ALEX SMITH and moving forward.

So the receivers ran their routes far enough and Smith refused to throw the ball to them unless they came back a few yards?

Alex Smith often doesnt let plays develop. He is quick to get the ball out to the short man. He comes off of his progressions WAY too fast, and often moves off of his primary or initial secondary target right before that player breaks open. Its maddening.

Regardless, year after year, Alex is below average at 3rd down conversion rate relative to his peers.

High completion percentage. High passer rating. Low conversion percentage. Unfortunately, the conversion rate is the important part, and Alex has never been good at that.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2017/redzone-passing.htm

Red Zone Passing Stats

Im more concerned here than above.

Alex Smith often doesnt let plays develop. He is quick to get the ball out to the short man. He comes off of his progressions WAY too fast, and often moves off of his primary or initial secondary target right before that player breaks open. Its maddening.

Regardless, year after year, Alex is below average at 3rd down conversion rate relative to his peers.

High completion percentage. High passer rating. Low conversion percentage. Unfortunately, the conversion rate is the important part, and Alex has never been good at that.

Thanks for the info. Gruden's offense is designed so that there is almost always an open receiver somewhere. In addition, most of our dump off guys (Crowder, Thompson, Reed, Davis) are pretty good at YAC. While I have no expectation that Smith will abandon his dump-off ways, I am hopeful that we have a coach and players that will be able to make that a strength - or at least not a crippling weakness. lol

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2017/redzone-passing.htm

Red Zone Passing Stats

Im more concerned here than above.

He had an off year in the RZ, it happens. Alex will never wow u with stats anyway, last year was a "fluke" yr if u will. He will still be the same 22 td 7 ints kind of guy with us. The main thing he brings is WINS, the guy is clutch in the 4th qtr, he doesn't make huge mistakes that cost the team wins. Kirk is a better numbers guy than Alex but I'll take the experience and wins over that any day.

This is absolutely, unquestionably incorrect. Alex Smith is NOT a good QB on 3rd down, and never has been. He ranked 22nd in the NFL last year. 22nd isnt "one of the best" in my eyes.

stats.washingtonpost.com/fb/leaders.asp?range=NFL&rank=098&type=&year=

He is the king of completing a 4 yard dump off pass when you need 7 yards. It is one of the many things that drove me nuts about him the past 5 years. His completion percentage on 3rd down often looks great, but his conversion rate is almost always pathetic.

That was KCousins to a tee, so any chance AS has to be better will be good for us. He won't be worse.

That was KCousins to a tee, so any chance AS has to be better will be good for us. He won't be worse.

Main improvement should be less turnovers. He's very safe with the ball (to a point he's been criticized for it, but I'm fine with that!).

I'm pretty excited to see us have a chance to actually compete in a prime time game. We've been pretty terrible in those for quite some time now.

Over the last week I have been assigned QB Grades and Charting process, I just finished the skins eagles MNF game. Kirk did a solid job using his playmakers in space (Reed, CT, Crowder) but it is clear as day why we didn't really beg him to stay.. When you see the tape closely it really shows him missing wide open guys, also I wanted to see if Sean Salisbury had any substance behind his "Kirk is just a stat guy" I didn't see him being selfish but I DID see him take sacks when he easily could have thrown the ball away, one play closer to the end of the game when we were down , he had Doc one on one in the EZ and instead of throwing a 50/50 ball, he took a ridiculous sack after having plenty of time. When you see the End Zone angle it shows our Line still busting ass in a losing situation, he got up after the sack and walks off with his head down. I'm not bashing Kirk, I loved having the guy but can Kirk make a throw on the move like Alex did against us last year? 4th Qtr game on the line? I just don't think he can. It's why we wanted Smith over Cousins.

Side Note: Wentz pocket presence is amazing, I was secretly hating on him because I was jealous of the Eagles winning it all w/out him but no doubt he is the real deal. I wonder if this injury will impact his running though.

I'm pretty excited to see us have a chance to actually compete in a prime time game. We've been pretty terrible in those for quite some time now.

especially the dome ones

https://media.profootballfocus.com/2018/06/RPOsYPA-768x422.jpg

Last year we led the NFL in YPA on RPO plays, with Alex here now I would imagine it would stay this way.