We're going to learn a lot about Alex Smith when he faces the Steelers

technical details

is_video => true
is_chrome_page => null
article_body => "Alex Smith's 2020 has consisted of a lot of box-checking during his return from that traumatic leg injury he infamously suffered two seasons ago.<\/p>\r\n\r\nParticipate in an NFL training camp again? Check.<\/p>\r\n\r\nGet into an NFL game again? Check.<\/p>\r\n\r\nTake a sack, get back up and take the next snap? Check.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThrow a touchdown? Check.<\/p>\r\n\r\nStart another NFL game? Check. <\/p>\r\n\r\nWin after starting? Check.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/washington-football\">Download and subscribe to the Washington Football Talk podcast<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<drupal-url data-embed-button=\"url\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/washington-football\/episodes\/d734830e-b14d-49e6-89d4-87e04d29ef1b\" data-entity-label=\"Embed social\" data-timestamp=\"1607314709\" data-url-provider=\"ART19\"><\/drupal-url>\r\n\r\nSmith has somehow shifted the conversation from Will he ever walk again? <\/em>to What sort of future does he have in the league?, <\/em>which is just unreal. Now, the attention isn't so much on his past; instead, people are wondering what he's got left.<\/p>\r\n\r\nAnd <a data-timestamp=\"1607377265\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/football-team\/washington-gets-ready-steelers-nfl-needs-keep-these-monday-night-double\">Monday's matchup with the Steelers <\/a>will go a long way in answering that, as the QB has the chance to check off an additional box: Can he be successful against a devastating pass rush?<\/p>\r\n\r\nHeading into Week 13, no defense had registered more sacks than Pittsburgh. The unit will be without Bud Dupree on Monday and the rest of their year, which will surely affect them, yet they still have plenty of firepower when it comes to getting to opposing signal callers. Smith will be their next target.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5>RELATED: <a href=\"\/washington\/football-team\/alex-smith-impressed-how-ben-roethlisberger-developed-throughout-career\" hreflang=\"en\">Alex Smith 'impressed' with how Ben Roethlisberger developed throughout career<\/a><\/h5>\r\n\r\nEarlier in Washington's campaign, the Rams got to Smith again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again when he came in to relieve an injured Kyle Allen. That's six agains. However, his struggles versus that vaunted front can somewhat be dismissed due to that afternoon's weather (bad) and the deficit the Burgundy and Gold faced when he entered the lineup (also bad). <\/p>\r\n\r\nSince that discouraging outing, Smith's looked sprier \u2014 not as quick or as able to scramble as his pre-injury life, but far more mobile than he first appeared \u2014 and his linemen have done a far better job of protecting him. But the Steelers represent a much more challenging test than the Giants, Lions, Bengals or Cowboys did.<\/p>\r\n\r\nSmith can largely offset the pressure he'll likely experience at Heinz Field by getting rid of the ball quickly, though there will also be occasions where things break down or a blitz is too heavy and he'll have to improvise. Pay attention to those moments. <\/p>\r\n\r\nIn those situations, it's not like he's expected to rip off a 25-yard run; he just has to have enough burst to pull away and buy time or enough bounce to move around in the pocket and dodge sacks. If he can find a way to be effective when dealing with a serious rush, that'll further solidify his standing as an aging pro. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\"I\u2019m feeling better and feeling more comfortable,\u201d Smith told reporters during a presser on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\nIn Pittsburgh, there may not be much comfort to enjoy \u2014 and that means there could be another box to check. <\/p>\r\n"
created => 1607310996
changed => 1607377271
status => true
hero_image_credit => "USA TODAY Sports \u00a9 Jerome Miron "
tags => null
field_bean_single_col => null
section => null
orig_image => {"alt":"","title":"","width":"2198","height":"1236","uri":"public:\/\/article\/hero\/alex smith scramble.jpg","timestamp":1607310996}
image => {"alt":"","title":"","width":"2198","height":"1236","uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/washington\/2020\/12\/07\/alex smith scramble.jpg","timestamp":1607310996}
video_url => "https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/video\/week-13-preview-will-washington-cover-85-vs-pittsburgh"
is_mediaid => true
mediaid => "wYELNJcFENjM"
video_autoplay => null
video_automute => null
mpx_account_id => "BxmELC"
player_url => "https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/vplayer\/p\/BxmELC\/midatlantic_main\/select\/media\/wYELNJcFENjM?form=html&autoPlay=true"
chrome_data => null
description => "Alex Smith has answered so many questions in 2020, but there\u2019s another one on the horizon that\u2019s very important: Can he operate an offense against the NFL\u2019s best pass rush?"
league => "NFL"
league_id => "104"
sport => "Football"
sport_id => "25"
image_credit => "USA TODAY Sports \u00a9 Jerome Miron "
no_promo => false
no_trending_in_body => false
no_recirc => false
no_trend => false
short_title => "We're going to learn a lot about Alex Smith in Pittsburgh"
sponsorship_type => "presented_by"
type => "article"
alias => "\/washington\/football-team\/were-going-learn-lot-about-alex-smith-when-he-faces-steelers"
title => "We're going to learn a lot about Alex Smith when he faces the Steelers"
nid => "211936"
author_0 => "Peter Hailey"
author_0_id => "13886"
mps => {"author_0":"Peter Hailey"}
region => "washington"
region_id => "7"
sponsor => null
sponsor_id => null
team_id => "20"
team => "Commanders"
published => 1607342400
article_type => "short"
meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/washington\/football-team\/were-going-learn-lot-about-alex-smith-when-he-faces-steelers.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/washington\/2020\/12\/07\/alex smith scramble.jpg"]}

Commanders

/ by Peter Hailey

Commanders

Alex Smith's 2020 has consisted of a lot of box-checking during his return from that traumatic leg injury he infamously suffered two seasons ago.

Participate in an NFL training camp again? Check.

Get into an NFL game again? Check.

Take a sack, get back up and take the next snap? Check.

Throw a touchdown? Check.

Start another NFL game? Check.

Win after starting? Check.

Download and subscribe to the Washington Football Talk podcast

Smith has somehow shifted the conversation from Will he ever walk again? to What sort of future does he have in the league?, which is just unreal. Now, the attention isn't so much on his past; instead, people are wondering what he's got left.

And Monday's matchup with the Steelers will go a long way in answering that, as the QB has the chance to check off an additional box: Can he be successful against a devastating pass rush?

Heading into Week 13, no defense had registered more sacks than Pittsburgh. The unit will be without Bud Dupree on Monday and the rest of their year, which will surely affect them, yet they still have plenty of firepower when it comes to getting to opposing signal callers. Smith will be their next target.

RELATED: Alex Smith 'impressed' with how Ben Roethlisberger developed throughout career

Earlier in Washington's campaign, the Rams got to Smith again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again when he came in to relieve an injured Kyle Allen. That's six agains. However, his struggles versus that vaunted front can somewhat be dismissed due to that afternoon's weather (bad) and the deficit the Burgundy and Gold faced when he entered the lineup (also bad).

Since that discouraging outing, Smith's looked sprier — not as quick or as able to scramble as his pre-injury life, but far more mobile than he first appeared — and his linemen have done a far better job of protecting him. But the Steelers represent a much more challenging test than the Giants, Lions, Bengals or Cowboys did.

Smith can largely offset the pressure he'll likely experience at Heinz Field by getting rid of the ball quickly, though there will also be occasions where things break down or a blitz is too heavy and he'll have to improvise. Pay attention to those moments.

In those situations, it's not like he's expected to rip off a 25-yard run; he just has to have enough burst to pull away and buy time or enough bounce to move around in the pocket and dodge sacks. If he can find a way to be effective when dealing with a serious rush, that'll further solidify his standing as an aging pro.

"I’m feeling better and feeling more comfortable,” Smith told reporters during a presser on Wednesday.

In Pittsburgh, there may not be much comfort to enjoy — and that means there could be another box to check.