New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

"Yeah, like I've said before part of the defensive scheme we had before was some sort of 3-4 anyway, that's what we've been doing," Smith said. "In my mind it's nothing I'm not used to so I'm not worried about it."

New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix | NOLA.com

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

If he is on the team next season he's gonna have to do some major restructuring. Can't pay him the best salary as a DE and only get 4 sacs out of him. It ain't gonna work.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

Fat must be cut..... No hard feeling but it's gotta be cut from somewhere!!!!

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

Of

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

IDK, I think Spags saw himself in the team's 2013 mix as well. Maybe it's not a good idea to get too comfortable just yet, eh?

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

I've got it on a good source that Smith will do whatever is in his power to remain a Saint.

If this is what we have been doing and it's not effective with Will in it he should be cut. These guys are a bunch of a jokers I swear.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

He does fit in a 3-4 and pretty well imo. But with the type of money he's making, it's just not a logical fit. His presence on the team also impedes Hicks' development process. If he's willing to be one of the guys, instead the guy, and at a very reduced rate, I honestly wouldn't mind having him back.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

I see him on the 2013 3-4 scheme, too. $2.5 mil plus 500 in incentives in a two year deal. Otherwise,

Ba
Bye.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

Maybe so, with a definite restructure.

This is posturing by a man that knows he has not provided "value" recently enough to be relevant.


I wouldn't be surprised is he doesn't leak that he would actually be better in a 3-4 before the decision is made.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

He needs to go..............that roster spot needs to be taken by another player that we can develop or an instant impact player(kind of like we thought Smith would be).

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

Two words... Vet Minimum.

OK, maybe a bit more but it damn sure won't be what he's making now.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

Fellas, we don't have to keep throwing out the "restructure" caveat. Smith knows this just as much as the organization.

League min for 9 and 10+ years would be 940k and 944k.

I'm betting he's a Saint for the next 3 years at 4.5 - 6 million

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

cant we just be done with the ws experiment already?

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

Took the words out of all our mouths. I am certain he sees himself with a reduced salary too, right? :wink:

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

Will Smith. Good luck with that thought

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

I don't know guys, I don't see him really fitting in any of the LOS positions in a 3-4, because he's too small and not explosive enough to be a 3-4 DE, and he is too slow to set the edge and doesn't have the coverage skills to be an OLB. And he's definitely not a match at NT, so I really don't know how he could fit in the 3-4 scheme.

Of course they can make him fit, but isn't that just the kind of thing that we as fans have been frustrated with in the past (and present) - the whole "square peg into a round hole" thing?! I'd rather they got rid of the players that don't suit the future scheme and replace them with players who do. This is nothing against Smith, but I think that he might have better opportunities to be a more effective player with some other team and scheme.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

I agree with you & he has not lived up to his 1st round status. He simply makes too much money for the production we have been getting over the years.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

For the last two seasons Smith has not proven to be worth more than the league Minimum.

If he gets to stay and proves value beyond the league minimum in the 3-4 after 2013 is over then discuss a raise.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

Cameron Jordan and Will Smith are virtually the same size. He's 6'3 282... that's plenty big enough for a 3-4 DE. As far as being explosive, that's not a term typically garnered by 3-4 DE's. He shouldn't have trouble penetrating and occupying blockers... he's always been pretty solid at that. He has trouble closing and taking down the quarterback.

Now the other LB/NT talk, I agree with. As far as DE, size is not the issue. Look up the numbers on Elvis Dumervil, Antonio Smith, John Abraham, etc.



We'll just beg to differ. I think he fits both skill and size wise.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

If we were talking about the 23 year old Smith as opposed to the 31 year old version - I would agree with you on the comparison to Jordan, although Smith is 6026 while Jordan is 6041, so while Cam is 6-4 Smith is barely 6-3.

It's naturally about more than just inches when I was talking about the size, but a key ingredient for a typically effective 3-4 DE is having long arms, which Smith doesn't really have. Also, IMO, Smith has lost a step or two during the past couple of years and he hasn't been able to fight off the tackles with the same rate of success he did in the past (based on just eye-balling his play), and he hasn't been forced to face too many double teams because of that diminished pass rushing ability. Therefore, the size comes into play more than it would if he was otherwise in the same physical condition he was back when he came into the league. If he had more size, he could play the 3-4 DE position with more effect, since he could use that size to take on double teams - which is what a 3-4 DE is supposed to do along with providing interior pressure - but I just can't see him being able to do that with much success at this point in his career and with the current skill-level he has. Explosiveness doesn't really have that much to do with what an ideal 3-4 DE is about, but I only listed that as something that could potentially allow Smith to compensate for his lack of size, but again he doesn't have that explosiveness off the LOS.

Smith has the ideal size for a 4-3 DE, but 3-4 DEs are ideally bigger than their 4-3 counterparts - not that his size alone makes him a bad fit, but it's definitely part of the issue.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

I'm sorry I still can't get behind your size argument. Although you've stated it's not the primary reason why you don't think he's a fit, his size is something you're continually using to factor why he won't work here. 6'2 3/4 and 6'3 isn't a big difference and it really is not an issue.

I definitely agree he's lost a step or two but don't see the part where you're saying he hasn't faced as many double teams. Personally I see him getting held all the time and he's always and still does get extra attention. Maybe not to the same degree as the past, but he's 31... his skill are declining. I'm not talking about bringing the guy back as a full time option or at his current rate. But I see no reason why he wouldn't be a solid rotational fit in a 3-4. He can occupy blockers... that's never been an issue. That's what you want from your 3-4 DE. I have no idea how long his arms are but he doesn't look like T-Rex out there either.

Ideally 3-4 DE's weigh btw 285 to 300... and Smith is right on the cusp. Truthfully, he probably weighs more than his listed weight... which is pretty common on their player card(he looks around 290). So no matter how you put it, it's just not something we're going to agree on. I don't think there is anything that needs to be compensated due to this lack in size thing. His diminishing ability in rushing the passer in my opinion, at this stage in his career, makes him better suited for a 3-4 DE now... or a LDE in a 4-3(which typically fits the bill as a 3-4 end).

I'm pretty firm in my assessment... if I'm wrong, I don't think you can flip me until we actually see him play.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

Sure, you're entitled to your opinion as am I to mine, so there's really no point in debating this point any further.

I just think that Smith would himself find more success and probably more gratification with a team mainly running the 4-3 base defense, but I wouldn't be totally against seeing him on the roster next season - just not if he is being paid anything close to what he is being paid now.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

You both have some good points. I didn't realize Smith was that tall, he certainly looks smaller. Looking at them side by side on the field Jordan looks a lot taller with longer arms. That wingspan plays a big role for a 3-4 DE. I think Smith is a tad undersized (weight +height+length) as an everydown 3-4 DE, but he could probably do OK there.

Personally I think Smith is a much better fit as a 4-3 RDE than a 3-4 RDE. I think he would be offered more money as a 4-3 DE somewhere else.

I think we have to go youger and cheaper. I'd be OK with Smith at a much reduced salary, but I doubt he'll stay for what we can afford.

Re: New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith says he sees himself in the team's 2013 mix
 

Then show up an earn your money