The one big negative today: Steve Smith has officially lost a step

[beastson]

And if he did... big deal... we're human beings... everybody loses a step. If the team found a legitimate WR years ago, maybe every single detail would go unnoticed when watching Smith cause we would actually be watching someone else instead

[PantherDude]

Smitty lost a step? I don't think so. Because he didn't have much yards & no TDs like Gettis, he lost a step? No, it actually that a lot of defense are focusing on him that help Gettis some TDs along with over hundred yards. That what should've happend all those years ago.

[PantherPhann]

We really should have traded him when we had the chance. The rest of the league is going to catch on that he's not nearly as good as he once was and we're not going to be able to get as much for him if we do end up trading him.

He looked bad on punt returns, had some bad drops, looked slower, had dumb penalties. Pretty disappointing. His occasional stupid penalties look bigger and bigger the more he continues to fall back down to earth as an average receiver.

You have got to be kidding me, what kinda fan are you? Smitty has broke his arm twice, back to back, just come off a high ankle sprain faster than most and remains the heart and soul of the team. The Rooks need someone proven to push them harder, someone that has proven himself to them and opposing defenses. I assure you, opposing defenses will not slack on Smitty... hmmm.....Maybe you should be our opponents DC....

[PantherFanForLife]

I saw this at the beginning of the season and tried to warn some of you that thought he would be our savior.

You can't beat old age and wear and tear. It happens to greatest.

But even with Smith losing a step, he's still a damn good receiver and I hope him to eventually become something like a Ricky Proehl if he can overcome his ego.

But the bigger negative was that we were really close to being the only winning team in the NFC South, but Atlanta and the Tampa managed to pull through in the end.

[OneBadassCat]

Steve Smith never fumbles. That was the worst part of his performance today. He had a couple of good PR's and 1 real bad one which would have looked bad if it was Hester out there. On the other returns he was blanketed. It looked to me like he was looking for a hole, that's why he accelerated so slowly. Plus he had to the leave the game so who knows if he would have caught more passes.

You guys are acting like he's f**kin Hines Ward or Santana Moss(not necessarily you SMF). The dude is still a top 10 WR anyway you slice it. He is one of the reasons LaFell and Gettis had success today. He will get his. He was putting up consistent numbers before Moore was taken out.

Besides, whether if Smith is among the best WR in football or not he has needed a compliment for the past 5 years and seems that we have found one.

[PantherFanForLife]

Steve Smith never fumbles. That was the worst part of his performance today. He had a couple of good PR's and 1 real bad one which would have looked bad if it was Hester out there. On the other returns he was blanketed. It looked to me like he was looking for a hole, that's why he accelerated so slowly. Plus he had to the leave the game so who knows if he would have caught more passes.

You guys are acting like he's f**kin Hines Ward or Santana Moss(not necessarily you SMF). The dude is still a top 10 WR anyway you slice it. He is one of the reasons LaFell and Gettis had success today. He will get his. He was putting up consistent numbers before Moore was taken out.

He got mawed for what he did a play earlier though. I saw that one coming. Steve still loses his cool after all this time. He needs to check his ego cause he's on the downhill side of his career.

I love his fire but I was NOT happy with his attitude today. I don't support that poo when you are hurting your own team. For Christ's sake, grow up already Smith. You are better than this.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Smitty will be fine. And yes, that is an actual fact, not the usual homer, "he'll be fine", nonsense. Smitty hasn't even entered his "Hines Ward Years" yet. Will he always be our #1? No. Will he always be a threat? Yes.

[Davidson Deac II]

I don't doubt that Smith is not as fast as he was a couple of years ago. I do doubt that one could rationally make that assessment based on today's game. Yes it was his first game back from an injury, and I don't care if he was not feeling any pain (and no way you could know that for certain), it will still have an effect on his speed and cuts.

The negative from today was Williams injury. I hope its not significant.

[mj4life]

it's only natural that smith start to take a secondary role on this team. gettis is our main threat deep now & if lafell has turned the corner that's even better. i could see us using smith more on underneath routes like new england does with welker

[mj4life]

Smitty will be fine. And yes, that is an actual fact, not the usual homer, "he'll be fine", nonsense. Smitty hasn't even entered his "Hines Ward Years" yet. Will he always be our #1? No. Will he always be a threat? Yes.

teams are going to alsways account for him cause you never know when he will make a big play, having other threats on the field makes teams think about who they would rather beat them & that's a welcomed change IMO

[Baschski]

Anyone who thinks Smith has lost a step, isn't still our biggest playmaking threat or doesn't command double teams should kindly put down the crack pipe. No, he didn't look great today. But he also didn't look bad. He just returned from a high ankle sprain and had a good niners defense keying on him all day. Won't be surprised at all if he puts up two TD's next week.

[bigdog10]

This is a fact.

He looked so slow

[Doyle]

And please don't think I'm hating. This is the first time in my illustrious history on the Huddle that I have EVER posted something negative about 89 on-the-field.

And your sig is that the owner is a senile moron. Yeah your just full of positiveness. Can we at least enjoy this win?

[TarPanther9180]

Let's face the facts...Smitty is getting older and he has probably lost a half of a step. He still has a few good years in him. However, like I've said before, we need to be looking for a #1 WR. Maybe Gettis will be that guy? Smitty as a #2/slot receiver would be a beast (a Welker type guy).