Blame this loss to Packers on Chiefs’ highly paid quarterback Alex Smith

[Hammock Parties]

Yay!

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...e36896085.html

GREEN BAY, Wisc.

Metaphorically speaking, the Chiefs showed up to a job interview drunk, lost, and wearing only jorts.

This was supposed to be a chance for them to see how they measured up against one of the NFL’s better teams, but instead it turned into a nationally televised embarrassment.

Alex Smith, who is being paid top-tier quarterback money and is bound to the Chiefs through at least next season, deserves every bit of criticism coming his way.

His team lost 38-28 to the Packers here at Lambeau Field on Monday, and that score is unnecessarily generous to the Chiefs.

This looked more like the Romeo Crennel years than anything up to the standards of Andy Reid, one of the game’s highest-paid and most experienced coaches.

The Chiefs fancy themselves Super Bowl contenders, but after blowing one game and being blown out in the next, they find themselves deservedly closer to the bottom of the league than the top.

This is awkward, but the Chiefs are below — among many other teams — the Raiders.

Smith can and should wear a lot of the blame. This is a quarterback’s league, and the juxtoposition with Aaron Rodgers on this night was almost cruel.

This was always going to be a critical season for Smith — he is playing with the best collection of talent and the most stability of his career — and he just played his worst consecutive games since joining the Chiefs.

The numbers against Green Bay weren’t bad. He completed 24 of 40 passes for 290 yards. Even threw a touchdown. To a wide receiver! But those numbers are very misleading, most of them picked up in a second half when the only drama was whether Derrick Johnson would break the franchise’s all-time tackles record (he did) and how many touchdowns Rodgers could throw (five).

In the first half, when the Chiefs allowed themselves to be buried, Smith completed two of seven passes for 39 yards.

Forget the numbers in the second half. One of the limitations of Smith is his inability to lead a team back from a deficit. During the game, an ESPN account Tweeted that Smith is 1-30-1 as a starting quarterback when his team trails by 14 or more at any point.

This played out like a power-point presentation of every fair criticism of Smith. Virtually every pass was short, or sideways, and even after three drives he actually had minus 1 yard passing. Serious. Less than zero. Fewer passing yards than you did, sitting at home, screaming at the TV before flipping over to the Royals.

The offensive line is a legitimate problem, of course, but Smith isn’t helping. At least once, he appeared to make the wrong decision on a package play that went for a loss. At another point, he threw a pass that two Packers defenders had a better chance of catching than the intended receiver.

In the second half, the man whose value rests largely in his ability to avoid mistakes scrambled left and threw across his body, poorly executing a terrible idea ended in an interception that gave the Packers the ball four yards from the end zone.

Not that he was alone in the disappointment. At one point, the Chiefs had been outgained 175-3. The Chiefs took over at midfield, and went backward. They were called for 12 men on the field. Twice. In the first half. Once, Allen Bailey made a terrific move to force an apparent fumble, but the play was wiped out by another Chiefs penalty.

All of this with 11 days to prepare.

Eleven days to prepare after an embarrassing loss to a division rival. Eleven days to prove they are more of the dominant team from week one than the bumbling team from week two. Eleven days to prepare to play one of the league’s marquee franchises in front of the football world.

This is a team going in the wrong direction. The Chiefs won convincingly in Houston, then should’ve beaten the Broncos, and now should not have wasted the Packers’ time.

You can find reasons to believe if you want. Sean Smith has been suspended for three games, a weakness fully exploited by two Hall of Fame quarterbacks. The offensive line is still working through some issues. Eric Berry may or may not be at full strength, and, hey, Jaye Howard and Marcus Peters and Travis Kelce and some others have had nice moments.

The Chiefs made the playoffs two years ago, and entered their final game last year with a chance to go back. The NFL is this country’s greatest incubator for overreaction. The Chiefs still have a lot of talent here. They can still save their season.

Many good teams will lose to the Broncos and Packers this year.

But there are just so many issues, none more glaring than Alex Smith.

His is the face of a team whose defining characteristic so far is the ability to drive fans mad — use either definition of that last word. These last two weeks have been infuriating to watch, and so much of it is tied to Smith — the short and sideways passes, the intermittent loss of place, the general inability to be what his coaches keep saying he is.

Sports are supposed to connect on a personal level, and the frustration means you care, but these last two weeks have brought an exceptional amount of frustration.

It’s not all Smith’s fault, of course. It’s rarely that simple. But he does play the most important position in American sports, and is the highest paid player (by average salary) on the team.

The Chiefs need to be beyond failures this sharp and overwhelming. So does their franchise quarterback.

In the three seasons since Smith came to Kansas City, it’s hard to think of a worse time for either team or player.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by RobBlake

i'v said before.. the only way alex plays with a fire mentality is if the team is down, threatened to be benched and the home stadium is threatening ot guillotine his entire family.

And you followed him to another team.

What kind of weirdo are you?

[GloryDayz]

We used to say, "I hate the off-season", these days I'm not so sure it's just the off-season.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

We used to say, "I hate the off-season", these days I'm not so sure it's just the off-season.

kinda hard to have enthusiasm when you know your team has virtually no chance to even win a play off game until they get a new qb who is going to make 20million next year no matter what happens.

It just deflates the fandom.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by kcxiv

kinda hard to have enthusiasm when you know your team has virtually no chance to even win a play off game until they get a new qb who is going to make 20million next year no matter what happens.

It just deflates the fandom.

I get it, but as long as the Hunts get the coin their getting regardless of the team's performance, I don't see it changing. They make tons for something they don't need to know a whole lot about. It's perfect if you're a Hunt, it sucks if you're a fan.

[RobBlake]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

And you followed him to another team.

What kind of weirdo are you?

Alex is a good guy and I've watched him get shredded by incompetence..which some people in normal day to day jobs would prob go to jail from snapping.. and he stuck through it. I respect him for bleedin for the red and gold. He's a tough player. Hell.. extremely charitable. The buck stops there. I thought he would have a very efficient season with some high points this year... but this is pre-harbaugh alex. I'm tired of watching that bullshit.. my blood pressure raises every time he stares a WR down and runs to the right. Why do I keep watching it? Idk.. maybe i'm a little sadistic in nature.. hopeful for a Cinderella story to take place. But this piece of shit *in terms of QB* should be called out in the media by Andy. Point blank. Either perform or be regulated to the bench until further notice. I'm tired of being lambasted over a guy who can't even pick out a one on one match up... he's been playing QB most of his life.. and has the talent of a 1st round QB.. and thats all he has? Then sit the **** down.

[New World Order]

Originally Posted by RobBlake

Alex is a good guy and I've watched him get shredded by incompetence..which some people in normal day to day jobs would prob go to jail from snapping.. and he stuck through it. I respect him for bleedin for the red and gold. He's a tough player. Hell.. extremely charitable. The buck stops there. I thought he would have a very efficient season with some high points this year... but this is pre-harbaugh alex. I'm tired of watching that bullshit.. my blood pressure raises every time he stares a WR down and runs to the right. Why do I keep watching it? Idk.. maybe i'm a little sadistic in nature.. hopeful for a Cinderella story to take place. But this piece of shit *in terms of QB* should be called out in the media by Andy. Point blank. Either perform or be regulated to the bench until further notice. I'm tired of being lambasted over a guy who can't even pick out a one on one match up... he's been playing QB most of his life.. and has the talent of a 1st round QB.. and thats all he has? Then sit the **** down.

It's obvious isnt it? You want Alex to be your homo lover. What other reason could there be for a grown man to follow another grown man around the league and be a "fan."

[Otter]

Originally Posted by RobBlake

Alex is a good guy and I've watched him get shredded by incompetence..which some people in normal day to day jobs would prob go to jail from snapping.. and he stuck through it. I respect him for bleedin for the red and gold. He's a tough player. Hell.. extremely charitable. The buck stops there. I thought he would have a very efficient season with some high points this year... but this is pre-harbaugh alex. I'm tired of watching that bullshit.. my blood pressure raises every time he stares a WR down and runs to the right. Why do I keep watching it? Idk.. maybe i'm a little sadistic in nature.. hopeful for a Cinderella story to take place. But this piece of shit *in terms of QB* should be called out in the media by Andy. Point blank. Either perform or be regulated to the bench until further notice. I'm tired of being lambasted over a guy who can't even pick out a one on one match up... he's been playing QB most of his life.. and has the talent of a 1st round QB.. and thats all he has? Then sit the **** down.

He plays scared. Like terrorists have his dog held hostage and they're going to kill it if he takes a chance. He has to learn how to just let it fly without being scared. I think Alex's biggest problem is in his head.

As cheesy as it sounds I'm waiting for him to have the Tom Cruise moment where he pulls back into the dog fight and lets go of losing Goose. It wasn't your fault Alex! It wasn't your fault!!!

All I can picture at this point is Ales landing the plane and taking therapy crying into a pillow at this point. Time is almost up. Go big or go home.

[RobBlake]

Originally Posted by New World Order

It's obvious isnt it? You want Alex to be your homo lover. What other reason could there be for a grown man to follow another grown man around the league and be a "fan."

Thanks for solidifying what I already knew, I'm better than you. Now, don't address any more of my post.. bitchmade hoe

[RobBlake]

Originally Posted by Otter

He plays scared. Like terrorists have his dog held hostage and they're going to kill it if he takes a chance. He has to learn how to just let it fly without being scared. I think Alex's biggest problem is in his head.

As cheesy as it sounds I'm waiting for him to have the Tom Cruise moment where he pulls back into the dog fight and lets go of losing Goose. It wasn't your fault Alex! It wasn't your fault!!!

All I can picture at this point is Ales landing the plane and taking therapy crying into a pillow at this point. Time is almost up. Go big or go home.

He's probably a case study for sports psychiatry.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Otter

He has to learn how to just let it fly without being scared. I think Alex's biggest problem is in his head.

He doesn't have the arm talent.

Look at this ****ing noodle arm try to throw a deep out.



Now look at this embarrassment.



The reason this guy doesn't throw the ball down the field more...is because he ****ing sucks at it.



Maybe if he has perfect protection and sets his feet and gets it out on time and the guy is open by at least three yards, once in a blue moon, he does it. But those stars rarely align.

[RobBlake]

embarrassing. The first throw was all upper body.

[DTLB58]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

Alex is not good
Neither is our line

Alex behind the Cowboys line would still not be good

Both are Reid and Dorsey's fault.
They picked the QB (More Reid than Dorsey Probably).
But man, Dorsey just likes to change that O-line all around every year. They are never going to build cohesiveness they way this front office runs this Oline. It's a mess.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by Stop, Chiefs

He doesn't have the arm talent.

Look at this ****ing noodle arm try to throw a deep out.



Now look at this embarrassment.



The reason this guy doesn't throw the ball down the field more...is because he ****ing sucks at it.



Maybe if he has perfect protection and sets his feet and gets it out on time and the guy is open by at least three yards, once in a blue moon, he does it. But those stars rarely align.

Yeah, I know. I'm just saying he may be serviceable if he could get out of his own way mentally. I have no illusion of grandeur.

That 2nd gif is bad. That could have been a home run.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Otter

I'm just saying he may be serviceable if he could get out of his own way mentally.

No. If he got out of his own way mentally he would be a Casselian abortion. It would be back to his pre-Harbaugh "Golden Age" in San Francisco.

He plays this bullshit way because it's the only way he can keep a starting job.

[New World Order]

Originally Posted by RobBlake

Thanks for solidifying what I already knew, I'm better than you. Now, don't address any more of my post.. bitchmade hoe

That would be you with Alex