Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

Back for year two, it's the start of another season of Smoot laying the smack down.

After just the first preseason game, we shouldn't panic and think the season is over (but of course we will panic). Still, we can lay the smack down.

This week I lay the smack down on

[B]
Jim Zorn[/B] Zero points is unacceptable. The score doesn't matter, sure. But you're on a short leash here and you need to realize that you were first and foremost brought here to develop Jason Campbell and get this offense moving. Could you use more talent? Sure. But let's not act like you don't have enough talent. It's on you Zorn. Step it up...plus you didn't play Chase Daniel so now I hate you :)

[B]Linebackers in pass coverage[/B] Uh oh. This could be a concern.

[B]Devin Clark[/B] I couldn't understand why your name was brought up so much this offseason...and I still can't figure it out

[B]Marques Hagans[/B] Zorn made a really interesting comment the other day when he said his #5 WR doesn't necessarily need to be a special teamer (contrary to what I always thought). That means Marques that if you want to beat DJ Hackett/Mitchell/Eloi for that last spot you better be more than just a blazer on special teams. You better be able to catch the ball and move the chains on offense. You couldn't and it's going to hurt you

[B]Everyone who gave up on Chad Rinehart because he didn't play last year and JLC had an article in February saying some in the organization thought he had a ways to go [/B] You know who you are

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

Glad to hear Rinehart was solid.

How did Hackett look? I see he had a few catches.

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

[B]Justin Tryon[/B] Continuously got beat like a red-headed stepchild, and at 5-9, he's not going to have much luck against guys like Miles Austin, Sam Hurd, David Tyree, Reggie Brown, Jason Avant, Jeremy Maclin, Hank Baskett (3rd and 4th wideouts who are 6 foot or taller). If he wants to secure the #4 corner spot, he's going to have to step it up several notches.

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

Rinehart's development is a huge step. Devin Clark..not so much at this point. Hopefully he'll do better and stop getting penalties.

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

[B]Fred Davis[/B]: All of this talk about improvement in camp, yet he fumbles twice ending 2 drives where we had a chance to score. He needs to step up and hold onto the ball.

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

[B]Kevin Barnes[/B]-for us to spend a 3rd round pick, this guy wont see the field this year.

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

I think that's really jumping the gun on Barnes

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

[B]Jim Zorn/offensive staff[/B]-The logic behind giving your starters one or two series is all well and good when you have an established offense and you're just looking to get some reps. The Patriots had their offense in for the entire 1st half, the Eagles did the same. Both of them are well established but they wanted to get in a rhythm offensively. Our offense needed to play at least 5 drives in this game. What exactly did we learn from our starting offense last night? That for 2 drives Rinehart can hold up? That we can basically replicate 70% of our drives from last season? Last year since we had 5 pre-season games I understand doing that but in a make or break year for coach and QB, I'd think that he'd be more aggressive in getting the offense a good look with live bullets flying. This was a failure in the game planning and preparing for the season.

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

[quote=vallin21;575807][B]Fred Davis[/B]: All of this talk about improvement in camp, yet he fumbles twice ending 2 drives where we had a chance to score. He needs to step up and hold onto the ball.[/quote]

He fumbled twicw loosing the ball once stopping one drive. It happens but he needs to come back and show he can hold onto the ball. JT comented that he was holding the ball away from his body and thats something they can fix in the film room so that not a big concern of mine.

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

[quote=SmootSmack;575821]I think that's really jumping the gun on Barnes[/quote]

And I knew you would, there are lots of "Maryland Lovers" on this board :). The thing is....lots of people were praising this pick, and suggesting this was a pre-cursor to getting Smoot off the field. That wont be happening anytime soon IMO, this guy has a long ways to go. Gonna end up being a situation like last years 3rd rounder(Rhinehart), he is gonna need alot of seasoning before he is ready for the bigtime.

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

[quote=Paintrain;575824][B]Jim Zorn/offensive staff[/B]-The logic behind giving your starters one or two series is all well and good when you have an established offense and you're just looking to get some reps. The Patriots had their offense in for the entire 1st half, the Eagles did the same. Both of them are well established but they wanted to get in a rhythm offensively. Our offense needed to play at least 5 drives in this game. What exactly did we learn from our starting offense last night? That for 2 drives Rinehart can hold up? That we can basically replicate 70% of our drives from last season? Last year since we had 5 pre-season games I understand doing that but in a make or break year for coach and QB, I'd think that he'd be more aggressive in getting the offense a good look with live bullets flying. This was a failure in the game planning and preparing for the season.[/quote]

Speaking of the Patriots. Tom Brady looked like he hasn't missed a beat.

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

hagans called for a fair catch on the 5 yard line. wtf? dont care if its preseason, you are vying for a spot on this team as a special teamer. thats unacceptable.

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

[quote=roth74va;575830]And I knew you would, there are lots of "Maryland Lovers" on this board :). The thing is....lots of people were praising this pick, and suggesting this was a pre-cursor to getting Smoot off the field. That wont be happening anytime soon IMO, this guy has a long ways to go. Gonna end up being a situation like last years 3rd rounder(Rhinehart), he is gonna need alot of seasoning before he is ready for the bigtime.[/quote]

I couldn't really care less about the Maryland Terps to be honest. I still think though this was a really good move and he will be our nickel back...in 2010. But I think he'll get significant playing time in 2009.

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

[quote=roth74va;575818][B]Kevin Barnes[/B]-for us to spend a 3rd round pick, this guy wont see the field this year.[/quote]

I don't know man. He got beat by a pump fake. He tried to make a play and screwed it all up. He's going to learn. Thats why we have preseason. I'm not going to hold that against him. Besides, he should have had help over the top anyways.

Re: Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Preseason Week 1)
 

Too early to be making any season long predictions for guys like Barnes.

And can we start spelling Rinehart correctly already? My gawd.