Which Quarterbacks Threw Deep Least Often in 2016?
3. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
Deep Rate: 13.70% | Passing NEP per Attempt: 0.33 | Success Rate: 38.81%
Your poster boy for conservative offenses -- Alex Smith -- checks in with the third-lowest deep rate in the league. Please attempt to stifle your shock.
Of Smith's 489 total attempts, only 67 went at least 16 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Three of those resulted in touchdowns, meaning he had one more deep touchdown than his back-up, Nick Foles, had on just 10 attempts. Smith is basically a parody of himself at this point.
With every other player on this list (including the two still to come), you'll notice their efficiency on deep passes was above average. This was likely because the defense bulked up coverage on intermediate passes, leaving themselves vulnerable for the rare occasions when the quarterback did go long. Smith was a pretty glaring exception.
Here's a comparison of Smith's metrics on deep balls with the league-average marks. Even with the potential for relaxed coverage, this was not an area of expertise.
| On Deep Passes | Passing NEP per Attempt | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Smith | 0.33 | 38.81% |
| League Average | 0.49 | 41.25% |
It's possible extra time with Tyreek Hill could help Smith in this department, but the two had issues connecting in Hill's rookie season. Smith targeted Hill 13 times, resulting in 4 receptions, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Foles completed both of his deep attempts to Hill for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Smith is still the team's best option for 2017, but this is a seriously limiting weakness for the offense.
