Let's do the Alex Smith thing again.

[Direckshun]

Shall we.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-...a-game-manager

The Week in Overreactions: Alex Smith is more than a game manager
By Ryan Wilson | CBSSports.com
October 21, 2014 8:16 am ET

Alex Smith isn't a game manager

It's easy -- and, frankly, lazy -- to categorize Alex Smith as a game manager because that appeared to be his ceiling early in his career. Some of those growing pains can be attributed to youth (he came into the league as a fresh-faced 20-year-old), expectations that come with being the first-overall pick in the 2005 draft, and landing on a bad 49ers team that had six different offensive coordinators in Smith's first six seasons.

That's the definition of setting someone up to fail. And while the perception of Smith didn't change once coach Jim Harbaugh arrived in 2011, the reality was that he became a more complete player.

• In 54 games (50 starts) from 2005-2010, Smith completed 57 percent of his passes (6.2 YPA) with 51 touchdowns and 53 interceptions.

• In 2011-2012 under Harbaugh, Smith played in 26 games (25 starts) completed 64 percent of his passes (7.4 YPA) with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

• And in a season and a half with the Chiefs and Andy Reid, Smith has started all 21 games, completing 62 percent of his passes (6.6 YPA) with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

We've been as guilty as anyone as taking Smith's accomplishments for granted, even regularly referring to him as "a bridge quarterback" to whomever is pegged as the next face of the franchise in Kansas City. But he's proven to be much, much more than that. We saw it in last season's playoff loss to the Colts, when he was 30 of 46 for 378 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

We saw it again in Week 4 when Smith completed 20 of 26 passes for 248 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions as the Chiefs throttled the Patriots, 41-14. And we were reminded once again on Sunday in San Diego when Smith, who has long been criticized for his inability to play from behind, did just that.

He led the Chiefs on a late-fourth-quarter, eight-play, 62-yard drive that began on their 8-yard line, and included a nine-yard scramble and passes of 19, 16 and eight yards to set up Cairo Santos' 48-yard field goal.

It wasn't spectacular but that's not Smith's game. (And when did spectacular equate to franchise savior, anyway? Jay Cutler has plenty of "spectacular" plays on his highlight reel but he's regularly played some truly awful football.)

According to Football Outsiders, Smith ranks 15th among all quarterbacks this season, ahead of Tom Brady, Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger, but his steady-as-she-goes approach fits nicely with what Reid wants to do offensively. And even if it means fewer big plays down the field, it's hard to argue with the results; the Chiefs started 9-0 last season before finishing 11-5. And after an 0-2 start this season, they have won three of four, their only loss an eminently winnable game in San Francisco in Week 5. And this all comes after the Chiefs, prior to Reid and Smith's arrival, won a grand total of two games in 2012.

When Smith signed a four-year, $68 million extension just before the season, our only reservation was that it would mean the Chiefs would put off finding their next young quarterback. But at 30 years old, he's entering his NFL prime; there's no reason to rush him off the field. In fact, he could be the key to helping the Chiefs to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2005-2006.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Doing the "Alex Smith Thing" again is like doing the twist.















































...In a SAW movie.

[JENKINSWINS]

Ok you guys are right he's a journeymen and should be utilizing all the all star weapons he has around him on the outside. His WRs are up there with the best of them and he should be ashamed of his production on the field.

He needs to learn to play to make plays.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by JENKINSWINS

Ok you guys are right he's a journeymen and should be utilizing all the all star weapons he has around him on the outside. His WRs are up there with the best of them and he should be ashamed of his production on the field.

He needs to learn to play to make plays.

1) He needs a better O line.
2) He needs better WR's.
3) He needs an OC that doesn't change the identity of the offense every other week.
4) He needs to be more accurate and throw to OPEN WR's beyond 15 yards...

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by ODESSABRONC

He knew the receiver was open down field and he passed it up. It's tied game and the Chiefs ended attempting what was it about 50 yard field? Make that play and at worst it's a shorter field goal attempt and at best it puts the Chiefs in a position to score a touchdown.

We are up 3 with about 5+ minutes to go. A couple more first downs puts it away.

Anything can happen if the DB right behind Jenkins makes the Int, including a return for a TD.

Punt is not a bad option. That's what we did.

They scored for the tie. We scored for the win.

3-3 when most thought we would be 1-5 to 0-6 (even before the Titans game).

Who knows where we go from here, but if we follow the game plan from the games against the Bronco's, Dolphins, Pats, 49ers (first half), and Chargers games... we could do well.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Coogs

We are up 3 with about 5+ minutes to go. A couple more first downs puts it away.

Anything can happen if the DB right behind Jenkins makes the Int, including a return for a TD.

Punt is not a bad option. That's what we did.

They scored for the tie. We scored for the win.

3-3 when most thought we would be 1-5 to 0-6 (even before the Titans game).

Who knows where we go from here, but if we follow the game plan from the games against the Bronco's, Dolphins, Pats, 49ers (first half), and Chargers games... we could do well.

Playing not to lose

Play to win.

He's not going to return an interception 80 plus yards for a td unless it's an absolute shit throw.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by O.city

Playing not to lose

Play to win.

He's not going to return an interception 80 plus yards for a td unless it's an absolute shit throw.

To each their own.

We have a winning formula for right now. 3-3 beats the hell out of 1-5 or 0-6.

And who's to say that this winning formula won't win in the playoffs if we get there.

I still think the play action pass is going to get mixed in when need be. But we haven't really "needed" it just yet.

Edit: I also don't have the luxury of seeing what Smith saw when his read was progressing by Jenkins in his split second timing. All I have s this still picture that someone provided that I can look at for an extended period of time. And FWIW, Bowe(?) looks to be the correct choice at the 38. I am assuming by the comments that the pass went Fasano's direction and was incomplete. Fasano's defender has his back turned and he is right at the sticks. Not a bad choice given the situation either.

For the record, I listened to the game on the radio. Had it recorded on TV, and watched it instead of the Bronco beatdown Sunday night. And I deleated it after enjoying watching us beat San Diego at their place... not giving a second thought to this play before I dumped the recording.

[temper11]

It basically comes down to what you want to pick apart. Last week it was all about the fact that Smith can't make that game winning drive. Can't put it together when we absolutely have to have it and win the game.

The very next game with the game on the line, Smith scrambles out of a collapsing pocket nearly converting a 1st down with his feet, and actually getting the first down when a face mask call adds on a few more yards.

Scrambles again to his left, throws back across the field between two defenders to get Bowe the ball for a big gain again.

Two more completions to put the ball in FG position... A game winning drive when just last week everyone was harping on the fact that he couldn't do this very thing.

So what are we talking about this week? One single play.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by temper11

It basically comes down to what you want to pick apart. Last week it was all about the fact that Smith can't make that game winning drive. Can't put it together when we absolutely have to have it and win the game.

The very next game with the game on the line, Smith scrambles out of a collapsing pocket nearly converting a 1st down with his feet, and actually getting the first down when a face mask call adds on a few more yards.

Scrambles again to his left, throws back across the field between two defenders to get Bowe the ball for a big gain again.

Two more completions to put the ball in FG position... A game winning drive when just last week everyone was harping on the fact that he couldn't do this very thing.

So what are we talking about this week? One single play.

Had he made the play I'm talking about, none of this is necessary.

It's shit like this that really pisses some off here. We can't even discuss a play or what should or shouldn't have happened without excuses and some ****ing reason we shouldn't/can't talk about a play.

He made plays on the final drive. Great for him. It's awesome to see. But he ****ed up on a drive that could have essentially ended the game.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by O.city

Had he made the play I'm talking about, none of this is necessary.

It's shit like this that really pisses some off here. We can't even discuss a play or what should or shouldn't have happened without excuses and some ****ing reason we shouldn't/can't talk about a play.

He made plays on the final drive. Great for him. It's awesome to see. But he ****ed up on a drive that could have essentially ended the game.

Be honest. You would have just moved along to some other play where Smith didn't do quite enough to make you happy.

Reality is, people can nit-pick 5-10 plays at minimum per game where the QB does something underwhelming. Agree with that?

You have had at least one "Smith-lover" already stating that he would have liked to see Smith pull that deep ball trigger. I will state that I would have been concerned but overall okay with him taking that chance.

People are not being sensitive to any and all criticism here... people are just sick of this one play (and a poor gripe at that) being harped on for this amount of time... in a game that we won.. knowing that Smith was a huge part of the win.. and that last 2 minute winning drive was clutch.

... but harp on. Doing so isn't infuriating... just petty and redundant.

[O.city]

I'm not harping on. I'm trying to have a ****ing conversation about a football play on a football message board. Apparently, if shit isn't assholes and rainbows, I'm a negative shithead who isn't a fan.

Had he made plays earlier in the game, said last 2 minute drive where he was "clutch", wouldn't have had to happen.

Same in the 9er game. and the bronco game. See, games the Chiefs lost because plays weren't made.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by O.city

Had he made the play I'm talking about, none of this is necessary.

It's shit like this that really pisses some off here. We can't even discuss a play or what should or shouldn't have happened without excuses and some ****ing reason we shouldn't/can't talk about a play.

He made plays on the final drive. Great for him. It's awesome to see. But he ****ed up on a drive that could have essentially ended the game.

What are you talking about? What are you talking about we can't discuss it?We've been discussing this one play for four days now. Excuses? What excuses? I've already said a million times this week that I think he should have chucked the ****ing ball. I think he made a mistake on that play. The hesitation caused the incompletion because Sherman was too close to the sidelines and Smith was forced into a bad pass. But we are 4 days into talking about this one ****ing play of a game that we won. A game which answered the criticism of last week of not being able to go out and put a game winning drive together.

4 days on the same play. But let's keep going over it. 2 more days until we can find something else to dissect next week.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by O.city

I'm not harping on. I'm trying to have a ****ing conversation about a football play on a football message board. Apparently, if shit isn't assholes and rainbows, I'm a negative shithead who isn't a fan.

Had he made plays earlier in the game, said last 2 minute drive where he was "clutch", wouldn't have had to happen.

Same in the 9er game. and the bronco game. See, games the Chiefs lost because plays weren't made.

How dare there be a football conversation. How dare you not bow down to Alex Smith and kiss his feet.

[O.city]

We can't just talk about said play, some have to bring up waht he did later in the game like it dismisses or makes it ok that this play happened.

Winning is a powerful deodorant I guess.

[O.city]

Yeah, that play didn't make me happy. I'm sure Andy reid and the coaching staff were ecstatic about it

[temper11]

Originally Posted by O.city

Apparently, if shit isn't assholes and rainbows, I'm a negative shithead who isn't a fan.

Again, I have no idea where this is coming from. I haven't seen anyone come even close to saying anything like this. This is where the conversation goes off the rails and into "Smith-baters suck" and back and forth. Let's not do that.

You want to talk about that play for 2 more days? Great, let's do that. But lets not let this spiral down into Count Zarth / Inmen level of discourse.