Notebook: Slightly under radar, Holt rates as wideout elite
Oct. 6, 2005
By Pete Prisco

Each season, there are players who catch the eye with their ability to make plays. New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi was always a favorite. Here's another: New Orleans safety Dwight Smith. He is pure football player. Smith isn't big, but he will stick a runner, and he's good enough to cover a receiver in the slot. Smith's play last week on a fourth-and-1 play against the Bills was a potential game-saving stop. Smith knifed through the line and dumped Willis McGahee for a 2-yard loss with the Saints leading 13-7 and the Bills driving. The Saints then took over and drove to a field goal for a nine-point lead. After the game as Smith spoke to reporters, Saints defensive coordinator Rick Venturi walked by and told Smith he was the man, his man. Signing Smith as an unrestricted free agent from Tampa Bay was a wise move by the Saints. He is already a major upgrade over Tebucky Jones, who was a free-agent disappointment after signing three years ago.

The Saints had their best rushing day of the year last week against the Buffalo Bills. Deuce McAllister went over the 100-yard mark for the first time, rushing for 130 yards on 27 carries. The Saints had been having trouble blocking the line stunts teams were throwing at them before getting a handle on it last Sunday against the Bills. "It was messing us up," center LeCharles Bentley said. The coaching staff said the guards were allowing the stunting players to get penetration, which was blowing up a lot of the run plays. They did a better job with it against the Bills last week, which is why McAllister was strong in the fourth quarter.