It's all about the "Hidden" points he's scoring. I mean, you can basically add 16 "Hidden" TDs to his yearly totals. He's like the best in the game at scoring hidden TDs that never actually existed. If it weren't for the fact that they were invisible "Hidden" TDs, his TD total would almost be right up there with the best QBs in the league.

How can anyone argue with these "Hidden" points?

Playing to not lose the game=\=playing to win the game. Where have I heard this before?

Without Smith, Justin Houston is a 5-6 sack guy at most.

It's like Vermeil logic all over again...

"Yeah, we gave up 194 yards rushing to their guy, but if you take out the 53 and 71 yarder he got in the fourth quarter, I'd say we did a pretty good job at containing him all day!"

Vermeil could sell a frozen turd to an eskimo. LMAO

Most paths to the Super Bowl are littered with them.

If that probably a league minimum guy.

El oh el

As with all issues, there's an argument both ways. But people have polarized opinions.

Alex Smith DOES help the defense when he's playing good, efficient football. And when Smith is on in efficiency, the Chiefs are a tough, tough team. It reminds me of a hitter who always goes to a full count vs. a hitter that always swings at the first pitch. Sure, a free-swinger will have more chances to hit the ball, but the hitter who works the count wears down the pitcher which is good for the team. The strategy works. Much as people go ga ga over Aaron Rodgers and Brees, Russell Wilson and Flacco and Eli and Big Ben have won lots of playoff games with this approach.

Smith should be criticized for a few reasons... 1) if you're going to manage games this way, you better know how to close games. Smith has been below average at that. 2) you better be consistent. Smith has not been consistent and he seems to manage games even when behind. So no... I don't think Smith suddenly becomes clutch. He can't consistently win big games this way so I don't want to see him improve the defense. He needs to do what he can to build big enough leads that he doesn't have to close games (but not to the point of forcing shootouts).

He sure make opposing defenses look better.

I'm still trying to gauge how Smith helps the defense by how he plays?

If anything.....the defense has to be on point because any **** up and the team is down. And we all know that Smith isn't bringing that team back to win.

You know what I believe?

An offense that doesn't turn the ball over isn't the only key to making its own defense better.

What is huge imo is time of possession. I loved it last year when we played games where we controlled the clock. We just rocked the clock for most of the game and won. That's what we need to do. Create long, sustained drives, grind out and kill the clock, keep the defends fresh and prevent them from wearing down late in games and during the season As well. Folks, I tell ya, it's a smart strategy.

The Chiefs need to be really good at converting 3rd downs. I seriously hope they master the sh*t out of that.

I've said this before... to your point about 3rd downs, when the Chiefs were hot last year, they were converting ~50% on 3rd downs. When they started tanking end of last year, it was something like 25%. It's nice when it works but it's brutal when it doesn't.

But agree on other points... keeps the defense fresher and wears out the opposing defense. Helps you win turnover games -- whereas many high powered offenses might frequently 3 and out, a game management offense often helps you pin the other offense in the 20. I also think there's a lot to be said for swagger. Defenses play tougher when they're respected. And a lot of times defenses unfairly get dinged for giving up a TD because the offense gave them a short field.

Chiefs Offensive Playbook - 2015

PAGE 1 - MACLIN Bubble screen

PAGE 2 - DAT Bubble screen

PAGE 3 - Jamaal anything (refer to Jamaal subsection for options)

PAGE 4 - <strike>Bowe</strike> Kelce quick in

PAGE 5 WILSON Fly pattern (Head coach edit - Real funny, Doug)

PAGE 6 - *insert rookie name* Post pattern

You know what helps your defense the most?

SCORING POINTS.

Having a guy who doesn't turn the ball over but only leads the offense to 17 points doesn't help your defense, it puts even more pressure on them - they now have to hold an NFL offense to 16 or fewer points.