Quote:
Originally Posted by scott free
Look, no one i've ever seen defend Smythe thinks he shouldn't be trying harder to hit bigger plays, trying harder to find the open man past 10 yards, but it becomes a chicken or the egg scenario... if he starts attempting too many passes he isn't sure of, that leads to turnovers, at that point he isn't the ball control QB he tries to be.
We have a guy who knows his limitations, he knows he cant thread the needle 20-30 yards downfield very often like a handful of other guys... so he doesn't try it that much... he tries to play within himself, play to his strengths.
That isn't usually very sexy, but it IS a winning formula when paired with a good defense, i just don't get why its so hard to accept it for what it is and enjoy it on its own merits... if i could have a MAD BOMBER who didn't make dumb decisions i'd take him in a heartbeat, but for now, we have a smart and athletic QB who can win games.
Is it easier for a guy like that in the regular season, of course, most of the defenses aren't playoff caliber, but saying its all doom, all day in the playoffs is pure baloney... don't **** your killer defense, lead just enough clutch drives, and you CAN win playoff games that way.
I realize this post changes no opinions, but it is true... 2-14 to 9-0... anyone who thinks the QB isn't a big part of that is biased beyond repair.
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You're leaving out two key things:
1) "In the regular season..." The QB you're describing can be successful in the regular season, but there is an expiration date on the effectiveness of this approach.
2) Alex Smith's problem isn't that he avoids passes he isn't sure of... it's that he isn't sure of FAR too many passes. When everyone who watches All-22 (or is watching receivers downfield live, from up top) comments that Alex Smith is leaving a LOT of open plays and throws out there for no reason, that's a legitimate problem. It's not just a matter of protecting the ball. It's a matter of focusing SO much on protecting the football you neglect easy chances.
And it's not like he can't physically make the plays or throws. He can. He's just, to put it frankly, chicken shit, when it comes to throwing the ball.