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11-21-2017, 04:16 PM | |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: San Antonio Tx.
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David Carr " Chiefs have higher upside with Mahomes"
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Yet, here we are looking at the same Kansas City Chiefs offense we've seen year after year.
The Chiefs have made three playoff appearances since Reid took over as head coach in 2013, losing once in the wild-card game (2013) and twice in the divisional round (2015, 2016). I'm a fan of Reid and quarterback Alex Smith, but with the way things are right now, they'll be sitting at home while Pittsburgh and New England duke it out on Championship Sunday. I was Smith's teammate in San Francisco for one year (2010) and I got to know him well. When the weather starts playing a bigger factor in games late in the season, he's not a guy who can make tough throws in tough conditions. He's particular and wants the football a certain way. The colder the weather the firmer the ball and other conditions make the ball slippery. It's really hard to play in inclement weather as a quarterback, yet there are some guys -- like Brett Favre -- who could grab a ball out of a bucket of water or pile of mud and hurl it downfield. But everybody's not like that, including Smith. The conditions have to be right and the running game has to be there. As we've witnessed throughout his career, Smith isn't often going to transcend an offense and win a game on huge throws -- a frequent critique. He's just not that type of quarterback. Early in the season, we saw Smith make those big plays and the Chiefs were rolling. We've seen downfield shots slowly digress as the season's gone on, a trend that goes back to at least the past two seasons. Since 2015, Smith has been far more effective throwing the ball down field (20-pus air yards) through the Chiefs' first eight games than he has in their final eight, completing more passes (42.1 percent vs. 36.7 percent) with a better TD-to-INT ratio (8:0 vs. 2:4) and a significantly higher passer rating (124.3 vs. 63.1). Furthermore, since Smith's first year with the Chiefs in 2013, his passer rating on pass attempts of more than 20 yards has fallen off in the second half of the season. September: 92.0 October: 111.1 November: 63.5 Dec.-Jan.: 68.8 The Chiefs' high-flying offense started to stall after the Steelers exposed a weakness in Week 6. Pittsburgh played more zone coverage and allowed them to throw the ball underneath by respecting the ability of Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce to make things happen downfield. In addition, the run game hasn't been as effective the last five games (the Chiefs are 1-4 in that stretch), averaging 81 rush yards per game. That's 70 yards per game fewer than Kansas City put up in its first five games (all wins). In my opinion, Smith needs the run game to improve or we'll likely see him continue to struggle throwing the ball downfield as this season progresses. I know this sounds crazy, but there's a case for Patrick Mahomes, who played well in the preseason, to start in place of Smith as the playoffs near. The Chiefs gave up a third-rounder and next year's first to draft Mahomes, viewing him as their franchise quarterback of the future. He's a gunslinger who adds another dimension in the pass game when a) the weather worsens, and b) they're trying to go head to head with the AFC's best offenses. It's definitely possible the Chiefs could find themselves in a Nathan Peterman situation, especially if they don't handle the timing of the switch well. We don't know. What I do know, though, is we can expect the same ending to the Chiefs' story if they don't change up their cast of characters. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...-limits-chiefs |
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01-01-2018, 02:44 PM | #421 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jul 2009
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They’re gonna tailor the offense to Mahomes next year as well.
It’ll be different |
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01-01-2018, 03:07 PM | #422 |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Pueblo,CO
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01-01-2018, 03:10 PM | #423 |
He's Mahomie!
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Jax, FL
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Met some new Chiefs fans at the bar yesterday. They were a bit shocked at how good Mahomes was. I told them I was not surprised at all. I'd feel confident using the kid in the playoffs already.
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01-01-2018, 03:14 PM | #424 |
Supporter
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Location: Seattle, WA
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01-01-2018, 03:17 PM | #425 |
Needs more middle fingers
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego
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Just as it was when the season started, it's not up to Mahomes, but Smith. If Smith gets the Chiefs to the AFCG, don't be shocked to see him return and Mahomes will ride yet another season.
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01-01-2018, 03:18 PM | #426 | |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Pueblo,CO
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Quote:
It's too soon, though the future definitely looks bright. |
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01-01-2018, 03:19 PM | #427 |
Needs more middle fingers
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego
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Not what he meant at all.
One thing i took away from yesterday is how Denver sold out on the deep pass. Albert Wilson had a career day carving them up underneath. If Mahomes has that affect on D's, you can expect a complete philosophical shift on offense. |
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01-01-2018, 03:19 PM | #428 |
Needs more middle fingers
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego
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01-01-2018, 03:19 PM | #429 |
Most Valuable Villain
Join Date: Dec 2006
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AFC Championship game? **** that noise. Smith should be gone unless he wins a Super Bowl. And even if he does that.....it’s his time to go.
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01-01-2018, 03:20 PM | #430 |
Needs more middle fingers
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego
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01-01-2018, 03:21 PM | #431 |
Supporter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Seattle, WA
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They played coverage because they weren't worried about getting ran on by Anthony Sherman
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01-01-2018, 03:21 PM | #432 |
Mahomosapien
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: the great white north
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01-01-2018, 03:22 PM | #433 |
best in the biz
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Location: Under Pressure
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01-01-2018, 03:22 PM | #434 |
Mahomes Fanboi
Join Date: Apr 2004
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01-01-2018, 03:22 PM | #435 |
Needs more middle fingers
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: San Diego
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Posts: 65,647
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