Marquis Smith

[meatpile]

From the Gazette:

The Panthers on Friday signed safety Marquis Smith to a one-year, $450,000 contract.

Smith, a third-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 1999, was originally drafted as a safety and started 16 games in 2000 and has 97 tackles. However, the Browns attempted to move the 6-foot-2, 238-pound Smith to linebacker in the 2001 season and his production fell off. He fell out of favor with the coaching staff and was released last season and didn’t catch on with any other teams.

Smith has started 20 games during his three seasons in the NFL and hopes to battle for a roster spot at safety. Smith is a cousin to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Akili Smith and a former high school teammate of Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams.


The interviews with Trgovac make it seem like the coaches aren't at all pleased with our secondary.

 

[The Brain]

I shut down corner and Grant living up to his potential and that would be fixed

 

[meatpile]

Originally posted by The Brain
Grant living up to his potential

I stopped holding my breath on that one.

 

[Wp28]

Also...

We also signed DT Giradie Mercer and LS Ken Amato on Wednesday.

 

[y2b]

Still, we're in a hell of a lot better shape than we was last year in the secondary, with one potential star coming back too!

Last year was like plugging leaks in a sinking ship.

 

[luchadore]

Originally posted by meatpile
The interviews with Trgovac make it seem like the coaches aren't at all pleased with our secondary.

Trgovac's statments could be taken as they are or maybe he said these things to lead other teams to believe we are going to take a CB at #9 ? My point anything the Panthers (or any team for that matter) say between now and the draft should be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[magnus]

Originally posted by meatpile

The interviews with Trgovac make it seem like the coaches aren't at all pleased with our secondary.

Shouldn't be pleased with the secondary. I don't think that's why Trgovac got the job, but I'm fairly sure that's not what you were saying anyway. I'm glad they know there's a lot of room to improve on D.

Originally posted by The Brain
I shut down corner and Grant living up to his potential and that would be fixed

that's true, on both accounts. One reason I'm pushing for Trufant, he's the ultimate cover two corner. And we can play man with him, meaning we could put the free in middle third coverage and the strong on the other third. Cousin would then still be playing short, his strength.

Grant had some mistakes last year but the troubling thing is the lack of picks. And Minter did not have the year I'd expect of him, either. I think overall safety play is lacking. Maybe I expected too much out of both; maybe Minter's declining.

 

[HeadCase]

>> maybe Minter's declining

don't think he ever was all that great. just seemed that way for awhile cuz the rest of the defense sucked so bad. don't get me wrong, i like him and love the way he hits. just don't think he's all that great.

>> Grant had some mistakes last year but the troubling thing is the lack of picks.

give him a chance, he's still learning. wasn't this like only his second year? he's obviously got the athletic tools and the hands to be a guy to come up with lots of picks. i think he's on his way to becoming one of the greats. i thought he had an awesome game against NO at the end of the year and was dominating.

>> The interviews with Trgovac make it seem like the coaches aren't at all pleased with our secondary.

i also came away with that impression (although more directed at the corners -- maybe cuz that's just the way i wanted to read it). just hoping that they are a little less pleased with our QB and WR play. i really don't want to see us burn that 1st pick on a defensive player this year. i could live with the second, but not the first.

 

[magnus]

No doubt. I mean I'm the world's most experienced Grant apologist.
But in the end, the thing I thought there'd be more of, both with Grant and Cousins, was picks. Each had one great game with multiple picks and had 15 games with naught.

And we really need more picks. Gotta come up with something there this year. That's the difference between our defense sliding to 12 because we play quality opponents, or us keeping and deserving that ranking as we start closing teams out late.

I don't especially want to burn it on a defender either - and wouldn't, unless it's a corner. But IMO, the plan should be to go get one legitimate but not flashy starter at each offensive need - QB, WR, one lineman, and a back - and then pick the best player between those spots and CB. To be honest we could use two of each, except CB.

 

[meatpile]

Hurney's GM interview was interesting, regarding the possibility of trading up.

I guess my attitude on the #9 pick will depend on who's there. I'd hate to stretch it for an Offensive player if Trufant is there. He also talked about the difficulty rookie O-linemen have, as far as being impact players their rookie year.

That's on the Panthers page, by the way. And I hope you're right on Grant. 2 years is still young.