Is Alex Smith Who We Thought He Is?

[oaklandhater]

http://kcpridesince99.sportsblog.com...ht-he-is-.html

Is Alex Smith Who We Thought He Is?
Jordan Foote , KC Sports Talk on November 16
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Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Coming into the season, Chiefs fans were looking for a lot less of this:


And a LOT more of this:


Anyone that has watched Alex Smith play during his 3 and a half years in Kansas City knows that he is a mobile quarterback with playmaking ability. Those same people also know that Smith is not as good at stretching the field compared to other quarterbacks. The eye test gives pretty solid evidence for that. The GIF above shows you the playmaking ability, but also: Alex is stretching the field! With a revamped offensive line, developing receivers and a fantastic RB Core, Alex should be ready more than ever to push the ball down the field, right? Right? Right?

Sadly, statistics aren't on our side. Alex has averaged 6.7 YPA (Yards Per Attempt) this season. Compare this to last year's average (7.4) and you are saying to yourself "Wow! I had no clue he had regressed in the YPA department this season..." The famous eye test sure doesn't do it justice, but our reality is that Alex is throwing the ball shorter than he was last year, which we didn't know was truly possible.


This doesn't mean that "Captain Checkdown" is making a return. This doesn't mean that Alex Smith isn't capable of throwing the deep ball. This simply means that Alex Smith is throwing the ball a shorter distance down the field compared to last season. Now, many factors can contribute to that. Below is a table of Alex's opponent, attempts and yards per attempt.

Opponent
Attempts
YPA
San Diego Chargers
48
7.56
Houston Texans
37
5.03
New York Jets
33
7.18
Pittsburgh Steelers
50
5.74
Oakland Raiders
22
10.18
New Orleans Saints
24
8.92
Indianapolis Colts
19
6.68
Carolina Panthers
38
4.68
7.1 YPA is the NFL Median so far this season, meaning that 7.1 is the middle of the road in terms of YPA. Alex Smith has thrown for above 7.1 YPA in 4 out of 8 games this season, with 4/8 below the median as well. His average in a game OVER YPA is 2.72. When he performs under the median level, he does so at an average of 1.57 YPA. This data may seem meaningless, but there is actually a lot that can be interpreted from it.

2.72 is greater than 1.57. When Alex Smith is stretching the field, he is doing so very well. When he doesn't stretch the field, he does so at a bit better of a distance from the median. He has great moments and bad moments.

Good moment:


Bad moment:


To make a long story short, Alex Smith is what we thought he is. Coming into the season, we wanted him to stretch the field more and make more big plays. He has done so, but there has been no in between. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I am not going to go in depth about how many good defenses he's faced or how his progressions look, etc. but I am going to say this: Alex is who we thought he is, a QB that can make throws on occasion, but can not make them consistently. Stay tuned for more analysis. Until then, here's what we used to put up with:

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by splatbass

My point has gone completely over your head TWICE. Are you stupid?

Dude back off the hate and rude comments bullshit. I'm just discussing the feasibility of this offense in the playoffs.

How do you feel about our ability to score quickly and our two minute offense. Is it where it needs to be to compete deep in January...

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Answer the question..... Can this offense do what playoff offenses need to do to win games.

Enough with the bullshit factors and team shit. Also injuries are part of the game.

You can cut the attorney nonsense of "direct the witness to answer simply yes or no, your honor" bullshit.

If you can not garner an answer from my post, then that's on you, good sir.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

You can cut the attorney nonsense of "direct the witness to answer simply yes or no, your honor" bullshit.

If you can not garner an answer from my post, then that's on you, good sir.

Jfc dude you threw every excuse in the book out there. It was painful to read. All these garbage scenarios to avoid the question.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Jfc dude you threw every excuse in the book out there. It was painful to read. All these garbage scenarios to avoid the question.

Jfc, maybe if you learn to read, that would help.

Can KC win against the best in their house like this? probably not.

... but factor in that WITH Maclin and Houston back, they probably could stay close to where they are in the 3 phases of "lifting" and win it all against the best.

If you are still struggling to determine an answer, then just give it up. Have another drink and stop trying to use your brain.. it's out for the evening.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Dude back off the hate and rude comments bullshit. I'm just discussing the feasibility of this offense in the playoffs.

How do you feel about our ability to score quickly and our two minute offense. Is it where it needs to be to compete deep in January...

That question has nothing to do with my post.

[NJChiefsFan]

I think the people that are hoping a fully healthy team can be the only difference against a NE in NE this year need to realize that isn't going to happen. It would be amazing if this team suffers tons of injuries during the regular season and then in the playoffs, boom, healthy. Seems unlikely.

If we go into NE for a divisional round or AFCCG, odds are we will be less than full strength. To me that means Reid will have to be better, our redzone will have to be better, Alex will have to be at "his" best(haven't seen it much this year), and the defense will have to be on. Just seems like we will end up with a major guy on one side, if not both sides, of the ball missing.

Can't think that just being healthy is enough change from last years playoff loss to make the difference. Some actual differences will be needed from the players on the field and the coaches off it.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan

I think the people that are hoping a fully healthy team can be the only difference against a NE in NE this year need to realize that isn't going to happen.

Not talking about a fully healthy team. I am thinking CERTAIN KEY players are perhaps the must have. KC can still compete deep in the playoffs, but we are likely to need JMac and Houston back out there.

Those two are in the top 4 of contract payouts for a reason. You take two of the top 4 contract players away from any playoff team, and yes.. they will struggle mightily to win out.

[stevieray]

Starter.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

Not talking about a fully healthy team. I am thinking CERTAIN KEY players are perhaps the must have. KC can still compete deep in the playoffs, but we are likely to need JMac and Houston back out there.

Those two are in the top 4 of contract payouts for a reason. You take two of the top 4 contract players away from any playoff team, and yes.. they will struggle mightily to win out.

Between Ware, Houston, Maclin, a tackle, and a CB, this season just screams us missing at least 2 in the playoffs. Obviously my only basis on that is last year's history and the flow of this season, so it's conjecture at it's finest. I hope I am wrong. Either way, this team has room for improvement which is encouraging. Whether they will do so, or whether Reid is even hell-bent on doing so, remains to be seen. If we expect to go on the road and play not to lose, a good team is going to slowly bleed us to death, which is what happened last year.

[threebag]

Someone get Chris616 back in here. He could fashion some flutes for the playoffs. Positivity.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Crickets.....

[Red Dawg]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Dude back off the hate and rude comments bullshit. I'm just discussing the feasibility of this offense in the playoffs.

How do you feel about our ability to score quickly and our two minute offense. Is it where it needs to be to compete deep in January...

I can tell you the answer. We can't score quickly and the offense will never be where it needs to be as long as Smith is leading it. Smith has looked worse this year than ever and we have no reason to think it will get any better. At least in 2015 he ran for first downs numerous times. Now he doesn't and that is major
blow to our chances. He's missed wide open td's numerous times pointed out on film every week. Our hopes are completely tied to our defense that miraculously has made play after play to win games.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by Tuckdaddy

I can tell you the answer. We can't score quickly and the offense will never be where it needs to be as long as Smith is leading it. Smith has looked worse this year than ever and we have no reason to think it will get any better. At least in 2015 he ran for first downs numerous times. Now he doesn't and that is major
blow to our chances. He's missed wide open td's numerous times pointed out on film every week. Our hopes are completely tied to our defense that miraculously has made play after play to win games.

Has much as I don't like smith some of the blame needs to fall on the entire offense man there has been Drop's blow assignments all season this is bigger then Alex smith Andy is a terrible playcaller and a worse offensive coordinator.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by oaklandhater

Has much as I don't like smith some of the blame needs to fall on the entire offense man there has been Drop's blow assignments all season this is bigger then Alex smith Andy is a terrible playcaller and a worse offensive coordinator.

Andy is the reason we are even talking about the playoffs instead of being 2-12 and flying banners over the stadium. People forget that.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by splatbass

Andy is the reason we are even talking about the playoffs instead of being 2-12 and flying banners over the stadium. People forget that.

Does not leave him blameless for the state of the offense he is a offensive mind coach who is failing in the area he is suppose to exceed in.


This is 0% Dorsey's fault Smith and Maclin are Reid's guys and both of them have underperformed at en almost embarrassing level this year.