Say what you want about Anthony Smith.....but

[TazmanianDevil43]

Dude is a helluva football player.

he's one of the better players on the football team. Letting him go is a huge mistake.

[CornerBlitz]

No,,,,,,,,,,,,, he is not one of the best players on the team.

[Idioteque]

Not one of our best, but IMO a very solid safety on the rise. He'll leave Chris Hope in the dust.

[TazmanianDevil43]

No,,,,,,,,,,,,, he is not one of the best players on the team.

I didn't say he's one of the best......i said he's one of the BETTER players on the team.


he's young and stupid, but it's the coach's jobs to get him in line and get his butt on the field. The dude is a good safety, he's young and only going to get better.

[steelermania]

I didn't say he's one of the best......i said he's one of the BETTER players on the team.


he's young and stupid, but it's the coach's jobs to get him in line and get his butt on the field. The dude is a good safety, he's young and only going to get better.

All of the hitting he does is fine, but if he's letting guys get behind him on a regular basis like last year, then he's worthless.

[markymarc]

Not one of our best, but IMO a very solid safety on the rise. He'll leave Chris Hope in the dust.

No question. If Smith ever gets the mental part down, look out.

[t-man]

All of the hitting he does is fine, but if he's letting guys get behind him on a regular basis like last year, then he's worthless.

RIght, because agressive players NEVER make it in the nfl. Last night they marched right down on our first team D. If it takes em 10 plays to 7, or 3, it's still 7. With Smith out there, I can tell you at least some of those recievers would be thinking about the hit. Ask Chad Johnson if it makes a difference with him in the game.

Joe

[Blind Official]

RIght, because agressive players NEVER make it in the nfl. Last night they marched right down on our first team D. If it takes em 10 plays to 7, or 3, it's still 7. With Smith out there, I can tell you at least some of those recievers would be thinking about the hit. Ask Chad Johnson if it makes a difference with him in the game.

Joe

Why would Chad Johnson have an opinion if Smith hit TJ hard?

[thebus43]

Agreed! lots of Smith Haters on this board....say what you want about AS this dude can flat out lay some WOOD...on the holding call when he blow up two players if that did not look like Troy and that is a bold statement...I love Ryan Clark but man I can't see him making that kind of play!

[pittpete]

Ryan better learn to wrap up or we might be forced to start AS.
He missed a few tackles last night.

[steelersoldier]

Who cares if he can hit. It won't matter if the guy is behind him. Ya'll are on crack if you think he is any good. That guy can blow me.

[pittpete]

Who cares if he can hit. It won't matter if the guy is behind him. Ya'll are on crack if you think he is any good. That guy can blow me.

Wow, that really contributed to the thread:rolleyes:

[DerbyCityBNGfan]

Who cares if he can hit. It won't matter if the guy is behind him. Ya'll are on crack if you think he is any good. That guy can blow me.

He hit a rough patch last year. Same thing happened to Ike in 2006 and he came back strong. I have a feeling we will see a lot of #27 this season, whether you like it or not. He is better against the run than Clark (he's faster and knows how to hit), and TE's and WR's alike will be much more hesitant to run intermediate middle routes with him in the game. I like what he brings to the team, and think he will make a significant contribution this season. Anthony Smith and Timmons will make our pass defense a lot better this season.

[Steel Dino]

He hit a rough patch last year. Same thing happened to Ike in 2006 and he came back strong. I have a feeling we will see a lot of #27 this season, whether you like it or not. He is better against the run than Clark (he's faster and knows how to hit), and TE's and WR's alike will be much more hesitant to run intermediate middle routes with him in the game. I like what he brings to the team, and think he will make a significant contribution this season. Anthony Smith and Timmons will make our pass defense a lot better this season.

Agreed.
Without Troy back there we have no big play players in the secondary......Clark is not the player he was prior to his injury.....Hell....the man lost his spleen!

I sincerly hope Troy is ok ...without him out there, we are very suspect in the secondary..

[BermudaSteel]

I too like Smith and his big play/big hit mentality...

I know I'm in Bermuda but I've been thinking what the best combo we could have on the field IF Troy is off the field. Unfortunately, Ryan Clark isn't part of the solution. I'd put Smith and Mundy together back there and WOW!!! But that's just my opinion.

Troy'll be fine and either one of these guys should compliment him nicely.

[USM]

If he settles down and listens to the Coaches he will be fine. He had 53 total solo tackles last year and 16 assits. That is a pretty good contribution...he just needs discipline.

Defense Statistics 2007
Player Tot Solo Assist Sck Fumb
James Harrison 98 76 22 8 7
Ike Taylor 80 69 11 1 1
James Farrior 94 64 30 6 2
Anthony Smith 69 53 16 0 1
Troy Polamalu 58 45 13 0 3

http://www.nfl.com/teams/statistics?season=2007&team=PIT&seasonType=

[Avoid Lloyd1975]

RIght, because agressive players NEVER make it in the nfl.


Tell that to Rodney the shitface Harrison too.

[Punxsutawney]

Before running his mouth prior to and getting roasted during the New England game, there was not a single person on this board who did not like Anthony Smith as a player. If you claimed that you didn't, you either did not express that opinion openly on this board or you are a liar.

Smith has displayed bigtime ability and played great in the games against Seattle and Cincinnati last season. He deserves the opportunity to prove that he has learned from the mistakes that he made late last season.

[Jesse]

If he's one of the better, he's in the top half.
He's not a starter so there's 22 guys better than him.
Backups that are better football players than him:
Timmons
Starks
Mendenhall

He's not one of the better.

[Steelerfan81]

Smith let Randy Moss behind him.. he must suck.

[Idioteque]

Smith let Randy Moss behind him.. he must suck.

LOL nice..... he allowed the only Brady-to-Moss TD hookup of 2007..... cut him...

[TazmanianDevil43]

Before running his mouth prior to and getting roasted during the New England game, there was not a single person on this board who did not like Anthony Smith as a player. If you claimed that you didn't, you either did not express that opinion openly on this board or you are a liar.

Smith has displayed bigtime ability and played great in the games against Seattle and Cincinnati last season. He deserves the opportunity to prove that he has learned from the mistakes that he made late last season.



Punxy is bringing it....


he is dead on. Before the whole "Gurantee" saga prior to the Patriots game, even though A. Smith didn't flat out Gurantee the Steelers would win. He said something to the tone of "If we play like we are capable of playing i Gurantee you we will win the game"...then the media ran with it.


prior to that happening the Steelers defense shut down the Seahawks passing attack completly. Now Seattle is one of the top teams in the NFC, their rushing game is not all that great and most of the time they lean on Hasselback and the passing game to win games.


The Bungles passing offense is pretty decent, but that is all they have. With that being said the trio of Palmer, Johnson and Houshmanzadeh is pretty decent. Cincy has many problems but the passing game is not one of 'em, in fact it's their strength.


I know fans are all mad at him for the whole "Gurantee" talk, then got beaten for a TD (by two of the games best), then putting a lick on Hines Ward in practice.

But you also gotta open your eyes man, see past all the bullsh!t and drama, the dude is a good player.


With Harrison, Woodley, Timmons (remember that 3rd down sack he had against Buffalo?), Farrior, A. Smith and hopefully Troy, you have a pontential for some nasty defense that's been missing from the Steelers ever since the days of Lloyd, Greene, and Kirkland.





I hope we don't get rid of him. Because if he ends up with any AFCN foe, it's gonna suckkkk!:mad:

[DerbyCityBNGfan]

They won't cut him. His upside is too great, and he can play two positions as well as special teams.

[Blind Official]

This is almost like a Carnell Lake situation in that Troy is such an amazing athlete that I can't figure out why he wouldn't be a probowl FS who could contribute just as much back there (and prolong his career). Troy's career will be cut short if he continues to be our best blitzer and they keep sending him in the A gaps against 300+ pounders.

Kind of like Brian Dawkins too. Dude has so much speed that he really could cover most of the field deep and ballhawk. Let Smith try and hit people close up from SS (if he feels like it)

[SteelerScott]

ChrisHope COULD HIT also! But nobodies feelings were too hurt when he signed w/ Tenn after SBXL.

Plus, Smith is a punk-ass showboat (ex: see CAR gm his rookie yr)

[Punxsutawney]

This is almost like a Carnell Lake situation in that Troy is such an amazing athlete that I can't figure out why he wouldn't be a probowl FS who could contribute just as much back there (and prolong his career). Troy's career will be cut short if he continues to be our best blitzer and they keep sending him in the A gaps against 300+ pounders.

Kind of like Brian Dawkins too. Dude has so much speed that he really could cover most of the field deep and ballhawk. Let Smith try and hit people close up from SS (if he feels like it)

I agree.

Out of Polamalu, Smith, and Clark, the thought has crossed my mind before that a safety combination of Polamalu at FS and Smith at SS may in fact be the best possible combination that the Steelers could throw out there.

The overaggressiveness that Smith has displayed could be masked, and at times even emphasized, with Polamalu functioning primarily as an eraser at the deep end of the defense.

We will never see it anytime soon though, as the Steelers place high value on Polamalu "in the box" ability. However, a move to FS may have to be done out of necessity in a couple years if Troy is not able to shed this injury prone label.

[deljzc]

In today's NFL, there isn't much of a difference between strong safeties and free safeties anymore. Trying to label Polamalu or Smith one or the other isn't the way Lebeau and Tomlin should use those two together when they are on the field.

Since Tomlin's arrival, we are playing much more cover-2 systems and when that happens they are pretty much the same. I think Polamalu and Smith can do anything our coaches ask from the position and that versatility together should be a nice aspect of our defense.

We forget what a true free safety should be doing around here. As much as I like Chris Hope and Ryan Clark, neither was a playmaker (Hope had 4 career INT's here and Clark has 1 INT). That is a woeful number from your starting free safeties in a Lebeau system.

In his limited playing time, Smith has four already and he was a huge playmaker in college. He has a knack for turnovers. Always had and always will. Has he gotten burned by play-action? By a Tom Brady flee-flicker? Yes, but so have many other free safeties in this league.

I remind people Brady put up 52 points on Washington with top-10 draft picks in the entire secondary, including some pretty decent safeties. The way people crucify Smith for that game is crazy to me. If anything his worse game was actually Jacksonville the next week (which did get him benched), but I think that had as much to do with how the media took off with the guarantee than anything else (he just didn't get past the NE game in his head quick enough).

I would be very disappointed if this coaching staff gave up on Anthony Smith. To me, he has the potential to be the playmaking free safety in Lebeau's system like Darren Perry was in the mid-90's (and he had 35 career interception for us in 8 seasons).

Again, this love for Hope and Clark doesn't make a lot of sense to me. You guys (and maybe our coaches as well) are thinking way too conservative and safe. Ryan Clark's one interception is pitiful. It really is when you think of how many opportunities he should be getting in our defensive system. I know people call him "solid" and "steady" but that's not good enough for me and as long as he's the starter, free safety is a position that could be upgraded.

That upgrade is right under our noses if we can get him to grow up a little bit (and that's much easier to teach than how to be a playmaker).

[DrunkinIrishman]

I agree.

Out of Polamalu, Smith, and Clark, the thought has crossed my mind before that a safety combination of Polamalu at FS and Smith at SS may in fact be the best possible combination that the Steelers could throw out there.

The overaggressiveness that Smith has displayed could be masked, and at times even emphasized, with Polamalu functioning primarily as an eraser at the deep end of the defense.

We will never see it anytime soon though, as the Steelers place high value on Polamalu "in the box" ability. However, a move to FS may have to be done out of necessity in a couple years if Troy is not able to shed this injury prone label.

This kind of brings up something I wanted to touch on. I actually think Smith plays out of position. I think the guy would be a much better strong safety than a free safety. (Think of him as a better Lee Flowers). He could use his abilities much better. He was a SS in college. But with Troy here, I just could not see that happening. (even troy moving to FS) But when Troy is hurt, I think Smith should be the guy to back him up, not the smurf. I think if he can get his head on straight, that he can have a solid career. I think he could be a decent FS, but I just think he would make a better SS.

[JohnnyO]

As John Steigerwald said in the Beaver County Times this morning, leveling receivers in non-contact drills does not make you a tough guy. Make an open-field tackle on a 250 lb running back, and then we'll call you a tough guy.

[Punxsutawney]

In his limited playing time, Smith has four already and he was a huge playmaker in college. He has a knack for turnovers. Always had and always will. Has he gotten burned by play-action? By a Tom Brady flee-flicker? Yes, but so have many other free safeties in this league.

I remind people Brady put up 52 points on Washington with top-10 draft picks in the entire secondary, including some pretty decent safeties. The way people crucify Smith for that game is crazy to me. If anything his worse game was actually Jacksonville the next week (which did get him benched), but I think that had as much to do with how the media took off with the guarantee than anything else (he just didn't get past the NE game in his head quick enough).



If you look at the essence of what alledgedly got Smith benched, he was guilty of biting on a GREAT playfake by Tom Brady and losing track of a deep ball in a blizzard against Jacksonville. Considering how he played in the games prior to those two, I am not sure if those plays alone where really enough to justify benching him, especially in favor of an average role player like Tyrone Carter.

Tomlin was openly pissed about the whole guarantee business prior to the New England game and I feel that it was that combined with allowing the big plays that ultimately got him benched. Honestly, I am not completely convinced that he gets benched if not for the guarantee.

Tomlin and company not wanting a young player with a freshly broken psyche on the back end of the defense probably factored into the decision as well.

[FlaStlrfan]

Anthony Smith won't be any good until he gets some maturity....unfortunately for people like him to get the message, they have to go through adversity, that means sometimes they have to get cut to grow up.

[JEFFRO]

Or maybe they get benched ala Ike Taylor did a couple of years ago.

As far as wrapping up, there are other players besides Clark on our team who hit the ball carrier and don't wrap up each and every time. It drives me insane because they think the big impact should knock the man down.

Troy P. is one. I love the dude! But he won't wrap up most of the time. Nobody is perfect, but if he would wrap up ALL the time he would be as close as one could get.

[Achie D]

Anthony Smith won't be any good until he gets some maturity.

He shows up in the first half in his @#$%-up socks and then in "the uniform" in the second half after somebody tells him what the team is wearing.

[BillvinCowbert]

If you look at the essence of what alledgedly got Smith benched, he was guilty of biting on a GREAT playfake by Tom Brady and losing track of a deep ball in a blizzard against Jacksonville. Considering how he played in the games prior to those two, I am not sure if those plays alone where really enough to justify benching him, especially in favor of an average role player like Tyrone Carter.

Disclaimer: I really liked Smith in the past and was happy to see him get his chance.

That said.... "great" playfake? We're talking about a team that was running the ball, oh, like NEVER. Horrid, absolutely horrid, bite on that fake.

You're also forgetting another play.... a pretty big one. Remember the Jets loss? Who do you think had deep responsibility on the flea flicker? Here's a hint, the same guy that was jumping on horrid playaction 3 weeks later.

Smith is the LAST LINE OF DEFENSE. Bottom line, don't let them get behind you. He proved time and again that he didn't understand that concept. They absolutely had to pull the plug and bench him there was no other alternative.

[Blind Official]

This kind of brings up something I wanted to touch on. I actually think Smith plays out of position. I think the guy would be a much better strong safety than a free safety.

Well, I'll be damned....

You don't say?

[dobre shunka]

That said.... "great" playfake? We're talking about a team that was running the ball, oh, like NEVER. Horrid, absolutely horrid, bite on that fake.


Even Smith said he knew better beforehand because the Pats never run to Randy's side of the field when he's in the slot.


You're also forgetting another play.... a pretty big one. Remember the Jets loss? Who do you think had deep responsibility on the flea flicker? Here's a hint, the same guy that was jumping on horrid playaction 3 weeks later.

Smith is the LAST LINE OF DEFENSE. Bottom line, don't let them get behind you. He proved time and again that he didn't understand that concept. They absolutely had to pull the plug and bench him there was no other alternative.

Ironically enough, there was another play he got beat on, tho he didn't let the guy get behind him. Unfortunately, at that point it was beaten into his head not to let anyone get behind him, so he stood frozen in the back of the endzone while Drew Bennett (iirc) caught a 20-30yd TD in front of him.

[Vader]

LOL nice..... he allowed the only Brady-to-Moss TD hookup of 2007..... cut him...

He also allowed the future HOFer Gabbar Gaffney to get behind him.

[Parasite]

As usual, dobre, BillVin and Blind Official have it covered in this thread.

deljzc, wouldn't you say our defense took a noticeable nosedive when Ryan Clark was out?

[USM]

If he settles down and listens to the Coaches he will be fine. He had 53 total solo tackles last year and 16 assits. That is a pretty good contribution...he just needs discipline.

Defense Statistics 2007
Player Tot Solo Assist Sck Fumb
James Harrison 98 76 22 8 7
Ike Taylor 80 69 11 1 1
James Farrior 94 64 30 6 2
Anthony Smith 69 53 16 0 1
Troy Polamalu 58 45 13 0 3

http://www.nfl.com/teams/statistics?season=2007&team=PIT&seasonType=


Defense Statistics 2005 SB Champs
Player Tot Solo Assist Sck Fumb
Larry Foote 102 76 26 3 0
Ike Taylor 91 75 16 0 0
James Farrior 119 74 45 2 2
Troy Polamalu 91 73 18 3 1
Chris Hope 96 69 27 0 1

http://www.nfl.com/teams/statistics?season=2005&team=PIT&seasonType=

Defense Statistics 2006
Player Tot Solo Assist Sck Fumb
James Farrior 126 83 43 4 2
Larry Foote 90 61 29 4 2
Ike Taylor 69 60 9 0 0
Troy Polamalu 76 57 19 1 1
Clark Haggans 76 51 25 6 2

http://www.nfl.com/teams/statistics?season=2006&team=PIT&seasonType=

[slashsteel]

So we know what he did last year. Being young & talented let us see what he can do this year. I am far from wanting this guy off the roster, I aim more to guys that are washed up like Tyrone Carter who is more deserving of getting the ax.

[deljzc]

As usual, dobre, BillVin and Blind Official have it covered in this thread.

deljzc, wouldn't you say our defense took a noticeable nosedive when Ryan Clark was out?

I think our defense took a noticible decline when we stopped being able to stop the run.

I don't take much good or bad out of the Patriots game. That was typical. We tried to hang with them scoring in the first half, then things got out of control. Wasn't all Smith's fault. I wasn't big on trying our best in that game anyways as that game meant more about unbeaten records and stupid stuff rather than getting us ready for the playoffs and a possible rematch with them (which didn't happen, but you never know).

I think fans are drawing the wrong conclusions from last season with the difference between Clark and Smith. Our schedule got harder. The weather changed. We had other injuries.

Understand, I'm not against Clark. Of all of Colbert's recent free agents, he's one of the best (and that's not saying much), but he is a limiting player. He's not a playmaker at a playmaking position and that bothers me. There is big room for improvement at that position in my opinion in regards to turnovers and making big plays. I don't see that as being part of Clark's game.

[SteelerScott]

Understand, I'm not against Clark. Of all of Colbert's recent free agents, he's one of the best (and that's not saying much), but he is a limiting player. He's not a playmaker at a playmaking position and that bothers me. There is big room for improvement at that position in my opinion in regards to turnovers and making big plays. I don't see that as being part of Clark's game.

You're right, there IS room for improvement @ Clark's spot.

But until Clark clearly is less than a safe stop-gap, or Smith's play makes it impossible to keep him sidelined;... most Steeler fans are gonna prefer a FS that doesn't make the big mistakes and who keeps his mouth shut.

[markymarc]

I aim more to guys that are washed up like Tyrone Carter who is more deserving of getting the ax.

And that can't happen soon enough for me. I can't believe this bum is still on our roster.

[deljzc]

You're right, there IS room for improvement @ Clark's spot.

But until Clark clearly is less than a safe stop-gap, or Smith's play makes it impossible to keep him sidelined;... most Steeler fans are gonna prefer a FS that doesn't make the big mistakes and who keeps his mouth shut.

I guess the point of this thread is that I'm not like "most Steeler fans" on this issue.

And since when does it have to be an all-or-nothing impossibility to make a change? There are many choices who starts and who doesn't that aren't black and white. That one guy isn't the better player across the board. That you might give up something to get something.

I think Smith is ready to be a starter tomorrow. In my opinion, the fatherly "I'll punish you if you don't behave" method doesn't seem to be working. Maybe some peer pressure from the team will work? Maybe some encouragement about the good things (and he does do some things right) will work.

I don't know. I'm not with Anthony Smith working with him.

I guess I'm here as a strong proponent this organization better not give up on Smith and leave him to the scrap heap. That would be a huge mistake in my opinion, not only from a product on the field, but create a new need for our front office to fill (and I don't think Mundy is the answer either).

[Supersteeler]

I guess the point of this thread is that I'm not like "most Steeler fans" on this issue.

Maybe the Steelers can talk the Cowboys into trading us Roy Williams for next year's first rounder. I mean his hits are huuuuuuge! Coverage is overrated anyway.

[FREAKofSTEEL08]

Dude is a helluva football player.

he's one of the better players on the football team. Letting him go is a huge mistake.



Just Tape his mouth shut ...and push him out on the Field !!!

[Vader]

Just Tape his mouth shut ...and push him out on the Field !!!

How will that stop him from jumping up to stop a non-existant running game and learn to do his job???

[FREAKofSTEEL08]

How will that stop him from jumping up to stop a non-existant running game and learn to do his job???

And Your Impressed with Clark ??

[Vader]

And Your Impressed with Clark ??

And your impressed with Smith? Yes, the guy can hit but he can't stop hitting his own players (for 3 years now) and he is easily faked out of his jock by giving him a play action fake.

[CornerBlitz]

When you have Troy running around the fool pre-snap , etc and not playing a traditional free safety position you need to couple him with a smart, conservative player at safety, that would be a Clark, not a hotheaded idiot like Smith.

[Spike]

When you have Troy running around the fool pre-snap , etc and not playing a traditional free safety position you need to couple him with a smart, conservative player at safety, that would be a Clark, not a hotheaded idiot like Smith.

That's a good point. Let's admit - Troy makes most of his big plays taking chances, you need some stability behind him if if he's always going to be up around the LOS.

[Blind Official]

...and you have to do that with Troy when your DL/front seven isn't that good