The Kansas City Chiefs acquired quarterback Alex Smith via trade from the San Francisco 49ers with the hope that he could help usher in a new era.
Alex Smith getting praise from Chiefs so far
Kansas City is happy with its new quarterback.
USA TODAY Sports
After suffering a brutal 2-14 season last year, the Chiefs set out to improve the position which had been filled so inadequately by Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn. So far, Kansas City is pleased with Smith, according to The Wichita Eagle.
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In the OTAs, Smith has shown the leadership and poise that made him a favorite among players in San Francisco. Smith comes to the Chiefs with a playoff win under his belt - something his new franchise hasn’t done since 1993 - and the former first-overall pick is impressing his quarterback coach, Matt Nagy. Per the article:
“I’m with him every single day,” Nagy said. “Just talking X’s and O’s and past experiences he’s had, he brings some good things to our attention as a staff. He has a lot of valuable experience. He’s been through a lot. Having those experiences and coming in here to a team with a new staff, it’s been an awesome experience. Throughout this process, we’re taking in what he has, he’s taking in what we have, and we’re putting it all together and trying to make this work.
“When he’s out here on the practice field, he’s a leader. The guys look to him. The quarterback position is so important to be that leader, whether it’s vocally or by your play. He does both of that. Having him be able to do that and have some of these younger guys look up to him, that’s what we need, and that’s what we expected he’d have, and he does have that.”
Following a concussion last season, Smith was benched for Colin Kaepernick and he was forced to watch from the sidelines as the 49ers went to the Super Bowl. Now, he'll have an opportunity to prove San Francisco made a mistake.
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