Chiefs Mellinger: In the Jets, there's a lesson for Chiefs fan about taking the safe route - Page 2

Deberg_1990 · 10-30-2014, 07:49 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...le3481340.html

In the structure of the modern NFL, the most important decision a franchise can make is who plays quarterback. Two years ago, two franchises walked away from this decision on two very different paths.

The Chiefs played it safe, were largely criticized for it, then made the playoffs and have a chance to do it again this season. The Jets took the gamble that many in Kansas City had been screaming for, and are now 1-7 in what is a virtual certainty to be a fourth consecutive season without the playoffs.

They will play this weekend at Arrowhead Stadium in what for Chiefs fans could be fairly called The Upside of Boring.

Boring hardly ever plays well with sports fans, right? We want bold, we want daring. We want to toast those with enough guts to go for it all and laugh at the cowards who don’t.

But when it came time for the Chiefs’ new power structure to choose a quarterback, they did it with all of the flair of a ham sandwich.

They traded for a known commodity in Alex Smith, a man who had demonstrated what scouts often call “a high floor” but also “a low ceiling” which is often translated by fans and media as “weak sauce.” Then, when Smith performed well in their system and with their coaches, they signed him to a long-term extension for a higher salary than two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning, among others. Solid, logical, conservative thinking.

This has always been the Chiefs’ way. Trading for the 49ers’ backup quarterback is a time-honored tradition here.

One of the byproducts of this approach is a fan base that often clamors for bold, for daring, for, come to think of it, what the Jets sometimes do.

Two years ago, the same offseason when the Chiefs traded for Smith, the Jets were coming off 6-10 and also needed a quarterback. They’d drafted Mark Sanchez four years earlier with the fifth overall pick and watched him deteriorate from promising to an unplayable mess. They felt a compelling need to upgrade, to find the quarterback of their future.

Many around Kansas City wanted the Chiefs to draft Geno Smith, the three-year starter at West Virginia who completed 67 percent of his passes for 98 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.

Full disclosure, I was in that crowd, at least until hearing from league insiders who questioned his drive, personality and ability to read defenses, among other things. Every draft prospect is questioned, obviously, but there was something different about the tone and scope of the criticism of Smith. It’s one reason he fell into the second round, and surely one reason the Chiefs went with a different Smith at quarterback.

Coincidence or not, Geno Smith has been fairly terrible in his short time in the NFL. He’s thrown 19 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. By passer rating, Total Quarterback Rating, and the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus and Football Outsiders, Smith is either the worst, second-worst, or third-worst quarterback this season.

He was benched this week. Michael Vick, who has completed 26 of 56 passes this season, will start instead.

Think the Jets would like that pick back?

Alex Smith was the top overall pick in the 2005 draft, but generally lacks the type of elite, obvious, natural ability that fans and scouts like in brand name quarterbacks.

The story about the Chiefs’ Smith is often the story about what he isn’t. He’s a good athlete with a great feel for the pocket, but can’t really be called elusive. He reads defenses well and is usually quite accurate, but has occasional lapses and doesn’t throw the best deep ball.

The Chiefs lost at the goal line as time expired in Denver, and with an interception on their final drive in San Francisco. The quarterback is the one who gets the most credit when things go well (like the two-minute drill that won a game in San Diego) and the one with the most blame when things fail. That’s part of the job description.

But in Smith’s case, it misses the point that the Chiefs are 11th in the league in scoring with a flimsy group of receivers and an offensive line that struggles in pass protection.

Jamaal Charles is the star of the offense, obviously, the one defenses plan for every week. But Smith makes enough good decisions, and is reliable enough with short and medium-range passes, to keep the offense moving and — through a season and a half in Kansas City — the Chiefs winning.

Now, clearly, the Chiefs would love to draft and develop their own quarterback. That has proven to be the most successful way to find a top passer and win Super Bowls.

But the Chiefs picked first overall the year after Andrew Luck. They went boring, and traded for a guy who led them to the playoffs. The Jets reached, and drafted a guy they just benched.

Boring is better, sometimes.

O.city · 10-30-2014, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count Zarth

One example proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt!

Mellinger wrote a dumb ****ing blowjob article. He should be ashamed.

He proclaims Alex smith was the right choice. You proclaimed matt cassel was the guy in an article.

It is what it is

Hammock Parties · 10-30-2014, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

You proclaimed matt cassel was the guy in an article.

I most certainly did not.

ToxSocks · 10-30-2014, 08:06 PM

It's a humility piece, not an apologist piece. Of course, some people around here can't handle a little humility. Apparently Mellinger can.

O.city · 10-30-2014, 08:06 PM

If geno smith was the prospect any of those teams mentioned qbs were, I'd imagine they'd have taken him

**RealSNR** · 10-30-2014, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

The Seahawks lucked into their QB. The Colts, Giants and Steelers all took QB's that had a higher floor and less questions than Geno Smith.

Naturally, a lot of you failed to realize that the point of the article was not to dismiss the idea of taking a 1st round QB, but to reinforce the idea that blindly drafting one just because you want one isn't always the best idea.

It's nothing but undeserved dick suckery.

The Chiefs haven't won Ebolashit yet with their safe decision. Mellinger acts like the Royals and the Chiefs are the same team.

Hammock Parties · 10-30-2014, 08:07 PM

Not drafting Geno was the right choice.

Paying Alex wasn't, though.

Deberg_1990 · 10-30-2014, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

If geno smith was the prospect any of those teams mentioned qbs were, I'd imagine they'd have taken him

Yes.

It's what a lot of fans can't comprehend.

O.city · 10-30-2014, 08:08 PM

The Chiefs were coming of a season in which banners were flying over the stadium and a player murdered his go and himself in the parking lot.

All that added to the fact that they were historically one of the west football teams in history.

Can't imagine why they did what they did

ToxSocks · 10-30-2014, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

It's nothing but undeserved dick suckery.

The Chiefs haven't won Ebolashit yet with their safe decision. Mellinger acts like the Royals and the Chiefs are the same team.

Not taking Geno Smith should deserve some Dick Suckery, otherwise you'd have the worst starting QB in the NFL right now.

If you read the article carefully you'll notice that he does not dismiss the idea that the Chiefs should and even want to draft an early round QB.

Again, the point of the article is to say that drafting one just to draft one doesn't always work out.

And he's right.

GoChargers · 10-30-2014, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

The Seahawks lucked into their QB. The Colts, Giants and Steelers all took QB's that had a higher floor and less questions than Geno Smith.

Naturally, a lot of you failed to realize that the point of the article was not to dismiss the idea of taking a 1st round QB, but to reinforce the idea that blindly drafting one just because you want one isn't always the best idea.

He's cherry-picking the worst-case scenario in order to defend the "trading for another team's game-managing backup" strategy, even though history overwhelmingly favors the drafted QB.

It's akin to saying that no team should ever draft a quarterback because Kurt Warner went undrafted while Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell were drafted in the top two picks.

**RealSNR** · 10-30-2014, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

It's a humility piece, not an apologist piece. Of course, some people around here can't handle a little humility. Apparently Mellinger can.

Remember how we got to that awesome 2-14 sandwich from 2007-2009?

We played it safe with Trent Green, gave him a contract extension, and called it a success.

We didn't give a **** about that old bag of bones falling apart one day. Because at the time we didn't suck! WHEEEEE!

We're doing the exact same ****ing shit with Alex.

O.city · 10-30-2014, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

Remember how we got to that awesome 2-14 sandwich from 2007-2009?

We played it safe with Trent Green, gave him a contract extension, and called it a success.

We didn't give a **** about that old bag of bones falling apart one day. Because at the time we didn't suck! WHEEEEE!

We're doing the exact same ****ing shit with Alex.

It's been a year and a half. Does that guy have to be in the roster right now?

ToxSocks · 10-30-2014, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChargers

He's cherry-picking the worst-case scenario in order to defend the "trading for another team's game-managing backup" strategy, even though history overwhelmingly favors the drafted QB.

It's akin to saying that no team should ever draft a quarterback because Kurt Warner went undrafted while Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell were drafted in the top two picks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

Remember how we got to that awesome 2-14 sandwich from 2007-2009?

We played it safe with Trent Green, gave him a contract extension, and called it a success.

We didn't give a **** about that old bag of bones falling apart one day. Because at the time we didn't suck! WHEEEEE!

We're doing the exact same ****ing shit with Alex.

Except the part where Alex Smith is much younger and has legitimate prospects in Murray and Bray behind him?

Yeah not buying it. Reid has a history or drafting and developing QB's and he hasn't shown us otherwise thus far in KC, go so far as to retain 4 QB's when he could've simply cut one.

**RealSNR** · 10-30-2014, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Not taking Geno Smith should deserve some Dick Suckery, otherwise you'd have the worst starting QB in the NFL right now.

If you read the article carefully you'll notice that he does not dismiss the idea that the Chiefs should and even want to draft an early round QB.

Again, the point of the article is to say that drafting one just to draft one doesn't always work out.

And he's right.

And avoiding a QB in the draft like the plague because your franchise is dickless and scared doesn't always work out, either.

You know that list of Cleveland Brown QBs that everybody likes to use as an argument for waiting for Andrew Luck to fall to you in the draft? 90% of those QBs are dudes that the Cleveland Browns tried to "play it safe" with

ToxSocks · 10-30-2014, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChargers

He's cherry-picking the worst-case scenario in order to defend the "trading for another team's game-managing backup" strategy, even though history overwhelmingly favors the drafted QB.

It's akin to saying that no team should ever draft a quarterback because Kurt Warner went undrafted while Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell were drafted in the top two picks.

He's not cherry picking at all. We're playing the Jets this week and Geno Smith and Alex Smith are clearly tied to each other considering those were the two routes weighed in on....the fan base was split on it.

The Jets are relevant to the conversation right now. If he were cherry picking you would've seen a whole host of 1st round busts in the article that would've served as better examples.

I understand you guys want a reason to bitch about Alex smith, but this article isn't the reason.

Look elsewhere.

10-30-2014, 07:49 PM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3454454	Mellinger: In the Jets, there's a lesson for Chiefs fan about taking the safe route http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...le3481340.html In the structure of the modern NFL, the most important decision a franchise can make is who plays quarterback. Two years ago, two franchises walked away from this decision on two very different paths. The Chiefs played it safe, were largely criticized for it, then made the playoffs and have a chance to do it again this season. The Jets took the gamble that many in Kansas City had been screaming for, and are now 1-7 in what is a virtual certainty to be a fourth consecutive season without the playoffs. They will play this weekend at Arrowhead Stadium in what for Chiefs fans could be fairly called The Upside of Boring. Boring hardly ever plays well with sports fans, right? We want bold, we want daring. We want to toast those with enough guts to go for it all and laugh at the cowards who don’t. But when it came time for the Chiefs’ new power structure to choose a quarterback, they did it with all of the flair of a ham sandwich. They traded for a known commodity in Alex Smith, a man who had demonstrated what scouts often call “a high floor” but also “a low ceiling” which is often translated by fans and media as “weak sauce.” Then, when Smith performed well in their system and with their coaches, they signed him to a long-term extension for a higher salary than two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning, among others. Solid, logical, conservative thinking. This has always been the Chiefs’ way. Trading for the 49ers’ backup quarterback is a time-honored tradition here. One of the byproducts of this approach is a fan base that often clamors for bold, for daring, for, come to think of it, what the Jets sometimes do. Two years ago, the same offseason when the Chiefs traded for Smith, the Jets were coming off 6-10 and also needed a quarterback. They’d drafted Mark Sanchez four years earlier with the fifth overall pick and watched him deteriorate from promising to an unplayable mess. They felt a compelling need to upgrade, to find the quarterback of their future. Many around Kansas City wanted the Chiefs to draft Geno Smith, the three-year starter at West Virginia who completed 67 percent of his passes for 98 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. Full disclosure, I was in that crowd, at least until hearing from league insiders who questioned his drive, personality and ability to read defenses, among other things. Every draft prospect is questioned, obviously, but there was something different about the tone and scope of the criticism of Smith. It’s one reason he fell into the second round, and surely one reason the Chiefs went with a different Smith at quarterback. Coincidence or not, Geno Smith has been fairly terrible in his short time in the NFL. He’s thrown 19 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. By passer rating, Total Quarterback Rating, and the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus and Football Outsiders, Smith is either the worst, second-worst, or third-worst quarterback this season. He was benched this week. Michael Vick, who has completed 26 of 56 passes this season, will start instead. Think the Jets would like that pick back? Alex Smith was the top overall pick in the 2005 draft, but generally lacks the type of elite, obvious, natural ability that fans and scouts like in brand name quarterbacks. The story about the Chiefs’ Smith is often the story about what he isn’t. He’s a good athlete with a great feel for the pocket, but can’t really be called elusive. He reads defenses well and is usually quite accurate, but has occasional lapses and doesn’t throw the best deep ball. The Chiefs lost at the goal line as time expired in Denver, and with an interception on their final drive in San Francisco. The quarterback is the one who gets the most credit when things go well (like the two-minute drill that won a game in San Diego) and the one with the most blame when things fail. That’s part of the job description. But in Smith’s case, it misses the point that the Chiefs are 11th in the league in scoring with a flimsy group of receivers and an offensive line that struggles in pass protection. Jamaal Charles is the star of the offense, obviously, the one defenses plan for every week. But Smith makes enough good decisions, and is reliable enough with short and medium-range passes, to keep the offense moving and — through a season and a half in Kansas City — the Chiefs winning. Now, clearly, the Chiefs would love to draft and develop their own quarterback. That has proven to be the most successful way to find a top passer and win Super Bowls. But the Chiefs picked first overall the year after Andrew Luck. They went boring, and traded for a guy who led them to the playoffs. The Jets reached, and drafted a guy they just benched. Boring is better, sometimes.
Posts: 66,914

10-30-2014, 08:06 PM	#18
ToxSocks Needs more middle fingers Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego Casino cash: $3874563	It's a humility piece, not an apologist piece. Of course, some people around here can't handle a little humility. Apparently Mellinger can. __________________ Life is like a dick. Sometimes it gets hard for no reason, but it can't stay hard forever.
Posts: 64,766

10-30-2014, 08:06 PM	#19
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2294064	If geno smith was the prospect any of those teams mentioned qbs were, I'd imagine they'd have taken him
Posts: 81,579

10-30-2014, 08:07 PM	#21
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4150478	Not drafting Geno was the right choice. Paying Alex wasn't, though. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 279,767

10-30-2014, 08:08 PM	#23
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2294064	The Chiefs were coming of a season in which banners were flying over the stadium and a player murdered his go and himself in the parking lot. All that added to the fact that they were historically one of the west football teams in history. Can't imagine why they did what they did
Posts: 81,579