Rivera says Steve Smith no longer a deep threat.

[BlackCnqstdr]

For a guy who apparently lost that speed and lack of a deep threat he pretty darn well had it against San Fran for that td! I actually remember sitting there and thinking why haven't we done this all season, take a few chances like this and my conclusion was Shula is ultra conservative is why, I think it's crap using a lack of speed and a deep threat for smitty, he lost some obviously he had but you watch flacco hit him up this season.

 

The play where he had virtually no separation from the DB?  I don't think anyone is saying Smith can't play but to act like he's still the same guy he was in his prime is ridiculous.  he had 4 catches over 20 yards and 4 tds, he averaged 2.8 yards after the catch and 11.6 per catch.  He's not a deep threat he's a possession receiver which is fine, he'll do great in that role in Baltimore.

[Brooklyn Bully]

It doesn't matter if Smitty is a deep threat anymore. The real question is, do we have one? Another question to ask is, is Smitty still worthy of double coverage? And, do we have someone worthy of double coverage?

[Pox 08]

If we were still talking about the Steve Smith of three or four years ago, I'd agree it'd be an easy choice.

The guy I watched last season though? Tougher call.

Sometimes I think football fans just have trouble accepting that their favorite players get older. That's why every time we have a thread about some older free agent being released we get a hundred people screaming to sign him right now. They still see him for the guy he used to be, but more often than not he isn't that guy anymore (hence, why he's being released).

I'd say that's true of a lot of posters here when it comes to Smitty.

 

Basically.   This isn't '05 Smith we're talking about,  or even '11 Smith.    This is a guy that can more or less be shut down on a regular basis these days.           I love 89,  but I will hold off on being a fan of his again until after he retires.    Team is always first when it comes to my fandom.

 

[Proudiddy]

The Panther PR machine is in high gear.

 

 

Beat me to it...  They might wanna ask the Niners about his top-end speed.

 

I get it...  He isn't what he used to be, but he's still better than 90% of the WRs in the NFL in the right offense/when utilized correctly.

 

He may have lost some top-end speed, but all that means is that where before he'd beat his man by 10 yards, now he's beating him but only by a few steps, so the windows are tighter.  He still is among the best at creating separation and going after the ball.  He was still our best option going forward, even with who we've signed, and that likely wouldn't have changed until the draft (and even then, who knows?).

 

But:

 

[IGSaint]

I'll put it this way. If someone put a gun to my head and said to choose, and your life depends on it; 1)Steve Smith goes off in Baltimore against the Panthers; or, 2)Steve Smith is a dud against the Panthers; I am choosing number 1.

 

I really don't care if he goes off against the panthers as long as the panthers win. That's all I care about. 

[jptaylor84]

The play where he had virtually no separation from the DB? I don't think anyone is saying Smith can't play but to act like he's still the same guy he was in his prime is ridiculous. he had 4 catches over 20 yards and 4 tds, he averaged 2.8 yards after the catch and 11.6 per catch. He's not a deep threat he's a possession receiver which is fine, he'll do great in that role in Baltimore.

Not sure how you can complain on what he catches? He can only catch what's thrown to him, Shula took the deep threat weapon away last season which is baffling with ginn and smitty there to use it and it's one of cams weapons his deep threat because of his arm, smitty may have lost a step but I believe he would still beat most guys (not all) just with desire, I just think it's a poor excuse and they should leave the subject alone now because as has been mentioned most teams and analysts don't see why the panthers got rid of him.

[BlackCnqstdr]

Not sure how you can complain on what he catches? He can only catch what's thrown to him, Shula took the deep threat weapon away last season which is baffling with ginn and smitty there to use it and it's one of cams weapons his deep threat because of his arm, smitty may have lost a step but I believe he would still beat most guys (not all) just with desire, I just think it's a poor excuse and they should leave the subject alone now because as has been mentioned most teams and analysts don't see why the panthers got rid of him.

 

He threw the ball deep more than all but 9 QBs in the league but the deep ball was taken away?  I'm not complaining about what he did I'm making the point that he's a position receiver (a good one) not a deep threat.  In order to be a deep threat you have to actually make plays downfield no?  Beating guys on desire is just... wow.

[BuffaloBills62]

My post was in response to someone saying he didn't throw down field last year which is false.  Of course the O-line had problems but receivers not getting open/cam holding the ball were problems too.  Not to mention the fact that Cam's athleticism leads him to try to escape and often ends in horrible sacks that aren't really on the O-line rather than throwing the ball away.

 

How is it silly to track plays over 20 yards?  Explosive plays don't matter?

 

Explosive plays make you highlight reels.  They make you oooh and ahh.  But, as a Bills fan I look at it with the term the CJ Spiller factor.  CJ Spiller is considered one of the leagues most explosive backs and one of the best backs.  Yet, when you look at his stat line it reads something like this for attempts:  2 yards, -3 yards, 6 yards, 3 yards, -5 yards, 4 yards, 41 yards, -2 yards.

 

I am not a rocket surgeon so I can't add all of that up but I can tell you that for over half of the plays that CJ Spiller is in that he does not make an impact to the game whatsoever.  Futher he cannot block to save his life.  He has other issues - high ankle sprain that hindered him last year - and ability finding holes running up the middle that are concerning.

 

CJ Spiller is the epitome of the direction the NFL is headed with the fascination on the big play.  You have guys like Danny Amendola, Percy Harvin, RGIII and others who fit the same boat.  They make you some amazing plays but they are lackluster for most of the game.

 

Explosive plays can change the game but banking on them to change a game is futile.  The NFL is too evenly matched between the good players and the bad players.  Sure, there are teams like Denver, Seattle, New Orleans, New England and Green Bay that have all star talent but on every one of those teams their weakest link is not much better then any opposing team.  Parity is as close as ever in the NFL and it is coaching that has been making a different the last few years as the league changes its tone to become faster and leaner league.

 

It is mostly a personal belief that I'd rather have consistent licks layed in to the wood that knock out a little bit every time then have a sledge drop and split the thing open ever 10th try.

[MadHatter]

You'll say a lot of things when you try to justify a bad decision.

John Harbaugh - Smith's new coach - seems to think he can still be a deep threat. Given he's a fantastic route runner and will be in slot, facing up against second or third cornerbacks on a consistent basis with little to no double teaming, I would not be surprised in the least for him to be an effective deep threat. For that matter, Harbaugh thinks Steve's work ethic will be a great example for young players (Rivera also complained about his work 'causing injuries') and that he'll be a great veteran leader.

 

Harbaugh also thought Flacco was a $120M franchise QB....and he was wrong.

[pantherclaw]

The Panther PR machine is in high gear.

is this still frame picture, suppose to illustrate speed?

I sincerely hope not.

[BlackCnqstdr]

Explosive plays make you highlight reels.  They make you oooh and ahh.  But, as a Bills fan I look at it with the term the CJ Spiller factor.  CJ Spiller is considered one of the leagues most explosive backs and one of the best backs.  Yet, when you look at his stat line it reads something like this for attempts:  2 yards, -3 yards, 6 yards, 3 yards, -5 yards, 4 yards, 41 yards, -2 yards.

 

I am not a rocket surgeon so I can't add all of that up but I can tell you that for over half of the plays that CJ Spiller is in that he does not make an impact to the game whatsoever.  Futher he cannot block to save his life.  He has other issues - high ankle sprain that hindered him last year - and ability finding holes running up the middle that are concerning.

 

CJ Spiller is the epitome of the direction the NFL is headed with the fascination on the big play.  You have guys like Danny Amendola, Percy Harvin, RGIII and others who fit the same boat.  They make you some amazing plays but they are lackluster for most of the game.

 

Explosive plays can change the game but banking on them to change a game is futile.  The NFL is too evenly matched between the good players and the bad players.  Sure, there are teams like Denver, Seattle, New Orleans, New England and Green Bay that have all star talent but on every one of those teams their weakest link is not much better then any opposing team.  Parity is as close as ever in the NFL and it is coaching that has been making a different the last few years as the league changes its tone to become faster and leaner league.

 

It is mostly a personal belief that I'd rather have consistent licks layed in to the wood that knock out a little bit every time then have a sledge drop and split the thing open ever 10th try.

 

Nobody wants the CJ Spiller who was injury plagued and playing with EJ Manuel, Lewis and Tuel at QB.. not even the Bills. Look at 2012 however and he was extremely effective.  According to Football Outsiders Spiller had the third highest success rate in the league that year while providing a ton of huge plays

 

In general, a play counts as a "hit" if it gains 40% of yards on first down, 60% of yards on second down, and 100% of yards on third down.

If the team is behind by more than a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the benchmarks switch to 50%/65%/100%.

If the team is ahead by any amount in the fourth quarter, the benchmarks switch to 30%/50%/100%.

 

I'm not sure why you think being capable of big plays means you can't move the chains.  

[Jangler]

is this still frame picture, suppose to illustrate speed?

I sincerely hope not.

 

yeah, that catch was more about Cam's accuracy than Smitty's speed.

[pantherclaw]

This is a hilarious thread.

[Jens]

I just hate this. He should have been a Panther his entire career. Gettleman, you are not on my favorite list...... # 89 as a Raven !!!!!! OMG