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.”

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by O.city

Baldwin is gonna have to do something this year. He wasn't really used correctly for his skillet the last few years, IMO, but we will see how he fits in Reid's syatem

I like to think that Baldwin was held back because of shitty QB play and bad coaching. I still have hope for him but I know he has to work for it and own up to it. Even though I don't like Alex Smith in any way to be our quarterback, he surely is an up grade over Brady Cassel or Matt Quinn. So if we get better quarterback play then Baldwin wont have any excuses not to do better. I think the coaches should really ride his ass. Actually wish Todd Haley was our WR coach.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

Alex Smith has a HISTORY of being shitty prior to 2011.

Yeah, I think I know where I'm laying the blame for 1-12.

You really are a dumb muther****er. If Alex was so terrible, and it was deemed his fault, then why would a QB guru like Harbaugh suck him off to the media and beg him to stick around while paying him the 3rd highest salary on the team? Why would he put his reputation on the line to keep a QB that many ignorant SF fans already disliked? Somehow, I doubt you will even try to answer that one.

Why would Reid push so hard and give so much to get him at all? Fact is, the Niners teams prior to 2011 had many problems that were beyond the fault of their QBs. If you can't pass block, can't devise professional gameplans... can't adjust those gameplans during a game... then your team will look pretty crappy. Coaching makes a huge difference.

Is it possible that a properly developed QB... an elite QB... could have had more success with such incompetent coaching? Perhaps... but there are only few if any QBs that could manage that feat.

If someone can find a full statistical QB comparison over the last 3 years of their play, please post it. As I recall it when it was posted a while back, for the last 3 years, Alex is right up there in the top 10 of all QBs. He probably was around 7th. Even if you feel he is not worthy of a top 10 spot, to say he's terrible, awful, etc. is just being ****ing moronic.

[BossChief]

From what I've been told from people with first hand knowledge, Baldwin was held back by himself. If he ever wants to be a real pro, he needs to step up his work habits and eat a whole humble pie.

It's disappointing because I'm probably his biggest fan on here.

[Sandy Vagina]

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.

This indeed. Great post. There's no accountability. I thought some Niners fans were awful, but some of you (not you, Marcellus) should just flush yourselves down the toilet. Wretched, awful people with no dignity.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

Alex Smith has a HISTORY of being shitty prior to 2011.

Yeah, I think I know where I'm laying the blame for 1-12.

I wish someone here had some connections with someone at the NFLNetwork.

I would love to see the two playoff games from that season again where the 49ers played the Saints and then the Giants.

I believe both have been on NFL Classic Games before, and I for one would love to see them again.

[Sandy Vagina]

This was from about a year ago... and we know since then, Alex was statistically in the top 5 (top 3?) of all quarterbacks since this was posted...

#49ers Where’s Alex? … QB rating (last 665 attempts):

1. Rodgers, 114.88;
2. Brees, 106.21;
3. Brady, 102.85;
4. Romo, 101.45;
5. Stafford, 96.32;
6. E. Manning, 94.23;
7. Alex Smith, 92.81;
8. P. Manning 92.74;
9. Schaub, 91.93;
10. Ryan 90.79;
11. Rivers 88.98;
12. Roethlisberger 88.25;
13. Vick 86.35;
14. Cutler 83.69;
15. Flacco 83.12.

http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/07...eyton-manning/

[Mr. Arrowhead]

Originally Posted by Mac-NinersChiefs

This indeed. Great post. There's no accountability. I thought some Niners fans were awful, but some of you (not you, Marcellus) should just flush yourselves down the toilet. Wretched, awful people with no dignity.

I agree the negatively is overwhelming, but put yourself in our shoes. We havent experience a playoff win in almost 20 years and over half the fan base has never experienced a super bowl. Sooner or later people will tend to get feed up with it, until this franchise proves otherwise.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by Mr. Arrowhead

I agree the negatively is overwhelming, but put yourself in our shoes. We havent experience a playoff win in almost 20 years and over half the fan base has never experienced a super bowl. Sooner or later people will tend to get feed up with it, until this franchise proves otherwise.

Not my best ability, I admit. I am trying though.






Away from that note though, I just read this few-months-old article... very long, but pretty solid.

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2013/3...-to-alex-smith

Say hello to all your new fans (and to Alex Smith)

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Mr. Arrowhead

I agree the negatively is overwhelming, but put yourself in our shoes. We havent experience a playoff win in almost 20 years and over half the fan base has never experienced a super bowl. Sooner or later people will tend to get feed up with it, until this franchise proves otherwise.

The franchise made sweeping changes this off season. No one will know the results of those changes for seven months, yet there are some that claim to already know the end result.

It's nonsense.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The franchise made sweeping changes this off season. No one will know the results of those changes for seven months, yet there are some that claim to already know the end result.

It's nonsense.

They made sweeping changes only to do the same thing Carl Peterson would do to address the quarterback.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

They made sweeping changes only to do the same thing Carl Peterson would do to address the quarterback.

You really are DENSE.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The franchise made sweeping changes this off season. No one will know the results of those changes for seven months, yet there are some that claim to already know the end result.

It's nonsense.

Know ? Maybe, maybe not. Understand what will probably happen..? Yeah.

I mean Vegas doesn't have any confidence in AS doing anything more than he's done in his best years at SF.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You really are DENSE.

How so? We have seen this same action time and time from Carl Peterson. Why would should we think this time is going be better or different results?

[Mr. Arrowhead]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

The franchise made sweeping changes this off season. No one will know the results of those changes for seven months, yet there are some that claim to already know the end result.

It's nonsense.

I agree, i am actually one of those that is excited and willing to give this regime a chance, but I do understand why some people would be feed up with anything the chiefs do.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Mr. Arrowhead

I agree, i am actually one of those that is excited and willing to give this regime a chance, but I do understand why some people would be feed up with anything the chiefs do.

I see the problem here.