy's play, that's not my problem.

8 ypa is nice and all but it's meaningless since his yards per completion have always been low, because he literally throws the ball down the field less than Matt ****ing Cassel.

Explain why it matters that you throw the ball 10 yards and get 10 yards of YAC or you throw it 20 yards and get no YAC?

Please explain the difference in those yards Clay.

I am not the one with unobjective analysis here. You are obsessed with a stat that proves nothing.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

We've gotten off track. Wasn't this originally about the awesome deep passing game we're going to see featuring Dexter McCluster?

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

I'm surprised that boy can read the name on his jersey much less an option.

[Ugly Duck]

For Chief Fans unfamiliar with the RGIII/Alex Smith/Michael Vick type QB, here's some basics of read-option stuff:

A defense letters the gaps in an offensive line. The spaces between the center and both guards are called the A gaps; the B gaps are between the guards and tackles; C gaps are between a tackle and a tight end; and D gaps are just beyond a tight end’s outside shoulder. Most defenders are assigned a gap on every snap. If a defensive tackle shoots the A gap, for instance, a linebacker would take the B. When you hear TV analysts saying a player is being undisciplined, it’s often because he’s chasing the flow of a play instead of minding his gap.

The best defense to stop a traditional running offense is the 3-4. With three down linemen responsible for the interior and two outside linebackers covering the edges, all the gaps are covered. The two inside linebackers react to the flow of a play and help form a wall, meaning a properly defensed running play should yield no room for a back to break through the line of scrimmage.

In a single-gap scheme, often a 4-3, a lineman is tasked with clogging one hole and making a tackle if the ballcarrier comes his way. In a two-gap scheme, often a 3-4, he’s responsible for the gap on either his left or right. His main job is to engage blockers so the linebackers behind him can make tackles. The 3-4 alone won’t stop the read-option, because it creates an extra gap, but it allows for the easiest adjustment.

Against a pocket passer in a traditional offense, gap responsibility stops at D. And the defense has the upper hand in such matchups, essentially playing 11 against 10 because the quarterback isn’t a threat to run. But when you introduce a QB who has the ability to fake an inside handoff and then scoot around the weak end of the defense*, the E gap is created in an area that is typically left unguarded. The game now becomes 11-on-11, the new math of the NFL.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Explain why it matters that you throw the ball 10 yards and get 10 yards of YAC or you throw it 20 yards and get no YAC?

Please explain the difference in those yards Clay.

We're talking about yards per completion.

That includes YAC.

Alex Smith doesn't throw the ball down the field, and his receivers don't pick up a lot of YAC either.

Sorry to disappoint.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Ugly Duck

For Chief Fans unfamiliar with the RGIII/Alex Smith/Michael Vick type QB,

Good one Duck.

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

No it's not.

It's a worthless statistic based on lies.

He led the league in YPA because his completion percentage was high on short passes, not because he threw the ball down the field.

Not surprisingly, his yards per completion was near the bottom of the league, which lends credence to my analysis.

Your stat shit is a misconception. How often does Tony Romo have great stats? And look at the overrated POS he is.

[OnTheWarpath15]

I'd trust Tony Romo to win a Super Bowl before Alex Smith.

[O.city]

Romo isn't overrated. He's carried that team the past couple years, the team around him has been awful and he's kept them in the hunt every year.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by O.city

Romo isn't overrated. He's carried that team the past couple years, the team around him has been awful and he's kept them in the hunt every year.

Exactly.

I swear, this place criticizes the shit out of good QBs and defends shitty ones to the death.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I'd trust Tony Romo to win a Super Bowl before Alex Smith.

I would, too.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Your stat shit is a misconception. How often does Tony Romo have great stats? And look at the overrated POS he is.

And he's miles better than Alex Smith.

In fact he beat him head to head. In 2011.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

Fair enough.

There aren't many like you though, I think you realize that too.
Posted via Mobile Device

I am. I was one of the few who wanted Smith and to bring in a QB to groom. I was hoping with 1.1, but it appears we have one for the time being in Bray.

[BossChief]

If we had traded for Romo, I'd be homering it up right now.