Teicher:Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive

[Tribal Warfare]

Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
One of the qualities the Chiefs like in new quarterback Alex Smith is his recent history with few turnovers. Smith threw just 10 interceptions in his last 25 games for the San Francisco 49ers, a stat that looks extremely pretty in Kansas City after Chiefs quarterbacks committed 27 turnovers last season.

Smith’s low turnover rate was due at least in part by his reluctance to throw the ball down the field. He was referred to by frustrated 49ers fans as Captain Checkdown for his habit of throwing shorter patterns to receivers for shorter gains.

Smith is in the process of being reprogrammed by Andy Reid, his new coach. Reid doesn’t want to turn Smith into a turnover machine but wants him to be more aggressive, particularly during offseason practice.

“You want to get a feel for the offense now, particularly when you’re new at it (and) if there are close throws, challenge it, see what you can get away with,” Reid said. “If it ends up being an interception, OK, it’s an interception. You learn from it. These are smart guys so they learn from it and once they get into the season, they’re not experimenting with it on game day and they know what they can get away with and know what they can’t.

“It’s a new offense. I would tell any quarterback that comes in new that that’s what you need to do. I’ve told them all that. Go ahead and take your shots and see what you can get away with, within reason. But if it’s a close throw, there are going to be a few of those in the National Football League on game day so you need to know what you can get away with on each route.”

Smith and the other Chiefs quarterbacks were rewarded with several long completions in Wednesday’s practice. Smith had three such plays, including two to Jon Baldwin, while Tyler Bray and Ricky Stanzi had one apiece.

Wednesday’s barrage of big passing plays isn’t necessarily an indication the deep ball is back in the Chiefs’ offense. But since such plays have been scarce for the Chiefs in each of the past two seasons, they’re taking it as an encouraging sign.

“We’re just kind of continuing to press to see what we can do … finding out what we’re capable of,” Smith said. “You’ve got to find that out at some point. This is what the practice field is for.”

Smith was the NFL’s highest-rated passer last season before he was injured, missed a start and then replaced by Colin Kaepernick as San Francisco’s starting quarterback. Smith was completing more than 70 percent of his passes, a high rate, and had just five interceptions.

Still, he had just 30 touchdown passes in his final 25 starts for the 49ers. While that’s a good number as a ratio with his 10 interceptions, it still represents a shortage of big plays.

Smith won’t turn into a mad bomber overnight, if he ever does.

“You want to stay aggressive,” Smith said. “But in the end I’m always trying to make the right read and throw where the defense is telling me to throw. You don’t come out here and predetermine anything, like ‘Oh, I’m going to chuck it deep on this play.’ I’m constantly trying to just trust my eyes and what I’m seeing out there, trust my reads and what I’ve prepared for and then come out here and throw good balls.”

For his part, Reid might be OK with that. But for now, when an interception costs the Chiefs nothing, he would prefer Smith be more of a gambler.

“Everybody is all on board (with Smith),” Reid said. “He’s a good football player. He’s showing that (along with) good leadership. I’m asking him to do a ton of things. He’s handling it. We’ve had an interception here or there but that’s all part of this thing. You’ve got to find out about the offense and you can’t do it with your hands in your pocket. You’ve got to go out and try things and experiment. That’s what he’s doing now.

“It’s just good stuff. He’s staying aggressive with the ball, and I appreciate that.”

The final offseason practice is today. The Chiefs won’t get together again as a group until training camp begins in July at Missouri Western State University.

Smith indicated he may try to throw to some Chiefs receivers during their downtime in an effort to stay sharp.

“We’re heads and shoulder above where we were a couple of months ago,” he said. “But that’s a never-ending thing. I don’t think it’s something like, ‘We’ve got a good feel for each other so we don’t need to work anymore.’ You’re constantly working at it. This is our job, this is our craft. Every single day, it’s coming out here and pushing to get better.”

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

People are going to be sorely disappointed when they find out Alex Smith is almost as bad as Matt Cassel on third down.

You stated that Smith won't help the defense. That's complete nonsense. By not turning over the ball on their own side of the field constantly, he'll help the defense. By not throwing interception after interception, he'll help the defense. By not constantly fumbling in Chiefs territory, he'll help the defense.

You have absolutely no idea how well Alex Smith will perform under Reid, Ault, Childress or Pedersen, yet you're assuming the worst.

Why?

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

I mean ****, 2010 Matt Cassel BLEW AWAY 2011 Alex Smith in terms of third down conversion percentage and passing first downs.

So? Cassel made mistakes at critical junctures time and time again. Alex Smith led his team to a playoff berth and win.

Stats do not tell the entire story, yet you're using them to create your own narrative.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Yes.

When properly used.

That said Andy wants to make him ****ing Brett Fah-ver-uh...

I think they'll run a spread offense where Smith will make quick short passes. I can see him being somewhat productive between the 20's.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

Disagree. Brees at 12 or wherever they picked would have been a huge reach. The trade was a success because of the level of production Green provided.

Yep Brees would have been a huge reach.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/foo...ckdraft_april/
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/foo...ckdraft_march/

Or the other mocks
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/foo...ckdraft_final/
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sport...draft/mock.htm

That's just a quick google search that all had Brees in the first round. Hell he went 32.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

I think they'll run a spread offense where Smith will make quick short passes.

**** I hope not.

Quick decisions are NOT his thing.

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

I can see him being somewhat productive between the 20's.

I can see him protecting the 3...

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

People are going to be sorely disappointed when they find out Alex Smith is almost as bad as Matt Cassel on third down.

I mean ****, 2010 Matt Cassel BLEW AWAY 2011 Alex Smith in terms of third down conversion percentage and passing first downs.

glad you mention "sad" because every time you post cassel and smith are the same guy I get a lil sad at your lacking ability to recognize a QB from and idiot baseball player that was put into the role of NFL QB by a guy who was also lacking the ability to recognize a QB from and idiot baseball player.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Yep Brees would have been a huge reach.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/foo...ckdraft_april/
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/foo...ckdraft_march/

Or the other mocks
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/foo...ckdraft_final/
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sport...draft/mock.htm

That's just a quick google search that all had Brees in the first round. Hell he went 32.

Brees wasn't selected until the second round. Yes taking him at 12 was a huge reach. Trent Green was a top 10 possibly top 5 for most his time here. I know Chiefsplanet loves revisoonist history though. If yall want to bitch about not taking an elite QB Aaron Rogers makes the most sense. Again there was nothing wrong with the Green trade. If the Chiefs drafted Rogers or Croyle would have panned out we aren't even having this discussion.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

Brees wasn't selected until the second round. Yes taking him at 12 was a huge reach. Trent Green was a top 10 possibly top 5 for most his time here. I know Chiefsplanet loves revisoonist history though. If yall want to bitch about not taking an elite QB Aaron Rogers makes the most sense. Again there was nothing wrong with the Green trade. If the Chiefs drafted Rogers or Croyle would have panned out we aren't even having this discussion.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Buzz_TinBalls

glad you mention "sad" because every time you post cassel and smith are the same guy I get a lil sad at your lacking ability to recognize a QB from and idiot baseball player that was put into the role of NFL QB by a guy who was also lacking the ability to recognize a QB from and idiot baseball player.

I didn't say they were the same guy.

The similarities are scary as **** though.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Stats do not tell the entire story, yet you're using them to create your own narrative.

No, I'm not.

I'm merely pointing out that Alex Smith doesn't help defenses like a top tier QB would.

He's not doing shit for our defense that Matt Cassel couldn't do in 2010.

That's all Matt did in 2010. He didn't turn it over. If that's all Alex is going to do, that's not enough. You want to help the defense? Own third down and extend drives.

That is something Alex Smith has shown time and time again that he can't do.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

No, I'm not.

I'm merely pointing out that Alex Smith doesn't help defenses like a top tier QB would.

That's not what you said. You said you couldn't figure out why people think Smith would improve the defense.

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

He's not doing shit for our defense that Matt Cassel couldn't do in 2010.

That's speculation.

Regardless, this isn't the same team, personnel or coaching staff as 2010.

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

That's all Matt did in 2010. He didn't turn it over. If that's all Alex is going to do, that's not enough. You want to help the defense? Own third down and extend drives.

Extending drives will, of course, help the defense. Avoiding numerous costly fumbles and turnovers in their own territory will help them even more.

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

That is something Alex Smith has shown time and time again that he can't do.

So, he was able to lead his team to the playoffs in 2011 and start 2012 with a winning record and the best QB rating in the league. But yet, he's unable to extend drives?

Why do you place the blame solely on his shoulders? Do you believe that he had the personnel to extend drives on third down? Do believe that he had the correct play calls in order to extend drives? Or did he butt-fumble himself into mistakes constantly and if so, how was his QB rating so high and his team successful the past two years?

You're taking stats and creating a narrative in which Alex Smith's play was the reason why they didn't go to the Super Bowl in 2011, why Alex Smith was traded and why Alex Smith won't improve or lead the Chiefs to the playoffs in Kansas City.

It's a false narrative.

[Hammock Parties]

You're being a homer, Dane. The 49ers have been at or near the bottom of the league in third down conversions Alex Smith's ENTIRE CAREER.

If it happens again here in KC, he's going to be a huge disappointment.

If you want to put your head in the sand, fine. Don't accuse those of us taking an objective view of this turd as being somehow ignorant of something, though.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

You're being a homer, Dane. The 49ers have been at or near the bottom of the league in third down conversions Alex Smith's ENTIRE CAREER.

If it happens again here in KC, he's going to be a huge disappointment.

If you want to put your head in the sand, fine. Don't accuse those of us taking an objective view of this turd as being somehow ignorant of something, though.

Whatever you say, Mecca, Mr. Absolute.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

You're being a homer, Dane. The 49ers have been at or near the bottom of the league in third down conversions Alex Smith's ENTIRE CAREER.

Clearly, you do not understand the definition of the word "Homer".

I am merely pointing out the holes in the false narrative that you created and continue to propagate on this site.

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

If you want to put your head in the sand, fine. Don't accuse those of us taking an objective view of this turd as being somehow ignorant of something, though.

This is laughable. "Objective view"? You haven't had an "objective view" of this team in years. You've acted like a jerkoff to anyone that's had an opposing view and labeled them as a "homer" or "True Fan", which is ironic considering that YOU were the very definition of those words for the first six years you spent on this website.

Again, you are taking statistics and creating your own narrative. You're not taking into account that the 49ers have had an average to below average receiving corp. You're not taking into account the plays that were called (and don't get me started on the final 49er's drive of the Super Bowl: I've never witnessed such pathetic play calling in my life) and you're not taking into consideration the opposition or what he was asked to do in those situations.

And furthermore, your assessment of Geno Smith, his value as perceived by the NFL, its scouts, GM's, etc., could not have been further off the mark. Yet, you're attempting to convince anyone and everyone that will listen to you that you're right about Alex Smith, based on PFF numbers?

It's a false narrative at best and disingenuous at worst.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

You're being a homer, Dane. The 49ers have been at or near the bottom of the league in third down conversions Alex Smith's ENTIRE CAREER.

If it happens again here in KC, he's going to be a huge disappointment.

If you want to put your head in the sand, fine. Don't accuse those of us taking an objective view of this turd as being somehow ignorant of something, though.

Objective?

The only thing I see happening is you flip flopping mid season or sooner as usual.

[ptlyon]

I see this thread hasn't changed much...