Alex Smith Chiefs Missing Leader

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When the end of the 2012 season came to a close there were several things that needed to change. Clark Hunt knew that change had to happen, change is exactly what he delivered.

Head Coach Andy Reid was brought in to turn a talented heavy team into a playoff and Super Bowl contending franchise, so far he has accomplished just that. Reid’s first and foremost decision was to bring in the most important position on the field, the quarterback, enter Alex Smith.

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY SportsAlex Smith has been labeled a game manager, and unwilling to take deep shots down the field. What Chiefs Kingdom has discovered in the last two weeks that Smith is so much more than was advertised, he has been the key piece of this Chiefs offense and has shown the ability to be the leader they were missing.

Andy Reid has had nothing but praise for his quarterback, and was recently asked what makes the team as a whole better with Smith leading,

"A lot of it just starts with the work ethic and the time, effort and preparation that they put in, in Alex (Smith’s) case, that he puts in. He is here, I mentioned this before the season started, we have rules and regulations in the offseason of how many hours you can stay in the building and I had to kick him out of the building so we didn’t get put on secret double probation before we ever got started."

Smiths preparation cannot be underestimated, every week since the bye the offense has been firing on all cylinders and even saw Jamaal Charles have a record breaking game against a aggressive Raider defense that allowed 5 touchdowns. This in turn has thrust Charles into the debate of MVP for his production. Would Charles be as effective without Reid and Smith? In all likely hood probably not because of how Smith boosts the players around him.

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Smith has also shown that he is all in when it comes to running this offense, and boasting numbers such as 3,160 yards 23 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions, sporting a passer rating of 91, which by the way is his second best rating in his career. This success in no accident, as Reid said it is in the way he practices, and then translates onto the field.

"How he practices is another big part. He’s not joking around. When it’s time to go, it’s time to go. Each rep means something. He wants to make sure he’s right on each rep and that all those guys around him are right. To be a leader and to be able to demand from people and yourself, you have to also be productive and he’s been able to do that.”"

Smith has shown he is productive, in the game against the Raiders, he had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 throwing for 287 yards and 5 touchdowns. On the field it all starts at the quarterback and under the guidance of Andy Ried, and with weapons such as Charles, Smith has the ability to lead his team deep into the playoffs and finally break the drought that Chief fans have be hoping would finally end.

What do you think Addicts? Is Smith the quarterback that the Chiefs have been missing? Do you want to see Smith stay in Kansas City for the long haul? Sound off below

Go Chiefs!!!!!

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