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.”

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Mutually exclusive

Agree to Disagree.

I bought in 2009 and was sold a huge lemon, one of the biggest frauds of the NFL. At the time I didnt know that and really thought big, winning culture and Super Bowl potential. Sold on it being better than all of Herm, Vermiel and Marty combined. And I was duped in that 4 years. Here I am 4 years later, and I'm not buying in until I see results. No need to believe in a new 4 year plan rebuilding off the previous 4 year rebuild.

Fact of the matter is this team should be winning right now, they should have been winning last season, and we were sold millions of lies and awful FO decisions in that time span.

I'll reserve judgement that all the "new" mindset is mutually exclusive when it shows me what they have done for me lately, rather than hype, what ifs and potential so I am not as disappointed when the games that count roll around.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

And we haven't beaten the Raiders convincingly in what seems like 10 years.

2 yrs

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

did you say this in 2009 too?

I may have.

So what you are implying is no matter what happens and what changes the end result will always be the same.

Makes sense to me.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

So, we get to read in each every post how much you disliked the trade and wanted Geno Smith until next January?

Awesome. It's so original and enlightening.

I will shut up about Geno Smith if he doesn't do anything for the Jets. He plays for the Jets so I could really give a **** how he does. I want to see if I would have been right about him but he can also go **** himself as a Jet.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

Agree to Disagree.

I bought in 2009 and was sold a huge lemon, one of the biggest frauds of the NFL. At the time I didnt know that and really thought big, winning culture and Super Bowl potential. Sold on it being better than all of Herm, Vermiel and Marty combined. And I was duped in that 4 years. Here I am 4 years later, and I'm not buying in until I see results. No need to believe in a new 4 year plan rebuilding off the previous 4 year rebuild.

Fact of the matter is this team should be winning right now, they should have been winning last season, and we were sold millions of lies and awful FO decisions in that time span.

I'll reserve judgement that all the "new" mindset is mutually exclusive when it shows me what they have done for me lately, rather than hype, what ifs and potential so I am not as disappointed when the games that count roll around.

So what you are saying is its easier to just be a hater. Yea I already pointed that out about 30 posts back.

Edit- nope it was about 100 posts back.

Originally Posted by Marcellus

The fact Dane is having to defend having a positive attitude this off season after an entire house cleaning of the FO and coaching staff tells you how shitty this place has become.

All you bleeding vaginas will do a 180 when this team shows promise this year and shrug and say "glad I was wrong" after flinging shit at people all off season.

Its easy to be a hater.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

I will shut up about Geno Smith if he doesn't do anything for the Jets. He plays for the Jets so I could really give a **** how he does. I want to see if I would have been right about him but he can also go **** himself as a Jet.

I really liked Geno, but he's not even going to beat out Sanchez.

Yikes.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

So what you are saying is its easier to just be a hater. Yea I already pointed that out about 30 posts back.

no, I'm saying it's hard to cheer for guys like Dunta Robinson, Donnie Avery, and Mike Devito as upgrades and positive changes when their sample size on previous teams has been less than desired.

Our best players are still our Herm picks besides 2 guys and that is really sad in a 6 year span.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

no, I'm saying it's hard to cheer for guys like Dunta Robinson, Donnie Avery, and Mike Devito as upgrades and positive changes when their sample size on previous teams has been less than desired.

Our best players are still our Herm picks besides 2 guys and that is really sad in a 6 year span.

nope it was about 100 posts back.

Originally Posted by Marcellus

The fact Dane is having to defend having a positive attitude this off season after an entire house cleaning of the FO and coaching staff tells you how shitty this place has become.

All you bleeding vaginas will do a 180 when this team shows promise this year and shrug and say "glad I was wrong" after flinging shit at people all off season.

Its easy to be a hater.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

Agree to Disagree.

I bought in 2009 and was sold a huge lemon, one of the biggest frauds of the NFL. At the time I didnt know that and really thought big, winning culture and Super Bowl potential. Sold on it being better than all of Herm, Vermiel and Marty combined. And I was duped in that 4 years. Here I am 4 years later, and I'm not buying in until I see results. No need to believe in a new 4 year plan rebuilding off the previous 4 year rebuild.

Fact of the matter is this team should be winning right now, they should have been winning last season, and we were sold millions of lies and awful FO decisions in that time span.

I'll reserve judgement that all the "new" mindset is mutually exclusive when it shows me what they have done for me lately, rather than hype, what ifs and potential so I am not as disappointed when the games that count roll around.

This is as ridiculous as hating a team because they continue to draft QB's instead of signing a veteran.

The San Diego Chargers went to their only Super Bowl after trading for Stan Humphries. Since then, they drafted Ryan Leaf, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers.

They haven't returned to the Super Bowl nor have they won anything since.

Drafting and developing a QB doesn't happen in a vacuum. Drafting a guy at 1.1, especially a player that extremely undeserving of that spot and expecting a Super Bowl, is folly. David Carr, Jamarcus Russell and Tim Couch are just a few examples.

The Chiefs had no legitimate options in the draft or free agency. Their best chance to compete in 2013 was to trade for the best available QB.

That or stick with Matt Cassel.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

no, I'm saying it's hard to cheer for guys like Dunta Robinson, Donnie Avery, and Mike Devito as upgrades and positive changes when their sample size on previous teams has been less than desired.

Our best players are still our Herm picks besides 2 guys and that is really sad in a 6 year span.

So who do you propose Dorsey should have picked up at WR, CB, and DE this off season rather than these guys?


What does the fact our best players are mainly Herm era players have to do with Dorsey and Reid?

This is good stuff dude you are starting to get the core of your issues and the fact they have nothing to do with the current FO.

You are getting close to a break though.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

Agree to Disagree.

I bought in 2009 and was sold a huge lemon, one of the biggest frauds of the NFL. At the time I didnt know that and really thought big, winning culture and Super Bowl potential. Sold on it being better than all of Herm, Vermiel and Marty combined. And I was duped in that 4 years. Here I am 4 years later, and I'm not buying in until I see results. No need to believe in a new 4 year plan rebuilding off the previous 4 year rebuild.

Fact of the matter is this team should be winning right now, they should have been winning last season, and we were sold millions of lies and awful FO decisions in that time span.

I'll reserve judgement that all the "new" mindset is mutually exclusive when it shows me what they have done for me lately, rather than hype, what ifs and potential so I am not as disappointed when the games that count roll around.

Even though there are similarities, there are also major differences.

Pioli... although highly thought of at the time... brought in rookie coaches, and maybe even more importantly brought in is own hand picked QB who most definitely fit the description of a backup QB. And he was married to said QB.

This time, Reid was brought in, and is a successful veteran coach. Dorsey was then brought into the fold by both Clark Hunt and Reid. And together, they went out and got their QB... who is not a backup QB by typical backup criteria, but a starting NFL QB.

Major differences IMO.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Coogs

Even though there are similarities, there are so major differences.

Pioli... although highly thought of at the time... brought in rookie coaches, and maybe even more importantly brought in is own hand picked QB who most definitely fit the description of a backup QB. And he was married to said QB.

This time, Reid was brought in, and is a successful veteran coach. Dorsey was then brought into the fold by both Clark Hunt and Reid. And together, they went out and got their QB... who is not a backup QB by typical backup criteria, but a starting NFL QB.

Major differences o

The biggest difference is that Matt Cassel went from the Spread offense, from Randy Moss and Wes Welker, to playing behind center with Dwayne Bowe as his only target.

Smith is coming from a similar offense with a single decent receiver to a team with a Top Three WR in Bowe, a solid veteran in Avery, as gadget receiver in McCluster and a similar tight end in Fasano.

Smith played lights out with lessor skilled players whereas Cassel played in an unconventional offense with greater players.

The parallels between the two players, other than compensation, don't exist.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by TrueFanDave

I really liked Geno, but he's not even going to beat out Sanchez.

Yikes.

Nothing is looking good for him as it is right now. I maybe wrong about him after all, but I sure liked what he did at WC so I still think he can do good in the pros if he works hard enough for it. It may not be how hard he works but his smarts may hold him back? He has talent to be successful though.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

So who do you propose Dorsey should have picked up at WR, CB, and DE this off season rather than these guys?


What does the fact our best players are mainly Herm era players have to do with Dorsey and Reid?

This is good stuff dude you are starting to get the core of your issues and the fact they have nothing to do with the current FO.

You are getting close to a break though.

If only the Chiefs had signed Stanford Routt and Glenn Dorsey in free agency this year.

Oh. Wait.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The biggest difference is that Matt Cassel went from the Spread offense, from Randy Moss and Wes Welker, to playing behind center with Dwayne Bowe as his only target.

Smith is coming from a similar offense with a single decent receiver to a team with a Top Three WR in Bowe, a solid veteran in Avery, as gadget receiver in McCluster and a similar tight end in Fasano.

Smith played lights out with lessor skilled players whereas Cassel played in an unconventional offense with greater players.

The parallels between the two players, other than compensation, don't exist.

My biggest difference is that Cassel was a backup QB in every sense of the word... including his college days.

Smith is a starting QB... at all levels.

Major difference.

But I agree with your assessment as well.