Football See how Alex Smith performs in the red zone compared to rest of AFC West - Page 8

beach tribe · 07-16-2017, 09:33 AM

It was a breezy, borderline chilly, Sunday afternoon in mid-November last season. The 7-2 Kansas City Chiefs were at home against the five-loss Tampa Bay Buccaneers, rolling with a five-game winning streak that included victories over the New Orleans Saints at home and the Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers on the road.

It was also ... confession time ... my first visit to Arrowhead Stadium.

I will say, it was an experience I’ll never forget. The atmosphere, the tailgating, the fans ... it was all amazing. But, at the same time, it was just about as frustrating a game as you’ll ever see.

The funny thing is, though, Alex Smith had your typical, average Alex Smith performance. The Chiefs QB threw for 261 yards, had one touchdown and one rushing touchdown, along with one interception. Pretty so-so, but that seems to be then norm for No. 11. Spencer Ware rushed for 69 yards on 17 attempts, a stat line that pretty much was his average performance on the ground in 2016.

I did some digging and found the postgame column of The Kansas City Star’s Sam Mellinger. You don’t have to read too much to remind yourself of how that game panned out.

What could’ve been another ugly Chiefs win turned into an ugly-as-vomit 19-17 loss to the mediocre Buccaneers at home on Sunday the moment quarterback Alex Smith executed a bad throw, poorly leading to an interception in the end zone when even a field goal would’ve probably been enough to win.

The biggest frustration, aside from the inability of the offense to score, was the red zone performance by Smith. Most notably, Smith threw a crucial interception from Tampa Bay’s six-yard line (the one referenced by Sam above) with KC trailing 12-10 early in the fourth quarter.

I won’t spend too much time dwelling on the Smith interception, but it appeared to be a predetermined read, where Smith failed to notice Chris Conte waiting in the middle of the end zone.

And as a Chiefs fan, you probably feel that this missed throw in the tweet below by Smith is one you see every Sunday.

Click here to see Tigerupyourbutt's lover boy make one of the throws that led to his AFCW ranking:
https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2017/...red-zone-stats

The Chiefs scored in the red zone 46 percent of the time in 2016, which was 26th-best in the league. That’s about 10 percent worse than Kansas City’s red zone conversion rate in 2015.

Plus, what really makes the red zone inefficiency by Smith & Co. so frustrating is that the offensive line for the Chiefs did a pretty good job in 2016. According to Pro Football Focus, the Chiefs offensive line allowed the fewest pressures in 2016 (they tied with the Raiders) and Smith saw the lowest percentage of pressures on third down.

For an offense that operates like the Chiefs, scoring in the red zone has to be one of the most important parts of their game. Minus Tyreek Hill running wild throughout the field, there isn’t a big-play threat out there. It’s reasonable to contribute the lack of a play maker to Smith’s inability or unwillingness to take shots down the field.

So, if you were asked a trivia question on where Smith ranked in red zone passing performance in the AFC West in 2016, you’d be a winner if you answered with ... “dead last.”
2016 AFC West Red Zone QB Stats
Quarterback Passing Completion % Passing Yards TD INT Passer Rating Yards/Attempt Rushing Yards
Derek Carr 44/90 47% 306 19 1 91.9 3.4 -7
Philip Rivers 45/96 47% 333 22 2 86.5 3.5 1
Trevor Siemian 28/55 51% 164 10 1 89 3 5
Alex Smith 29/63 46% 167 11 3 72.7 2.7 51
Statistics via Pro Football Reference

The only real edge that Smith has over the other three quarterbacks actually has nothing to do with his passing game. He has 51 rushing yards; the other three have -6 combined rushing yards. Congratulations.

Trevor Siemian threw for one less touchdown than Smith did in the red zone in 2016 but had eight less pass attempts. Smith’s passer rating was 16.3 percentage points worse than the next-best rating, owned by Siemian (89).

The Chiefs are at the point now where no one reasonably expects them to be any better than an average offense so long as Smith is behind center. The AFC West won’t be an easy division to play in in 2017 by any means, and if the Chiefs want to compete for a playoff run, improvement in the red zone should be one of their highest priorities.

RippedmyFlesh · 07-16-2017, 10:12 PM

These QBs saw the least amount of pressure on 3rd downs

Reerun_KC · 07-16-2017, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

So you moved on to a different, more appropriate target... all because you were bullied into it?

Wow. What a huge pussy you are then. You had a belief, and had it beaten out of you by a bunch of other impotent, anonymous posters.

Well done. That will be your legacy then. Great job.

Silly n00b... You have no idea what halarious bullshit we have for legacies here.

Sandy Vagina · 07-16-2017, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Silly n00b... You have no idea what halarious bullshit we have for legacies here.

Not sure you pulled it off... but that was a very interesting way to try and deflect from that particular line of discussion.

Guess you did what you could.. seeing as you admitted finding a different source of blame, after your original one got you pushed around.

Reerun_KC · 07-16-2017, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

Not sure you pulled it off... but that was a very interesting way to try and deflect from that particular line of discussion.

Guess you did what you could.. seeing as you admitted finding a different source of blame, after your original one got you pushed around.

So I got pushed around? And then changed my opinion based on internet bullies?

RippedmyFlesh · 07-16-2017, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

Not sure you pulled it off... but that was a very interesting way to try and deflect from that particular line of discussion.

Guess you did what you could.. seeing as you admitted finding a different source of blame, after your original one got you pushed around.

How ****ing stupid are you? Blame reid for playing smith instead of smith?

**New World Order** · 07-16-2017, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RippedmyFlesh

How ****ing stupid are you? Blame reid for playing smith instead of smith?

Yes

That's their routine.

NWTF · 07-16-2017, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RippedmyFlesh

These QBs saw the least amount of pressure on 3rd downs

Say it aint so.

Meh, dont matter anyway Smiths a short timer in KC.

RippedmyFlesh · 07-16-2017, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWTF

Say it aint so.

Meh, dont matter anyway Smiths a short timer in KC.

At least Patrick gets a good line.

Nickhead · 07-17-2017, 12:41 AM

two things:

rushing yards ranking - 15

passing yards ranking - 19

(pittsburg had 12 more rushing yards than kc last year FYI)

two more things.

rushing touchdowns ranking - 13

passing touchdowns ranking - 24

need i say more?

(i mean if our rushing was the problem last year, surely these numbers can't be right)

tredadda · 07-17-2017, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigerUppercut

Passing offense plagued with terrible receivers and a line that has only been ranked average once in 4 years.

Remind me where is Kyle Williams, Hemingway, bowe, Hammond and Avery right now??

. This place even bitches about Albert Wilson, constantly. Smith's fault, right?

Morons

If it's everything but Smith's fault why did the Front Office trade up to draft the polar opposite of Smith? Why did they not trade up for a receiver, OL, or RB? Or if they thought there were none worthy to trade up for why didn't they just stand pat for one and get their QB in RD 2?

TigeRRUppeRRcut · 07-17-2017, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RippedmyFlesh

These QBs saw the least amount of pressure on 3rd downs

This graphic means nothing, it just shows against offenses that are likely to pass, the defenses are pulling back into coverage.

TigeRRUppeRRcut · 07-17-2017, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tredadda

If it's everything but Smith's fault why did the Front Office trade up to draft the polar opposite of Smith? Why did they not trade up for a receiver, OL, or RB? Or if they thought there were none worthy to trade up for why didn't they just stand pat for one and get their QB in RD 2?

changes made for THIS season... Dumped maclin and Charles, drafted Kareem hunt via trade up

TigeRRUppeRRcut · 07-17-2017, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

hey, YOU're the one obsessed with sucking on dicks. Guess it comes easy for you, as you spend your days workin to get your next fix. Mom would be proud.

***drops mic ***

rico · 07-17-2017, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

hey, YOU're the one obsessed with sucking on dicks. Guess it comes easy for you, as you spend your days workin to get your next fix. Mom would be proud.

Your mom would be proud, eh? Is that why you suck Alex's penis so much? To make your mom proud?!?!?!

rico · 07-17-2017, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

With no doubt, you and others will be throwing the same "excuses" forward when Mahomo gets any hint of criticism. ****ing hypocrite.

Then when met with any resistance, the excuse of "well he's just a rookie!" will cascade from your herpe-lips. Guess what asshole? that is just... another.. "excuse"... according to your own rules set forth.

Now suck it.

Mahomo?

Man, I thought you were gonna pull for the kid to do well?!? With you referring to him as Mahomo, it's quite clear that you are a Mahomes hater, future Chiefs hater (when Alex get the boot) and well, as you've always been...an everyone except Alex hater.

07-16-2017, 09:33 AM
beach tribe Keep doubting J MFing Houston Join Date: May 2007 Location: ft.lauderdale Casino cash: $4828036	See how Alex Smith performs in the red zone compared to rest of AFC West It was a breezy, borderline chilly, Sunday afternoon in mid-November last season. The 7-2 Kansas City Chiefs were at home against the five-loss Tampa Bay Buccaneers, rolling with a five-game winning streak that included victories over the New Orleans Saints at home and the Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers on the road. It was also ... confession time ... my first visit to Arrowhead Stadium. I will say, it was an experience I’ll never forget. The atmosphere, the tailgating, the fans ... it was all amazing. But, at the same time, it was just about as frustrating a game as you’ll ever see. The funny thing is, though, Alex Smith had your typical, average Alex Smith performance. The Chiefs QB threw for 261 yards, had one touchdown and one rushing touchdown, along with one interception. Pretty so-so, but that seems to be then norm for No. 11. Spencer Ware rushed for 69 yards on 17 attempts, a stat line that pretty much was his average performance on the ground in 2016. I did some digging and found the postgame column of The Kansas City Star’s Sam Mellinger. You don’t have to read too much to remind yourself of how that game panned out. What could’ve been another ugly Chiefs win turned into an ugly-as-vomit 19-17 loss to the mediocre Buccaneers at home on Sunday the moment quarterback Alex Smith executed a bad throw, poorly leading to an interception in the end zone when even a field goal would’ve probably been enough to win. The biggest frustration, aside from the inability of the offense to score, was the red zone performance by Smith. Most notably, Smith threw a crucial interception from Tampa Bay’s six-yard line (the one referenced by Sam above) with KC trailing 12-10 early in the fourth quarter. I won’t spend too much time dwelling on the Smith interception, but it appeared to be a predetermined read, where Smith failed to notice Chris Conte waiting in the middle of the end zone. And as a Chiefs fan, you probably feel that this missed throw in the tweet below by Smith is one you see every Sunday. Click here to see Tigerupyourbutt's lover boy make one of the throws that led to his AFCW ranking: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2017/...red-zone-stats The Chiefs scored in the red zone 46 percent of the time in 2016, which was 26th-best in the league. That’s about 10 percent worse than Kansas City’s red zone conversion rate in 2015. Plus, what really makes the red zone inefficiency by Smith & Co. so frustrating is that the offensive line for the Chiefs did a pretty good job in 2016. According to Pro Football Focus, the Chiefs offensive line allowed the fewest pressures in 2016 (they tied with the Raiders) and Smith saw the lowest percentage of pressures on third down. For an offense that operates like the Chiefs, scoring in the red zone has to be one of the most important parts of their game. Minus Tyreek Hill running wild throughout the field, there isn’t a big-play threat out there. It’s reasonable to contribute the lack of a play maker to Smith’s inability or unwillingness to take shots down the field. So, if you were asked a trivia question on where Smith ranked in red zone passing performance in the AFC West in 2016, you’d be a winner if you answered with ... “dead last.” 2016 AFC West Red Zone QB Stats Quarterback Passing Completion % Passing Yards TD INT Passer Rating Yards/Attempt Rushing Yards Derek Carr 44/90 47% 306 19 1 91.9 3.4 -7 Philip Rivers 45/96 47% 333 22 2 86.5 3.5 1 Trevor Siemian 28/55 51% 164 10 1 89 3 5 Alex Smith 29/63 46% 167 11 3 72.7 2.7 51 Statistics via Pro Football Reference The only real edge that Smith has over the other three quarterbacks actually has nothing to do with his passing game. He has 51 rushing yards; the other three have -6 combined rushing yards. Congratulations. Trevor Siemian threw for one less touchdown than Smith did in the red zone in 2016 but had eight less pass attempts. Smith’s passer rating was 16.3 percentage points worse than the next-best rating, owned by Siemian (89). The Chiefs are at the point now where no one reasonably expects them to be any better than an average offense so long as Smith is behind center. The AFC West won’t be an easy division to play in in 2017 by any means, and if the Chiefs want to compete for a playoff run, improvement in the red zone should be one of their highest priorities.
Posts: 21,429

07-16-2017, 10:12 PM	#106
RippedmyFlesh Veteran Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New York Casino cash: $10005817	These QBs saw the least amount of pressure on 3rd downs
Posts: 4,848

07-17-2017, 12:41 AM	#114
Nickhead EvOlVeD Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Blue Mountains, Australia Casino cash: $2559868	two things: rushing yards ranking - 15 passing yards ranking - 19 (pittsburg had 12 more rushing yards than kc last year FYI) two more things. rushing touchdowns ranking - 13 passing touchdowns ranking - 24 need i say more? (i mean if our rushing was the problem last year, surely these numbers can't be right)
Posts: 8,220