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Smith gives Saints reason to try 3-4

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Smith gives Saints reason to try 3-4
No. 1 pick will play occasionally at outside linebacker
By Brian Allee-Walsh
Staff writer

In June's minicamp, Saints defensive line coach John Pease referred to rookie defensive end pick Will Smith as "a ball in tall weeds."

Two months later, Smith's no longer in over his head.

"He's got his head above the weeds now and peaking around a little bit," Pease said Tuesday.

Peaking around so much that Saints coach Jim Haslett and defensive coordinator Rick Venturi plan to play Smith at outside linebacker in an occasional 3-4 alignment.

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Smith gives Saints reason to try 3-4

Quote:

\"Jim can\'t wait. The 3-4 comes from his old Pittsburgh Steelers background.\"

That quote was by John Pease who coached the D-line in the dome patrol days.

Quote:

Venturi emphasized that the \"Utah\" alignment is merely one page in a thick defensive playbook, and the Saints have no plans to scrap their base 4-3 alignment.

\"Look, the dumbest thing I could do is drop (Smith) all day in pass coverage,\" Venturi said. \"Now, he\'s got enough drop skills. But we\'ll keep it within the realm of our overall defense so the linebackers won\'t have anything new.

Does Venturi sound like he\'s upset a little? Maybe it\'s just my imagination, but Pease said Haslett can\'t wait, which sounds like Pease and Haslett are both on the same page. But Venturi seems a little defensive. Maybe Haslett is taking away a little of Venturi\'s control over the defense.

Or maybe it\'s just wishful thinking on my part?