In 2005, the San Francisco 49ers made quarterback Alex Smith the first overall pick of the National Football League Draft after he led the Utah Utes to an undefeated season. Smith was expected to be a piece in the 49ers turnaround, but his first five years in San Francisco were marred by multiple head coaches, offensive coordinators, and benchings. Smith didn’t begin to realize his potential until 2011 when Jim Harbaugh became the Niners head coach. That year Smith would have the best season of his NFL career to that point as he completed more than 61% of his passes while helping San Francisco reach the NFC Championship game for the first time since 1997. However when Harbaugh took over as the 49ers head coach, he used a second-round pick on quarterback Colin Kaepernick who was perceived as San Francisco’s quarterback of the future. And when Smith was injured during the 2012 NFL season, it opened a door for Kaepernick that he would not relinquish.
With Kaepernick under center in 2012, the Niners were able to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1994 National Football League season which made Smith expendable.
Following the season Smith would be traded to the Kansas City Chiefs as he would now be under the tutelage of another quarterback guru in Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Prior to becoming the Chiefs head coach in 2013, Reid had made the playoffs nine times while employing four different starting quarterbacks, and all signs pointed to him adding to what Harbaugh had started with Smith.
In 2013, the Chiefs went 11-5 for their first playoff appearance since 2010 and in the process Smith earned his first Pro Bowl selection. With Smith and Reid working together, the Chiefs have never had a losing record which includes them making the postseason three times, while Smith has become one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the National Football League.
During Smith’s time with Kansas City, he has completed more than 65% of his passes, while his overall record is 44-20. And with the Chiefs hot start here in 2017, Smith has to garner some early consideration in regards to being the National Football League’s MVP.
So far in 2017, Smith has completed nearly 77.5% of his passes which leads the National Football League, while he has yet to throw an interception. Smith did the impossible in Week 1 when he helped the Chiefs get a road victory over the heavily favored New England Patriots.
It was the home opener for the Patriots who entered the season as the defending Super Bowl Champions, and in the process they were ready to debut another title banner. But Smith outplayed his counterpart in Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to the tune of passing for 368 yards on 28-of-35 passing. Smith even threw a 78-yard touchdown pass which silenced myself as well as some of his other critics in regards to his arm strength as he and the Chiefs put the football world on notice after getting the best of big, bad Pats.
Smith has kept that momentum going as the Chiefs have gone on to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles as well as the Los Angeles Chargers. And whereas both the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders lost yesterday, Kansas City now sits alone atop the AFC West.
In recent years Smith has become the product of good coaching which is no fault of his as it is the head coach’s responsibility to put his players in the best possible position to win. Reid’s variation of the West Coast Offense relies on the quarterback getting the football out quickly, while not focusing on one receiver, and this is an aspect that Smith has grasped. The Chiefs are loaded with speed with players such as running back Kareem Hunt and wide receiver Tyreek Hill leading the way. And if this isn’t enough, tight end Travis Kelce has rapidly developed into the poor man’s version of Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. But if opposing defenses want to focus too much on the Chiefs backs and receivers, Smith can beat teams with his legs as he has rushed for 1,350 yards while wearing a Kansas City uniform.
Smith is the leader of this Chiefs team and in the process he has become the de facto point guard of this team due to his ability to facilitate. Some people will look at the fact that Smith has talented players at the skill position around him, while he is being coached by Reid, but it takes a special person to not make the situation bigger than his or herself and do what is best for the common good of everyone.
There is still plenty of football that remains to be played this season, but the hot start of this Chiefs team has people that follow this club thinking about the Super Bowl, while Smith’s ability is being magnified more than ever as he is in the running to be the first player in Chiefs franchise history to be named National Football League MVP.
Source: Pro-football-reference.com
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