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.”

[milkman]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

It tells me that the 49ers are smart enough to do what all teams should be doing.
Your current starting QB Should never stop you from drafting a QB anywhere outside the first round.
Especially one with 1st round talent.
Im a huge advocate of drafting QBs. Every year.
No matter who your starter is.

Double standard much?

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by milkman

Next, to Coogs primarily, I believe the thing that separates Joe Montana from Alex Smith is confidence.
The confidence in one's self and the confidence the players around them had/have in them.
Montana believed in his reads, in his ability to put the ball exactly where he had to, and his teamates believed.
I din't believe that Smith was ever going to earn that confidence from his team in San Francisco.
Just too many years of mediocrity or complete suckage there.
He needed a change of venue.
He's got that.
Now it's up to Andy Reid and staff to instill that self confidence.
I keep reading that Smith is a smart QB whose pre snap reads and adjustments are on Peyton Manning's level.
So what happens after the snap.
I'll tell you.
He doesn"t believe in his ability to put the ball where it needs to be in tight windows.
If Andy Reid can get Smith to trust himself, he will back up his claim that he can turn Smith into a HoF QB.
The problem is that I don't believe that's going to happen at this stage of Smith's career.

In short, confidence is no longer an issue for Smith.

Everything you said here may have been remotely believable prior to 2011... but not since. At this point, pretty much everything you stated is untrue.

Alex really changed in the 2nd half of 2010. He finally discarded all the poor coaching advice and started believing in himself... as did the players around him. Most of the key players like Justin Smith, Vernon Davis, Frank Gore, Joe Staley, and Patrick Willis were vocal in their belief. This was very clear to those paying attention. Stats are not everything... but 2.5 yrs ago, his QBR jumped up about 20 points into the 90's and stayed that way.. till last year, where it went further up.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by milkman

2011, the team that Alex Smith plays for just tradede up in the second round to draft a QB,.
What does that tell you about Alex Smith?

It's a lame argument. The only QB under contract for us was... David Carr... that's it. We had nothing. Alex wasn't even signed... only Carr.. who Harbaugh had a history of not liking.

Plus, even if Alex was under contract... if he is so terrible, then why wait till rd 2 to get Kaep? Why wouldn't he just select him in rd 1?

Why would Harbaugh even try so hard to keep Alex in SF in the 2011 offseason?

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

In short, confidence is no longer an issue for Smith.

Everything you said here may have been remotely believable prior to 2011... but not since. At this point, pretty much everything you stated is untrue.

Alex really changed in the 2nd half of 2010. He finally discarded all the poor coaching advice and started believing in himself... as did the players around him. Most of the key players like Justin Smith, Vernon Davis, Frank Gore, Joe Staley, and Patrick Willis were vocal in their belief. This was very clear to those paying attention. Stats are not everything... but 2.5 yrs ago, his QBR jumped up about 20 points into the 90's and stayed that way.. till last year, where it went further up.

QBr is about as useful as a $50 monopoly bill in a cat housed.

He takes a lot of sacks and checks down so much because he lacks confidence in his ability.

And I believe the bullshit players say about as much as I believe the bullshit spewed in most of your posts.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by milkman

QBr is about as useful as a $50 monopoly bill in a cat housed.

He takes a lot of sacks and checks down so much because he lacks confidence in his ability.

And I believe the bullshit players say about as much as I believe the bullshit spewed in most of your posts.

Then you should probably ask yourself as a KC fan... why are you so determined to believe what you want to believe? Why is it important for you to deflect a truth that should bring you optimism as a KC fan? You just enjoy being miserably negative? or are you one of those that feels such shame in believing but ending up disappointed? so it's better to just stay negative?

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by milkman

Double standard much?

Did a post of mine give you that impression?
Im not recalling which it would be.

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by milkman

Next, to Coogs primarily, I believe the thing that separates Joe Montana from Alex Smith is confidence.
The confidence in one's self and the confidence the players around them had/have in them.
Montana believed in his reads, in his ability to put the ball exactly where he had to, and his teamates believed.
I din't believe that Smith was ever going to earn that confidence from his team in San Francisco.
Just too many years of mediocrity or complete suckage there.
He needed a change of venue.
He's got that.
Now it's up to Andy Reid and staff to instill that self confidence.
I keep reading that Smith is a smart QB whose pre snap reads and adjustments are on Peyton Manning's level.
So what happens after the snap.
I'll tell you.
He doesn"t believe in his ability to put the ball where it needs to be in tight windows.
If Andy Reid can get Smith to trust himself, he will back up his claim that he can turn Smith into a HoF QB.
The problem is that I don't believe that's going to happen at this stage of Smith's career.

I think that is one of the more fair and balanced assessments of ASmith from a detractor on this board.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

Then you should probably ask yourself as a KC fan... why are you so determined to believe what you want to believe? Why is it important for you to deflect a truth that should bring you optimism as a KC fan? You just enjoy being miserably negative? or are you one of those that feels such shame in believing but ending up disappointed? so it's better to just stay negative?

Why should Chiefs fans be happy with mediocrity? I don't understand this line of thinking at all that we should be happy to get a mediocre quarterback. Especially after the crappy seasons we have had and that we haven't won a playoff game in 20 years using the same philosophy.

We shouldn't be happy & we should be demanding better product. That was the whole point of SOC was to demand better product. We are just being sold a bill of goods on an old junk car. Show me the car fax & it would show the car we are getting was in a car wreck. They just polished it up for resale.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

Then you should probably ask yourself as a KC fan... why are you so determined to believe what you want to believe? Why is it important for you to deflect a truth that should bring you optimism as a KC fan? You just enjoy being miserably negative? or are you one of those that feels such shame in believing but ending up disappointed? so it's better to just stay negative?

If I was determined to believe what I want to believe, my posts would be entirely different in nature.

I want to believe that Andy Reid is the right choice to coach this team.
I want to believe that Alex Smith was thbe right choice at QB, and that Andy Reid. Can help him to ascend to the next level.

I post what I believe, not what I am determined to believe.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

I think that is one of the more fair and balanced assessments of ASmith from a detractor on this board.

I agree. And though I am not well versed in Smith's early years with the 49ers, from this...

http://www.pro-football-reference.co.../gamelog/2005/

...it appears Smith may have had a similar beginning to his career as Sanchez. By that, I mean he may have been thrust into the starting lineup a bit before he was ready. Maybe being allowed to sit a year or two would have helped with his development as an NFL QB as well.

BUT... it does appear that Smith's arrow is pointing up as opposed to many other QB's who have been thrown out there too early. Just how steep that arrow is pointing is what remains to be seen.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

Why should Chiefs fans be happy with mediocrity? I don't understand this line of thinking at all that we should be happy to get a mediocre quarterback.

Mainly, I'm not understanding this belief that Alex is mediocre. Elite? No. I think it's fair to believe he isn't elite. But mediocre or less? No. That conclusion is simply not supported by his last 38 games.

Why am I looking at his last 38 games and not lumping in his full career? Convenience? No. It's focusing on trends. What a player was or what he did in the distant past isn't important. What's important is where a player is now and what he has done lately. I'm not cherry picking games here and there. I'm regarding the last 2.5 years of performance. That's a pretty fair sized sample to make judgement on.

People want to point out that Alex had strong coaching and teams lately... and that is true. Most successful QBs developed also have or have had these benefits.. so why can't Alex?

What KC got is a very solid QB. Sounds like some KC fans are just bitching because they didn't get an elite QB right off the bat. What chance did they really have of doing that in this offseason anyway? So what you got is a very solid QB that just might surprise you and make you playoff contenders. Sure, he can't do it alone. KC will have to have a strong team and competent coaching around him to do that this season... just as most of the QBs would need.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Buzz_TinBalls

Kerry Collins' Super - Run



Alex Smith = 2001 Kerry Collins in many ways. Up & down QB's, both of them, we will see what Alex Smith is gonna do soon, but he played better during the past couple seasons than Collins did during his SB season, so ya, with the right team, Smith can make a SB appearance imo.

That was a completely different league where smash mouth football was en vogue, and that was acceptable because offenses were more west coast oriented, not spread out, and rules on pass interference were stricter.

In the new NFL, you will likely have a few playoff games during a Super Bowl run where you HAVE to put up a lot of points.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by Coogs

I agree. And though I am not well versed in Smith's early years with the 49ers, from this...

http://www.pro-football-reference.co.../gamelog/2005/

...it appears Smith may have had a similar beginning to his career as Sanchez. By that, I mean he may have been thrust into the starting lineup a bit before he was ready. Maybe being allowed to sit a year or two would have helped with his development as an NFL QB as well.

BUT... it does appear that Smith's arrow is pointing up as opposed to many other QB's who have been thrown out there too early. Just how steep that arrow is pointing is what remains to be seen.

At this point, there's no question that Alex should have stayed on the bench for a year or two. They took this 20 yr old kid from an Urban Meyer spread and threw him into a WCO on one of the most talent-starved... coach-starved teams in history. McCarthy may have been the OC, but it was his first OC gig. He wasn't good starting out, and didn't have much to work with.

Year 2.. Alex had a solid year, considering the talent and coaching being flawed. Norv Turner just arrived as OC and things were looking up.. but still needed to evolve from their yr 1. Alex put up better numbers than Troy Aikman did in his 2nd year... and Aikman had strong coaching and a much stronger team around him.

Anyway, that's old news.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

At this point, there's no question that Alex should have stayed on the bench for a year or two. They took this 20 yr old kid from an Urban Meyer spread and threw him into a WCO on one of the most talent-starved... coach-starved teams in history. McCarthy may have been the OC, but it was his first OC gig. He wasn't good starting out, and didn't have much to work with.

Year 2.. Alex had a solid year, considering the talent and coaching being flawed. Norv Turner just arrived as OC and things were looking up.. but still needed to evolve from their yr 1. Alex put up better numbers than Troy Aikman did in his 2nd year... and Aikman had strong coaching and a much stronger team around him.

Anyway, that's old news.

Thanks. It's not old news to me.

It just kind of supports the whole Sanchez debate. Sent out too early. Struggled. Comes a point where they make it or don't. Smith at that point... the last 38 games he played... appears to have gotten it.

Now he just needs to take it to the next level. Very few QB's get to the playoffs their first time and go straight to the Super Bowl. Some do. But many of the all time greats didn't get it done on their first attempt.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

Did a post of mine give you that impression?
Im not recalling which it would be.

Did you say the same with regards to Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith?