As Patrick Mahomes settles in, a little discomfort is serving Chiefs’ Alex Smith well

[Tribal Warfare]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl...168429397.html

As Patrick Mahomes settles in, a little discomfort is serving Chiefs’ Alex Smith well

BY BLAIR KERKHOFF

During his first four years with the Chiefs, quarterback Alex Smith was the unequivocal starter. That doesn’t change as he begins his fifth season, as Andy Reid emphasized Monday.

“It’s Alex’s job,” Reid said. “That’s what it is. There’s no gray area with that.”

But the circumstances are different.

Previous backup quarterbacks in the Reid era, guys like Chase Daniel and Nick Foles, weren’t being groomed as Smith’s successor. Patrick Mahomes is, and that changes the dynamic of the position.


Mahomes, who was shifted from third to second team after the Chiefs first preseason game, is on an upward track. There is more of a push at the position, and assistant head coach Brad Childress finds nothing wrong with that.

“Alex Smith has done a great job,” Childress said during training camp in St. Joseph last week. “If you look through the past four years, it’s been fairly comfortable for him. It’s not bad getting uncomfortable. You draft a guy, you look for somebody who can push, and I think it helps everybody up their game.

“Competition only makes you better. If we can create it, we’re trying to. Healthy competition is a good thing, and I think we have great, healthy competition in that quarterback room.”

Reid thinks that’s one reason why Smith raised his game during training camp.

“There’s more competition than before by the nature of it, and as a result I think he’s come out with his best camp,” Reid said.

Smith’s performance in the Chiefs’ first two preseason games is another indication. He played one series in the opener against the 49ers and engineered a touchdown drive. His two possessions last weekend at Cincinnati produced a field goal and touchdown pass. In those two games, Smith is 12 for 15 with a passer rating of 125.3.

Mahomes has generated his own buzz with his performance — he’s 17 of 23 for 137 yards through two games, with three touchdowns and no interceptions — especially after leading the first-team offense to a touchdown at Cincinnati.

Smith has been complimentary of Mahomes, suggesting that the Texas Tech rookie was more advanced in certain areas than he was a rookie.

Smith, 33, is beginning his 13th NFL season and coming off a year when he set a career best for yards (3,502) and his 91.2 passer rating was above his career mark. He’s under contract through 2018.

Smith has always been Reid’s quarterback in Kansas City. But plans had to be made for the future.

“Unfortunately, age comes into this thing,” Reid said. “You get old in this business. At one time (Smith) was the young up-and-comer. That doesn’t mean you’re going to be replaced tomorrow.

“But this is what’s real. You’re not as young as you used to be, so you bring a guy in, and this thing keeps position. It’s life.

“He treats (Mahomes) him well, and we’re not asking him to do this. That’s not his job. We’re asking him to go wins games and be the best he can be. But they talk. There’s an open communication there that’s healthy.”

Smith said he hasn’t approached this season differently than previous ones in Kansas City or San Francisco, where he spent his first eight seasons.

“It’s no different,” Smith said “For me, it’s just kind of being myself. I’m going out there and playing and trying to take advantage of my reps and myself for the season as best I can.”

But Smith isn’t going to withhold help from Mahomes, even if he is the heir apparent.

“Certainly, I’ve been through a lot,” Smith said. “So if there’s something I can help with or see, I am not going to hesitate to vocalize.”

As a Texas Tech sophomore, Mahomes beat out the returning starter for the job. When the Chiefs made him the No. 10 overall draft selection, Mahomes and his camp were thrilled not just because he was going to a winning team, but because he’d be playing for a head coach with a reputation for developing quarterbacks, and the fact that he’d get to work alongside Smith.

Unlike the other first-round quarterbacks selected — Mitchell Trubisky of the Bears, and the Texans’ Deshaun Watson — Mahomes had the advantage of working with and observing a seasoned veteran who has won playoff games and been named to Pro Bowl teams.

What has Mahomes learned from Smith?

“Just how efficient he is,” Mahomes said. “It seems like he always has a plan. ‘If they play this defense, I’m going to go here. If they play that defense I’m going there…’ and how he can get himself out of certain situations. It’s something you learn from him every time you watch it.

“Really, it’s a great relationship. Just having him in front of me, you can’t even explain how much he teaches me on the sidelines. He’s always helping me out. And at the same time, we’re pushing each other to be better every single day.”

[cooper barrett]

They sure spend a lot of time and effort making us newbies feel anything but welcome. Calling us mental cases, one who sucks the peniss and worse. I know it's an internet chat board and yes it is football but I am on far worse sites and the people would never do what they do here...

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

I mean....

Not sure why people want to spend their free time creating mult accounts to fool around with people on the internet. To each their own I guess but wow.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by cooper barrett

They sure spend a lot of time and effort making us newbies feel anything but welcome. Calling us mental cases, one who sucks the peniss and worse. I know it's an internet chat board and yes it is football but I am on far worse sites and the people would never do what they do here...

You're a butt****ing moron

[rico]

Originally Posted by cooper barrett

Rico,

Let me tell you that some of the things you say may be true, but you really should not make negative comments about someones mental state, especially when you are dead wrong. Furthermore: don't reference them to me!

Quoting you
"cooper barrett is you, Sandy. Sorry, but you have no one fooled. To the man behind the computer who created Sandy Cheeks, PLEASE get Sandy under control...he has lost officially lost his marbles and is starting to form multiple personalities!!!! (At least this multiple personality of yours is almost exactly like himself, but STILL!!!)"


That's right you're so far off base that a police dog couldn't catch wind of your ass even after pass foul gas. You are in the wrong county, maybe even state.

I am starting to think that you have an axe to grind with Sandy or someone else in your imagination. ( yes, I could reference your quote again here and just redirect it towards you) That is fine but keep my name out of your #*@%@ bantering!!!!

Wishing I could post a picture of Jack Nicholson in "One Flew Over The Coo Coo Nest" right now...you could borrow it as your avatar.

Holy shit, Sandy...this altar ego/multiple personality of yours has some anger issues!!! You need to get it under control!!!

I don't have an axe to grind with you, Sandy...I thought we were friends?!?!?!?

Sandy, I think it is really funny when you try making some analogy, but end up stepping on your own dick in the process. Like that "football fandom is like a marriage" analogy you made that resulted in hella-lulz. Also like the one you just did with the "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" analogy. Yeah, using a pic of Jack Nicholson from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" actually would make sense. One of the ironic things about that movie/book was that Randall Patrick McMurphy wasn't actually clinically insane like the rest of the inmates he was surrounded by. He was impulsive, yes...which led to him being committed to the psych ward, but he wasn't delusional/insane like the rest of the inmates. This was made abundantly clear in the staredown between McMurphy and Nurse Ratched at the end of the "Harding feels peculiar" scene. I do feel like McMurphy aka Jack Nicholson when I am interacting with you Alexsexuals. I feel like I am interacting with a bunch of deludenoids. You are the 2nd biggest deludenoid on this board, Sandy.

Sandy, your mults are so easy to identify, that a police dog trained to find Sandy mults would jump on you and smother you and then proceed to bite your tiny little balls and microscopic penis off!!!

[rico]

Originally Posted by cooper barrett

They sure spend a lot of time and effort making us newbies feel anything but welcome. Calling us mental cases, one who sucks the peniss and worse. I know it's an internet chat board and yes it is football but I am on far worse sites and the people would never do what they do here...

Holy shit, Sandy...is this your way of saying that you have made your way to rapey/sadomasochistic sites?!?! That's messed up!!! Sandy, I am now begging you to get this alter ego under control!!! He's gonna get you in trouble!!!!

[rico]

Originally Posted by cooper barrett

Refer him to Rico, he seems to be diagnosing schizophrenic conditions in other members (or himself), maybe he can help.

Funny thing, Sandy... I actually do have my BA in Psychology and Social Work along with a minor in Chem. I worked in the mental health field for 5.5 years as a a Service Coordinator/Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner/Regional Internal Business Auditor.

Take it for what it's worth to you, but I think you have completely lost your shit, Sandy.

[cooper barrett]

I should have known you would be an expert on the movie....and yes, I do think that Alex11 will be a different QB this year, either a lot better or a lot worse. calling me a sexual term because I have my opinion on our QB does not make me a "Alexsexual" then you further refer to my comments by referring to me as being deluded even though you used the term deludenoid.

I was just going to use the one where they give him Electro-convulsive therapy. Something tells me you know of this first handed but I am not sure on which end.
The rest is just bull..... I see you didn't use my name, is that because you know you have to play nice.

Let's see how you fare after this entry..."would jump on you and smother you and then proceed to bite your tiny little balls and microscopic penis off!!!"

Once again, I hate to inform you, I am not a "Mult" (I participated in a couple back in the 70's) I asked that you stop this type of negative activity towards me but no, you couldn't let it go.

I wish I could say the same about you not being a douche!!!!!!! But you are proving you are and there are rules about being one....

"There is nothing wrong with having unique opinions. It is part of what makes Chiefsplanet great. However, spamming the same opinion day after day and throughout multiple threads, to the point of thread derailment, is a punishable offense."

Originally Posted by rico

Holy shit, Sandy...this altar ego/multiple personality of yours has some anger issues!!! You need to get it under control!!!

I don't have an axe to grind with you, Sandy...I thought we were friends?!?!?!?

Sandy, I think it is really funny when you try making some analogy, but end up stepping on your own dick in the process. Like that "football fandom is like a marriage" analogy you made that resulted in hella-lulz. Also like the one you just did with the "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" analogy. Yeah, using a pic of Jack Nicholson from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" actually would make sense. One of the ironic things about that movie/book was that Randall Patrick McMurphy wasn't actually clinically insane like the rest of the inmates he was surrounded by. He was impulsive, yes...which led to him being committed to the psych ward, but he wasn't delusional/insane like the rest of the inmates. This was made abundantly clear in the staredown between McMurphy and Nurse Ratched at the end of the "Harding feels peculiar" scene. I do feel like McMurphy aka Jack Nicholson when I am interacting with you Alexsexuals. I feel like I am interacting with a bunch of deludenoids. You are the 2nd biggest deludenoid on this board, Sandy.

Sandy, your mults are so easy to identify, that a police dog trained to find Sandy mults would jump on you and smother you and then proceed to bite your tiny little balls and microscopic penis off!!!

[rico]

Originally Posted by cooper barrett

I should have known you would be an expert on the movie....and yes, I do think that Alex11 will be a different QB this year, either a lot better or a lot worse. calling me a sexual term because I have my opinion on our QB does not make me a "Alexsexual" then you further refer to my comments by referring to me as being deluded even though you used the term deludenoid.

I was just going to use the one where they give him Electro-convulsive therapy. Something tells me you know of this first handed but I am not sure on which end.
The rest is just bull..... I see you didn't use my name, is that because you know you have to play nice.

Let's see how you fare after this entry..."would jump on you and smother you and then proceed to bite your tiny little balls and microscopic penis off!!!"

Once again, I hate to inform you, I am not a "Mult" (I participated in a couple back in the 70's) I asked that you stop this type of negative activity towards me but no, you couldn't let it go.

I wish I could say the same about you not being a douche!!!!!!! But you are proving you are and there are rules about being one....

"There is nothing wrong with having unique opinions. It is part of what makes Chiefsplanet great. However, spamming the same opinion day after day and throughout multiple threads, to the point of thread derailment, is a punishable offense."

Ok Sandy, now this altar ego of yours is starting to not make a "lick of sense," as some of us meth-mouthed Midwesterners would say... Get yourself together, Sandy.

[cooper barrett]

I am not sure how to take this but don't refer to me as Sandy.. Your comments earlier require addressing but not right now. Lets just say I knew you had a mental health background but I must admit I was astonished to see which end of the therapy you were on.


I just looked at you're CP (profile picture) LMFAO!!!!!

Unless we come to an understanding, you previous comments are going to be addressed. The hair extensions are on your make up table, lets see what you do with them.

Originally Posted by rico

Ok Sandy, now this altar ego of yours is starting to not make a "lick of sense," as some of us meth-mouthed Midwesterners would say... Get yourself together, Sandy.

[rico]

Originally Posted by cooper barrett

I am not sure how to take this but don't refer to me as Sandy.. Your comments earlier require addressing but not right now. Lets just say I knew you had a mental health background but I must admit I was astonished to see which end of the therapy you were on.


I just looked at you're CP (profile picture) LMFAO!!!!!

Unless we come to an understanding, you previous comments are going to be addressed. The hair extensions are on your make up table, lets see what you do with them.

I'm sorry, Sandy. I will never refer to you as "Sandy" again, Sandy.

Btw Sandy, hair extensions.... are you attempting to resurrect the MULLET MAN??!?!? Because it's not like you have to twist my arm like you twist your penis when you are on those "much worse sites" in order to get me to do that... no mullet shame on my end.

You can address the earlier posts if you want to, Sandy. I am genuinely worried about you, Sandy. I am genuinely worried about your well-being...going to these "much worse" sites than these. Sorry for caring, Sandy!!! Jeesh!!!


Haha, whoever you are, you've been around for a while.

[Mav]

Well this thread is certainly an aids dumpster fire.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rico]

Originally Posted by Mav

Well this thread is certainly an aids dumpster fire.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes it is. Guilty party here. I've doinked around with Sandy enough now, I feel obliged to get this thread back on track...

[cooper barrett]

I hope you get your head on straight, we can discuss the new and improved Alex11.....

Originally Posted by rico

Yes it is. Guilty party here. I've doinked around with Sandy enough now, I feel obliged to get this thread back on track...

[rico]

Originally Posted by cooper barrett

I hope you get your head on straight, we can discuss the new and improved Alex11.....

Alright, man...we will have to do that sometime.

[Nickhead]

[rico]

Ok, in regards to the article...

First off...Smith set his single season record for yardage with a whopping 3502 yards....

Secondly, of course Reid, Smith, Childress, Mahomes, etc. are going to say what they are supposed to say, but when you see them together, does anyone catch a different vibe? Like when you see a picture of the 4 QB's walking together during TC...Mahomes kind of appears to be in a clique that consists of himself. When you see those little clips of Mahomes talking to Alex, Alex kind of seems to have a somewhat annoyed expression of, "ugh, here is that yippy rookie again." I dunno...Alex knows how to appear professional and likely knows that appearing that way will help him in the future, considering he becomes the guy somewhere else, but I wonder what he really thinks/feels.

They keep mentioning age...Alex's old age. The guy is 33. I don't remember anyone tripping over Tom Brady's age in 2010....or Brees in 2012...or Peyton in 2009...etc. I wonder if Alex has 5 years left...and considering he does, I wonder what we could get for him via trade if he QB's another winning season for the Chiefs this year despite his presumed glaringly underwhelming stats. I bet we could get a 1st round pick. If Bradford could be traded for a 1st round pick, I don't see why Alex couldn't, for what does Bradford have on Alex, really?

Kind of like what Sauto mentioned on the first page about Mahomes quote about Alex's efficiency and pre-planning...where he says Alex always has a plan like, "if they run this defense, Im going here...if they run that defense, I am going here." Sure, it will be nice for Mahomes to sit and learn how to be a bit more disciplined with his decision making, but this is an instance where I hope he doesn't totally mimic Alex. It could shed light on why he shits his pants sometimes when his first read is not open. I hope Mahomes learns how to read defenses, but doesn't unlearn his ability to improvise due to sitting and watching Smith planning his targets prior to the snap...for Mahomes's improvisational skills are one of the many components of his game that separates him from other QB's and makes him a dynamic threat/fun to watch. I hope he doesn't totally lose touch with certain things that he already has in his game.