Alex Smith: Will The Chiefs QB Finally Air It Out?
By Nick Floyd
Now that Jeremy Maclin has signed, some questions about the Kansas City Chiefs offense come to mind. For instance, will quarterback Alex Smith finally throw the ball?
In 2014, the Chiefs as a whole only amassed 19 20-plus-yard receptions. They also only managed to gain a total of 1,588 yards. These stats do not lie.
The receivers for the Chiefs were not good—that we know. However, Maclin’s numbers show a different story. He tallied 10 touchdowns, 21 20-plus-yard receptions, and 1,318 receiving yards. Ouch, almost better than the entire Chiefs squad.
Oct 26, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (18) scores a 21 yard touchdown during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
With the addition of this new receiving threat, will Chiefs fans finally see something they have been begging for since Smith came to town? Will they finally see downfield passes? It’s not a shock to see that people have called Smith Captain Checkdown. He is either a cautious QB or does not trust his targets.
If Smith wants to finally put the doubters to rest, he will need to immediately develop a relationship with Maclin. Having a quarterback and wide receiver trust each other is so utterly important. Trusting the men around you on the field builds a rapport that is unmatched. If the Chiefs hope to correct the error of their ways, they will first need Smith to correct his own.
Alex Smith has shown he can throw deep, but his reluctancy to do so hasn’t changed. The Chiefs still have an enormous amount of work to do throughout the offseason, especially when it comes to rebuilding the offensive line.
Only time will tell if Smith will start pulling the trigger. But now that he has Maclin, there are no excuses.
What do you think, Addicts? Will Smith turn the corner and finally start airing it out? Let us know in the comments.
Thanks for reading!
Go Chiefs!
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