Riggo's Rag
FanSided

Washington Redskins: Alex Smith to Jordan Reed – A Single Play

By Chad Jacobus

GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 9: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins runs past defensive end Benson Mayowa #91 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 9: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins runs past defensive end Benson Mayowa #91 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 9: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins takes the field for warmups before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 9: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins takes the field for warmups before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

It’s not as bad as it sounds for the Redskins.

Here’s the catch: Alex Smith wasn’t the same bummer of a quarterback last season that everyone previously pigeonholed, justifiably so, as a game manager afraid to take risks.

Alex Smith had the highest quarterback rating in the league last year on deep balls.  The Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins? Not so much.  Cousins also had a worse A.L.E.X. in 2017 than Smith. Smith’s 2017 A.L.E.X. was better than Cousins, Phillip Rivers, Drew Brees, Dak Prescott and Jared Goff, to name a few.

In 2017, Alex Smith threw one less touchdown and 51 less passing yards than Cousins while attempting 35 fewer passes than Cousins. Considering Cousins averaged 34 passing attempts per game and Smith average 31 attempts per game, it essentially took Cousins one extra game’s worth of throws to best Smith by 51 yards and a touchdown. Smith added 176 more rushing yards than Cousins last year as well. We all remember the heartbreaker in Kansas City. Smith’s legs bailed him out plenty of times that game. Fans got to see the same thing Week 1, this time with No. 11 wearing burgundy and gold.

Smith will be successful in 2018 with the Redskins. The confidence and control he displayed in Arizona was amazing to watch coming from someone playing their first game with a new team and a new offense. Smith to Reed has the potential to be a deadly combo. The question is how much faith do you have in Jordan Reed’s ability to give us a full slate of healthy games?  Unfortunately, not much.

Next. Redskins Reality Checks: Week 2 vs. Indianapolis. dark

Thanks for reading. Follow me on Twitter @DynastyJaco.

Be on the lookout for my next article profiling rookie TE Jeremy Sprinkle, as well as a few college prospects I feel the Redskins need to invest in come 2019.

Home/Commanders News