How Much Pressure on KB13?

[Stroupe-a-loop]

Keeping Smith would've been very important in the short run but even if he retired it would've absolutely f*cked our cap situation in the long run. All in all, cutting him was our only option to have success in the long run. And I don't think keeping him would've been the difference for us to win the Super Bowl. Even with him we wouldn't have won it. We would've needed Gross to stay and to somehow sign some huge FA in the secondary, something we couldn't do with our cap situation.

I was under the impression that if smitty had not been cut, and had indeed retired af seasons end, we would just be out a small portion of the prorated bonus money cap wise. I may be wrong on that. So that would have been the better plan, but obviously the front office either didn't know, didn't believe, or didn't want to wait for smittys retirement.

In any case, I think losing smitty will cost us this year. Hopefully the long term benefits are worth it.

[Growl]

We've got the best position coach in the game. I like the odds.

[t96]

I was under the impression that if smitty had not been cut, and had indeed retired af seasons end, we would just be out a small portion of the prorated bonus money cap wise. I may be wrong on that. So that would have been the better plan, but obviously the front office either didn't know, didn't believe, or didn't want to wait for smittys retirement.

In any case, I think losing smitty will cost us this year. Hopefully the long term benefits are worth it.

 

If he played this season it would automatically pick up the option for 2 years after that at a huge price and even if he retired at the end of this season we'd still be on the books for that.

[Jmac]

Don't see how keeping a 35 year old WR with declining production and a big cap hit would have made much of a difference. I hear all the noise about using him in a different role then before, but thats what we signed the other vets for. Do you really think Smith would have made such a big impact? We will probably get the same or better production from the new guys for less cap hit. He would have had no Impact on KB anyways.....he was never big on tutoring rookies and probably wouldn't have started now. The new vets on the team will tutor the kid and show him the ropes without all the drama.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

If he played this season it would automatically pick up the option for 2 years after that at a huge price and even if he retired at the end of this season we'd still be on the books for that.

Do you have anything on what the bonus money would have been for those two years? I can't find anything specifically on what the bonus would have been.

[Ricky Spanish]

I want to see K13 in the slot this year - He can be our Jimmy Graham matchup nightmare. 

[Stroupe-a-loop]

Don't see how keeping a 35 year old WR with declining production and a big cap hit would have made much of a difference. I hear all the noise about using him in a different role then before, but thats what we signed the other vets for. Do you really think Smith would have made such a big impact? We will probably get the same or better production from the new guys for less cap hit. He would have had no Impact on KB anyways.....he was never big on tutoring rookies and probably wouldn't have started now. The new vets on the team will tutor the kid and show him the ropes without all the drama.

Smitty would have been our best receiver this year. Cutting him makes us worse and that seems counter productive when we were a top 3 team in the NFC last year. It's just a question of whether the long term savings make up enough ground to justify surrounding your young quarterback with bargain bin wideouts and a rookie during what could be a playoff year.

[The Huddler]

KB is good with pressure and responsibility.

His team are National champs because of his clutch catch. That's pressure.

KB is a baller. No worries on my end. He expects more out of himself than anyone else does of him.

[Jmac]

I disagree.....at one time yes.....he was the best we had.Declining production doesn't reverse itself in an aging player and thats just the nature of the beast. Avant and Cotchery are seasoned vets and will carry the load this year.If you where talking about five years ago ,then yes Smith would have made a big impact.Not at this point in his career...which is probably over in 2015.

[PantherWake]

I feel like handling pressure may be his biggest trait

[mbarbour21]

We have a great defense and a really good QB, so he isnt going to be expected to carry the team. He was a 1st round pick, so he will have pressure to contribute. But not like a top 5-10 pick. IMO. Also, we have a lot of vets too, so that will help in his development and mindset.

[DaveThePanther2008]

I know some will probably say it's not that big a deal, but I think the relationship that Cam and Kelvin are quickly developing will have an impact. Just how much is yet to be determined, but that goes a good ways in helping, especially for a rookie learning and adjusting as he goes.

 

I don't think this should be underestimated.  You work with a guy and you become good friends there will be a bond made.  A trust level. 

 

I Posted a couple weeks ago.  If Avant, Cotchery and Underwood all achieve the numbers they did last year.  KB would only have to record about 500 yards or so and 1 TD to match what our receiving corps did last year.   I think the bond will give him that plus an additional 300 yds.  800 yds and 7 TDs

 

If I were a betting man I would bet Cam's first pass of the season goes to KB on a safe route.  Give him a touch early and start to build that confidence from the Get go.

[TheRumGone]

Smitty would have been our best receiver this year. Cutting him makes us worse and that seems counter productive when we were a top 3 team in the NFC last year. It's just a question of whether the long term savings make up enough ground to justify surrounding your young quarterback with bargain bin wideouts and a rookie during what could be a playoff year.

 

take away the name on the back of his jersey, look at the stats/games of the people we brought in and compare them.

 

this is a 35 year old reciever who ended last season with a busted knee. Who could not get seperation, who made crucial drops last year (he made some great catches as well), who does not have breakaway speed. And then tell me why we would even try to pay that man 22 million over the next 2 years with the contracts we have coming up. It makes no fuging sense.

 

saying a receiver who had 10tds last season as bargain bin is stupid. And i don't care who tries to justify J. Cotch as a "bargain bin" player, because he is wayyy more than just that.

 

these guys we replaced smitty and lafell with don't drop the fuging football. They are literally the same type of players without drop problems/health problems.

 

and than oh yea that best receiver this year belongs to a man by the names of Greg Olsen (the most reliable receiver on the team last year)

[Stroupe-a-loop]

I disagree.....at one time yes.....he was the best we had.Declining production doesn't reverse itself in an aging player and thats just the nature of the beast. Avent and Cotchery are seasoned vets and will carry the load this year.If you where talking about five years ago ,then yes Smith would have made a big impact.Not at this point in his career...which is probably over in 2015.

I hope Avant and Cotchery perform much better than my expectations. Maybe Cam is at the point where he can make guys better (ala Ginn), but I still think one more year of Smitty would have been more productive than any of the free agents or the rookie will be this year.

We'll just have to see what the new guys do and what Smitty has left in Baltimore.