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.”

[Hammock Parties]

You are assuming Alex Smith will produce at the same level when he's asked to throw a lot more.

That's a pretty big leap of faith.

When you expose limited QBs more, their production suffers.

[TheUte]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

You are assuming Alex Smith will produce at the same level when he's asked to throw a lot more.

That's a pretty big leap of faith.

When you expose limited QBs more, their production suffers.

And its a bigger leap of faith to assume that a drafting Geno would have been a better solution.

Dude, the organization got the Best Available player at the position they needed most.

Get over it its a done deal.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

You are assuming Alex Smith will produce at the same level when he's asked to throw a lot more.

That's a pretty big leap of faith.

When you expose limited QBs more, their production suffers.

I'm not talking throwing every game 50+ times. I was just comparing the game plan vs the Bronco's for that night to what we might could do with Smith at QB.

Short controlled passing game with an occasional throw over the top to keep defenses honest. Montana threw about 4 or 5 that game, and missed most of them, but the threat was there.

From the clips of Smith I have seen, I think he could replicate pretty much what Montana did that night if need be.

So if the game is scaled back to around 35 passes in that WCO style, we should be fine.

JMO obviously.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by milkman

Where did I defend him, dumbass?

Expanding your love and excitement?

Code for spreading your butt cheeks for Smith.

[TheUte]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...bowlcaliber-qb

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by TheUte

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...bowlcaliber-qb

that outfit.

Great interview though. Gets me really looking forward to the season.

"Alex is the man!" JC

That sure sounds like a different opinion than Chiefs Planet.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

Actually the argument is broken down right here:



and it's a valid argument to make.

2 years ago this guy couldnt get a team to sniff him, a year later we give up two draft picks for him. Nothing has changed in a year.

yes he has changed in the last year.




He added another concussion to his resume
Posted via Mobile Device

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by TheUte

And its a bigger leap of faith to assume that a drafting Geno would have been a better solution.

No it's not.

What's more likely?

Alex Smith wins a SB here in the next 5 years?

Or Geno Smith wins one in the next 15?

Alex is just a waste of our time like any other retread dink and dunk QB who loves the taste of grass.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Then why is it that you worship everything Clay has to say, which is based solely on PFF stats, which he cherry picks to create his false narrative?

It can't go both ways.



Yeah, you're a REAL ****ing genius by declaring in March 2013 that Andy Reid and John Dorsey are failures.



I'd prefer you keep those ****s, as I don't go that way.

NTTATWWT.

You are disingenuous and self-absorbed beyond all human reasoning.

Originally Posted by Dinny Blues

I feel sorry for ol' "Lil Chiefy." He was the kid that got put in the closet when people were visiting. One day, he got out and snuck outside. There was this huge dumbass tree in their back yard. He climbed all the way to the very top and fell. He then proceeded to whack every branch on the way down.

Lil' Chiefy has a terminal case of the dumbass.

Dinny

I feel sorry for Lil' Chiefy too. That's why I continually ride his dumb ass.

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

No it's not.

What's more likely?

Alex Smith wins a SB here in the next 5 years?

Or Geno Smith wins one in the next 15?

Alex is just a waste of our time like any other retread dink and dunk QB who loves the taste of grass.

Alex Smith winning a SB here in the next five years is probably more likely. The only way that Geno will get a Super Bowl ring is as a backup to a starter.

Geno will be out of the league in about 6 years (on average). There is only a 3.125% chance that a QB will win a Super Bowl in any given year.

The probability of either one happening is actually pretty low.

People don't seem to understand that the Super Bowl is only played once a year and that only one team in 32 will actually win it. Assuming parity and each team takes a turn winning the Super Bowl (not how it works in reality), you can only reasonable expect to win the Super Bowl once in a generation.

The question then becomes who do I think is a better QB now-- while we have a lot of talent on the team--for a Super Bowl run?

Without a doubt, Alex Smith.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

Without a doubt, Alex Smith.

No it's not.

Alex Smith has literally 0 chance of winning a SB here.

You're not paying attention to the NFL in the last 5 years if you think that guy is ever getting close again. Guys like him don't have the tools to do it.

With Alex Smith, you know what he is, and know he isn't getting any better at this point.

Geno is a possibility like any rookie QB with a lot of talent.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Alex Smith is going to get so exposed this year. Stories and segments from the press and networks will fall along the lines of, "Alex Smith: what happened"?

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Week 6-7:

"Has Reid fallen out of love with Alex"?

It's coming.

[SAUTO]

Yeah I'm surepeople don't understand the super bowl is played once a year and only one of the 32 teams can win it...


Are you ****ing serious?
Posted via Mobile Device

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate

You are disingenuous and self-absorbed beyond all human reasoning.

If you were more divorced from reality, you'd be living in another universe.