What happened to Alex Smith?

[Orion]

He is 3-0 with the Chiefs now and months ago I felt he would have been good for the vikings and a big improvement over Ponder......was management just not ready to try and make that serious change then?

[Eli]

Yes.

[PacificNorseWest]

KC has one of the best defense in the NFL. Alex Smith isn't 3-0. The Chiefs are. Alex Smith would be getting ridiculed just the same as Ponder, if Smith was on the Vikings.

[Funkytown]

KC has one of the best defense in the NFL. Alex Smith isn't 3-0. The Chiefs are. Alex Smith would be getting ridiculed just the same as Ponder, if Smith was on the Vikings.

And Vikings fans didn't want him because, "He took too long to develop (It shouldn't take that long! It's illegal!), and he lacks arm strength." Basically, he reminded Vikings fans of Ponder. I wish Ponder played a little more like Alex Smith and a little bit less like himself. And speaking of Alex Smith, he's obviously a lot better than Cassel. That should be obvious by how things went down in KC, and everyone is screaming for Cassel now. I'm confused by Vikings fans--and I am one!

[PacificNorseWest]

If he played more like Smith then people would be reminded of "tenative Tarvaris."

If Cassel came in then they'd be hoping that Ponder learned something by sitting on the bench and ask to see what he can do again...It's ridiculous.

[Funkytown]

If he played more like Smith then people would be reminded of "tenative Tarvaris."

If Cassel came in then they'd be hoping that Ponder learned something by sitting on the bench and ask to see what he can do again...It's ridiculous.

The grass is always greener my friend...just until, ya know, it's not.

[majorm]

Alex Smith is Joe Montana compared to Ponder. He is always referred to as a game manager but he's made some big plays when he's had to. He was amazing in the playoffs a couple of years ago. If not for a fumbled punt, he would have had the Niners in the Super Bowl a year before Kapernick.

The reason the Vikings made no move in the direction of Smith is simple. The last time we saw Ponder in 2012, he was having a very decent game against the Packers as the Vikings clinched a playoff spot. Coming off that game, the Vikings decided to put all their football shaped eggs in Ponder's basket. They committed to him as their 2013 starter basically as soon as the final gun of the playoff loss in GB. There was no way they were going to draft a QB or make a trade for one. It might have upset Ponder's apparently very fragile psyche. Whatever.

Now we're again stuck with a total loss at QB, but one that was drafted very high. So the powers that be - trying to defend the high draft pick - have done and continue to do everything possible to help him out hoping against hope that the light will suddenly somehow come on and he'll become serviceable. Ain't happenin'!!!

[John_Viveiros]

Alex Smith and the whole Kansas City team have yet to turn the ball over this year, according to some talking heads I heard and a KC fan friend of mine. That's going to allow you to be in a lot of games at the very least.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I was talking about Alex Smith in another thread over in NFL talk.

I will not go back into full detail but I will say this - we are 3-0 right now (or at least 2-1) if Alex Smith is our QB. Alex Smith is never going to be Aaron Rodgers, but dang it, he is 100 times better than Ponder could even hope to become.


I wanted Alex Smith back a couple of years ago but it was never going to happen. Hell, I wanted us to trade for him this offseason, but again, it wasn't going to happen. Ultimately, the best thing happened for Alex Smith. He is good for KC and Andy Reid. I hope KC gets far in the postseason.

[PacificNorseWest]

^ Seriously?

[dkoby]

Alex Smith and the whole Kansas City team have yet to turn the ball over this year, according to some talking heads I heard and a KC fan friend of mine. That's going to allow you to be in a lot of games at the very least.

just remember that ponder didn't have any turnovers in the first 4 games either

[majorm]

He's average.

Which is a HUGE upgrade from what we have now!

[PurpleHalo]

And Vikings fans didn't want him because, "He took too long to develop (It shouldn't take that long! It's illegal!), and he lacks arm strength." Basically, he reminded Vikings fans of Ponder. I wish Ponder played a little more like Alex Smith and a little bit less like himself. And speaking of Alex Smith, he's obviously a lot better than Cassel. That should be obvious by how things went down in KC, and everyone is screaming for Cassel now. I'm confused by Vikings fans--and I am one!

Apples to oranges. He may very well be better than Cassel, but it's a new coach, new system. One that would likely fit Cassel more than the previous one. But both are middle of the road at best, tho Smith has learned how to make clutch plays late.

[The Breeze]

Alex Smith is an incredibly accruate intelligent QB, who can make big plays with his feet and doesn't turn the ball over.
The most under rated QB in the NFL, IMO.

[NextQuestion]

Smith has a good OL, good running game, and a decent WR corps. He is conservative but takes shots when needed. He's far more accurate than Mr.Ponder