Alex Smith will be the Chiefs’ QB in 2017, but he knows the pressure is on

[Hammock Parties]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl...#storylink=cpy

ORLANDO, Fla.

More than anybody, Alex Smith knew what was at stake this postseason, and how the Chiefs’ performance would shape the perception of his ceiling as a quarterback.

So when Smith posted his fourth-lowest passer rating of the season in the Chiefs’ 18-16 divisional-round home loss to Pittsburgh — and his coach, Andy Reid didn’t offer a strong, immediate vote of confidence the day after the game — the 32-year old wasn’t surprised when chatter started increasing about finding a replacement.

“Do you hear it a little bit? Without a doubt,” Smith said at the Pro Bowl this week. “The nice thing is I don’t have social media, so that helps.”

But here’s what most didn’t know: Shortly after the season came to an end, Reid conducted his customary exit interview with Smith, and the impression Smith got in that conversation is that he would be Reid’s quarterback again in 2017.

And after Smith was added to the Pro Bowl roster as a replacement, he and Reid — who is coaching the AFC squad along with the rest of the Chiefs’ coaching staff — had multiple discussions about 2017, and where they both need to improve.

“We’ve talked a lot, and for sure, the talk was just the sense of urgency — (him saying) ‘let’s go get it, you and me,’ ” Smith said. “For both of us, I think you realize the opportunities are less and less. You can’t take them all for granted. We all felt like we had an awesome opportunity and we didn’t get it done. So even more so, let’s press on the gas and let’s go.”

And if you needed any further proof Smith will be the Chiefs’ signal-caller in 2017, Reid told reinforced that message to The Star over the weekend.

“Alex is our quarterback — there’s no question about that or anything else,” Reid said. “I surely didn’t want to insinuate that (was not the case) at all.”

Reid said Smith — who completed 67.1 percent of his passes with 20 total touchdowns and eight interceptions — did “a good job” this year, and that he expects him to continue to make small improvements in his game next year.

“The work’s never done — he’ll continue to improve,” Reid said. “There won’t be the huge jumps, but there will be little things he’ll continue to get better at.

“But he’s pretty good right now, though.”

One of the areas in which Smith wants to continue to improve is in throwing receivers open. That’s what the best — such as Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers — do, and it lifts the play of their teammates, because they can fit balls into tight spaces and increase their team’s margin for error.

“You have to, I think,” Smith said. “You’re not going to complete a lot of balls if you’re just waiting all the time.”

Smith did have some missed shots he wanted to have back in the Steelers loss. One, in particular, stood out, when Tyreek Hill broke open down the left sideline and Smith failed to see him, though it turns out there was a good reason for that.

“I knew all week the way (the Steelers) play, they’d lose guys here and there,” Smith said. “And the hard part, as a quarterback, is when a guy that’s not in your progression blows open because you’re not looking. Sometimes you fall into those and sometimes you miss them and you’re like ‘God if I would have just seen Tyreek over there.’ ”

Smith also regrets the first-half interception he threw when he got hit by a free blitzer. Had he had a split-second longer, it could have gone for a huge gain to Chris Conley, who broke open after the defensive back fell down.

“It’s such a big swing there — you hit that, it’s a huge dagger,” Smith said. “I knew exactly what that safety was doing. He bit up on (tight end Travis) Kelce, we had Chris on the outside and I was taking a shot. I felt good about that all week.”

The play was actually a good example of the way some of Smith’s downfield chances are schemed by Reid, often due to play calls that create advantageous matchups.

Still, Reid thinks his quarterback has actually gotten better when it comes to throwing people open in his four years in Kansas City.

“I think that’s one area where he’s gotten better at,” Reid said. “Remember, the emphasis we put on the pass game might be a little bit more than where he came from; the run stuff and the things he did at the line of scrimmage with the 49ers is something they really put a concentrated effort on.

“So it’s a challenge to him in other areas, and I keep seeing improvements. You see throws like that where you kind of go ‘Whoa, was that a good one.’ The more he does, the better he gets at it.’”

Lost in Smith’s roller-coaster ride of a season was the fact the Chiefs went deep a bit more this year, and were also much better in four-minute and come-from-behind situations — areas in which they struggled in Smith’s first three years.

Comeback wins over San Diego and Denver registered as near-unprecedented high-water marks for Smith, who completed some clutch throws in both games. He also guided the Chiefs down the field on a late touchdown march against Pittsburgh, only to have the ensuing, game-tying two-point conversion — a completion to tight end Demetrius Harris — get wiped out due to a hold.

“That was something we hadn’t done in the past — we did play better in clutch situations,” Smith said. “Down the line, end of games, we played better in those big moments and it showed up with our record. I think we need to continue to build on that and be more prolific a little bit all over.”

The Chiefs’ were far more explosive in 2016 — the big-play ability of Pro Bowl rookie Tyreek Hill had a lot to do with that — but they were more inconsistent, too, which led to frustrating inefficiency in losses to Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Pittsburgh.

But Smith’s season, while ultimately unfulfilling, certainly wasn’t bad. The Chiefs went 12-4 and the won the AFC West for the first time since 2010.

Smith also started Sunday’s game, adding to an already-meaningful experience of making the second Pro Bowl of his 12-year career.

“It does (matter), because for a long time, you’re on the outside looking in, right?” Smith said. “You grow from things like this, too. They can be positive things, positive experiences.”

And now that Smith knows he’ll be the guy in 2017, he’ll be taking in as many of those as possible, even against the backdrop of the team potentially taking a quarterback early in the draft — something he wouldn’t take personally, by the way.

“If I were running a team, of course you would continue to bring in young talent — are you kidding me, the quarterback touches the ball every single play,” Smith said. “It’s hard to develop guys, it’s hard to find guys. Every year, you want to be taking a shot — that’s just smart football.”

But no matter what the Chiefs do in the draft, Smith will feel the responsibility of taking the Chiefs to the Super Bowl, and he knows what people will say if they again fall short.

“My trajectory and where I’m going really has nothing to do with whoever they bring in, because I’ve got to handle my business and take care of my business,” Smith said. “I’m gonna determine my own deal, right, and just kind of take that on, and that’s what it is, anywhere — if you don’t get it done, they’re gonna find somebody else.”

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Andy Reid's proven that despite great QB play, his teams win.

The offense could remain in neutral this year and the Chiefs would make the playoffs due to the special teams and defense, coupled with the fact that the Raiders won't win 12 games again, the Broncos have all kinds of problems and the Chargers are a complete joke.

Plus, outside of New England, the entire AFC is iffy.

The defense gave up a shit ton of yards. I know they had a lot of takeaways, and tended to stiffen in the red zone, but that's not a model I trust to get the job done, especially in the playoffs going up against the golden boy teams.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Frazod

The defense gave up a shit ton of yards. I know they had a lot of takeaways, and tended to stiffen in the red zone, but that's not a model I trust to get the job done, especially in the playoffs going up against the golden boy teams.

Playoffs? Sure, I'll go with that but as we saw in the Pro Bowl, it's Sutton's M.O. But with that said, after 4 years, I find it extremely unlikely the Chiefs, with Alex at QB, advance past the first round.

But that said, this team is freaking loaded, even at backup QB. They finished the season at 12-4 with 2 starting defensive lineman, their best running back and linebacker on IR, along with their best guard, while Houston only performed in one game.

This team is 9-7, at worst, in 2017.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Spider2YBanana

Chiefs fans have made excuses ad nauseam for Cassel and Smith going into their third and fourth years.

They'll do the same for a rookie who will be granted even more wiggle room...particularly since there won't be a peep about his contract for four years.

What in the **** are you talking about?

You mean all of about 6 CP posters who dared to defend Alex Smith in anyway only to be shredded by most of the rest of the CP posters. Only to be declared "trolls" because daring to annoy the rest of CP nation by saying that "Alex Smith isn't terrible" is enough to be considered a Troll.

Is that the "Chiefs fans" you are talking about?


Moronic ****s around here are just incredible in their stupidity

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Playoffs? Sure, I'll go with that but as we saw in the Pro Bowl, it's Sutton's M.O. But with that said, after 4 years, I find it extremely unlikely the Chiefs, with Alex at QB, advance past the first round.

But that said, this team is freaking loaded, even at backup QB. They finished the season at 12-4 with 2 starting defensive lineman, their best running back and linebacker on IR, along with their best guard, while Houston only performed in one game.

This team is 9-7, at worst, in 2017.

So basically the best we can hope for is a first round playoff win followed by a second round loss to Pittsburgh/New England. Yay.

[Mephistopheles Janx]

Originally Posted by Frazod

The defense gave up a shit ton of yards. I know they had a lot of takeaways, and tended to stiffen in the red zone, but that's not a model I trust to get the job done, especially in the playoffs going up against the golden boy teams.

I have to believe that Dorsey is gonna address the ILB position be it in FA or the draft. That alone will do wonders to shore up the D against the run. I don't trust that DJ is going to return and even if he does... that he will be anywhere near as effective as he was.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Frazod

I doubt that. I remember how shitty people were about Green during the 2001 season, myself included. TrINT was how he was generally referred to on this board. I realize he wasn't a first round pick - just traded for one - but he ended up being arguably the best QB we've had since Dawson and people wanted to run him out of town before he got a chance to prove himself.

Yep, i was critic of Green too.

But let's be honest here

Back then being a Trent Green "basher" amounted to calling him TrINT and saying his arm strength wasn't very good. Not even in the same universe as the the total destruction we rain down on the QBs nowadays. Much the the country itself, CPlanet is getting more vicious year-to-year.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Frazod

So basically the best we can hope for is a first round playoff win followed by a second round loss to Pittsburgh/New England. Yay.

I know. It's a Catch-22.

Chiefs.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Yep, i was critic of Green too.

But let's be honest here

Back then being a Trent Green "basher" amounted to calling him TrINT and saying his arm strength wasn't very good. Not even in the same universe as the the total destruction me rain down on the QBs nowadays. Much the the country itself, CPlanet is getting more vicious year-to-year.

Hard to argue with that.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsus

You're right, only because most of the fan base are ****ing idiots who think Smith is actually a pro bowl quarterback and a losing playoff record is considered a success.

Like i said, no QB will be good enough until we win a super bowl.

Doesn't mean a **** whether we draft him or not.

Only an elite QB, who takes us to the super bowl, will keep the hounds at bay.

[Hammock Parties]

Criticisms of Green dwindled over the years, as he showed improvement each and every year up until the Bengals headshot. Most got off his ass late in 2002.

As long as a rookie QB was showing improvement every year most would be patient with him.

It sure beats watching a guy over 30 get worse.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by MephistophelesJanx

I have to believe that Dorsey is gonna address the ILB position be it in FA or the draft. That alone will do wonders to shore up the D against the run. I don't trust that DJ is going to return and even if he does... that he will be anywhere near as effective as he was.

I don't care about yards given up, especially on the ground.

It's a passing league, which should be evident to anyone that watches the game and realizes the two best passing offenses in the NFL are squaring off Sunday.

Sutton runs the "Bend, don't break" and held the Steelers to six field goals.

The Patriots gave up two TD's to the same offense.

The Chiefs defense isn't at issue.

[DaNewGuy]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Playoffs? Sure, I'll go with that but as we saw in the Pro Bowl, it's Sutton's M.O. But with that said, after 4 years, I find it extremely unlikely the Chiefs, with Alex at QB, advance past the first round.

But that said, this team is freaking loaded, even at backup QB. They finished the season at 12-4 with 2 starting defensive lineman, their best running back and linebacker on IR, along with their best guard, while Houston only performed in one game.

This team is 9-7, at worst, in 2017.

Not to mention a trash receiving corps besides an emerging Tyreek and Kelce here andn there not much to work with

[St. Patty's Fire]

Originally Posted by DaNewGuy

Not to mention a trash receiving corps besides an emerging Tyreek and Kelce here andn there not much to work with

Yeah, a trash receiving corps outside two huge playmakers.

I think most QBs would be pretty happy with a receiving corps of Maclin/Hill/Kelce/Conley. Not to mention that Ware is a good receiving back.

[Hammock Parties]

The same people who were loudly proclaming we had an undefensible group of skill position players in preseason are now shitting on same group of skill position players.

You can't have it both ways.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DaNewGuy

Not to mention a trash receiving corps besides an emerging Tyreek and Kelce here andn there not much to work with

I think Conley is emerging and will be a fine #3.

The problem is that once again, Dorsey overpaid a WR. First, it was Bowe, who shit the bed in Year 2 and now Maclin, who shit the bed in Year 2.

$14 million a year should be reserved for the Dez Bryant's and Odell Beckham's of the world.

Not Jeremy Maclin, who's numbers were matched by a second year 3rd rounder.