Kansas City Chiefs: A Monday Morning Rant
Dec 7, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) reacts on the sidelines in the final minute of the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Chiefs 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Smith
Smith is the clear, number-one scapegoat when it comes to the Chiefs’ struggles. There are two extremist sides when it comes to Smith. Some seem to think he’s the worst QB in the NFL, a horrible, pathetic, coward of a QB who will NEVER lead a competitive playoff team. The other end of the spectrum are those who seem to have a blind eye to Smith’s obvious limitations and weaknesses.
I’ll address both sides. To the Smith “haters,” if you can’t acknowledge the role the horrific offensive line, the limited wide receivers, and the play-calling of Andy Reid have in the KC passing game’s struggles and want to pin it all on Smith, you are either blind or just plain ignorant to how a team sport like football works. No player’s success on the field is 100 percent based on his own merits. Yes, some players have proven themselves capable of winning against great odds, but that is a rare exception. The Kansas City Chiefs have created a situation where their quarterback is at a tremendous disadvantage. Alex Smith didn’t create that disadvantage, he simply isn’t good enough to overcome it.
That brings me to the other extreme group of fans, the Smith loyalists. While I believe everything I just wrote about these issues not being all about Smith, if anyone still believes he doesn’t deserve his share of the blame you are equally blind and/or ignorant. Smith is gun-shy. He won’t pull the trigger unless he’s nearly 100 percent sure it’s safe to do so. While there is great value in protecting the football, there are times in a game where you have to throw caution to the wind and go for it. You know, like when you’re down three points with a minute to go, and you have to drive the length of the field with no time outs.
That’s not a time to play it safe.
That’s not a time to dump off.
You can’t worry about a possible interception or the fact that the WRs don’t have separation at that point. Throw the stupid ball down the field and at least give the below-average WR a chance to make a play. If nothing else, in today’s NFL, you at least have a shot of drawing a penalty flag on the defensive back! To not even be willing to go outside your comfort zone in that situation is a weakness. There is no way around it. Smith may not have an OL. He may not have the WR group that he needs. Andy Reid’s play-calling may be head-scratching at times. In the end, Smith is still the one with the ball in his hands when the game is on the line. He has to put his team in their best position to win. He has to make the players around him look better with his play. Right now he’s not doing that and nobody can make an intelligent argument otherwise.
So what’s the solution?
I don’t know.
Could Smith still lead KC to where they want to go with a vastly improved line and better weapons?
Maybe.
What I do know is this. I have zero interest in seeing a rookie QB play behind that OL with those WRs. I mean, stop and think about what would happen if you swapped out Smith with Geno Smith or Blake Bortles. Those guys would probably throw 57 interceptions and instead of losing these frustrating close games, they’d be outscored 50-10.
Regardless of who the Chiefs QB is they have to put them in a position to succeed and this roster appears to be incapable of doing that.
That brings me to my next group…..
Next: The Rant Continues Here