Chiefs Teicher:Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive - Page 70

**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.”

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-27-2013, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

Or his coaches recognized the flaw in Alexs game and worked around it...choosing the lesser of two evils.

What does that say about a quarterback when his coaches would rather see him take a sack rather than throw the ball past 20 yards?

Why use 20 yards as a determining factor?

I'm sure that you also realize that the 49ers have an average at best receiving corp that was even worse in 2011 (no Randy Moss, not that he was special). I actually believe they've been well below average but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

That said, he didn't have anyone to stretch the field. He was also very accurate on short and intermediate throws, which is paramount to success in a WCO.

**BossChief** · 06-27-2013, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There's nothing wrong at all with disliking the trade.

But GoChiefs has created a false narrative about Alex Smith and pushed his agenda for months on end.

He makes general statements are disproven as relative constantly, such as taking sacks just one reason why he's "bad", yet when it's pointed out that Rodgers took more, he's silent.

When discussing his QBR, he's silent. When discussing his completion percentage, he's silent. When discussing the overtime NFC Championship, the only reason they were there according to him, was defense. On and on and on.

It's intellectually dishonest and a false narrative.

I agree, to an extent.

I guess I just see a whole new chapter of Chiefs football starting that smells eerily similar to other chapters I've had to endure.

Matt Cassel and Alex Smith were drafted the same year and Matt Cassel has more touchdown passes to his credit.

How is that even possible?

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-27-2013, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

Let me know when Alex Smith throws for 4300 yards and 39 touchdowns.

So far, the only comparable aspect is their amount of sacks taken.

Alex Smith beat Rodgers head to head last year. He also had a higher QBR, so I think your statement is incorrect.

Hammock Parties · 06-27-2013, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

There's nothing wrong at all with disliking the trade.

But GoChiefs has created a false narrative about Alex Smith and pushed his agenda for months on end.

He makes general statements are disproven as relative constantly, such as taking sacks just one reason why he's "bad", yet when it's pointed out that Rodgers took more, he's silent.

When discussing his QBR, he's silent. When discussing his completion percentage, he's silent. When discussing the overtime NFC Championship, the only reason they were there according to him, was defense. On and on and on.

It's intellectually dishonest and a false narrative.

I have not. I have only stated the facts.

He's a quarterback with issues in every facet of his game. Those issues place him far below the best QBs in this league.

FYI, I don't care about how many sacks Aaron Rodgers takes. He's elite. Alex Smith isn't even ****ing close...and him taking a lot of sacks is ****ing awful because he can't make up for it in the least. This isn't hard to understand, but you and others have chosen to be homers.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-27-2013, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

I agree, to an extent.

I guess I just see a whole new chapter of Chiefs football starting that smells eerily similar to other chapters I've had to endure.

Matt Cassel and Alex Smith were drafted the same year and Matt Cassel has more touchdown passes to his credit.

How is that even possible?

It's possible because Smith didn't play for a real NFL head coach until 2011, which also happened to be the first season he had any semblance of an offensive line.

And his receiving corp has always been poor.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-27-2013, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

I have not. I have only stated the facts.

He's a quarterback with issues in every facet of his game. Those issues place him far below the best QBs in this league.

Facts that have been cherry-picked by you.

His QBR was best in the league last year and his record was 6-2, so he must be Matt Cassel.

Hammock Parties · 06-27-2013, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Alex Smith beat Rodgers head to head last year.

By throwing for all of 200 yards.

He's lucky has has that defense and running game.

TheUte · 06-27-2013, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

Let me know when Alex Smith throws for 4300 yards and 39 touchdowns.

So far, the only comparable aspect is their amount of sacks taken.

I did not compare the 2 at all.

There were what 5 posts complaining about what a big deal sacks are and how thats is one of the reasons why AS sucks so hard.

Ok, so point one sacks not an issue.

Next issue.

Hammock Parties · 06-27-2013, 08:44 PM

No, sacks are definitely a ****ing issue.

Why would anyone debating QBs choose to ignore this?

There is only one answer. Can you guess?

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-27-2013, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

FYI, I don't care about how many sacks Aaron Rodgers takes. He's elite. Alex Smith isn't even ****ing close...and him taking a lot of sacks is ****ing awful because he can't make up for it in the least. This isn't hard to understand, but you and others have chosen to be homers.

Homer? No. I couldn't care less if we were discussing the starting QB of the Arizona Cardinals.

You have continually misrepresented stats while conveniently avoid reporting others from your precious PFF because it doesn't fit your false narrative.

With Geno Smith failing like a lead brick I the draft, you've had no other way to call attention to yourself, so you've created this nonsensical false narrative about Alex Smith.

But hey, at least we're discussing football, so I'll give you credit in that regard.

RunKC · 06-27-2013, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

By throwing for all of 200 yards.

He's lucky has has that defense and running game.

The 49ers offense scored 30 points that game. And if I'm not mistaken, we have a pretty damn good running game here.

**DaneMcCloud** · 06-27-2013, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

By throwing for all of 200 yards.

He's lucky has has that defense and running game.

Please name Smith's wide receivers in San Fran. Then name the wide receivers in Green Bay and tell me they're equal.

Thanks in advance.

TheUte · 06-27-2013, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smith HATER

No, sacks are definitely a ****ing issue.

Why would anyone debating QBs choose to ignore this?

There is only one answer. Can you guess?

When do sacks stop becoming an issue?

**BossChief** · 06-27-2013, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

It's possible because Smith didn't play for a real NFL head coach until 2011, which also happened to be the first season he had any semblance of an offensive line.

And his receiving corp has always been poor.

Matt Cassel didn't even get a chance to play until 2008 and had as good of a year as Alex ever has.

Eerily similar.

Almost like it's fate.

**BossChief** · 06-27-2013, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheUte

When do sacks stop becoming an issue?

When you have the ability to carry your team, not need your team to carry you.

06-05-2013, 06:26 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $952813	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.”
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06-27-2013, 08:44 PM	#1044
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4750478	No, sacks are definitely a ****ing issue. Why would anyone debating QBs choose to ignore this? There is only one answer. Can you guess? __________________ Chiefs game films
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