Panthers Pick Up S Reggie Smith

[cultclassiccat]

Meh. Hes a panther now so hes an all pro probowler in my mind.

[Ivan The Awesome]

So, Martin is pretty much gone?

[Galvatron]

Via Panthers.com

Looks like a good get.

[carolina-chuck]

Got to be better than Martin.

[Udogg]

Martin was fine in 2010. Everyone outside Gamble was abused in the back 7 last year.

No he wasn't. He sucked in 2010 too. The Godfrey hate just made it seem like he didn't. He was out of position all the time. Everything just got blamed on the CB but after the play the would always look to Martin like "where the f*** were you?"

[pantherj]

We're just upgrading our STs right now, but this board is primed to get excited about any news.

[rayzor]

We're just upgrading our STs right now, but this board is primed to get excited about any news.

why shouldn't we be excited about boosts to special teams?

i really think that people think STs are insignificant and altogether not all that important.

bad special teams will kill your team and ruin seasons.

we had a whole coaching staff who for years considered STs to be just this part of the game that really didn't matter and who you could stick any bloke in and do alright. when you weren't good enough to start, you played STs...and that was all STs were made up of...guys who were only doing it because they couldn't do anything else. we should have been paying serious attention to it and bringing in people who could actually play it well. if they can play as decent depth on O or D, then that's gravy.

we've been needing this for a long time. this will be the kind of thing that keeps us from losing games in embarrassing ways.

[xerxes]

At the very least they'll be competition at the safety position. RR is starting to get players on the team who fit his style and getting rid of those who don't.

Also no discussion on Martin is complete without referencing Jerry Richardson's view:

Q: Chris Gamble?

RICHARDSON: I think he's extraordinary. His tackling's improved. I think our whole team's tackling has to improve.

Q: Sherrod Martin?

RICHARDSON: What about him?

Q: What do you think about him?

RICHARDSON: I think he plays safety.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/01/04/2899436/richardson-happy-with-direction.html

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/01/04/2899436/richardson-happy-with-direction.html#storylink=cpy

[PhillyB]

i am absolutely loving this offseason. for being in the worst cap position of any team in the league we are bringing in a whole lot of guys who have the potential to contribute and overhaul ST and elements of defense.

[KendrickPanther]

This guy looks like a light weight. I like my safeties around 205-210. He sounds soft against the run which was part of Martin's problem. All I really want from my safeties is to stop the home run. Be it pass or run..

[pantherj]

why shouldn't we be excited about boosts to special teams?

i really think that people think STs are insignificant and altogether not all that important.

bad special teams will kill your team and ruin seasons.

we had a whole coaching staff who for years considered STs to be just this part of the game that really didn't matter and who you could stick any bloke in and do alright. when you weren't good enough to start, you played STs...and that was all STs were made up of...guys who were only doing it because they couldn't do anything else. we should have been paying serious attention to it and bringing in people who could actually play it well. if they can play as decent depth on O or D, then that's gravy.

we've been needing this for a long time. this will be the kind of thing that keeps us from losing games in embarrassing ways.

The more fans are excited, the better. Even if I think the excitement is a little higher than I would expect given who the team is signing, I'm happy to see the excitement. It must be in part related to the Cam halo effect.

I agree STs play is very important.

[EMSMedic79]

Strong signing...... at the very least this gives Martin some motivation, at best he becomes the starting safety and it's Sherrod who?

[Herbert The Love Bug]

Hey guys, 49ers fan here and I just want to clear a couple of things up.

He was only going to be our starting free safety going into the season because we hadn't re-signed Dashon Goldson yet. Once Goldson signed, it took him some time to learn Vic Fangio's new defense and once he was ready Reggie was benched. It wasn't like he was beating out Goldson for the job. He's not that good.

The guy is below average in both pass and run coverage. His only real contribution to the 49ers was the occasional tackle on defense and a few stand out tackles on special teams. He does "The Dougie" better than he plays football.

Anytime Dashon Goldson or Donte Whitner were injured I would cringe knowing that Reggie Smith would have to come in the game. And I'm not in the minority here, go check out the 49ers forums thread about him signing with you guys.

Just wanted to inform you, from someone who has had to watch this dude for the past few seasons. Don't get too excited about this guy, he'll only disappoint you.

Nobody cares. That is in the past. The combination of Rivera, McDermott, and Meeks is far better than Vic Fangio. Our coaches will get the best out of him.

[Ivan The Awesome]

Hmm, would there be a possibility for this guy to play CB? Says he has experience at that position.