Teicher:Chiefs like what they’ve seen so far from QB Alex Smith

[Tribal Warfare]

Chiefs like what they’ve seen so far from QB Alex Smith
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
The trade for quarterback Alex Smith might take another year or more to adequately assess, but at least from their part, the Chiefs may not feel the need to wait. Quarterbacks coach Matt Nagy came close to calling it a success after practice Thursday.

“He’s been everything that we thought he was,’’ Nagy said of Smith. “He’s a true professional. He’s in his (playbook) every day. He’s always asking questions, trying to get better. He’s being a leader for the other (quarterbacks) as well.’’

Smith, like the other Chiefs quarterbacks, has had his successes and failures on the practice field. He is learning a new offensive system under a new set of coaches and throwing to a new set of receivers.

Smith and his teammates are prohibited under NFL rules from working in pads, so at this time of year, practice is conducted at something less than full speed, and a better quarterback evaluation is generally done at training camp, when teams are allowed to hold padded practice sessions.

Most teams are generally pleased with their quarterbacks at this stage, when there is no defensive pressure for them to worry about. The Chiefs, for instance, were content with Matt Cassel at a similar point after trading for him in 2009. Once the games began, Cassel never developed into the player they thought he could become, and in March he was released.

The Chiefs believe they already have an accurate grasp of what Smith is capable of in a physical regard, having watched on tape all of his games as a starter with the San Francisco 49ers. But none of their key offensive figures, including Nagy, coordinator Doug Pederson or coach Andy Reid, who will call the plays, had any experience with Smith, so they weren’t certain what they would get from their new starting quarterback in terms of preparation and work habits.

That part of Smith’s game has provided them with some relief.

“He’s comfortable with what we’re doing,’’ Pederson said. “He’s understanding the terminology, and he’s orchestrating that at the line of scrimmage. We’re really pleased with where he’s at right now.’’

Those intangibles were the unknown.

“I’m with him every single day,’’ Nagy said. “Just talking X’s and O’s and past experiences he’s had, he brings some good things to our attention as a staff. He has a lot of valuable experience. He’s been through a lot. Having those experiences and coming in here to a team with a new staff, it’s been an awesome experience. Throughout this process, we’re taking in what he has, he’s taking in what we have, and we’re putting it all together and trying to make this work.

“When he’s out here on the practice field, he’s a leader. The guys look to him. The quarterback position is so important to be that leader, whether it’s vocally or by your play. He does both of that. Having him be able to do that and have some of these younger guys look up to him, that’s what we need, and that’s what we expected he’d have and he does have that.’’

In return for Smith, the Chiefs sent their second-round pick in this year’s draft plus a third-rounder next year that converts to a second if they win eight or more games this season. Smith would be worth any price if he becomes the long-term solution at a position that has been most elusive for the Chiefs.

“It’s been great,’’ Smith said of his first few practices with the Chiefs. “It’s been football. I’ve been itching for this for a long time. I was sitting there watching a lot of football at the end of last year. I’ve said this before: This is what I wanted, and now it’s here. I’m just trying to make the most of it.’’

The Chiefs also signed former Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel to be Smith’s backup, even though he’s thrown only nine passes in four seasons behind Drew Brees for New Orleans.

“It’s evident he’s been with such a great quarterback in Drew,’’ Nagy said. “He comes in and he’s very cerebral with the protections. He understands the game and he’s a competitor. He pushed Drew Brees every day in practice, and that’s what he’s going to do here with Alex.’’

Ricky Stanzi and rookie Tyler Bray are the other quarterbacks. Stanzi, who has been with the Chiefs for two seasons without getting into a regular-season game, began the offseason as the third quarterback, a significant fact this time of year only because he will get more snaps in practice.

Bray and Stanzi have since flipped spots, with Bray getting more practice snaps.

“I want to see each guy every day getting better,’’ Nagy said. “If one is a little bit behind the other, I want to see who that is and I want to see if he’s going to improve. Is he getting better? If he’s going backwards, that’s not what we want. Let’s see him improve.

“Let’s not put them against each other right now. Let’s just see where they’re at individually, and if you get better, that’s great. We’ll go from there.’’

[Mav]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

it is somewhat impressive with a rookie going against a Ryan d.

He's a ****ing rookie. .

Smith is an eight year vet.




Big difference
Posted via Mobile Device

Not particularly. I prefer to wait until they have the live bullets flying, even in preseason. Nothing impresses me during non padded, no contact practices.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by el borracho

.

Where does the 2 special teams turnovers come into play?
Yes I know Smith could of done something to keep a drive alive as well. But he didn't make the mistake. He doesn't count for 2 turnovers costing 2 possessions.
What if's are just that and not worth a crap but to act like that loss was his fault is not fair at all.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by SNR

I don't give a shit what any offense looks like in OTAs. Vermeil's offenses were terrible in OTAs and training camp every offseason, and that's even with the carryover of the same playbook, coaches, and QB.

It's the fact that yes, this team will most likely pull a 6-10, 7-9, or 8-8 season, and just as it was with Cassel, it will be argued that most of the losses were not Alex Smith's fault, and that he needs more time to be evaluated before finding a different solution.

I concur on the OTA's. Its a half speed thing just to familiarize everyone with the plays. nothing more nothing less. Its just a simple, slightly faster walk through. Nothing to get exicted about.

And, as long as Alex Smith doesn't turn the ball over, you guys are going to win games. The rest of the team is talented, and the schedule on paper is kind of soft.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

it is somewhat impressive with a rookie going against a Ryan d.

He's a ****ing rookie. .

Smith is an eight year vet.




Big difference
Posted via Mobile Device

Ok whatever.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by SNR

I don't give a shit what any offense looks like in OTAs. Vermeil's offenses were terrible in OTAs and training camp every offseason, and that's even with the carryover of the same playbook, coaches, and QB.

It's the fact that yes, this team will most likely pull a 6-10, 7-9, or 8-8 season, and just as it was with Cassel, it will be argued that most of the losses were not Alex Smith's fault, and that he needs more time to be evaluated before finding a different solution.

You got it all figured out dude, I wouldn't bother watching the team or following them the rest of the season, you know how its going to go down already and what everyone is going to say.

Work on your golf game and then go deer hunting or something.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by Maverick91579

Nothing about Tyler Brays physical football skills led to him being undrafted. His brain, and common sense were the reasons.

Uh dude you got that backwards.
STRENGTHS: Bray possesses a great deal of natural arm talent and possesses even more confidence in his ability to fit the ball between tight windows. In this way, he is reminiscent of former SEC standout Jay Cutler (Vanderbilt).

He's consistently more accurate when driving the ball rather than touch passes and has become especially lethal due to his timing and accuracy on the slant and post with his big receivers. Furthermore, he might be the best of the top quarterback prospects at delivering a consistently ball on the deep out.


WEAKNESSES: He boasts a very quick release but doesn't fully take advantage of his height due to a three-quarter delivery. He's also a bit lazy with his fundamentals, failing to step into the direction of his passes. This consistently forces his receivers to adjust to his throws, cutting down on the potential for yardage after the catch and leading his teammates into some hellacious hits.


For all of natural gifts, Bray remains a work in progress when projecting him to the NFL. For one, he takes the vast majority of his snaps out of the shotgun. More important, while willing to step up into a disintegrating pocket, he is a long-legged, relatively slow-footed athlete who has only marginal mobility overall.


COMPARES TO: Jay Cutler, Bears -- Like Cutler, Bray has tremendous arm strength - and confidence in it - but seems to enjoy the challenge of tougher throws and will often attempt them rather than take safer options.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Skull-FU

Good post and I agree. We have a new coach, GM, and three new quarterbacks. People should be happy.

Even if the record happens to turn out worse than last year's, we are better off.

Are you really saying that if the Chiefs, with a new coach, GM, and three new quarterbacks, only manages to win one game all year, that you'd actually be happy and think the team is better off?

The ****?

[Chief Roundup]

Sometimes the best addition is by actual subtraction. At least that is how I take what he is saying.
We may not have improved the result but at least the cancer has been removed type of thing.

[jlw62987]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

You got it all figured out dude, I wouldn't bother watching the team or following them the rest of the season, you know how its going to go down already and what everyone is going to say.

Work on your golf game and then go deer hunting or something.

lol...perfect. If they go 8-8 next year, CP is going to be calling for Reid's job and saying "I told you so" about Alex Smith. Remember Dick Vermeil's first year? I bet CPers were freakinnnnngggggg out!!

[Mr. Laz]

Adam Teicher ‏@adamteicher 7s
Charles had toe stepped on. Having x rays
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[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by el borracho

Well, that is essentially true (although that scenario has a very low percentage of success). If you are trying to be the one team in a decade that wins the Super Bowl without a franchise QB, you really are trying to do things the hard way.

[ChiefGator]

Originally Posted by Maverick91579

Its really not even worth your time to even bother. As soon as I saw the thread title, I knew exactly what was going to be said. No sense in even acknowledging it. No matter what happens in preseason isn't going to make a difference. Winning week one against Jax isn't going to make a difference. The only thing that will make a difference is if the Chiefs make the playoffs. And even then, the hard core dumbasses, will find every other excuse in the book, schedule, chiefs defense, chiefs special teams, chiefs running game, Bowe having 500 yards after catch, alex not taking risks, blah blah blah, the excuses will live on eternally. Why? Because some people are such miserable ****ing human beings and get stuck in the suck so hard that they cant find any silver lining in anything.....its just the way shitty people are.

That is my fear..., that we will still have to hear this constantly. Sure Alex Smith may guide the Chiefs to a Superbowl, but Dilfer did it, so it doesn't reflect on Smith's abilities at all...

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Dave

This team is not worth throwing a tantrum for or getting excited about.

The day i stopped getting excited about Chiefs football would be the day i quit following them, no joke.

Theres plenty to be excited about these days.

[keg in kc]

The trade for quarterback Alex Smith might take another year or more to adequately assess

Good to see we're setting the bar high.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by scott free

The day i stopped getting excited about Chiefs football would be the day i quit following them, no joke.

Theres plenty to be excited about these days.

Well said. It's pathetic that many have quit on their team.. and even more pathetic that they still hang around a forum to cry about how they quit on their team. But what can ya do? Guess the silver lining is that at times, it can be mildly entertaining.