Chiefs Teicher:Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive - Page 48

**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.”

RunKC · 06-25-2013, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

IMO, there are less question marks on this team since 1997.

They're loaded defensively, they have an accurate WCO QB, the league's best running back, a solid if not spectacular offensive line, weapons at TE, a true franchise WR and so on. They have the best coaching staff since 1993, IMO.

I don't think they'll click on all cylinders from Day One but by Week Eight, barring catastrophic injuries, this team should be in sync and rolling.

I agree. I just think people are holding off on expecting something because we always think we can be good and our dreams get shattered, especially the last 2 years.

O.city · 06-25-2013, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

IMO, there are less question marks on this team since 1997.

They're loaded defensively, they have an accurate WCO QB, the league's best running back, a solid if not spectacular offensive line, weapons at TE, a true franchise WR and so on. They have the best coaching staff since 1993, IMO.

I don't think they'll click on all cylinders from Day One but by Week Eight, barring catastrophic injuries, this team should be in sync and rolling.

There just isn't enough track record with so many guys we will be counting on to get me that far yet.

But, I do agree that coaching staff wise, this one is probably the best we've had since then and could be argued as the best we have ever had.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-25-2013, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

In todays game, with more spread concepts, I don't think it's as big of an issue as it was previously.

Only time will tell.

At this point, he's anomaly. If shorter QB's begin to have his type of success in the NFL, it will be a trend.

Personally, I can't see it happening.

O.city · 06-25-2013, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Only time will tell.

At this point, he's anomaly. If shorter QB's begin to have his type of success in the NFL, it will be a trend.

Personally, I can't see it happening.

I think Brees is the anomaly, in that he's the traditional guy who's short. Wilson isn't as much the traditional pocket guy.

I don't think guys who are shorter than 6 foot will ever be the norm, but I think the days of the 6"6 pocket passer are less and less likely. the 6"0-6"2 could be more likely.

**BossChief** · 06-25-2013, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

IMO, there are less question marks on this team since 1997.

They're loaded defensively, they have an accurate WCO QB, the league's best running back, a solid if not spectacular offensive line, weapons at TE, a true franchise WR and so on. They have the best coaching staff since 1993, IMO.

I don't think they'll click on all cylinders from Day One but by Week Eight, barring catastrophic injuries, this team should be in sync and rolling.

This team has a lot of talent...for sure. I can see your scenario playing out just as I thought last year had potential to be special...but we all saw what happened when "on paper" became "on the field" and it wasn't pretty.

This years team has a lot of unproven talent on it that can be vital to the failure or success and if Alex Smith can hold up his end of the bargain, we may have something.

It sure would be nice to enjoy the games again.

O.city · 06-25-2013, 10:54 PM

Boss Chief, how long do we have to look at that stupid shit in your sig?

O.city · 06-25-2013, 10:58 PM

I do think we will see more QB's who might not be as "sure" things as some in the past because of the CBA, but I think that also shows just how shitty this years class was.

Typical Chiefs though. Had we just sucked for Luck I guess.

**BossChief** · 06-25-2013, 10:59 PM

I lost a bet to gochiefs that Charles would get 300 touches last year, coming off his torn acl.

It was for a full year and kicked in during week 16 of last season iirc.

O.city · 06-25-2013, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

I lost a bet to gochiefs that Charles would get 300 touches last year, coming off his torn acl.

It was for a full year and kicked in during week 16 of last season iirc.

Ick.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-25-2013, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

I think Brees is the anomaly, in that he's the traditional guy who's short. Wilson isn't as much the traditional pocket guy.

I don't think guys who are shorter than 6 foot will ever be the norm, but I think the days of the 6"6 pocket passer are less and less likely. the 6"0-6"2 could be more likely.

Off the top of my head, Manning, Manning, Flacco, Rothlisberger, Freeman, Ryan, Newton, Luck, Kaepernick, Brady, Tannehill, Manuel, and Rivers are all 6'5 or taller.

"Ideal Size" for scouts and GM's is 6'3, 225 and that's really a "baseline".

Short guys will not become the trend.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-25-2013, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

This team has a lot of talent...for sure. I can see your scenario playing out just as I thought last year had potential to be special...but we all saw what happened when "on paper" became "on the field" and it wasn't pretty.

This years team has a lot of unproven talent on it that can be vital to the failure or success and if Alex Smith can hold up his end of the bargain, we may have something.

It sure would be nice to enjoy the games again.

Again, I think the Chiefs have the finest coaching staff since the 1993 Chiefs.

Marty was a great regular season head coach and brought many wins to KC. In retrospect, Gunther Cunningham was a much better head coach than he was given credit for by me (and practically everyone else, save for KCJohnny) at the time. Vermeil's staff was very good offensively and very poor defensively.

Everyone knew that there was a dropoff between Vermeil and Herm. But what most people didn't expect (myself not included because I did expect it) was that there was a dropoff between Todd Haley and Herm. And even worse was the dropoff between Haley and Crennel!

This team's fan base hasn't seen competent offensive and defensive coaching staffs (let alone, head coaching) since really 1997. And because of that, the fans have forgotten how important a great coaching staff is to the overall equation.

It's just sickening that this team won two games while sending six guys to the Pro Bowl. Say what you will about the Pro Bowl but it is the best indicator of individual talent available to the masses.

**BossChief** · 06-25-2013, 11:14 PM

Sending 5 to the top 100 list (and one of them not being Hali or Berry) and only winning 2 games is criminal.

I bet last years team could have won 7-8 games with Kyle Orton (if we had re-signed him instead of Quinn) and I can at least say Alex Smith is a better player than him.

Add that to the massive upgrade in coaching staff and we have a chance to make some noise this year.

O.city · 06-25-2013, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Off the top of my head, Manning, Manning, Flacco, Rothlisberger, Freeman, Ryan, Newton, Luck, Kaepernick, Brady, Tannehill, Manuel, and Rivers are all 6'5 or taller.

"Ideal Size" for scouts and GM's is 6'3, 225 and that's really a "baseline".

Short guys will not become the trend.

Like I said, I don't think short will ever be the trend.

But with spread concepts becoming more prevalent, I think the league will become more accepting if you will, of guys like Alex Smith who aren't 6"6 pocket passers.

I think guys like Tannehill and Newton and Kap become more the norm. Ej being the latest case. There will probably always be a place for a Manning but I dunno if it will be the ideal anymore.

Kinda feel like Brad Smith was just before his time

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-25-2013, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

I bet last years team could have won 7-8 games with Kyle Orton (if we had re-signed him instead of Quinn) and I can at least say Alex Smith is a better player than him.

Before the season, I would have agreed. But after watching that disastrous coaching staff, I'm not sure that Peyton Manning could have willed that team to eight wins.

Seriously.

O.city · 06-25-2013, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

Sending 5 to the top 100 list (and one of them not being Hali or Berry) and only winning 2 games is criminal.

I bet last years team could have won 7-8 games with Kyle Orton (if we had re-signed him instead of Quinn) and I can at least say Alex Smith is a better player than him.

Add that to the massive upgrade in coaching staff and we have a chance to make some noise this year.

I hope it doesn't, but it might take se time to make noise because of all the change.

06-05-2013, 06:26 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2987187	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: 43,452

06-25-2013, 10:54 PM	#711
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $-725936	Boss Chief, how long do we have to look at that stupid shit in your sig?
Posts: 84,239

06-25-2013, 10:58 PM	#712
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $-725936	I do think we will see more QB's who might not be as "sure" things as some in the past because of the CBA, but I think that also shows just how shitty this years class was. Typical Chiefs though. Had we just sucked for Luck I guess.
Posts: 84,239

06-25-2013, 10:59 PM	#713
BossChief SuperBowl or bust Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: BF Iowa Casino cash: $-1745912	I lost a bet to gochiefs that Charles would get 300 touches last year, coming off his torn acl. It was for a full year and kicked in during week 16 of last season iirc. __________________ Dreams do come true... http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showp...postcount=1407
Posts: 47,903

06-25-2013, 11:14 PM	#717
BossChief SuperBowl or bust Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: BF Iowa Casino cash: $-1745912	Sending 5 to the top 100 list (and one of them not being Hali or Berry) and only winning 2 games is criminal. I bet last years team could have won 7-8 games with Kyle Orton (if we had re-signed him instead of Quinn) and I can at least say Alex Smith is a better player than him. Add that to the massive upgrade in coaching staff and we have a chance to make some noise this year. __________________ Dreams do come true... http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showp...postcount=1407
Posts: 47,903