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.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by O.city

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

Like I said, I'd have liked the trigger to have been pulled. But Smith I guess didn't think that THAT was the point at which to take chances. And seeing as how even his most bitter detractors think that he is nothing more than a good game manager, I'm willing to give Smith the benefit of the doubt on that decision.

[O.city]

That's what I'm arguing. That's exactly THE point to take a chance on that throe. At worst you throw a deep pick that ends up being basically a punt. Atleast it gives you a chance to put the game away

[Coogs]

http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jM55...iefs_Pic.0.png

Here's a still image of the play in the 4th before the punt.

If this is the play we are still talking about, I still think Smith made the right decision. The next... and maybe better choice would have been Bowe(?)... coming back towards the ball at the 38.

We are winning the game at this point by keeping the ball nearly the entire game. That is the way we are winning games all of our games. It's the way we should keep winning games.

The three options at the top of the picture are the worst three options from what I see (including the circled Kelcey... who is nearly triple covered).

[RunKC]

Originally Posted by O.city

That's what I'm arguing. That's exactly THE point to take a chance on that throe. At worst you throw a deep pick that ends up being basically a punt. Atleast it gives you a chance to put the game away

Look at all the things that have happened this year. OL struggling in pass pro, receiver not making catches they should, his worst game being when he forced it downfield.

I can understand why he doesn't want to try those throws with the surrounding cast at this time.

[jLoy88]

Why in the hell is AJJ highlighted in this picture? Does the OP not realize that there is a dude literally inserted into his anus right there? How in the hell is that "NFL open", if you knew a god damn thing about AJJ it's that he doesn't fight well for the ball and tends to give up on routes. If I am AS11 in this situation I run the ball and punt on 4th. Good decision

[O.city]

It's 3rd down on that play. You're either getting a first down, or your punting the ball away. I get trusting your defense, but you have a chance to end the game with a score.

Bowe is open, but by the time he comes back left, it would have been too late anyway.

What's the worst thing that could have happened had he thrown it deep there?

[O.city]

He didn't run the ball, he threw it away stopping the clock.

[O.city]

Jenkins is single covered with high leverage on the wr. In the nfl, single coverage with inside leverage is open

[dls6501]

One of the biggest problems I have with people who defend Alex for not throwing deep is their perception of said throw.

People think Alex doesn't throw deep because he doesn't want to make a "risky throw." Most of the throws that Alex passes up are only deemed dangerous or risky by the Alex apologists. These throws being passed up are considered wide open to normal NFL QB standards.

We are not asking him to thread a needle 30 yards down field between 2 defenders. Of course I would rather him take a wide open short gain than to do that. But most of the time, we are talking about a WR who has multiple steps on the last defender. Those are NOT risky throws....especially if Alex is as accurate as the Alex fans claim he is.

[temper11]

Originally Posted by O.city

It's 3rd down on that play. You're either getting a first down, or your punting the ball away. I get trusting your defense, but you have a chance to end the game with a score.

Bowe is open, but by the time he comes back left, it would have been too late anyway.

What's the worst thing that could have happened had he thrown it deep there?

Agreed... the worst thing that could have happened there would be a change of possession either by incompletion or interception. Which is why I think he decided not to throw it - he decided on looking for a higher percentage pass to extend the drive. Just didn't work out.

[JENKINSWINS]

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.

How about Bowe and Hemmingway making plays on perfectly thrown passes? Those were routine catches for anyone in the league, JFC. Make those plays and they're also in position to score a TD. Hell Jenkins was in position to score a TD but failed miserably by not knowing where he was on the field. Good WRs play to make plays and sucky ones just suck.

[JENKINSWINS]

Originally Posted by dls6501

One of the biggest problems I have with people who defend Alex for not throwing deep is their perception of said throw.

People think Alex doesn't throw deep because he doesn't want to make a "risky throw." Most of the throws that Alex passes up are only deemed dangerous or risky by the Alex apologists. These throws being passed up are considered wide open to normal NFL QB standards.

We are not asking him to thread a needle 30 yards down field between 2 defenders. Of course I would rather him take a wide open short gain than to do that. But most of the time, we are talking about a WR who has multiple steps on the last defender. Those are NOT risky throws....especially if Alex is as accurate as the Alex fans claim he is.

Ok so if the WRs drop wide open short passes by powder puff league standards, why in the world would you chuck deep passes to those same guys?

[ODESSABRONC]

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.

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.

He knew the receiver was open down field and he passed it up. It's tied game and the Chiefs ended attempting what was it about 50 yard field? Make that play and at worst it's a shorter field goal attempt and at best it puts the Chiefs in a position to score a touchdown.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by JENKINSWINS

Ok so if the WRs drop wide open short passes by powder puff league standards, why in the world would you chuck deep passes to those same guys?

Please consider brutally dying. Very soon.

Thanks.

[ODESSABRONC]

Originally Posted by JENKINSWINS

How about Bowe and Hemmingway making plays on perfectly thrown passes? Those were routine catches for anyone in the league, JFC. Make those plays and they're also in position to score a TD. Hell Jenkins was in position to score a TD but failed miserably by not knowing where he was on the field. Good WRs play to make plays and sucky ones just suck.

Franchise quarterbacks play to make plays. Journeyman quarterbacks like Smith play only to not make mistakes. Kyle Orton is the same way.