NFL Grades: Report card for each QB after four games
By Erik Lambert
Alex Smith (Washington Redskins): C+
Alex Smith has been what he’s always been throughout his career, and that’s consistently average. Through three games Smith is 25th in touchdowns, 24th in passing yards, 19th in yards per game, and eighth in completion percentage. It’s what he’s always been and what he’ll always be as a quarterback, Mr. Consistency. His only issue this year has been fumbles, averaging one a game thus far.
Smith has gotten the Redskins to 2-1 and atop the NFC East before going on a ridiculously early bye week. Their competition hasn’t been much to brag about after beating Arizona and Green Bay while losing to Indianapolis. Their next three games will be a major test starting with Jacksonville at home, followed by New England and Cincinnati.
Can a mediocre offense led by a couple of veterans keep the Redskins afloat? At this point, Smith knows his business. His job is to protect the football, engineer long drives and try to score each time, even if they’re field goals. It’s not always pretty but it has proven to work a number of times in the past. Whether he can do it with the weapons available is the big question.