Chiefs’ QB Alex Smith: We’re Trying To Win Right Now
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off their offseason program yesterday as the team assembled for the first time since new head coach Andy Reid and GM John Dorsey were brought in to run the franchise.
Playbooks were distributed and the team began its offseason workout regime. The players were also made available to the media.
The Chiefs have two new QBs this year. Last year’s starter Brady Quinn left the team in free agency and former starter Matt Cassel was released and landed in Minnesota. The Chiefs replaced Quinn and Cassel by trading for former 49ers QB Alex Smith and by signing former New Orleans Saints backup Chase Daniel.
Smith spoke with the media yesterday and said the Chiefs are trying to win now.
“We’re trying to win right now,” Smith said in comments released by the team. “I think that’s the great thing about the NFL. You’re out there and there are very few perennials. It’s a battle every single year. You can go first to worst, worst to first. There is so much parity across the league. That’s the mindset here, that’s for sure. If it’s not win now, then that’s a problem.”
This shouldn’t really be surprising, but it is nice to hear. Former Chiefs GM Scott Pioli seemed to be very methodical in his approach to building a team. Pioli’s caution, I think, cause the Chiefs to progress slower than was necessary. I think the new regime takes a little bit more of a balanced approach. Reid and Dorsey seem to be cautiously aggressive. I doubt they will promise KC fans a Super Bowl in 2013 but I do believe they think they can get the team winning again and into the playoff hunt.
As for Smith, well he knows all about quick turnarounds. The 49ers were one of the worst teams in the league back in 2010. Much like the the 2012 Chiefs, San Francisco entered 2010 with high expectations only to fall flat on its face. It took a regime change for the young and talented 49ers to reach their potential in 2011 and 2012.
Smith thinks being a part of a turnaround in San Fran will be an experience that is useful to him as he tries to help turn around the Chiefs.
“Being part of that and seeing it,” said Smith. “There are a lot of similarities there. I felt like we had a very talented team that underachieved the year before for whatever reason. New stock came in and there was a lot of turnover and change in culture, and we saw a group of guys buy in and saw what could happen. There is a lot more to it than that, but for sure. You build on all your past experiences.”
What do you think, Addicts? Can the Chiefs turn things around like the 2011 49ers and win now?