Andy blames himself, not Alex, for Chiefs' sputtering offense

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- When you're 6-0 and coming off a 2-14 season, there really shouldn't be any complaining.

There can't be a football fan or scout or executive anywhere on the planet who could have forecast the amazing turnaround general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid have conducted with the Chiefs -- certainly not to the extent of a 6-0 start.

But -- and isn't there always a but? -- there is one small area of concern that even Reid himself continues to address: a sluggish offense.

The Chiefs are 25th in the NFL in offense, chugging along at just 326 yards per game, a remarkably low figure for a team unbeaten this far into the season.

No one is more aware of the offense's struggles than Reid. The offense is his baby.

"Listen, I'm never going to make excuses," Reid said Monday. "That's not how we roll here. But the reality of it is we're a little young, but we have to get better.

"I see some phases we're getting better at. But I've got to do a better job of getting these guys in the right position to succeed. We've all got a little piece of the pie to get things right. We're learning on the fly, but we're going to get better."

The Chiefs likely will have to. Fans in this area have seen this script before. They've seen the Chiefs' teams of the 1990s soar through the regular season on the strength of their overpowering defenses and elite special teams.

Then those fans saw the same teams misfire in the postseason, mainly because the offense couldn't step up and contribute when it had to.

To avoid revisiting that script, the Chiefs must get more production out of quarterback Alex Smith, whose numbers keep sinking.

Smith is 26th in the league in passing yards at just 221.7 per game. He's also 20th in the league with a passer rating of 79.8.

But if you're looking for Reid to point any fingers toward Smith, you'll have a long wait.

Reid knows what kind of team he has. He knows, outside of Jamaal Charles and at times Dwayne Bowe, he doesn't have an explosive offense.

Reid also knows you can win in this league simply by not messing up, and letting the opponent beat itself. The Chiefs are No. 1 in the league in turnover ratio at plus-12, and don't have the appearance of a team that will beat itself anytime soon.

"Not turning the ball over is very important to us," Reid said, "especially when you have a solid defense like we have and the kicking game we have, both from our punter and our kicker."

In that respect, Smith is giving Reid all he needs, even if the offense has that familiar conservative look of the '90s. After all, there is a fine line between wanting more offensive production, and opening the offense up so much that more turnovers occur. Reid isn't likely to stand for that.

"You want to always start off by protecting the ball," Reid said. "There's no fine line there for me. ...

"Alex is doing that. And we need to point out the way Alex continues to manage this offense."

And that is the key in Reid's mind: He simply wants Smith to manage the game, which also includes managing the different personalities in the huddle.

"We've got a guy at quarterback, this kid, he's a stud," Reid said. "The things he does for this team is unbelievable. He's making people around him better. He takes the blame for things -- that's what good leaders do.

"At the same time, he's able to teach and explain to other guys with a clear head. Those are valuable things for us as coaches to see. I'm very pleased with the job (Smith) is doing."

In Reid's mind, let the other quarterbacks around the league possess the pretty passing numbers; Reid will take the ultimate one that counts. That is, for now, 6-0.

Still, Reid also has been around long enough to know that his offense will have to improve as the season wears on, even if it's just incrementally.

And that will be up to Reid himself as the play-caller and architect of the offense, something Reid has mentioned almost every week.

"I think we have done some good things, but we have plenty to work on," Reid said. "I don't think I've done a very good job of putting guys in position to make plays. That has been obvious at times. I have to do a better job."



http://www.foxsportskansascity.com/n...75&feedID=5117


Sorry if Q

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

ok, well yes.....there have been a couple of games where Alex came through in the clutch. hit a key pass or TD in crunch time.

Romo has has a 13 win season and an 11 win season. So he is capable of heading a playoff team Other than that, hes been pretty mediocre as far as win/losses.

Yeah, I don't want this to sound like I'm a big Romo homer or something. I don't disagree with anything Dane says about him. At all. But at the same time I'm guessing they'd have at worst 4 or 5 wins with him behind center, if not the same 6. And I have a suspicion that while they might have more turnovers (and hence risk giving up a few more points) they might also be scoring more.

I'm not as sold on "clutch" Alex Smith, because I tend to think the plays he's not making the rest of the game balance out the handful he's made at the end (or think about that the other way around, it sounds less negative that way). A statement that I contend applies to the offense as a whole. I think great for half a quarter, even if it's the fourth, paired with awful for 3.5 quarters makes for an overall "ugh".

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Laughable stuff from you as usual.

Go **** your mother, you ****ing sack of shit.

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Dallas is a flawed team and has been for as long as Romo has been there. That's an irrefutable fact.

So, when Bill Parcells plucked him as an undrafted free agent, coached him up with Sean Payton for two years and unleashed him in his first starting season, Dallas has been flawed?



Who's fault was it against Seattle that the snap was bobbled, sending them home?

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

There's nothing he could have done to make them a SB contender, nor was he at fault for his team allowing 51 ****ing points a week and a half ago against the Denver Broncos.

More ****ing, stupid, asinine bullshit.

Are we to believe that when the Cowboys went 13-3, mainly on the backs of Wade Phillips defense, that the Cowboys weren't Super Bowl contenders?

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Romo has some flaws himself (which is why he's not considered to be in the true upper echelon despite his elite stats/skills),

What are his flaws? Why do the Cowboys continually shit the bed? Care to explain?

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

but he's on a completely different level as a QB than a guy like Alex Smith.

No one but you is comparing him to Alex Smith.

Butt****.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You're definitely ignoring the fact that Romo shits himself at every turn.

If he was what you say he is, how is it possible that he's been the best 4th quarter QB in the NFL since he entered the league? Wouldn't this choking bear itself out statistically?

Did you happen to miss their 13-3 season in which they got there on the back of Wade Phillips defense, only to shit the bed in the playoffs?

I didn't miss anything. The Cowboys won their first playoff game over the Eagles at home (in which Romo played a great game) that season before losing to a superior Vikings team on the road. There was nothing surprising about it, nor should that season be any kind of indictment against Romo. Dallas accomplished what they should have and Romo himself did more than fine, especially when you consider it was his first full season as a starter.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

If it weren't for one SB win, clowns like you probably would be saying the same thing about Peyton Manning.

Go **** yourself.

But in all honestly, I'm guessing you can't even do that.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

If he was what you say he is, how is it possible that he's been the best 4th quarter QB in the NFL since he entered the league? Wouldn't this choking bear itself out statistically?

WHO GIVES A ****?

The guy hasn't won SHIT.

Get back to us when he actually WINS SOMETHING.

[DeezNutz]

It sure does seem that Romo comes up small in crucial moments, but damn if I wouldn't trade Alex Smith for him in a ****ing second.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

I didn't miss anything. The Cowboys won their first playoff game over the Eagles at home (in which Romo played a great game) that season before losing to a superior Vikings team on the road. There was nothing surprising about it, nor should that season be any kind of indictment against Romo. Dallas accomplished what they should have and Romo himself did more than fine, especially when you consider it was his first full season as a starter.

First full season?

How many ****ing chromosomes are you missing?

He'd been a starter since 2004. They beat the Eagles in 2009.

You don't even know what the **** you're talking about.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

It sure does seem that Romo comes up small in crucial moments, but damn if I wouldn't trade Alex Smith for him in a ****ing second.

Fantasy Football strikes again!

[Mav]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

This might be one of the dumbest things I've ever read on this board.

The Packers and Cowboys marched up and down the field in both your examples, yet still lost.

Why?

Because they don't have our defense.

If they did, they'd be favorites to win the Super Bowl.

Just like if we had their offense, WE would be favored to win the SB.


If THIS team could score "all the points in the world", they'd be damn near unbeatable.

Well, why don't the packers, and Cowboys go get a defense like the Chiefs.

I mean, you make it sound so easy. Just GO DO IT.

The fact is, it isn't that easy. Also, trying to TRACK meet with the BRONCOS, I stated a long time ago was a STUPID IDEA. You saw how that worked out for the Cowboys. yet you saw when the Jags slowed them down, how even though they are pathetically weak talent wise, they were able to go out physical them for most of the game. That is how you are going to beat the Broncos. Trying to outscore them, isn't going to work.

But, per the usual, you completely missed the MARK.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

It sure does seem that Romo comes up small in crucial moments, but damn if I wouldn't trade Alex Smith for him in a ****ing second.

Id take Romo in quarters 1-3 over Alex Smith.

No way in hell do I want Romo anywhere near my offense in a crucial situation in the 4th quarter though.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Fantasy Football strikes again!

Not really. Alex Smith just ****ing sucks; it's not any more complicated than that.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Not really. Alex Smith just ****ing sucks; it's not any more complicated than that.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Not really. Alex Smith just ****ing sucks; it's not any more complicated than that.

Alex Smith isn't Matt Cassel. He's not Geno Smith.

While he's certainly not putting up historic numbers, he's also not putting his team in bad situations, nor is he turning the ball over at crucial times.

You need to get over it, Dude. Alex Smith is who he is and he's not going anywhere.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Alex Smith isn't Matt Cassel. He's not Geno Smith.

While he's certainly not putting up historic numbers, he's also not putting his team in bad situations, nor is he turning the ball over at crucial times.

You need to get over it, Dude. Alex Smith is who he is and he's not going anywhere.

Well, you're right that I probably need to get over it, but then I watch him play on Sundays and have renewed anger.

I completely disagree that he's not putting the team in bad situations, and last Sunday was a perfect illustration of this. The game was in doubt as long as it was, in large part, because Smith was garbage.

Yeah, the line play needs to be better (and it damn well should be better), but Smith gets more blame because more is (rightfully) expected of him.

Fisher is a very close second. Anyway, both are going to be in KC for the next 3-4 years for sure.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Go **** your mother, you ****ing sack of shit.

Amazing level of ignorance and so consistently from you on this board. It truly is.

So, when Bill Parcells plucked him as an undrafted free agent, coached him up with Sean Payton for two years and unleashed him in his first starting season, Dallas has been flawed?

Yes, Dallas has been flawed over the last 7 seasons. They've never been a legit SB contender and that has very little to do with anything Tony Romo has done with them (which, on the whole, has been very good).

Who's fault was it against Seattle that the snap was bobbled, sending them home?

A bobbled snap has nothing to do with Romo's QB ability, not that Dallas would have likely advanced any further than that considering they were a 9-7 team lucky to even be in the playoffs (due largely to the offense being the 4th most productive in the league, I should add).

Are we to believe that when the Cowboys went 13-3, mainly on the backs of Wade Phillips defense, that the Cowboys weren't Super Bowl contenders?

Dallas scored the 2nd most points in the league that season. Their defense allowed the 13th most. But yeah, that was all "on the backs of Wade Phillips' defense." Romo ****ing carried that team.

What are his flaws?

Like Favre, Romo has a tendency to go for the big play and can often make mistakes because of it. But no more often than many other QBs in the league (including those often held up to be some of the greatest of all time).

Why do the Cowboys continually shit the bed? Care to explain?

Over the last 4 seasons, it's mostly because they haven't been a particularly good team. Before that, it was mostly because teams were better than them and beat them in a home game.

No one but you is comparing him to Alex Smith.

Try reading the thread again, dipshit. I actually specifically addressed a post that was comparing Romo and Smith.

Butt****.

Clown.