Steve Smith

Nelson was a 2nd, Tuten a 3rd. While Melvin's not our draft pick, it still suggests talent. Brzezinski a free agent, Willig a stopgap, and Willig outplayed them all.

Also says something that we kept Reyes around the whole time even though we had one other guard and Nelson "could back up any position". We could have as easily put Reyes on PS.

Meanwhile, there should be no purpose, once again, in having to decide between Muhammad and Smith. Independently they both must be kept. We can't afford to grossly overpay either player. Of anyone, Jake's the one who's worth the most, doesn't complain about his contract, and needs to be rewarded.

 

what was Tuten's injury ... is he gonna be back and can we pencil him in as a solid backup at tackle? any chance he could be a future starter? i didn't think he looked that horrible but when Fox rushed to get Gross it had to make me wonder. but after seeing Gross i wonder if the rush to get him wasn't so much that we were desperate at the position as it was they were really high on Gross. would we be looking at getting someone to start grooming next year at tackle even with Tuten?

willig might have have out-practiced the others but none of the backups other than Nelson got any playing time. after that one play with Willig at TE, we didn't see it again -- might tell you something, might not.

thought Brez and Nelson were brought in to play guard (center)

don't remember much about Reyes. what's your take?

would/could we put any negative clauses in Smith's contract to promote him to maintain control of his temper?

 

We didn't see nelson at TE, either. Neither player's abilities at playing interior line have to do with one play at TE, but Willig at least held the job for more than a snap.

>>willig might have have out-practiced the others but none of the backups other than Nelson got any playing time.

outplayed.

Nelson got PT because he was the backup center. Not saying that Willig is the end all, be all of the offensive line - just saying I value him more than Tuten. One play out of position doesn't make him a bad lineman. They're both free agents, and if we can do better, we should. Willig's past suggests more productivity.

Can we put it in Smith's contract? Sure. He doesn't have to sign it, and that could be a sticking point obviously.

 

Tuten tore his ACL if I remember correctly. And I doubt he's starter material - he's pretty much the living embodiment of the word "serviceable"

 

Yep. ACL, serviceable.
I liked him here. What I don't like is that he was earning a mil a season.

This FO seemed to be a little too big on letting backups get fringe-starter money. Him, Richardson, Mangum, they got a lot of cash for their output. Someone like Moose, Steussie, you're going to pay for them because they've done something. There's nothing Kris Mangum's done that I've ever felt like deserved that much money, hell I can drop the one pass a month I get.

 

heh heh, francise Steve Smith, heh heh... the guy would outright attack somebody if they did that to him...Tiger balm on the nutsack would have nothing on how angry he'd get in that situation.

 

>> One play out of position doesn't make him a bad lineman.

I dunno Mag. Did you ever go back and look at that play? It made me gasp that he got mauled so badly ... i think by either a LB or safety. You don't expect a lineman to get rolled on his ass by a lb or db. (never saw that with Nelson). At worst case he misses his man or its a standoff. I think he must have either terrible balance and/or little strength.

 

You wouldn't expect a receiver to be able to block an end to the ground. Doesn't mean Leonard Little's getting cut from the Rams.

I've never seen it from Kevin Dyson, either. But that doesn't make him a tackle.

 

look at the play. the eagle comes up and hits him square in the chest and just rolls him. comparing that to somebody getting cut is an altogether different thing. i could cut somebody and i might even blindside somebody and get leverage and put them on the ground, but i ain't gonna bowl too many (any) folks over coming at 'em straight up. a decent tackle can at least stay on his feet and hold his ground if not too shield the lb off his RB. a good one knocks the lb on his can. gross probably puts him into orbit.

 

Well back to Smith (and other FAs). Found this at the Huddle Report. Can't say I agree with all of their assessments on player value on the FA market, but it at least gives an idea of what it may take to land some of these guys.

http://www.thehuddlereport.com/2004FA/FAmv.htm

Assuming the signing bonus is separate from the yearly contract numbers that 10-12 million we have is gonna go quick.

Smith 5 yrs @ 4.5 m plus 7.5 m signing bonus = 6 m against the cap yearly, I don't think I'd pay it.

I want Kyle's job. A million a year for six or seven plays a game? Geez.........