Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Week 1)

6. no free pass for your boy, Fred Smoot. was down right horrible. and then gets kicked in the back, and is done for the game. he has definitely got to play better, if the skins are to be successful

I'm with you on this one Dmek. Smoot looked like an overmatched Rookie all night. His pick was a result of Carter putting pressure on Eli, not any coverage on his part. It looked to me like Eli was going after him all night.

2. Carlos Rogers: First off, congratulations on making the starting lineup on opening day. Tremendous comeback from a devastating injury. That said, you need to step up and start making plays. Some people have the misconception that you suck, which of course is wrong. You don't suck, in fact you're very good. If you weren't you wouldn't be in position to make plays so often. But you need to start making those plays. If all you want to do is swat the ball, add 100 pounds and we'll line you up at DT
Rogers actually surprised me with his speed/quickness coming off reconstruction of 2 knee ligaments. That he was in position to make two big INTs is a positive, if only the man could catch.

Nice feature Smoot. Will it be four every week? As well as a Smackdown how about a Pat on the back each week too?

I agree completely about Springs. Even if he was extremely limited and only got in a few plays, having him in uniform changes what the offense thinks we can do.

Not necessarily four every week. SGG is going to do the pats on the back. Sheriff's Badges of Honor (coming soon). EDIT: It looks like he's outsourced that to Rypper who has started a Positives thread.

As to some other points made here:

-Agree about Cooley, I mentioned it I believe in the game thread. He needs to be involved in the game early and often

-Clock Management: I let it slide this week because we scored a TD at the end of the first half. Our only true highlight of the game. We were fortunate though because that was a very poor use of time, especially with 3 time outs remaining.

smoot did what he could...he tried and carlos played decent.

It's funny regarding Springs. People say he should have been out there playing with his injury, but Taylor plays with his injury and people say he shouldn't have. Who's to say that Springs would have faired any better than Taylor?

Blache should have yanked Taylor out of there early on. I did notice more of Evans as the game went on, but early on JT was clearly a liability and he just looked gimpy all night.

It's also one of those things where maybe we don't know the whole story. Just when you hear that someone has a shin bruise you typically don't think that affects your running ability so much as it's an "OWIE".

Without a doubt though, if it truly did affect his running performance, then I have no problem with him being out.

I ain't no doctor. :)

We averaged 4 yards per play. Not per rush, per play. The playcalling was pretty bad, the clock management was pathetic. The run blocking needs to improve. The DB's need to catch easy INTs. They should have had 4, not 1. It was very frustrating to watch. Campbell did not look comfortable at all.

It's funny regarding Springs. People say he should have been out there playing with his injury, but Taylor plays with his injury and people say he shouldn't have. Who's to say that Springs would have faired any better than Taylor?

Blache should have yanked Taylor out of there early on. I did notice more of Evans as the game went on, but early on JT was clearly a liability and he just looked gimpy all night.

I agree and I'm having a hard time understanding the criticism of Springs. Didn't Springs play in 2006 right after surgery for a sports hernia? I'm not an MD by any means, but I'm pretty sure that you're not supposed to play any sports for a long time after that type of surgery. Springs played anyway. I've never heard about a coach questioning his work ethic, so I won't either. Springs does get hurt a lot, but look at the sport he plays. Most human beings don't have bodies that can handle the physical punishment that comes with football and some of them happen to be football players.

as bad as everything was carlos rogers could have taken that pick to the house.There were three other balls that were dropped.Shawn springs would have caught a couple picks.You can really tell who your best corner is.

1. Reed Doughty: we cannot have him at safety. He is a huge liability everywhere I cant watch him for an entire season making tackle ten yards late and getting beat deep.
2. Carlos Rodgers: I will not be as hard on you but you cannot drop easy ints. Once we play a few more games and you still look like crap you need to be off the team by the end off the Year.
3. I agree with Mattyk72 why are we not getting Cooley the ball!!! Zorn said he would be a weapon in the pass game yet he called cooley number twice. That has to change

cooley and for that matter... i didn't even see the rookie tight end fred davis anywhere on the field... where the hell is he??