Covitz:Alex Smith will play entire first half of Sunday’s preseason game

[Tribal Warfare]

Alex Smith will play entire first half of Sunday’s preseason game

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said starter Alex Smith would likely play the entire first half on Sunday night at Carolina, but the rest of the quarterback rotation has not been determined.

The starting offense struggled in the preseason opener against Cincinnati, going three-and-out, settling for a short field goal and Smith lost a fumble when sacked. Smith said he had a simple goal for Sunday night: Hold onto the football.

“That was the biggest play for me in my (time on the field),” Smith said. “You look at two third-and-shorts that we didn’t convert, one on the run play and the last on the pass play ... miscommunication there with the receivers. You just can’t have it.

“To me, two plays jumped out — one, the fumble, you just can’t have turnovers. The second one, that third-and-2 down there, in the red zone, if you convert, you have a good chance of walking away with a touchdown. Those are big downs, we know that. You have to execute those and it’s all kind of in the details.”

[ViperVisor]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Oh my goodness.. And people say our WRs don't get open.

Both Avery and Jenkins are open for big gains and Jamaal comes open at the end of the play on the swing.

TEN jumped up expecting to cut off the underneath stuff. That never came and it was semi-mass-protect. Jamaal was decoy, Smith rolls opposite way. 2 fastest WR running and single safety. That Safety did a good job of keeping his depth good and waiting to go after the right guy cause Jenkins had steps on his man.

And McGrath is the throw away option on the play if TEN dropped back 2 safeties on the play and deep pass was covered.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by Kaepernick

This is a great illustration of Alex's willingness to throw deep only to receivers with complete separation and no possible chance of an interception. Again, he can throw deep, he just hasn't often done so, because he is committed to not risking interceptions.

As long as Alex's wide receiver has complete separation from the DB, he will make the throw. Put a DB anywhere in proximity of the WR, and he won't take the risk.

Really not sure if you (and others) are just stupid, or are deliberately dense about this. It has been mentioned many times. Smith plays within the team circumstances.. (1)game situations, (2)personnel ability of his offense, and (3)how the defense is fairing.

for (1)if we are talking KC up 7-0 against opponent... long 70 yds to reach the endzone.. in the late 1st Q, he will likely not force a deep one into tight coverage on 3rd and 11. (2)If his targeted deep WR is not known for his deep ball ability? then the chances of him being inclined to make that throw drop. If it is later in the game... up 24 to 21, and (3)he sees that his defense has allowed 3 straight TDs lately... he probably will take the shot. If the D has been stingy lately, then no.

The dude is calculated with the risk/reward. It can drive the ignorant fans wild... but what they don't have the brain to take note of at times.. is not what he does do.. it's what he doesn't do. Everyone bitches about him playing it safe.. yet it is especially when taking risk doesn't really matter much at the time.. but they will be far more frustrated if he did take unnecessary risks and pissed the game away on pick 6's and handing the game away.

Basically, the QB.. THIS quarterback.. cannot win with some fans. Damned if he does... damned if he doesn't. We see that with the criticisms of the recent playoff game.

People like Clay hate his style because they want him to completely bomb... and I don't mean just passes. They want him to fail... and the best way to do that on this team is to chuck shit up wildly and carelessly. Maybe if he throws enough picks each game, he will be replaced and discarded... and that's really all they want.

They want that over their team's success??? Answer = an emphatic YES.

Why? How could this be? Answer = because they are insisting on a YOUNG, 1st rd quarterback to develop as their QBoTF... and they will accept a couple of horrific seasons to make that happen.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by ViperVisor

TEN jumped up expecting to cut off the underneath stuff. That never came and it was semi-mass-protect. Jamaal was decoy, Smith rolls opposite way. 2 fastest WR running and single safety. That Safety did a good job of keeping his depth good and waiting to go after the right guy cause Jenkins had steps on his man.



And McGrath is the throw away option on the play if TEN dropped back 2 safeties on the play and deep pass was covered.

This is all bullshit.

Jenkins and Avery are both open by NFL standards.

[dls6501]

My biggest problem with Alex Smith is he does not maximize the potential of every play. There have been countless times every single game of his career that he has a WR open for what could be a big play, but Alex chooses to go to a safer play.

When a wide receiver is a step or two past his defender, Alex does not see this as the WR being open enough, and will go to a more open WR.....even if the latter WR will result in a minimal gain. Alex sees a WR that is one or two steps past his defender as a risky throw....where in actuality, said WR is wide open by NFL standards.

The Alex fans will say that "he plays within the circumstances of the game," but I would argue that aside from having a big lead late int the 4th Quarter, there is no circumstance of a game that would call for a QB to NOT throw to an open WR who is streaking down the field. While Alex is praised for finding an open dump off that will net 3 yards, I criticize him for missing the open WR who would net 25+ yards on the same play.

It has nothing to do with simply hoping he will bomb it every play. That is NOT what I or others are trying to say. You Alex fans say that one of his best traits is accuracy right? Well then if a WR is two steps past his defender, an accurate QB should have ZERO problem hitting him and shouldnt deem it as a "risky attempt."

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by dls6501

My biggest problem with Alex Smith is he does not maximize the potential of every play.

Short and sweet that's the basis for all the hate.

He CAN make all the throws. He CAN scramble. He CAN step up in the pocket.

It's frustrating.

Reid is pretty much Vince Vaughn making him break out the bear claws...

NSFW

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by dls6501

My biggest problem with Alex Smith is he does not maximize the potential of every play.

Touchdowns every play!

[dls6501]

Originally Posted by Coogs

Touchdowns every play!

Come on man. You cant be serious with this. You know that's not at all what I was saying. SMH.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by dls6501

My biggest problem with Alex Smith is he does not maximize the potential of every play. There have been countless times every single game of his career that he has a WR open for what could be a big play, but Alex chooses to go to a safer play.

When a wide receiver is a step or two past his defender, Alex does not see this as the WR being open enough, and will go to a more open WR.....even if the latter WR will result in a minimal gain. Alex sees a WR that is one or two steps past his defender as a risky throw....where in actuality, said WR is wide open by NFL standards.

The Alex fans will say that "he plays within the circumstances of the game," but I would argue that aside from having a big lead late int the 4th Quarter, there is no circumstance of a game that would call for a QB to NOT throw to an open WR who is streaking down the field. While Alex is praised for finding an open dump off that will net 3 yards, I criticize him for missing the open WR who would net 25+ yards on the same play.

It has nothing to do with simply hoping he will bomb it every play. That is NOT what I or others are trying to say. You Alex fans say that one of his best traits is accuracy right? Well then if a WR is two steps past his defender, an accurate QB should have ZERO problem hitting him and shouldnt deem it as a "risky attempt."

You have to remember the progression though. You may look at tape and say, "see, Avery gets a step right here and is open and Smith chooses the dump off instead". The question is not did Avery get open, the question is did Avery get open before Smith looked his way in the progression. If not, it doesn't matter if he opens up late, Smith will find the first open guy in the rotation and unload. It's easy to watch film and point out open receivers - not so easy to know where that receiver falls in the progression.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by dls6501

My biggest problem with Alex Smith is he does not maximize the potential of every play. There have been countless times every single game of his career that he has a WR open for what could be a big play, but Alex chooses to go to a safer play.

When a wide receiver is a step or two past his defender, Alex does not see this as the WR being open enough, and will go to a more open WR.....even if the latter WR will result in a minimal gain. Alex sees a WR that is one or two steps past his defender as a risky throw....where in actuality, said WR is wide open by NFL standards.

The Alex fans will say that "he plays within the circumstances of the game," but I would argue that aside from having a big lead late int the 4th Quarter, there is no circumstance of a game that would call for a QB to NOT throw to an open WR who is streaking down the field. While Alex is praised for finding an open dump off that will net 3 yards, I criticize him for missing the open WR who would net 25+ yards on the same play.

It has nothing to do with simply hoping he will bomb it every play. That is NOT what I or others are trying to say. You Alex fans say that one of his best traits is accuracy right? Well then if a WR is two steps past his defender, an accurate QB should have ZERO problem hitting him and shouldnt deem it as a "risky attempt."

The way I read this, it would seem at times that you assume that Alex sees every target option simultaneously (much like one can if they are playing a video game like Madden). You can appreciate that a QB's field of vision is not as such, right? When we the fans review a play and see a target or two pretty open as we pause the action... that can cloud the mind as to assume the QB does too.. but we must know he doesn't. He has to go through his progressions.. and often times when QBs do, they are not looking at a specific target as that "window opens".

There probably are times when Alex could take more chances than he does. I really can get the desire from fans for that. We'll see how it goes this season.. but for a 1st yr scheme like last year? with lots of doubts from all players involved? I think maybe we should ease back on predicting yr 2.. and understand that safe and conservative was wise in yr 1.

[FringeNC]

Whether it was Alex Smith, the O-line, play-calling, WRs running the right routes, etc., the Chiefs offense after the bye was good. In my opinion, the O-line started to play much better, probably partly because of a change in scheme. I have hopes that the O will be really good this year.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by temper11

You have to remember the progression though. You may look at tape and say, "see, Avery gets a step right here and is open and Smith chooses the dump off instead". The question is not did Avery get open, the question is did Avery get open before Smith looked his way in the progression. If not, it doesn't matter if he opens up late, Smith will find the first open guy in the rotation and unload. It's easy to watch film and point out open receivers - not so easy to know where that receiver falls in the progression.

A fine point.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by dls6501

Come on man. You cant be serious with this. You know that's not at all what I was saying. SMH.

Not serious at all!

With some of the haters around here though, you just never know.

[Jakemall]

Originally Posted by ViperVisor

I am a 49ers fan who has watched him for years and for years posted stats showing it is a myth haters pulled out of their ass.

So he holds the ball too long? But also bails out quick in a panic?

Smith only had 18 throwaways last season.

Wasting. Your. Breath.

[dls6501]

I dont play Madden (or FF for that matter), so the Madden or fantasy football excuse doesnt fly with me like you and other Alex fans like to use as a crutch.

Yes, I am well aware that a QB has to go through progressions. I played football. I also find the whole "he goes through progressions and he may have moved on from the WR before he popped open" as an excuse as well. When you have WR's running longer routes, they are almost never the first read. More often than not, the progression goes middle route, long route, check down/short route (unless its a quick hitch or slant or something like that).

So for Alex to have "moved to another progression before the long route becomes open" is really nonsense. There are many examples every game where Alex is looking at an open receiver, and chooses the MORE open receiver for a minimal gain because it is a virtually risk free pass. My problem is, if Alex is as accurate as some claim, the pass attempt that he decided to pass up should NOT be deemed risky. Its not about "taking chances" as "Sandy Cheeks" says. Alex's overly cautious playing has trained you to think that.

[Mav]

The irony of this. The last game, actual game, he was everything that people are saying that he isn't. Carry on.