Chiefs Teicher:Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive - Page 103

**Tribal Warfare** · 06-05-2013, 06:26 PM

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.”

Hammock Parties · 06-28-2013, 11:51 PM

I like this "false narrative" that everything I say is based on PFF statistics.

I've seen Alex Smith play with my own two eyes.

Yuck.

There are also no PFF statistics for Geno Smith, Dane.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-28-2013, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

I didn't tell you to get help because of anything to do with Geno Smith and you know it.

What? That is untrue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

It had to do with your comment about my family when you had always presented yourself to me as a friend.

Um, no. You did it for weeks prior to my blowing my lid. I'd had enough of your comments, especially considering we were discussing a quarterback, not life and death (which was what I was facing at the time).

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

And then have the nerve to call MY character into question for not flip flopping on my beliefs and opinions....haha

I'm not calling THAT into question, because I've seen you do it with Stanzi. I'm calling into question that notion that you didn't view him as first rounder and worthy of 1.1.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-28-2013, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

I like this "false narrative" that everything I say is based on PFF statistics.

You cherry-pick. True or false?

I think we all know the answer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

I've seen Alex Smith play with my own two eyes.

Yuck.

If that's your opinion, fine. The rest of the NFL and more importantly, John Dorsey and Andy Reid disagree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

There are also no PFF statistics for Geno Smith, Dane.

Oh but once there are, I'm sure you'll be spamming them all over this site.

Well, unless they suck.

Hammock Parties · 06-28-2013, 11:56 PM

If Geno Smith bombs I'll admit defeat Dane.

I've admitted I was wrong about stuff plenty of times.

Your problem is that you never do.

It's OK to be wrong, Dane.

**BossChief** · 06-28-2013, 11:58 PM

I still think he would have been worthy of that top pick...even though I think he would have needed to sit at least a full season and may even be best served to sit two.

Why is that so hard for you to understand?

I guess the disagreement is how we value quarterbacks that have a high upside, but need to sit.

I say if the guy has elite upside...even if that upside would take multiple years to start showing up....he can't be drafted high enough. Even with the top pick in the draft.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-28-2013, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

If Geno Smith bombs I'll admit defeat Dane.

Yay. You were still wrong about him being a first rounder and worthy of 1.1, so you've already lost that battle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

I've admitted I was wrong about stuff plenty of times.

Where? When?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

Your problem is that you never do.

I admitted I was wrong in this very thread. You must have been too busy whacking it to GILF porn to notice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

It's OK to be wrong, Dane.

I prefer to keep it at a minimum.

Hammock Parties · 06-28-2013, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You cherry-pick. True or false?

I base my opinion on what I deem most relevant.

Alex Smith's style of play, statistics and abilities are all crap to me.

Meanwhile, I don't give a shit about his W-L record, because I've seen plenty of crap QBs drug to winning seasons by good teams.

There is a thimbleful of evidence (1.5 winning seasons) that support this idea that Alex Smith is good.

The balance of his career says **** NO.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-29-2013, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

I still think he would have been worthy of that top pick...even though I think he would have needed to sit at least a full season and may even be best served to sit two.

Why is that so hard for you to understand?

If Geno Smith had been taken 1.1, you and the other guys would have been jumping for joy and in some cases, shitting the bed (and this forum).

I said for months that he wasn't worthy, yet I was met with strong resistance. Now that it's been proven that the NFL viewed him as I did, you, GoChiefs and a few select others still can't admit that you were wrong about him and I was right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

I guess the disagreement is how we value quarterbacks that have a high upside, but need to sit.

I would have had no problem had he been taken in the second or third round. But he was not a first round prospect or worthy of 1.1. The guy has too many questions surrounding him, including leadership, decision making and the fact that pass rush like those from K-State and Texas made him play horribly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

I say if the guy has elite upside...even if that upside would take multiple years to start showing up....he can't be drafted high enough. Even with the top pick in the draft.

And this is where I disagreed and where the NFL disagreed. E.J. Manuel is a classic boom or bust guy and Buffalo thought he was worthy of a first rounder. The rest of the draft class wasn't. Every player has flaws, from leadership to experience to arm strength.

GM's and coaches just don't have three or four years to develop a first round QB these days and that isn't likely to change anytime soon.

Hammock Parties · 06-29-2013, 12:05 AM

I can admit I was wrong about the NFL. I thought he would be picked in the first and he wasn't.

I won't admit I was wrong about Geno. In three years time he will have proven he's a first-round caliber of QB.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-29-2013, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

I base my opinion on what I deem most relevant.

Relevant to your narrative. Thank you for finally admitting it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

Alex Smith's style of play, statistics and abilities are all crap to me.

Meanwhile, I don't give a shit about his W-L record, because I've seen plenty of crap QBs drug to winning seasons by good teams.

There is a thimbleful of evidence (1.5 winning seasons) that support this idea that Alex Smith is good.

The balance of his career says **** NO.

And that could be said of many NFL QB's that went on to appear in or win a Super Bowl. Yet, because THAT doesn't fit your false narrative, you chose to ignore it as well.

It's becoming painfully obvious that even you don't understand how flawed your reasoning has become.

Hammock Parties · 06-29-2013, 12:07 AM

All I know is leopards can't change their spots.

Guys like Alex Smith fail in the modern NFL. You have to be able to throw the ball down the field.

It's as simple as that.

**BossChief** · 06-29-2013, 12:13 AM

You were right about where he was picked in the draft, yes.

Is that what you wanted to hear?

JFC

RunKC · 06-29-2013, 12:16 AM

I said this early last fall and I'll say it again: Geno is not a leader of men.

The guy came to NFL teams on his job interview texting his friends and tweeting.
He also folded like a cheap tent when the rest of his team was in trouble.

Clay you say Alex Smith can't lift the team when things go wrong. Neither did Geno.

You say Alex Smith lives and dies with the dump off and won't succeed because of it. Secondroundstats.com proved that Geno made a shit ton of short passes.

Tavon Austin was the engine that drove WVU's offense, not Geno Smith.

Hammock Parties · 06-29-2013, 12:23 AM

Geno isn't perfect, but he has a lot of time to improve.

Alex Smith has none.

Titty Meat · 06-29-2013, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

All I know is leopards can't change their spots.

Guys like Alex Smith fail in the modern NFL. You have to be able to throw the ball down the field.

It's as simple as that.

Didn't you want Alex Smith a few years ago?

06-05-2013, 06:26 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-3047187	Teicher:Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive 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.”
Posts: 43,455

06-28-2013, 11:51 PM	#1531
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $750478	I like this "false narrative" that everything I say is based on PFF statistics. I've seen Alex Smith play with my own two eyes. Yuck. There are also no PFF statistics for Geno Smith, Dane. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,576

06-28-2013, 11:56 PM	#1534
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $750478	If Geno Smith bombs I'll admit defeat Dane. I've admitted I was wrong about stuff plenty of times. Your problem is that you never do. It's OK to be wrong, Dane. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,576

06-28-2013, 11:58 PM	#1535
BossChief SuperBowl or bust Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: BF Iowa Casino cash: $-1785912	I still think he would have been worthy of that top pick...even though I think he would have needed to sit at least a full season and may even be best served to sit two. Why is that so hard for you to understand? I guess the disagreement is how we value quarterbacks that have a high upside, but need to sit. I say if the guy has elite upside...even if that upside would take multiple years to start showing up....he can't be drafted high enough. Even with the top pick in the draft. __________________ Dreams do come true... http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showp...postcount=1407
Posts: 47,907

06-29-2013, 12:05 AM	#1539
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $750478	I can admit I was wrong about the NFL. I thought he would be picked in the first and he wasn't. I won't admit I was wrong about Geno. In three years time he will have proven he's a first-round caliber of QB. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,576

06-29-2013, 12:07 AM	#1541
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $750478	All I know is leopards can't change their spots. Guys like Alex Smith fail in the modern NFL. You have to be able to throw the ball down the field. It's as simple as that. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,576

06-29-2013, 12:13 AM	#1542
BossChief SuperBowl or bust Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: BF Iowa Casino cash: $-1785912	You were right about where he was picked in the draft, yes. Is that what you wanted to hear? JFC __________________ Dreams do come true... http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showp...postcount=1407
Posts: 47,907

06-29-2013, 12:16 AM	#1543
RunKC Andy Reid Supporter Join Date: Apr 2012 Casino cash: $-1690389	I said this early last fall and I'll say it again: Geno is not a leader of men. The guy came to NFL teams on his job interview texting his friends and tweeting. He also folded like a cheap tent when the rest of his team was in trouble. Clay you say Alex Smith can't lift the team when things go wrong. Neither did Geno. You say Alex Smith lives and dies with the dump off and won't succeed because of it. Secondroundstats.com proved that Geno made a shit ton of short passes. Tavon Austin was the engine that drove WVU's offense, not Geno Smith. __________________ Mike Greenberg@Espngreeny I can’t fathom what it must be like to be a fan of the #Chiefs. Adopt a Chief: Jared Wiley
Posts: 52,235

06-29-2013, 12:23 AM	#1544
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $750478	Geno isn't perfect, but he has a lot of time to improve. Alex Smith has none. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,576