JetNation Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Well it’s time to take out the ‘punching bag’, Eric Smith, for some more jabs. Smith did not exactly inspire most Jets fans with his play this past season. Visions of him trying to chase down tight ends every week are still etched in our memories, but before you just toss poor Eric to the curb, there are some things to consider. Three safeties are currently on the Jets’ roster Eric Smith, Gerald Alexander and Tracy Wilson. Former Jets, now unrestricted free agents, starter Jim Leonhard and backup Brodney Pool may be resigned. Leonhard suffered a season ending knee injury and will not be ready for opening day. If the team does not bring him back they could sign a free agent safety like Reggie Nelson instead. The Jets will address their position needs in the upcoming 2012 draft. A player like Mark Barron from Alabama or other top prospects at safety will be picked by the team. So there you go, Jim Leonhard or Reggie Nelson, Brodney Pool, Gerald Alexander, Tracy Wilson and the 2012 safety draft pick. You can just dump Eric Smith and his salary, but this creates some problems. Alexander has played in eight games over the last two seasons, with ten total tackles, while Wilson, a rookie last year, was brought up from the practice squad and saw limited action in five games. Would you trust these guys to even contribute much less be an emergency starter? If the Jets got Mark Barron in the draft there are no guarantees, like with all rookies, he can just step in right away. Eric Smith is not a starting NFL safety over the rigors of a sixteen game schedule. He is good in situational defenses and can play special teams. Lack of depth hurt the Jets last year and if a safety or two goes down to injury a former starter, now backup, has the experience necessary to play the position. Smith has also been in playoff games, who can forget the hit he laid on Wes Welker causing pieces of Welker’s helmet go flying. What about cutting him and saving money under the salary cap? Smith will have to renegotiate his contract and lower his 2012 number. If he agrees to a one year deal worth $765,000 the Jets charge will only be $605,000 cause of certain NFL salary rules. So are you willing to throw away a very capable backup who knows the defense for $215,000 at most in cap savings? The Jets want to avoid too much turnover at one position in a given year. Due to his experience keeping Eric Smith will bring a level of stability during this period of transition at safety. Once other players develop they can move away from him but if the price is right Smith does have value to the team in 2012. View the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted February 17, 2012 Author Share Posted February 17, 2012 by Dennis Agapito on February 17, 2012[edit] in Featured Editorials Well it’s time to take out the ‘punching bag’, Eric Smith, for some more jabs. Smith did not exactly inspire most Jets fans with his play this past season. Visions of him trying to chase down tight ends every week are still etched in our memories, but before you just toss poor Eric to the curb, there are some things to consider. Three safeties are currently on the Jets’ roster Eric Smith, Gerald Alexander and Tracy Wilson. Former Jets, now unrestricted free agents, starter Jim Leonhard and backup Brodney Pool may be resigned. Leonhard suffered a season ending knee injury and will not be ready for opening day. If the team does not bring him back they could sign a free agent safety like Reggie Nelson instead. The Jets will address their position needs in the upcoming 2012 draft. A player like Mark Barron from Alabama or other top prospects at safety will be picked by the team. So there you go, Jim Leonhard or Reggie Nelson, Brodney Pool, Gerald Alexander, Tracy Wilson and the 2012 safety draft pick. You can just dump Eric Smith and his salary, but this creates some problems. Alexander has played in eight games over the last two seasons, with ten total tackles, while Wilson, a rookie last year, was brought up from the practice squad and saw limited action in five games. Would you trust these guys to even contribute much less be an emergency starter? If the Jets got Mark Barron in the draft there are no guarantees, like with all rookies, he can just step in right away. Eric Smith is not a starting NFL safety over the rigors of a sixteen game schedule. He is good in situational defenses and can play special teams. Lack of depth hurt the Jets last year and if a safety or two goes down to injury a former starter, now backup, has the experience necessary to play the position. Smith has also been in playoff games, who can forget the hit he laid on Wes Welker causing pieces of Welker’s helmet go flying. What about cutting him and saving money under the salary cap? Smith will have to renegotiate his contract and lower his 2012 number. If he agrees to a one year deal worth $765,000 the Jets charge will only be $605,000 cause of certain NFL salary rules. So are you willing to throw away a very capable backup who knows the defense for $215,000 at most in cap savings? The Jets want to avoid too much turnover at one position in a given year. Due to his experience keeping Eric Smith will bring a level of stability during this period of transition at safety. Once other players develop they can move away from him but if the price is right Smith does have value to the team in 2012. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet27 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Smith was "asked" to do things he could not do or do well....you get what you pay for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Mostro Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Smith was "asked" to do things he could not do or do well.... Like play safety? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 We can not again put him in a position where he has to cover receivers all ove rthe field. Special teams player Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 As to the thread title... Eric Smith makes great pancakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denden29 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 We can not again put him in a position where he has to cover receivers all ove rthe field. Special teams player He seemed to do it in the playoffs in 2010? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peebag Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I would not be adverse to keeping Eric Smith on the roster as long as during the time the defense of the New York Jets are on the field he is chained to the bench and not able to get to the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 We need desparately guys faster on defense-we are patheticly slow back in secondary and linebacker crew- move on Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denden29 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 The point is simple he is a capable backup. You are not going to find a cheaper and more experienced backup then Smith. Just like the reason the Jets kept Hunter, he will most likely lose his starting job, but an injury occurs you want Colin Baxter going in or Hunter? At least Hunter knows the system and has starting NFL experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denden29 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 We need desparately guys faster on defense-we are patheticly slow back in secondary and linebacker crew- move on Eric Who are you getting to replace Smith and what does he cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 It is impossible now to project a roster before draft and free agency- I have seen enough of Eric Smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 tl;crackhead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbone Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Smith is worth having on the team as a special teams guy and a back up safety. He adds very good depth, if he is coming off the bench. As a starting safety, he might be the worst in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I would not be adverse to keeping Eric Smith on the roster as long as during the time the defense of the New York Jets are on the field he is chained to the bench and not able to get to the field. I was like, what? Then I was like, lol. He is awful. If we go into the season with Eric Smith as our starting safety I'll be very dissapointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitonti Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 "Matt Slauson played with a torn up shoulder that required surgery" board response "let's make 5 threads about it! Ferris Bueller you're my hero" "Eric Smith played with a torn up knee that required surgery" board response "f--k that loser. he sucks s--t through a straw" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denden29 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I was like, what? Then I was like, lol. He is awful. If we go into the season with Eric Smith as our starting safety I'll be very dissapointed. Read the article again, Smith as a backup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbatesman Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 "Matt Slauson played with a torn up shoulder that required surgery" board response "let's make 5 threads about it! Ferris Bueller you're my hero" "Eric Smith played with a torn up knee that required surgery" board response "f--k that loser. he sucks s--t through a straw" False equivalence FTW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedin Green Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I'm sorry, but I can't get past the thread title without just saying "no, this is absolutely 100% without question indisputably wrong". The only way I would say otherwise is if the article goes on to talk about how they should keep him around for the rest of the roster to take their angst out on, beat the living hell out of him all offseason long and then cut his a$$ when they're done using him as a human punching bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedin Green Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 "Matt Slauson played with a torn up shoulder that required surgery" board response "let's make 5 threads about it! Ferris Bueller you're my hero" "Eric Smith played with a torn up knee that required surgery" board response "f--k that loser. he sucks s--t through a straw" Did he have a torn up knee for the prior 5 years too? He's ******* horrendously awful and always has been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitonti Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 False equivalence FTW no where in this thread or in the article is mentioned that he played most of the season with a torn meniscus it's not even a fact worth mentioning? He was playing safety on a torn knee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonEJet Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Eric Smith has always been underappreciated as a Jets player I know he has certain liabilities, but he brings the wood every game, and is a very smart player A fringe starter, but I see no reason to let him walk only to catch on with the Pats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Read the article again, Smith as a backup. He is? Who's starting over him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Eric Smith has always been underappreciated as a Jets player I know he has certain liabilities, but he brings the wood every game, and is a very smart player A fringe starter, but I see no reason to let him walk only to catch on with the Pats And let the leagues historically bad secondary get worse? I'd hate for that to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbatesman Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 no where in this thread or in the article is mentioned that he played most of the season with a torn meniscus it's not even a fact worth mentioning? He was playing safety on a torn knee. Slauson's an average starting guard. Smith's a below-average starting safety. The fact that they were both injured is irrelevant. McElroy and Manning both missed all of last season, and yet we don't have a half-dozen threads discussing how McElroy might put us over the top. Weird, huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Whenever the only argument that can be made for player is " that he can be a good backup if brought back for a reasonable price" it only shows how much the author really thinks of the player. But not sure if the JETS should go that route. A championship winning team cannot keep having two of its top three safeties have last names of Smith and Leonard!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denden29 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 It is very difficult to just replace two starters in one year. Like the article says keeping Smith would bring son firmiluarlity and stability to the position. You don’t want to be stuck with a Colin Baxter type situation if injuries occur. So there it is no Smith but three of your five players have no starting experience in the NFL. Hope the ones who do stay healthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedin Green Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Eric Smith has always been underappreciated as a Jets player I know he has certain liabilities, but he brings the wood every game, and is a very smart player A fringe starter, but I see no reason to let him walk only to catch on with the Pats He "brings the wood every game" because after 6 years in the league he's still completely incapable of proper form tackling. He aimlessly heaves his body at players time and again, and because of that misses more tackles than any player on the team, by a wide margin. But hey, at least when he actually does connect it makes a cool sound, right? And the "very smart player" stuff is a load of horse sh*t. It's a crap excuse that people make for a player when they like him but he sucks a$$ on the field. It's the same load of crap we heard for years about ole Chadwick. There's no evidence to suggest Smith is any smarter, on the football field, than any of his NFL counterparts. The fact that he still can't grasp the concept of his key job, tackling, after all this time would actually suggest quite the opposite. The sooner this loser is off the team the better, be it as a starter or even just a backup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klecko73isGod Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Like play safety? Which is especially distressing considering his position is listed as "safety." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedin Green Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Slauson's an average starting guard. Smith's a below-average starting safety. The fact that they were both injured is irrelevant. McElroy and Manning both missed all of last season, and yet we don't have a half-dozen threads discussing how McElroy might put us over the top. Weird, huh? Win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denden29 Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 He is? Who's starting over him? Read the article again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbatesman Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 And the "very smart player" stuff is a load of horse sh*t. It's a crap excuse that people make for a player when they like him but he sucks a$$ on the field. Aaaaand...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Read the article again. Ummm, no. Why dont you just tell me so I dont have to. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedin Green Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 It is very difficult to just replace two starters in one year. Like the article says keeping Smith would bring son firmiluarlity and stability to the position. You don’t want to be stuck with a Colin Baxter type situation if injuries occur. So there it is no Smith but three of your five players have no starting experience in the NFL. Hope the ones who do stay healthy. The only problem with this is that it assumes that Smith brings anything to the table, and he doesn't. He was a crappy starter this year and he was a crappy backup for 5 years before that. Experience doesn't count for anything if you can't perform on the field, and I've seen nothing out of Smith that there's any reason to believe an undrafted rookie could do any worse, never mind a decent draft pick or even a mid to low level FA. Continuity only for the sake of continuity means absolutely nothing, the players you're keeping have to have some value to them, and outside of perhaps special teams, Smith has none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleedin Green Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Aaaaand...? I almost typed it three times, but I stopped myself to keep from getting into another one of "those discussions". But yeah, we all know what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.