Quote:
Originally Posted by keg in kc
I suggested during the offseason that Jason Campbell would have been a more economical choice and perhaps even an equivalent quarterback to Alex Smith. People basically laughed at me every time I brought him up. Flash forward a few months, and in a two week stretch he outperforms Smith in a loss at Arrowhead and then wins AFC offensive player of the week for his performance in the Browns victory last Sunday against the Ravens. Can he sustain that? I don't know. But that's two games better than any performance Alex has had this year, and I don't believe the Browns offensive roster is collectively better than ours, or that the Browns offensive coaching staff is collectively better than ours.
I don't think "stupidity" has anything to do with the likelihood of the team retaining Smith. They gave up a pair of seconds for him, and they've started the year 9-0. They're not moving on from that. I'd be shocked if he doesn't get an extension this offseason, even if his play doesn't improve an iota in the last 7 games.
I'm sure the youth and system change on the offensive line, as well as the injuries at tight end, have played a role in Alex's performance. I also believe that, on that flip side, Alex's performance has had a detrimental effect on the performance of the wide receivers. Something which many of us expected, and are not, unfortunately, surprised to see.
I believe they actually have peopled the roster with competitive personnel, across the board. Including on offense. I think the group, as a whole, is underperforming, and I believe that Alex Smith is as responsible for that as anyone else.
Which is not, of course, in any way suggesting that he's solely responsible.
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Keg nails it, again. As recently as a few weeks ago, people were laughing at claims the Chiefs would even be at least 6-2 with Campbell at QB. But he was a viable alternative (note: he also is in a new offense, with little talent at RB) to Smith and a much cheaper one.
Alex Smith has not been helped much by the guys around him. But Avery looks like a pretty damn good No 2 WR if you add 3 TDs and 150 yards to his stat line (which you would if Smith could throw a deep ball). Bowe's abilities are proven at this point. I have no problem with a comment about how bad the TEs have been, but the same argument doesn't hold up on the WRs for me. They're not elite, but there's enough there to be pretty good.