Andy Reid shouldn’t be fired
By Nick Floyd
Oct 4, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) looks on from the sidelines in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 36-21. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
1. Reid works with what he has been given.
This will not be a bashing of Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, which should be saved for a later date. But, even though this is not meant to be an outright demolishing of Smith, this still will sting a little for the 11-year veteran.
Smith is limited in his abilities. This part is true. Smith has been labeled a game manager, not a game leader, this is also true. But despite these truths, Smith has been reliable. Smith is also one of the winningest quarterbacks in the last few seasons. He does this, frankly, by not taking too many chances, which is where his faults lie.
Smith’s insistence on not putting himself out there in terms of down-the-field passing his is biggest limitation. Not that he doesn’t have the deep ball; he just either does not trust himself, or simply won’t do it. This, in turn, changes how Reid game plans every week.
Knowing his quarterback won’t throw the long ball takes that aspect of Reid’s offense completely off the table. Reid wants to throw the ball, as evident by costly mistakes near the end of the second quarter in the Denver game. So Reid has to run the ball even when it makes no sense.
Reid works with what he has been given. Yes, he was quite high on Smith’s skills. But you can’t take a square peg and jam it into a round hole. Smith, while a reliable quarterback in general, is not the best fit for Reid and what he wants to do with this team. Throw in the loss of Charles, and his entire offensive game plan has to change.
Perhaps Smith is not the answer at the moment for the Chiefs, but the huge contract they gave him prevents the team from moving on from Smith. For now Reid will continue to work on what he has in his offense, maybe they will click again this season, who knows, but Reid will continue to use his offense and the players he has the best way he can.