Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith has had a negative nickname. Some call him a “game manager” but Chris Simms from Bleacher Report, has been heard to call Smith his most notorious nickname, “Captain Checkdown.”
He calls him this because more often than not Alex Smith will throw to the check-down receiver, most often one of the running backs in Charcandrick West or Spencer Ware. It is Smith’s lack of down field throwing that that earned him the nickname placed on him by people in sports media. Now we could talk about how this is not the true essence of Smith’s game, and he can and does at times throw the ball down field to his receivers.
This moving the ball deep through the air is not the quarterback that the Chiefs need come this Saturday when the team heads to Foxborough to take on the defending champs The New England Patriots. In fact, the team needs Smith to live up to his name of “Captain check-down” for this game.
The Patriots are not the same team that there were a year ago, and that can be said by any organization. But despite the fact that the Pats have been dealing with injuries they are still ranked in the top 10 in points per game (19.7), yards per game (339.4), and rushing yards per game (98.8). So the team with the injuries they have suffered and losing three of their last five games, still have a good defense.
This is where Smith will shine, the Pats have managed to take the ball away from opponents 21 times, 12 interceptions and nine fumbles. But Smith and the Chiefs have only given up seven interceptions and only eight fumbles throughout the season. KC will need Smith to be a little more cautious this game, especially if wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is unable to play this Saturday.
So the “negative” about Smith’s game will actually become a positive if the Chiefs want to move onto the AFC Championship. The one good thing about Smith is his ability to take care of the ball. He won’t make mistakes or throw the ball into a lot of traffic. Even his lone interception against the Houston Texans was off a ricocheted ball from the Chiefs receiver causing the turnover. Playing against the Patriots the whole team will need to play mistake free; and Smith will be at the front of the mistake-free football needed to win.
This weekend the Chiefs will have their hands full with New England quarterback Tom Brady and the hooded master himself Bill Belichick. But despite the incredible winning record of the team at home and in the playoffs this team has a great shot at beating Tom and Bill and moving onto the AFC Championship game.
What do you think, Addicts? Do you think Smith’s ability to take care of the ball by short passes will be good for the team or bad? Let us know in the comments.
Thanks for reading.
GO CHIEFS!