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]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

"Facts" from the same guy that endlessly and viciously pimped Geno Smith as a Franchise QB?

"Facts" from the same guy that pimped Tyler Bray as a Franchise QB?

"Facts" from the same guy that LOVED Matt Cassel?

Give me a break.

The facts are the facts.

They cannot be denied.

I sincerely hope Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe and our slightly talented defense can make up for Alex Smith's shortcomings. They are many.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by Maverick91579

cosigned.....or we should make Clay their OC. they have the qb to throw the long ball. He would be in heaven.

I'd love to learn from Jim at some point. Some of their run concepts are quite unique (double guard/tackle pulls, etc).

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Sorter

I'd love to learn from Jim at some point. Some of their run concepts are quite unique (double guard/tackle pulls, etc).

its straight from the Bill Walsh tree, molded by the Jon Gruden, Bill Callahan tree, and then him and Greg Roman, have just mastered it. Their run game, is a thing of beauty.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

The facts are the facts.

They cannot be denied.

They're only denied by you because it fits your false narrative.

What's shocking that some team hasn't snatched you up as a scout or college personnel director because your insight and foresight about college quarterbacks is without equal.

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I'm sorry, he may have had "Elite" coaching but he had questionable offensive play calling.

Can you please explain to me why in the Super Bowl, in a last ditch effort to win the game, the 49ers tried the same exact plays three times?

Can you explain to me why on that final drive, they didn't spread out their personnel, even once, in order to give Kaepernick a running lane?

Can you?

I can't explain why they ran the same play, but they were on the 5 and against the ravens, there's not a lot you can do that is going to be a high percentage play. imo CK kind of choked there.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

They're only denied by you because it fits your false narrative.

What's shocking that some team hasn't snatched you up as a scout or college personnel director because your insight and foresight about college quarterbacks is without equal.

Ever the ****ing homer, eh?

Just like last offseason.

When you were humiliated beyond BELIEF.

[Ace Gunner]

here's the game -- they didn't run the same play 3 times, but they ran similar formations and of course, they tried to pass for the score all three plays

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

Ever the ****ing homer, eh?

Just like last offseason.

When you were humiliated beyond BELIEF.

Please explain how any of my comments in this thread are blind?

You know, just because you call someone a "homer" as a last resort, doesn't make it true.

You know NOTHING about Alex Smith other than the fact that he, like Cassel, were traded to the Chiefs and you've read his stats at PFF.

You haven't watched every game the past two seasons. You haven't watched every throw. You haven't critized the play calling. You haven't actually criticized ANYONE on the 49ers (despite their lack of a WR corp).

You've created a narrative, based on Alex Smith's pre-2011 play and PFF stats that he sucks. That's it. That's all you've done. And guess what?

It's false and it's incomplete.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by Buzz_TinBalls

I can't explain why they ran the same play, but they were on the 5 and against the ravens, there's not a lot you can do that is going to be a high percentage play. imo CK kind of choked there.

Honestly, I'd have to review it but there are a few factors such as letting your gameplan dictate the play call, player error, poor route design, as well as what you'd mentioned. I'll try to look at it and provide some cut ups of the route designs and the coverages if A) people are interested and B) the plays are in fact different.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Please explain how any of my comments in this thread are blind?

You know, just because you call someone a "homer" as a last resort, doesn't make it true.

You know NOTHING about Alex Smith other than the fact that he, like Cassel, were traded to the Chiefs and you've read his stats at PFF.

You haven't watched every game the past two seasons. You haven't watched every throw. You haven't critized the play calling. You haven't actually criticized ANYONE on the 49ers (despite their lack of a WR corp).

You've created a narrative, based on Alex Smith's pre-2011 play and PFF stats that he sucks. That's it. That's all you've done. And guess what?

It's false and it's incomplete.

I've watched plenty of 49ers games over the past few years.

The statistical breakdowns only confirm what I saw on the field.

There is literally no way anyone can defend a QB who sucks on third down and doesn't throw the ball down the field.

It's a recipe for disaster.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

When you were humiliated beyond BELIEF.

How so?

And guess what, genius? You and your band of merry assholes were butt****ed by each and every NFL owner, GM, player personnel directors and scouts over Geno Smith.

Would you like to talk humiliation?

You should be kissing my ass right now but you're too caught up in yourself to even realize when you're right or wrong. Probably because you're wrong so often.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

How so?

You thought last year's team was not only good, you thought they were a playoff team. Embarrassing, Dane.

And guess what, genius? You and your band of assholes were butt****ed by each and every NFL owner, GM, player personnel directors and scouts over Geno Smith.
.

Wrong. Geno Smith is still going to be a good NFL QB. We will ALL be vindicated.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

Ever the ****ing homer, eh?

Just like last offseason.

When you were humiliated beyond BELIEF.

Holy shit, you have no idea what a Homer is.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by TrueFanDave

Holy shit, you have no idea what a Homer is.

I sure do, Dave.

I used to be one.

[Ace Gunner]

oh and dane, I think they kept the RB in to keep that ravens defense honest -- going spread on the five against a veteran defense is probably not the best way because everybody knows the one thing you are going to try.

they went shotgun all three plays with all three of their best WR's on the field. poor QBing and some poor routes too. the team choked. gonna happen most times when you have a rook QB and the game is on the line.