Smitty in the slot?

[CarolinaCoolin]

It's a bad idea because while it does take advantage of a lot of the traits that make Smith great, it also puts him in a hell of a lot more danger. Cam has a lot of power in his arm and as a result he does airmail a lot of passes over the middle on timing routes. You combine that with the fact that Smith is a player that never gives up on a catch and you have a recipe for disaster.

WR that play in the slot are the guys that get hit the hardest of anybody on the field because they're getting matched up against coverage linebackers and safeties. Wes Welker may get a lot of crap around here, but he's as tough as nails and his hands are elite as is his ability to take hits. As much as I love Smith, is that really the position that we want to put him in? Do we want him taking shots from linebackers instead of corners? I personally don't and think it's a dumb move.

Smith is still our best man on man WR and putting him in the slot does not utilize that ability as well as it should be and makes him vulnerable at the hands of a young and inexperienced starting QB. Cam will get there in terms of protecting his WRs in the future but I don't think that future is now.

This is one of those moves to file under "probably works best in Madden". When you do it in real life, it gives us two weak options on the outside of the formation that will allow teams to clog up the middle of the field to take away our two best hands guys in Olsen and Smith, forcing plays to the outside in single coverage where guys like LaFell and Hixon will have trouble creating space for themselves.

If you want a waterbug to put in the slot then let it be Ginn. If he goes down we're not out our best WR and he still stands to be a strong big play option in the middle of the field if we can get him clean looks.

How do you get your two best targets open in the middle of the field when you have two outside guys that can't stretch the play?

With the ways the rules have changed you won't be seeing huge hits on receivers over the middle. That part of the game is getting phased out. Smith is made for the slot.

[the butch]

smith needs to be in the slot simply to preserve his career.  besides, if he were there, he could get the triple crown again.  who among us wouldn't like to eat up 7-11 yards at a time . . . and that is pass and catch; meanwhile, steve is jukin'!

[xerxes]

It's a bad idea because while it does take advantage of a lot of the traits that make Smith great, it also puts him in a hell of a lot more danger. Cam has a lot of power in his arm and as a result he does airmail a lot of passes over the middle on timing routes. You combine that with the fact that Smith is a player that never gives up on a catch and you have a recipe for disaster.

 

WR that play in the slot are the guys that get hit the hardest of anybody on the field because they're getting matched up against coverage linebackers and safeties. Wes Welker may get a lot of crap around here, but he's as tough as nails and his hands are elite as is his ability to take hits. As much as I love Smith, is that really the position that we want to put him in? Do we want him taking shots from linebackers instead of corners? I personally don't and think it's a dumb move.

 

Smith is still our best man on man WR and putting him in the slot does not utilize that ability as well as it should be and makes him vulnerable at the hands of a young and inexperienced starting QB. Cam will get there in terms of protecting his WRs in the future but I don't think that future is now.

 

This is one of those moves to file under "probably works best in Madden". When you do it in real life, it gives us two weak options on the outside of the formation that will allow teams to clog up the middle of the field to take away our two best hands guys in Olsen and Smith, forcing plays to the outside in single coverage where guys like LaFell and Hixon will have trouble creating space for themselves.

 

If you want a waterbug to put in the slot then let it be Ginn. If he goes down we're not out our best WR and he still stands to be a strong big play option in the middle of the field if we can get him clean looks.

 

How do you get your two best targets open in the middle of the field when you have two outside guys that can't stretch the play?

Have you met Steve Smith?!? The Linebackers and Safeties should be afraid that he is coming over the middle not the other way around. Case in point:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DouAvtxNMU8

[PantherPhann89]

This is a great thing that will make a great player greater. I'm sure that he won't be in the slot every down but getting the ball in his hands more is a smart move...

[CRA]

Cam isn't Brady. He is a vertical passing QB. Scheme and QB means even though Smitty likely is ready to move to the slot full time.....here, it just doesn't maximize everyone's talent.

Welker also is a damn good slot WR. People downplay his ability bc of Brady but there was no change in his production when Matt Cassel was QB and Cassel is HORRIBLE.

We don't run NEs scheme. Our QB doesn't excel at short quick hitters.

Smitty can be diverse. Still needs to play as the 1 or 2 to a large degree. Trying to get Smitty to play a similar role as Welker is just going to lead to a frustrating amount of incompletions

[CRA]

smith needs to be in the slot simply to preserve his career. besides, if he were there, he could get the triple crown again. who among us wouldn't like to eat up 7-11 yards at a time . . . and that is pass and catch; meanwhile, steve is jukin'!

In NE's offense with Brady.....sure. Not here though. Those type throws and routes that Weller has made a career of is by far the weakest part of Cam's game.....

[ladypanther]

Link: http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Smith-embracing-more-opportunities-in-slot-/f7b11472-ae38-4ca3-8467-69eb9b776e08

 

 

When Steve Smith heard the news that Ricky Proehl was promoted to wide receivers coach, he quickly reached out to his friend and former teammate.

"Steve texted me: 'I want you to make me better. I want you to push me,'" Proehl said. "Steve has been wanting that, and I'm going to give it to him.

"He knows that I can make him better, especially at this stage in his career." 

 

 

 

 

Got to love Smitty's attitude.  Asking Proehl to make him better....that is freakin awesome! I always liked Proehl and love how much Smitty respects him.  

 

I hope Steve has a great season this year.  Want him in the HOF.

[iamhubby1]

In NE's offense with Brady.....sure. Not here though. Those type throws and routes that Weller has made a career of is by far the weakest part of Cam's game.....

When I first read this I thought, aw, just CRA being a contrarian and spouting opinions off the top of his head. I was going to ignore it and let it go. Then I thought, aw hellz no.

The first year and a half you may have been right. The last half of last year, not so much. The reason for Cam's emergence as a quality QB was the fact the he embraced the check downs and shorter routes. Taking what the D was giving him.

Cam loves to get Smitty the ball. Smitty in the slot will actually make it easier for Cam to do so. As Smitty will not be doubled, the window to get him the ball will be larger. Which would actually make the throws much easier to complete. Not more difficult.

But hey, nice try.

[xclr82xtc]

when smitty can no longer play wideoue they should put him at corner.  lol

[CRA]

When I first read this I thought, aw, just CRA being a contrarian and spouting opinions off the top of his head. I was going to ignore it and let it go. Then I thought, aw hellz no.

The first year and a half you may have been right. The last half of last year, not so much. The reason for Cam's emergence as a quality QB was the fact the he embraced the check downs and shorter routes. Taking what the D was giving him.

Cam loves to get Smitty the ball. Smitty in the slot will actually make it easier for Cam to do so. As Smitty will not be doubled, the window to get him the ball will be larger. Which would actually make the throws much easier to complete. Not more difficult.

But hey, nice try.

This is a typical post of yours....just looking to argue. You just look at the poster name.

Is Cam's short pass game not the weakest part of his game? Slight improvement in a couple games doesn't change that. He still needs lots of work there....and our SCHEME doesn't favor that. Smith needs to be a #2 not slot guy.

[CelticCat]

The Falcons moved Roddy White to the slot on key 3rd downs.

 

Smitty could be lethal in the role too. However, we really need LaFell, Ginn and Hixon to step up on the outside. Ginn has the speed to worry defenses on the outside but he needs to show consistent hands to become a real threat and pull the safety over. Hixon has a good balance of speed and hands but needs to stay healthy and LaFell really lacks the speed to get deep.

 

Gettis would be a nice option too but its been along time for him. He seems way down the debth chart at this point.

[CRA]

CRA, if anything, this will improve Cam's short yardage game. Stop being a dolt. Our scheme won't be affected.

Um, SCHEME largely is why Welker has his numbers. You aren't getting Welker numbers in this offense out of your slot WR.....doesn't matter if Welker himself is here or Smitty plays it.

We would need a new scheme and likely someone else playing QB for Welker numbers at the slot.

I didn't say anything about us changing our scheme.....said to get Welker production at the slot we would need a different scheme than what we have run and is claimed to be what is coming.

A dolt? You can't just take a good WR move him to slot WR and expect Welker NE production. More to it than that. Need to have an offensive scheme that relies on it....and a QB that wants to pick teams apart. We don't run the scheme.....nor a QB that suits such thoughts.

Smitty should be a 2. He can play some slot....as he has for years now in select situations but the Welker talk is Madden-ish.

[CRA]

The Falcons moved Roddy White to the slot on key 3rd downs.

Smitty could be lethal in the role too. However, we really need LaFell, Ginn and Hixon to step up on the outside. Ginn has the speed to worry defenses on the outside but he needs to show consistent hands to become a real threat and pull the safety over. Hixon has a good balance of speed and hands but needs to stay healthy and LaFell really lacks the speed to get deep.

Gettis would be a nice option too but its been along time for him. He seems way down the debth chart at this point.

Falcons moved White to slot more like we have done with Smith in recent years....more

play/matchuo specific than anything. That didn't make White a slot WR.....and Smith has done that for years now as well

[CRA]

Clearly, you've gone overboard. We're talking about packaging here. Smitty likely won't be featured in the slot full-time (contrary to what the article alludes to in this thread). Unless Ginn, LaFell and Gettis add another dimension to their game, Smitty will be lining up on the inside for an extra 7-10 plays a game.

With that said, there are different schemes that would allow an offense like ours to include a slot weapon. The Panthers don't need to be The Patriots in order to get production out of Smith at slot. New England's scheme catered to Welker's strengths. Carolina will do the same with Steve (who is the far more superior receiver).

I was responding to the OP....what he stated should happen.

Clearly, you ignore that fact in your response about me going overboard. He said Smith should be a full time slot guy and made tr Welker reference. So no, , I was just responding to something dumb and calling it such.

You are coming in and declaring my response was to your thoughts.