I'm Excited About Anthony Smith in 2008

by Blitzburgh on Mar 31, 2008 5:32 PM EDT in News

Ok, just a quick thought or two before opening it up to the group for your thoughts.

I can't wait to see how Anthony Smith performs in 2008. Remember, before the infamous 'guarantee', Smith was playing some very solid football in the absence of Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark. He and Tyrone Carter were asked to anchor a secondary that, despite it's problems to those of us who watched the games closely, finished the season with the #1 ranked pass defense in the league. Sorry, even if you have concerns about personnel, those numbers don't lie entirely. He was playing well.

But then, following the shellacking handed to us by the Patriots, Smith's play deteriorated. Head coach Mike Tomlin admitted as much:

The reality is that the quality of his play went down [after the loss to the Patriots]. But you live and learn through the things that happen to you, through the things you say and you do.

It's been a learning experience for him and we move forward.

Here's the quote though that I found interesting:

He's at a crossroads in that he's a guy who's played some now; he's had some success, he's had some failures.

It's about how he moves forward that's going to determine what kind of professional he is.

He understands that to be quite honest with you, he's game for the challenge. He's been a bright-eyed guy in this offseason.

I know he can't wait to get out there and show people what he's capable of and help us win at the same time.

Subtlely brilliant observation by Tomlin in my opinion, and the kind of insight and candidness that makes him great in my eyes. He did not brush off Smith's poor play to finish the season. He acknowledged it and stated that Smith will have every opportunity to right the ship in 2008.

He's very correct. Smith has had both ups and downs. Perhaps some of the early success got to his head before he was quickly sent back down to earth on this play:

There should be no doubt in his mind now that he needs to be one of the hardest working guys on the team if he wants to be great in this league. Scratch that, if he wants to play in this league he'll need to work in the film room, the weight room, and with his positional coaches.

2008 will be a crossroads of sorts for Mr. Smith. I, for one, think he bounces back and contributes significantly in 2008. If Troy and Ryan stay healthy and on the field, he'll get fewer opportunities, but more than likely, he'll find himself on the field plenty, with ample opportunity to make a difference in games. He's still just a young kid. By no means should his poor play to finish the year be the final chapter in the story of his career. It's up to him though.

Am I being overly optimistic or evaluating his abilities poorly?

Discuss.

0 recs | Comment 26 comments

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idea

If he needs motivation he should watch that clip over an over every day. Just a suggestion. I'm here to help. :)

by bereadawg on Mar 31, 2008 5:39 PM EDT 0 recs

damn

after rewatching that clip for the first time since that week, wow, what a play by Moss. Not a great delivery by Brady to him. He scoops the ball up in a nano-second, flings a PERFECT ball back to Tom as he's about to get hit and that's that.

by Blitzburgh on Mar 31, 2008 5:41 PM EDT 0 recs

The first was worse

At least that was a trick play, unlike the first screw up, unless you consider play action a "trick play". Why would the FS be peeking in the backfield when they have maybe the best QB and the best WR in the league and never run the ball? I was mad Taylor bit on the play, but Smith biting on it is ridiculous. The second was just a perfect play call and execution, especially if you consider we ran the exact same play against the Bengals in '05.

by BadMaafala on Mar 31, 2008 6:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

true

Had forgotten that actually for a minute there. Just immediately thought of that incredible play, but you're absolutely right. The play action bite by Smith was the truly unacceptable play.

by Blitzburgh on Mar 31, 2008 6:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

the first play

was the worse mistake of the two for sure by Smith. As Taylor (and Tomlin agreed) on that play, in the cover 2 defense we were in on that play, the corner is actually supposed to be looking for the run, and the safety has the inside responsibility. Seeing that Moss was cutting inside right as he (Taylor) saw the play-fake, Ike bit, thinking Smith would be behind him. regardless, Smith shows alot of potential, and not only that, he has backed it up in most his games. i think after the Pats game he tried to overcompensate (bit on a play deep against Jags next week) to make up for it. Seeing as how this was Taylor's problem the year before and Tomlin was able to get him to NOT "ride the emotional roller-coaster" this season, maybe Smith can be his project this coming year. i share Blitz's view Smith should rebound/improve for sure.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 1, 2008 12:30 AM EDT up 0 recs

Anthony Smith: The anti-David Tyree.

Here's two people that will each be remembered for one play last season.

However, I gotta agree with BB here. Anthony Smith did a pretty decent job last year overall, especially when a lot of our secondary was hurt. Let's see what '08 brings...

by HinesField on Mar 31, 2008 6:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Also Excited

Good call Blitz. I think he's got the potential to beat out any comers at FS. The kid can run and hit and last year should have been humbling enough that he'll keep his mouth in order and his head on straight when play action comes up.

by Chicago Steeler on Mar 31, 2008 6:27 PM EDT 0 recs

Smith

I always liked A Smith in the secondary. He hit like a truck and played good special teams. I like that he came from a good Syracuse program.
That said I was very disappointed in his talking loud before the Pats* game and even more disappointed that he did not back up his words. That game began a downward spiral for him and his season progressively got worse until he was benched.
Now we get to see what type of man Smith is. Rumor has it that he has been at Heinz working out and watching film. He needs to learn from his past on field success and failures and continue to improve. Personally I think he will step up in 08 and be a valuable contributor on special teams and in the secondary.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Mar 31, 2008 8:03 PM EDT 0 recs

Smith

I also like A Smith and expect him to bounce back and continue to grow and be a big contributor..much like Ike last year.

What struck me, as I watched the video of the flea-flicker, was how close he actually came to knocking the ball away...just a couple of inches off!! If, by chance he makes that play, again just a couple of inches, we would be talking about the great play he made...but as Badaafala pointed out the first screw-up was truly a bone-head play.

Again, my point is, the difference between making a play, and not making a play, between being the hero or the goat is often a couple of inches...but thats why we watch...

by SteelerMike on Mar 31, 2008 9:38 PM EDT 0 recs

exact same thing that I noticed

If he makes that play, the story is how great he recovered and how he has the speed to make up after poor reads.

by cgolden on Apr 1, 2008 7:57 AM EDT up 0 recs

We'll see

He has all the physical attributes to be a good player. I like the chip on his shoulder and his physical play. Every team needs an emotional guy like that, it picks up his teammates when he makes a play and is genuinely excited about it.

But I think his chances for learning from his experience depend on his intelligence. The position also requires some brains. I remember one game when Smith got an unsportsmanlike penalty down near the goal line, a really stupid play which gave the other team a first down, followed by a TD. There was another incident in a game when Smith got beat for a long TD run. Afterward I recall datruth taking Smith to task for taking a bad angle to the runner and citing that as an example of why the coaches prefer Clark over Smith, because Clark understands what a FS's role is. Then the debacle in NE, where again he clearly didn't understand what a FS has to do.

The incident when he ''guaranteed'' a win over the Pats was a case where he really didn't realize what the hell he was saying and its implications. Reporters stuck around to ask him if that's what he meant and again he seemed trapped by his words and couldn't figure out how or why he should try to mitigate the damage.

I'd feel better about his chances if I felt the kid had a good head in addition to the chip on his shoulder. He's still young enough to learn but this year is make or break for his future with the Steelers.

by steeler lifer on Mar 31, 2008 9:42 PM EDT 0 recs

yea

We'll learn lots about Smith this next year as it relates to how he perceives being a part of this organization. My guess is he'll be one of the many players that leaves after their rookie contract, but then again, if he improves and shows he has a better grasp of the mental aspects of the game as well as a cool head to go along with the edge he provides, we may very well be interested in locking him up.

It;s make or break like you said steeler lifer, not only for his future with this team, but also for the kind of contract and career he might get/have in forthcoming years.

by Blitzburgh on Mar 31, 2008 10:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

When you're right, you're right

I think Anthony Smith had a lot of amazing Sundays and one really bad Tuesday. I think your ability evaluation is way better than all the fans focusing on the Tuesday.

Every secondary in the league could watch clips of Moss in a Patsies uniform burning them. Maybe the Steelers front office should watch those clips over and over again, and ask themselves why Moss wasn't worth a fourth round pick.

When it comes down to it, Smitty was one of the leading tacklers on the team, starting only half the season. He made huge plays throughout the season. He is the main reason why the Steelers stopped Housh like they rarely do. I expect him to play like he did last year, and everybody will be gushing about how much he has improved and how he is playing so much smarter.

I still think if Smitty wasn't benched, there is no way David Garrard jukes his way into easy first goal range, and the Steelers play at least one more game last season. That was the second stupidest Tomlin move, right after going for two from the twelve.

Tomlin is the one who has to regain trust and start acting smarter.

by buddytoledo on Mar 31, 2008 11:59 PM EDT 0 recs

also

I definitely agree with SteelerMike. I think one of the reasons so much scorn was heaped on Smitty, besides the stupid guarantee, was that Smitty had the ability to almost recover from his mistakes. When Carter got burnt, he wasn't even on the television screen.

What was the game where Smitty gave up the long td run?

by buddytoledo on Apr 1, 2008 12:03 AM EDT 0 recs

N'mind

I found the weak tackle on McGahee.

by buddytoledo on Apr 1, 2008 12:23 AM EDT 0 recs

here

Check out this entry from one of the readers here that hasnt surfaced in a bit, but knows lots about the game and presents his opinions/observations in a great fashion. Here's what he had to say about Smith very early in the 2007 season:

Anthony Smith didn't do that good of an imitation of Ryan Clark last night when he went high on McGahee and whiffed. That's why Clark has been able to fend off A. Smith up to this point -- he makes the plays he is supposed to make and is where he is supposed to be. Not a knock against A. Smith, who has star potential. It's just that coaches feel more comfortable with the known than the unknown. The team will probably need both this week, as they mix a little 3-deep with Cover 2 to stop the big, bad browns (being a little facetious, there). Clark plays well on special teams too.

by Blitzburgh on Apr 1, 2008 12:30 AM EDT up 0 recs

I wonder

I was thinking about this yesterday after reading articles on both Clark and Smith. Can a defense have 'play making' safeties at both free safety and strong safety?

Troy is obviously a play maker at strong safety and his strength is free-lancing and causing havoc for opposing offenses. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense that if one safety is roaming around then the other safety has to play back and be...well for lack of a better term, safe. To me, Smith seems like a play making free safety while Clark seems like 'safe' free safety. Am I just oversimplying it or does this logic make sense to anyone else?

by cgolden on Apr 1, 2008 8:10 AM EDT 0 recs

that is exactly

why Clark starts. Smith has to learn to be disciplined (keep play in front of him), especially when he plays with Troy. now Smith also has the ability to play strong safety in place of Troy and that's when he can free-lance a bit more. that being said, even being "safe" he can still roam the deep field and lay people out and ballhawk, which are his best abilities anyways.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 1, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up 0 recs

Smith's potential

I'm encouraged to hear that Smith has been rumored to be working his tail off this off-season. Having a chip on your shoulder usually causes 1 of 2 things. You either take cheap shots and mouth off, or you work your tail off until you get good enough to prove whoever wrong. I see that in Ward, Harrison, Parker, and in '07, I saw it in Ike and Ben. If Smith can successfully channel his aggression into discipline, combined with his natural ability, I have no idea where his ceiling would be.

by BadMaafala on Apr 1, 2008 10:34 AM EDT 0 recs

hey man

I emailed you btw at your gmail account. Get back to me when possible and we'll try to resolve that.

by Blitzburgh on Apr 1, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up 0 recs

Different perspective

Reading the comments on A. Smith I agree with those who think he'll bounce back. There are parallels here with the late Sean Taylor. Taylor's problems were similar to Smith's; overly enamored with making the big hit at all costs, too much free lancing and mental errors. Interestingly, it was Ryan Clark who played the role of eraser in the case of Taylor, and who has a very close relationship with Smith. By all accounts Taylor was maturing up to his death this past season. I think that Patriot game may be the best thing to happen to Smith and the Steelers when viewed in the long term. He'll grow up.

by RickVa on Apr 1, 2008 4:25 PM EDT 0 recs

interesting comparison

RickVa, join us for the draft. Grab a team :)

by Blitzburgh on Apr 1, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

Anthony Smith is exactly what I meant

By us not being able to afford "chasing" people. He was a third round pick. We can't throw that away and chase with another high safety this year. That's spinning wheels and counterproductive. Same as I said about McFadden. He's round two. If we chase with a corner this year we are wasting pick after pick. I don't mind chasing sixth rounders. They are a crapshoot. But the two, three and four rounders have GOT to pan out or we will decline.

I say, no defensive backs this year. That's a chase and a waste. We need other positions and those guys have got to step up. Plus, I think we have good depth there.

by maryrose on Apr 1, 2008 7:38 PM EDT 0 recs

+1

by cgolden on Apr 2, 2008 8:27 AM EDT up 0 recs

and another

per usual, maryrose says it about as well as it can be said. we do not need DBs. now, MAYBE draft a CB/S combo as we have discussed before, but only as a depth policy for the future (in case McFadden leaves, or Clark doesn't recover, plus Townsend is getting old)

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 2, 2008 2:47 PM EDT 0 recs

Smith will be good.

Yes Smith had a few bad games. The Pats game and the Jags game where he allowed one big pass play. Other than those 3 plays, he played solid all year.

I hear people talking about how Smith is a scrub cause of his bad play and how we need help at FS now. It absolutely amazes me how two bad games can all of a sudden take away from his solid play before the NE game.

Before the NE game, our biggest pass play allowed was only 38 yards, this doesn't count the flea flicker by the jets. We allowed the least big pass plays up until that time. We still finished with the 3rd least big pass plays which is great, and says how good he really played last year. If Smith played bad we would of allowed much more than only 4 40+ pass plays(two of which were TRICK PLAYS).

It seems like here in Pittsburgh, the average fan expects every one of our players to never have a bad play or a mental lapse or whatever. Well, these guys are human too.

by jason97673 on Apr 6, 2008 7:07 PM EDT 0 recs