Let's do the Alex Smith thing again.

[Direckshun]

Shall we.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-...a-game-manager

The Week in Overreactions: Alex Smith is more than a game manager
By Ryan Wilson | CBSSports.com
October 21, 2014 8:16 am ET

Alex Smith isn't a game manager

It's easy -- and, frankly, lazy -- to categorize Alex Smith as a game manager because that appeared to be his ceiling early in his career. Some of those growing pains can be attributed to youth (he came into the league as a fresh-faced 20-year-old), expectations that come with being the first-overall pick in the 2005 draft, and landing on a bad 49ers team that had six different offensive coordinators in Smith's first six seasons.

That's the definition of setting someone up to fail. And while the perception of Smith didn't change once coach Jim Harbaugh arrived in 2011, the reality was that he became a more complete player.

• In 54 games (50 starts) from 2005-2010, Smith completed 57 percent of his passes (6.2 YPA) with 51 touchdowns and 53 interceptions.

• In 2011-2012 under Harbaugh, Smith played in 26 games (25 starts) completed 64 percent of his passes (7.4 YPA) with 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

• And in a season and a half with the Chiefs and Andy Reid, Smith has started all 21 games, completing 62 percent of his passes (6.6 YPA) with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

We've been as guilty as anyone as taking Smith's accomplishments for granted, even regularly referring to him as "a bridge quarterback" to whomever is pegged as the next face of the franchise in Kansas City. But he's proven to be much, much more than that. We saw it in last season's playoff loss to the Colts, when he was 30 of 46 for 378 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

We saw it again in Week 4 when Smith completed 20 of 26 passes for 248 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions as the Chiefs throttled the Patriots, 41-14. And we were reminded once again on Sunday in San Diego when Smith, who has long been criticized for his inability to play from behind, did just that.

He led the Chiefs on a late-fourth-quarter, eight-play, 62-yard drive that began on their 8-yard line, and included a nine-yard scramble and passes of 19, 16 and eight yards to set up Cairo Santos' 48-yard field goal.

It wasn't spectacular but that's not Smith's game. (And when did spectacular equate to franchise savior, anyway? Jay Cutler has plenty of "spectacular" plays on his highlight reel but he's regularly played some truly awful football.)

According to Football Outsiders, Smith ranks 15th among all quarterbacks this season, ahead of Tom Brady, Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger, but his steady-as-she-goes approach fits nicely with what Reid wants to do offensively. And even if it means fewer big plays down the field, it's hard to argue with the results; the Chiefs started 9-0 last season before finishing 11-5. And after an 0-2 start this season, they have won three of four, their only loss an eminently winnable game in San Francisco in Week 5. And this all comes after the Chiefs, prior to Reid and Smith's arrival, won a grand total of two games in 2012.

When Smith signed a four-year, $68 million extension just before the season, our only reservation was that it would mean the Chiefs would put off finding their next young quarterback. But at 30 years old, he's entering his NFL prime; there's no reason to rush him off the field. In fact, he could be the key to helping the Chiefs to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2005-2006.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

I see where it says to stop calling him a game manager. I couldn't find the statistics to back that claim up, especially when it takes him 21 games to put up Andy Dalton numbers.

Passing	Cmp	Att	Yds	TDs
A. Dalton	18	38	126	0

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Count Zarth

Doesn't matter when you win.

But to label him as anything but a game manager is inaccurate.

And the Chiefs will never win anything with him because of that.

Good day, sir.

Geno Smith say hello.

You know less about evaluating football talent than I do astrophysics.

[ODESSABRONC]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

So ridiculous that this one missed play goes on and on. Smith didn't make many special plays that make your eyes pop open.. but he did have a near flawless game of spreading the ball around and dominating TOP. He did put together an excellent 2 minute drive.. from the 8 yard line... to win the game.

This isn't Madden.. where you (as QB) drop back and can see every perfect target route just as they come out of their break, and have the option to hit the any one of the targets with a push of a button. I can see some criticism, if AJJ was wide open or had a couple steps on the defender... he wasn't and didn't. I can see more criticism if this was a 4th down play on some final drive of the game...it wasn't.

The GREAT Phyllis Rivers.. in his own house.. had many crap throws.. some of which he got bailed out on by great receiver catches... but many off target throws.

... but no. Let's focus all attention on one play where Smith elected not to force a deep, low percentage throw on great CB coverage vs a below average WR.

... and this comes after a huge road win.. in which Smith had a higher avr. and rating.. against a division opponent on a 5 game win streak.


just wow, people... No one is anointing Smith as the "greatest evar" over this or any game... but being this petty as to grumble on and on over this one play?

He makes that play the Chiefs are in position to score a touchdown. Great quarterbacks play to make plays and journeyman quarterbacks do not.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by ODESSABRONC

He makes that play the Chiefs are in position to score a touchdown. Great quarterbacks play to make plays and journeyman quarterbacks do not.

like I said....

He did put together an excellent 2 minute drive.. from the 8 yard line... to win the game.

He also made other passes that would have extended drives that were in scoring range. The passes were dropped.

Yet you and others wish to harp on one play that had a very low % chance of being positive. Have fun with that, I guess.. but it's still ridiculous.. all things considered.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

He did not have that matchup. Wilcox was wrong.

Pocket collapsed before the receiver made his break and got inside of the defender.

Uh, no.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by ODESSABRONC

He makes that play the Chiefs are in position to score a touchdown.

You take the higher percentage pass and have a better chance at moving the chains, eat more of the clock and keep the opposing offense off the field.

Don't get me wrong, I'd have liked to see him take that shot as well, but I understand the logic of not doing so.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by temper11

You take the higher percentage pass and have a better chance at moving the chains, eat more of the clock and keep the opposing offense off the field.

If he was going to take the higher percentage pass, he needed to do it when the wr or TE was actually open. He waited and threw it late, making it a riskier throw as it could have been intercepted.

It's third down. Take the throw down the field. Worst case scenario it's intercepted.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by O.city

If he was going to take the higher percentage pass, he needed to do it when the wr or TE was actually open. He waited and threw it late, making it a riskier throw as it could have been intercepted.

It's third down. Take the throw down the field. Worst case scenario it's intercepted.

Again... this is not Madden, where the QB has an advantage in seeing every route unfold at the same time.

If he fires off a quick pass underneath, people bitch that he didn't take the time to look deep downfield.

When he waits to see if a deep target gets open and misses his window underneath.. people bitch about that too.

It's a no win situation with some folks.

I'm not even saying I know with certainty when and where he went through his progressions... doesn't much matter... as it was just ONE inconsequential play. I'd understand it more if AJJ was running wild and free... but his CB was up his ass to the point that even in a still picture... can't see but one body.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by O.city

If he was going to take the higher percentage pass, he needed to do it when the wr or TE was actually open. He waited and threw it late, making it a riskier throw as it could have been intercepted.

It's third down. Take the throw down the field. Worst case scenario it's intercepted.

I agree... the hesitation to throw it deep fubar'ed the underneath route as well. That play was absolutely on Smith, no doubt. But I can understand the thought process. If it were second down, I think he let's it fly. On third, the "game manager" in him required that he pull it back and look for a higher percentage pass to move the chains. But it was too late.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

Again... this is not Madden, where the QB has an advantage in seeing every route unfold at the same time.

If he fires off a quick pass underneath, people bitch that he didn't take the time to look deep downfield.

When he waits to see if a deep target gets open and misses his window underneath.. people bitch about that too.

It's a no win situation with some folks.

I'm not even saying I know with certainty when and where he went through his progressions... doesn't much matter... as it was just ONE inconsequential play. I'd understand it more if AJJ was running wild and free... but his CB was up his ass to the point that even in a still picture... can't see but one body.

Of course he has to be wild and free for smith to throw it anyway. It's one inconsequential play that led to a punt and the opponent to tie the score.

Jesus.

The corner is right behind him sure, but it's a post. He, the wr, has all the leverage to the post and is on top of the co4ner

[temper11]

Originally Posted by O.city

Of course he has to be wild and free for smith to throw it anyway. It's one inconsequential play that led to a punt and the opponent to tie the score.

Jesus.

The corner is right behind him sure, but it's a post. He, the wr, has all the leverage to the post and is on top of the co4ner

Guys... What are the Chiefs good at? Short to Mid range passes. What are they not good at? Deep passes. Be it because Smith is supposedly a pussy, be it because the WR's suck, be it because the oline can't pass pro long enough, be it because Smith supposedly has a noodle arm, etc etc etc. Going deep there had a low percentage of success for one or all of the reasons above - depending on your individual perspective. Smith saw the deep opportunity present itself, pulled the arm back to throw it and then the statistic of success flashed in his head and he looked for the underneath route instead to move the chains. The hesitation meant that the underneath route was no longer available. It didn't work out but it's tough to argue the logic of the decision. Again, I personally think he lets it fly there if it were 1st or 2nd down.

I would have liked to see him chuck it personally, but think I understand why he did not.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

I'm so tired of Alex Smith and all he brings to the world.

[jLoy88]

Originally Posted by 505 Chief

I'm so tired of Alex Smith and all he brings to the world.

You must long for the days of 2-14 again. I hate quarterbacks who win also.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by jLoy88

You must long for the days of 2-14 again. I hate quarterbacks who win also.

I long for the days of 13+, not "7-9, feelin' fine, back that ass up in to a wild card and lose". Again.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by temper11

Guys... What are the Chiefs good at? Short to Mid range passes. What are they not good at? Deep passes. Be it because Smith is supposedly a pussy, be it because the WR's suck, be it because the oline can't pass pro long enough, be it because Smith supposedly has a noodle arm, etc etc etc. Going deep there had a low percentage of success for one or all of the reasons above - depending on your individual perspective. Smith saw the deep opportunity present itself, pulled the arm back to throw it and then the statistic of success flashed in his head and he looked for the underneath route instead to move the chains. The hesitation meant that the underneath route was no longer available. It didn't work out but it's tough to argue the logic of the decision. Again, I personally think he lets it fly there if it were 1st or 2nd down.

I would have liked to see him chuck it personally, but think I understand why he did not.

At some point you've got to take chances though. That was a chance to effectively end the game