The Kansas City Chiefs are getting excited for a new season with a new head coach and new starting quarterback. The team will enter 2013 with a new identity and players are excited at all of the changes taking place in the organization. As the Chiefs prepare for a season with raised expectations, running back Jamaal Charles thinks new quarterback Alex Smith is the guy to help the team meet them.
While sitting in with the NFL Network, Charles said nothing but great things regarding Smith who came over to the team after losing his starting position with the San Francisco 49ers to Colin Kaepernick. Despite posting a 70.2 completion percentage, Smith was benched in favor of the fan favorite in Kaepernick.
"It probably hurt him," Charles said. "Because he probably felt like everybody forgot about him because of the Kaepernick situation and being a backup. Making it to the Super Bowl but not playing in the Super Bowl. Everybody wants to play in the Super Bowl. So, I think he's got a lot to prove and he's a Super Bowl quarterback...with the passion to go out and prove people wrong."
Charles feels like he can relate to Smith in a way. While Charles rushed for 1,509 yards in 2012, he spent 2011 on the bench after tearing his ACL. He was forced to watch games from a distance, much like Smith was after he got benched for good.
"I mean, he don't want to talk about it, but it bothered him, like it bothered me when I got hurt. I felt like everybody forgot about me, so I know, on the inside, he felt like everybody forgot about him," Charles said.
Chiefs' fans know who Smith is now. He is expected to lead the offense just like Charles is expected to play a bigger role in the unit. The team is exploring ways to use the pistol formation, something Charles thinks fits his style of play. Chan Gailey ran the pistol offense in Charles' rookie season and he thinks the system will pay off big time.
"I ran it my rookie year and I love it. Everything about this offense," Charles said. "I ain't never been around no offense that's about to be explosive about about to put me in space and making me make plays. I'm glad to be in the pistol. I'm glad I see Frank Gore had success with the 49ers. If he can have success, I hope I can have success as well."
Charles is ready for the next season under Andy Reid. He is predicting big things for the Chiefs and most fans are hoping he is right.
