Press Release: #Redskins Quotes- Alex Smith

[TK]

September 19, 2018

 

QB Alex Smith

 

 

 

On finding the balance between check-downs and throwing passes downfield:

"Yeah, I mean I think every guy on the team, certainly every guy on offense went through the game and what plays could I have done differently to help us. For me, in the first half of the game is maybe when I went through that in my head. Could I have taken a shot here? You know, all week we talked about being patient. The way they play defense, be patient. Let the shots present themselves. You don't anticipate in the first half that you're going to get in the second half and still be trailing. In the second half, very apparent, I mean they were not going to let anything get over their head or get behind them. It was so soft. Hence, a lot of the underneath stuff was open. So, then you do look back at that and you're like 'well God maybe this one play in the first half should I have held it a tick longer and taken a shot or could I have looked this off and gone here?' That's kind of the game you play with the what-ifs, you know, in a situation like that. It's hard though when you have limited opportunities. You expected to have more opportunities and we didn’t have them. Then, obviously, in the second half [we] kind of got one-dimensional."

 

On new WR Michael Floyd and WR Breshad Perriman:

"Yeah, just that quick intro here this morning and in meeting as they got in here and got going. I think the fact that they're both veteran guys and have played helps with that. We'll see. We're not going to forecast anything for either of the guys. Get out on the practice field, put our work in and we'll see where it goes."

 

On making in-game adjustments:

"I mean any time, anything, something doesn’t work or you're out of rhythm, out of sync like that, certainly the next day, in hindsight, you're always kicking yourself. Shoot we could’ve done this, could’ve done that, I could’ve done this, things like that. What's tough in that game, it felt like you also wanted to tell yourself to stay patient with some of that stuff. Stay patient with the run, stay patient with some of those things because the look was still there. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to capitalize on those things. Combination of a lot of things, certainly yeah, could we have done things differently? You know, maybe. [We] could have executed a lot better too. A combination of all those things I think put together and it's a fine line. You fight that battle right? Should we stay patient with this, we want to stay patient with this. Then the next day, you're maybe saying 'hey maybe I should’ve gone a different direction quicker'."

 

On what stood out to him after watching film of the Indianapolis Colts game:

"I just thought third down situational football cost us in the first half. I think if we'd converted on a bunch of those third downs that we ... I felt like we certainly could’ve and should’ve. You give yourself a bunch more opportunities to get to all those things we're talking about. I think we were unable to convert, unable to get into a rhythm and then you have limited opportunities then. You can't get to all that stuff. All of a sudden if you move the chains, all of a sudden you have a chance to get to some of that other stuff in your playbook, in your game plan. We were just unable to do that because we were poor on third downs I think especially that first half. "

 

On Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers:

"You know, he's a decent player [laughter]. He and I [have] been around each other a lot of time now, always linked, pretty good buddies. Certainly, kind of I think follow each other's career from afar. Usually get to connect in the offseason here or there a couple times with random things. Yeah, but other than that, it's like I said, we're obviously pretty far down the line at this point, still rolling and having fun with it [career]. Obviously, good to see him out there playing. He's a special player, fun to watch. I think as quarterbacks we always watch one another, analyze one another. Certainly, he's a unique guy the way he plays quarterback. I know he's fun to watch from a peer's perspective."

 

On building chemistry with WR Josh Doctson, WR Paul Richardson, Jr. and WR Jamison Crowder:

"I think it's going well. I think it's going really well. I think it's hard looking at the numbers with these first two weeks just the defenses we played, the style that they've played necessarily hasn’t dictated a lot of balls going outside to those guys. I feel really good about it. Those guys all work extremely hard. They're all crazy talented. I think it's one of those things that you just kind of … it's a process that never ends. You're constantly working at that. You don't know when that opportunity is going to present itself. I think all those things, it comes in bunches. You keep working. You never stop no matter what. I mean win, lose, all this stuff, you just kind of … it's a process that you never stop working at on the field and in the meeting rooms." 

 

On communication with receivers after incompletions:

"Listen, these guys, everybody's all in. We don’t have a lack of sacrifice, and commitment, and want-too in these guys. It's football. It's not going to be perfect. From my perspective, it's just obviously kind of continue to talk to those guys about what I'm seeing, what they're seeing, constantly. Our communication both on the sideline, in the meeting rooms, and then on the field, seeing the same things, reacting to it in the same way. From my perspective, you just keep firing and you keep taking your shots when they're there and you don't think or dwell on the rest. I think you just kind of keep staying in the moment and focusing on what you have to do."

 

On recovering from a loss after a win:

"I think any good team has got to be able to handle both and all the stuff in between. I think it's the tale of the season is how you handle all these situations, emotions, stress, all the stuff that comes with this game. You have to be able to handle all that stuff. You have to be able to focus in, not let any of that stuff distract you, distract your preparation – where you attention needs to be – where your focus needs to be. Yeah, this will be our first shot coming obviously off a loss. You have to be able to redirect yourself no different. I mean you have to be able to focus in just the same."

 

On working with Head Coach Jay Gruden on pass-protection:

"Good. I think that's no different than with the wide outs. It's a process that you're just always, always working on, especially come season because every week there's new things. You get a new look this week, this team does this unique thing so we need to answer it with this. What's our communication process? That's constantly changing throughout the season and I think you just kind of catalog and bank all that stuff as you do it. You know, just kind of continue to work, not only just with him but with the protection unit as a whole – whether it be the five linemen, whether it be backs, tight ends, myself included, receivers. It's just the same thing, a process that you just every single day you're working at."

 

On receiver spacing during the game against the Indianapolis Colts:

"I mean, spacing is obviously critical in offense. I think we work hard to correct any of those things we see all the time, whether it is in game footage, practice, we’re constantly working and talking about all that."

 

On getting TE Jordan Reed involved early:

"There is never an ability to just go like ‘hey, let’s call this play, and jam it to this guy’. I mean if the defense wants to take away somebody, I think any good offense has to adjust and counter attack. He’s a good player that warrants a lot of attention sometimes from defenses. Certainly he’s a guy that we always want to try to keep involved, and always will, but a lot of times … I mean the way football goes, you are out there reacting to what the defense is presenting, trying to counteract what they’re doing, what they’re trying to take away and you hope you are well balanced enough that everybody is getting involved. So yeah, he’s obviously a unique player, special to us, but it’s never a circumstance where you're forcing the ball to a guy; rarely I’d say."

 

On playing teams that put up a lot of points:

"I think that you can get sucked into that. In the end of course we want to dominate regardless of the offense we are playing. Of course we want to go out there and execute, move the chains. We would love to dominate both the scoreboard and the time of possession every game. It just comes through execution though, I think. I mean it doesn’t come through anything else and execution comes from focusing on your job – one play at a time – which is what we are always trying to do. I guess coming back to that, I don’t think any extra attention or focus on ‘hey we’ve got to possess the ball to keep their offense off the field’ but the way to do that is just to play good offense and to go out and execute and do what we’ve got to do and just play. I still think the attention needs to be on that."

 

On Green Bay Packers LB Clay Matthews and the roughing the passer penalties:

"I don’t think any of it is intentional. He’s played a long time; he’s a heck of player. He’s just trying to play hard. Certainly, I think things happen, it’s a fast game and you throw in some new rules and it can get cloudy and gray. So, no I don’t think there is any ill will there. I’m certainly not thinking about that. I’m trying to go out and do the same thing he’s doing, I’m sure which is play fast and try to help our team win."

 

[redskinss]

Do you have the full video by any chance?

[Sandy Monk]

1 hour ago, redskinss said:

Do you have the full video by any chance?

 

https://www.pscp.tv/w/1OwxWWQnOnZxQ

Here was a thought I had on part of it.

 

 

Quote

 

Look at his reaction at about 9:40 when asked about Aaron Rodgers putting up a lot of points.

That was telling. Alex Smith gets easily annoyed when football questions focus on other QB’s and big yards or points.

 

This is a guy that, ironically, wants to thumb his nose at big yards and points, yet win anyway. It’s stuck in his head. The strong defenses he’s had. The conservative balance shown over more than a decade.

 

His win-loss % over the last several years is exceptional, but it may also have proven to be a curse. For such a smart guy, he is very stubborn. It doesn’t always have to be a grind, Alex. Sometimes, you just got to let it fly, bro.

 

 

 

[skins4eva]

1 hour ago, Sandy Monk said:

 

 

 

 

We have a WR core that defenses don't respect.  Shut down the run and play a shell to take away the deep game.  That's what we will see from now until the end of time unless Jay figures out a way to adjust, take some shots, use some rollouts and get our TEs involved.  The fact that the running game is still a joke at this point has everything to do with our coaching staff and their incompetence.  

[Sandy Monk]

46 minutes ago, skins4eva said:

 

We have a WR core that defenses don't respect.  Shut down the run and play a shell to take away the deep game.  That's what we will see from now until the end of time unless Jay figures out a way to adjust, take some shots, use some rollouts and get our TEs involved.  The fact that the running game is still a joke at this point has everything to do with our coaching staff and their incompetence.  

 

I know people get on the WRs, and maybe I'm just feeling the contrarian here, but I am more worried about :

 

1. the scheming and potential inability to adjust of Jay and Co.

2. the health and ability of what I thought was to be a top 2 offensive line.

 

Still early, and much more to learn, for me. 

[Skinsinparadise]

2 hours ago, Sandy Monk said:

 

I know people get on the WRs, and maybe I'm just feeling the contrarian here, but I am more worried about :

 

1. the scheming and potential inability to adjust of Jay and Co.

2. the health and ability of what I thought was to be a top 2 offensive line.

 

Still early, and much more to learn, for me. 

 

I think Jay will bounce back, he's typically good at scheming things up especially coming off of a loss.  i think there might be something to the critics who say Jay follows too many big wins with losses.  I think that point is overstated but it does have some merit to it.  But conversely, the team usually bounces back from bad losses.

 

I actually liked Doctson in the draft and I liked the Richardson signing.  But I confess I am worried about this receiving crop.  Not saying I am counting them out but its again is one of those I got to see it before I start believing it.  Never thought I'd say this but Maurice Harris coming back might help, he's not a game breaker but he has really good hands so maybe its his time.

 

 

 

[DJHJR86]

 

 

[Burgundy Yoda]

1 hour ago, DJHJR86 said:

 

 

Our offense is going to be incredibly difficult to watch I'm afraid. 

[Morneblade]

On 9/20/2018 at 2:33 PM, Skinsinparadise said:

 

I think Jay will bounce back, he's typically good at scheming things up especially coming off of a loss.  i think there might be something to the critics who say Jay follows too many big wins with losses.  I think that point is overstated but it does have some merit to it.  But conversely, the team usually bounces back from bad losses.

 

I actually liked Doctson in the draft and I liked the Richardson signing.  But I confess I am worried about this receiving crop.  Not saying I am counting them out but its again is one of those I got to see it before I start believing it.  Never thought I'd say this but Maurice Harris coming back might help, he's not a game breaker but he has really good hands so maybe its his time.

 

 

 

 

The big issue is this. We don't have guys that get real open, with the exception of Reed. Alex is going to have to make throws where the WR is not wide open, or it's going to be a long year. And I have a feeling it's going to be a very long year.

 

To your point, I think Mo is a guy you can force the ball into and he's gonna make a play, he's got great hands and runs pretty good routes. But for some odd reason, Gruden doesn't seem big on him. And I don't know why, I'd rather have him out there over Doctson or Richardson.

[JSSkinz]

 

I'm no film expert but this is what I saw when watching the film earlier this week but I didn't have the all-22 angle to know what WR's were being missed.

 

The most embarrassing part was how lost the blockers were at times, that's what stood out to me.