Chiefs QBs quarterbacks hope to thrive on competition, consistency

Jul 29, 2017 - 4:16 AM ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The first day of training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs brings a mix of football and circus meant to provide players with an easy transition to camp and treat fans to fun and games, but for a competitor like quarterback Alex Smith, even lighthearted practices are serious business.

"You want to come out here and be sharp more than anything," Smith said. "I thought the guys did a good with that."

One of his Smith's trademarks is his competitive fire, and it's a trait that Tyler Bray, Patrick Mahomes and Joel Stave have all picked up quickly from Smith. The quartet often engage in drills with the dual goal of improving their game, but also beating the other quarterbacks.

"There is an unwritten, unsaid, untalked about deal," Smith said. "When the quarterback (room) is really good, it's really competitive and we do compete in everything. We do all the time; we keep score in everything."

Training camp's opening practice showcased the competition among the Chiefs' quarterback group, even at silly games.

At one point, the quarterbacks lined up to take aim at throwing footballs at the crossbar of the goal post to measure their accuracy. Smith fired his first laser as if he were targeting a receiver in the back of the end zone in a playoff game.

The veteran drilled the first two short throws, then missed a couple of targets by inches. Needing a hit on his last throw from near midfield to beat Mahomes, Smith - the passer who supposedly can't make the deep throw - drilled the crossbar, sending a thud sounding across the practice fields at Missouri Western State University.

Smith said the competition among the quarterback group improves everyone's game.

"I think that's just going to make us all better, me included," Smith said.

This is Smith's fifth year in head coach Andy Reid's flavor of the West Coast offense. That's by far the longest tenure for the 13-year veteran's career in a single offensive system as a pro.

Smith believes that experience and the consistency the Chiefs have under Reid and the offensive coaching staff makes it easier to get work done in training camp.

"With some of these things now that we've done, it's now the fourth or fifth time a lot of us have heard these things," Smith said. "I think the attention to detail with that gets finer and finer."

This year the Chiefs added a new wrinkle to the quarterback room in Mahomes. The Chiefs haven't drafted a quarterback in the first round since 1983, and the excitement around Mahomes from fans was evident on the opening day of camp. Fans stopped looking at their phones or talking to friends when Mahomes hit the field to take his snaps.

The introduction of Mahomes to the team's quarterback room adds fuel to the fire, Smith said.

"For me it's about the quality," Smith said. "Certainly, Pat fits that. The kid is really talented."

The Chiefs drafted Mahomes as their quarterback of the future, and Smith realized that means planned obsolescence for him at some point. One couldn't blame Smith if he wants to prove that he's not ready to step aside quite yet.

But Smith welcomes the competition, and appreciates that Mahomes and the other quarterbacks push him to get better.

"I think the quality of the (quarterback) room - when that's always getting better I think that's a good thing," Smith said.

The Chiefs' 2016 season ended with a disappointing postseason loss at Arrowhead Stadium to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That loss haunted the team throughout the offseason. The uber-competitive veteran, however, wants another playoff shot this season.

"The division is as competitive as ever," Smith said. "We got to scratch and claw to earn it all over to even get an opportunity like that again."



ROOKIE TO WATCH

--RB Kareem Hunt. The Chiefs moved up in the third-round to snare Hunt, and early impressions suggest another middle-round nugget for former general manager John Dorsey and the current scouting staff. Hunt teamed up with backup quarterback Joel Stave for the highlight of the opening day of camp, a deep over-the-shoulder grab up the left sideline for a touchdown. Hunt routinely demonstrates the bounce, agility and elusiveness he showcased at Toledo. He also displays advanced route-running ability and has a reputation for protecting the football. Hunt so far shows advanced pass protection skills too, which should help him find the field often as a rookie. It's easy to picture Hunt as a change of pace from returning starter Spencer Ware and as a third-down back in passing situations but Hunt's rapid development means he may press for more snaps quickly.