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.”

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

Things pretty much have to be perfect this year for Alex Smith to get this team to a winning record.

That's the real bugaboo with this turd...he's not good enough to overcome a couple injuries the way a top of the line QB would be.

That's a matter of opinion and last time I checked, your initial opinions suck.

Oh, you're GREAT at hopping in the bandwagon after everything's going down hill, but you don't know a ****ing thing beforehand.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

That's a matter of opinion and last time I checked, your initial opinions suck.

Oh, you're GREAT at hopping in the bandwagon after everything's going down hill, but you don't know a ****ing thing beforehand.

Last three years I sure did, bub.

It's a fact that Alex Smith isn't good enough to be a playmaking QB, so let's not get silly. If we have a bad day running the ball, we're gonna lose the game...just like Cassel. He can't carry a team.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by TrueFanDave

Avery caught 60 last year. What is wrong with that?

I do think Avery is fools gold as a viable #2 WR. I do think he can contribute, but I think he brings more cons than pros. Not a Chris Chambers level though.

He will be okay for this team, I just dont consider him an upgrade over Baldwin or McCluster and I think his numbers are a product of the system with Luck, because if you break them down he's not that efficient. McCluster and Baldwin project out more efficient than him last season.

It may work out, I think he's going to drop too many balls and the gameday thread is going to explode during games because of it lol.

[Hammock Parties]

Avery is probably going to have 400 yards with the likes of Alex "checkdown" Smith throwing him the ball.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

It's a fact that Alex Smith isn't good enough to be a playmaking QB, so let's not get silly. If we have a bad day running the ball, we're gonna lose the game...just like Cassel. He can't carry a team.

The same can be said for 95% of all starting NFL QB's.

In case you hadn't noticed, no team is perfect, especially week to week.

Tom Brady loses, Aaron Rogers loses, Peyton Manning loses, Drew Brees loses, Eli Manning loses, Matt Ryan loses, etc. and so on.

[mcaj22]

Yea but if the Chiefs had any of those QBs you just named we would all be blowing each other right now with nothing negative to say really, because we would be garunteed at least a 10+ win season every year and a shot at the Super Bowl. Which all those QBs have, every season really barring injury.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

And if Jamaal Charles is injured they won't have running game and if Dwayne Bowe is injured they won't have a #1 receiver and if Dustin Colquitt is injured they won't have an MVP.

What's you're point?

They have no depth at key positions and a QB who can't overcome those things.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

I do think Avery is fools gold as a viable #2 WR. I do think he can contribute, but I think he brings more cons than pros. Not a Chris Chambers level though.

He will be okay for this team, I just dont consider him an upgrade over Baldwin or McCluster and I think his numbers are a product of the system with Luck, because if you break them down he's not that efficient. McCluster and Baldwin project out more efficient than him last season.

It may work out, I think he's going to drop too many balls and the gameday thread is going to explode during games because of it lol.

Please explain this efficiency you speak of.
You talkin about drops? Ypr? Yac?
How do you go about this breakdown?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Tom Brady loses, Aaron Rogers loses, Peyton Manning loses, Drew Brees loses, Eli Manning loses, Matt Ryan loses, etc. and so on.

That's not true whatsoever.

Those guys can compensate if a key playmaker goes down.

If necessary they can carry an offense.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

That's not true whatsoever.

Those guys can compensate if a key playmaker goes down.

If necessary they can carry an offense.

Then why do they routinely lose 5-8 games each season?

[RunKC]

I expect to see far more passes from Alex Smith this year, most in the 0-20 range where he excels.

And that's not a bad thing at all. It only takes 10 yards to get a first down.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

They have no depth at key positions and a QB who can't overcome those things.

That can be said for every team in the NFL.

Who backs up Ray Rice? Adrian Peterson? Eli Manning? Peyton Manning? Von Miller? Aaron Rodgers? Tom Brady? Megatron?

Need I go on?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Then why do they routinely lose 5-8 games each season?

Are you seriously arguing Alex Smith is as good as those guys?

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by RunKC

I expect to see far more passes from Alex Smith this year, most in the 0-20 range where he excels.

And that's not a bad thing at all. It only takes 10 yards to get a first down.

Slow down there mister, you just talking crazy talk now.

[themanwithnoname]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

As do Jim Plunkett, Brad Johnson, Kurt Warner, Doug Williams, Joe Theisman, Lenny Dawson and Trent Dilfer.

But there's only ONE WAY!



Seriously guys, get over yourselves.

Awesome you prop up your argument by citing what is by far proven throughout the history of the league as the far less successful way of building a team.

Drafting and developing your own QB accounts for what ~75% of Super Bowl winners? And the rest almost all either were from a very different era or had one off success (like the Ravens and Bucs both of which needed exceptional defense). Brees is the only one I can think of off the top of my head that actually won one that is comparable to the Alex Smith situation, and that required a lot. Brees stepped up his game so dramatically coming off a serious injury. Smith already had a serious injury and did not come back any better, and certainly nowhere close to the improvement that Brees showed.

Your argument is like the idiots that cite some "scientists" that don't believe in something like evolution. Of course if you compare the numbers of them to the opposite then you see just how stupid it is to use them as an argument.

Brady, Aikman, Elway, Favre, Rogers, Roethlisberger, Manning, Manning, Montana, Young, Starr, Naimath, Bradshaw, Staubach, Namath, Griese, Stabler, Flacco...do I really need to continue?

I'd have to check but I think even just making the Super Bowl would have a similar ratio.

But hey, yeah let's buy into the Chiefs way of doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Originally Posted by Marcellus

WTF are you talking about? Are you actually reading posts or just responding aimlessly?

I am more than happy to have rational discussions with people about football, what I am referring to in the post you quoted is the abundance of people that are already discussing what is going to happen as if it were already fact and how this team is doing nothing to get better.

I haven't belittled anyone that wasn't acting like an asshat to begin with. If you think otherwise prove it.

This place is being ruined by posters who think they know everything there is to know and everyone else is idiotic, especially the people who aren't negative about the team.

I have done nothing but state my frustration with that attitude and say that I am willing to give this FO, these coaches and Alex Smith a chance.

Learn to comprehend.

Granted I haven't read all the posts but I don't see anyone saying they haven't gotten any better, but most people seem to accept that they really haven't done enough to actually move towards seriously competing for a championship. And short of Alex Smith having his skin grafted over an android, anything that will get them where they want to go (Super Bowl) will require years of development (although if we get lucky maybe that has already started via either Bray or Stanzi but I'm not holding my breath; that's still the most interesting thing to me though is if either of them can make enough improvement to push for becoming the starter).

And what happens if the negative "idiots" are right? Oh let me guess you'll be all for "giving them a chance" to the next QB/coach/etc. Hey, great to have optimism, but calling people idiots for being able to see a recurring pattern of mediocrity and failure is just well, stupid.