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.”

[Reerun_KC]

Jfc we can't even discuss football with out the alextards derailing every ****ing thread.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Mav

Well this thread is certainly an aids dumpster fire.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The concept of the article certainly was one.

[RealSNR]

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.

Weren't you trying to sling grammar smaq around awhile ago? Jesus, dude. Proofread you're (sic) goddamn posts.

[cooper barrett]

I corrected his punctuation, and capitalization, not his grammar

It was late, I was tired, but Rico and I worked out our differences. Now he can make fun of me all he wants...Well, maybe just once a week in case Alex11 bites a big one this season.

My absolute and sincere apology for so ravenously butchering the English language as we know it. How can I ever say "I am sorry" without really meaning it? I know, i'll install the new keyboard that the USPS just delivered and get my " ," and "?" keys working again so I don't have to cut and paste them every time.

As I have said in the past: Alex11 knows that he is gone. Alex11 also knows a stellar season will get him a multi-year gig with a big fat payday, a signing bonus, and a guaranteed salary with another team. for the rest of his career.

The F.O. and Andy both understand that pulling Alex11 at anytime may cost them the equity they hold in his contract. A QB who just won the AFC championship has value. An aging QB who either failed to make post season play or failed to make it past the wild card game and into the "real playoffs": Not so much.
Alex11 also knows that being replaced by PMll mid-season will have him playing the rest of his career as a one year gig quarterback with 1\2 the money (if he is lucky) and no guarantees.

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Weren't you trying to sling grammar smaq around awhile ago? Jesus, dude. Proofread you're (sic) goddamn posts.

[penbrook]

In other news Miller and Chris Jones will play. Seantavious, Mitchell, and Santos won't play

[Reerun_KC]

Jesus someone found the crayons.

[tatorhog]

sandy barrett is on fire today

[cooper barrett]

Originally Posted by tatorhog

sandy barrett is on fire today

Please feel free to shove that "Sandy" crap right back up your eclipse tunnel. I am not Sandy. I will keep repeating it until it stops.

[Reerun_KC]

Sandy

[tatorhog]

Originally Posted by cooper barrett

Please feel free to shove that "Sandy" crap right back up your eclipse tunnel. I am not Sandy. I will keep repeating it until it stops.

You may want to change from Sandy Cheeks to Sandy Vagina.

[Dayze]

Sandy

[threebag]

**** here we go with the mult shit again after you all looked like clowns for thinking Tiger was Black Bob. Only thing you guys can sniff out is each other's cumstained assholes.

[penbrook]

Mitchell is out again this game. God help us all if Gaines is the starter vs the Pats

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by cooper barrett

Please feel free to shove that "Sandy" crap right back up your eclipse tunnel. I am not Sandy. I will keep repeating it until it stops.

don't bother. They know we are not the same. The intent is to provoke frustration. Just let em yap and obsess about other posters. That's mostly what CP is about.

[rico]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

don't bother. They know we are not the same. The intent is to provoke frustration. Just let em yap and obsess about other posters. That's mostly what CP is about.

Yeah ok, cooper/PASmithFan.