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-   -   FS Dwight Smith to visit (https://blackandgold.com/saints/7842-fs-dwight-smith-visit.html)

GumboBC 03-05-2005 09:20 AM
FS Dwight Smith to visit
 
Quote:
The Saints entertained right tackle Fred Miller on a free-agent visit Friday, but it was the team's decision to wine and dine free safety Dwight Smith that should raise eyebrows.

Smith's recruitment could signal the end of Tebucky Jones' star-crossed career in New Orleans.

While Saints officials are refraining from comment about Jones' future, they have made no secret that they would like to add a ball-hawking free safety, presumably to replace Jones.

Read More
It looks like the coaching staff really wants to get rid of Tebucky Jones. I don't know if Dwight Smith is the guy we need, but I do think replacing Tebucky is the right move.

In his 2 years with the Saints, Tebucky only has 2 interceptions. But, what's even more troubling about Tebucky is that he never seems to be in a position to break up a pass.

I've noticed when we face some of the best number one receivers that they normally run free deep in our secondary. That's something a good free-safety would prevent.

And although Tebucky is a big hitter, it does no good when he's not in position to hit the receiver. He always seems to arrive too late to be effective.

I can understand why Haslett wants a play-maker at FS. We paid Tebucky to come in a be a "play-maker" at FS. Simply put, he hasn't deleivered.

Addressing the FS position should go a long ways to improving the defense.

Dwight Smith seems to thought of as one of the top FS in the league. He's not my first choice but I do believe he would be a significant upgrade.

What do you guys think about Dwight?

[Edited on 5/3/2005 by GumboBC]

mutineer10 03-05-2005 09:36 AM
FS Dwight Smith to visit
 
I\'ll take him over Tebucky. TJ is kinda slow and has never covered well, so the fact that he\'s a good hitter means very little when teams consistently toast him in the passing game.

I wouldn\'t be opposed to Smith at all, really. He\'s already shown the capability for big games, such as his famous Super Bowl performance against the Raiders a few years ago. He\'s pretty good in coverage, and he\'s young enough to make an impact for a good 5-6 years.

Safety isn\'t my first choice as a \"need,\" but it is a problem that must be addressed. If we can\'t get a good LB or OT, then for goodness sake sign a safety!

GumboBC 03-05-2005 09:37 AM
FS Dwight Smith to visit
 
Found this article on Dwight Smith. Good read!



Quote:
And that brings us, in admittably roundabout fashion, to safety Dwight Smith.

Or should we say cornerback Dwight Smith?

This year, the Bucs are simply happy to say that Smith is one of theirs. In a season in which virtually every spot on the defense has been hit by injuries, lineup changes or unrealized expectations, the third-year cornerback has been a force from day one. A third-round draft pick out of Akron in 2001, Smith is just the sort of player who, if his career continues on its current beeline upward, can help maintain the Bucs’ defensive dominance well into the latter half of the decade.

“This guy’s got a chance to be really good - really good - if he can stay focused and centered, and keep working with (Defensive Backs Coach) Mike Tomlin,� said Bucs Head Coach Jon Gruden. “This guy’s got rare athletic ability. He’s a real hitter. He’s got great range. He can cover wide receivers or tight ends or backs. And he can hit like a linebacker, and we’re excited about him.�

Here’s where Smith stands 11 games into his third season: He leads the team in interceptions with four and passes defensed with 10 and is fifth with 57 tackles. But it is how Smith has arrived at those numbers that is particularly impressive. Due to injuries to Brian Kelly, John Lynch, John Howell and Jermaine Phillips, Smith has started every game, but at four different positions: strong safety, free safety, left cornerback and nickel back (when the Bucs opened the Washington game in a five-DB package). The distinction between free and strong safety in Tampa Bay’s defense may be relatively unimportant, but Smith’s versatility is not.

“It’s hard,� said Gruden of Smith’s travels about the secondary. “We’re asking him to do a lot for a young guy. He’s the guy we wanted to settle in as a safety this year. Given the injuries, he’s had to move in and out of that position. He’s had to play with a lot of different safeties as well – (Travaris) Robinson and (David) Gibson and Lynch and Phillips.�

In recent weeks, Smith has settled into a set role, but even that one plays into his versatility. The Bucs’ current approach is to start Smith at safety in the base defense, then move him to cornerback when the team goes to the nickel. That allows the Bucs to get athletic youngster Jermaine Phillips on the field at safety in the extra-DB set without taking out either Smith or Lynch.

And it is becoming more and more evident that the Bucs need to have Smith on the field at all times. He is, simply put, an impact player. Giants WR Amani Toomer can certainly attest to that.

Midway through the second quarter of Monday night’s game, with the Bucs leading 7-0, New York faced a third down at the Bucs’ 12. Quarterback Kerry Collins dropped back and threw a lob pass off his back foot with a blitzer in his face. The pass was on target to Toomer, who appeared to be waiting alone for an easy touchdown catch.

Smith, however, had reacted at the throw and thought he could get an interception. When it became clear that he wouldn’t make it in time to pick off the ball, Smith changed his tactics and delivered a crushing blow to the receiver a fraction of the second after the ball arrived. Toomer could hardly be blamed for dropping the pass, given that the force of the impact dislodged his helmet, as well.

In the third quarter, the Giants had again driven into Buccaneer territory when Collins dropped back to pass on first down from the 31. Sapp chased Collins out of the pocket, but the Giants QB saw wide receiver Ike Hilliard in the end zone and tried to hit him while running to his right. Smith thwarted that potential touchdown, too, this time leaping in front of the receiver for his fourth interception of the season. New York’s offense wouldn’t find the end zone the rest of the way.

When Jackson left a few months after Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl XXXVII victory over the Oakland Raiders, the Bucs had lost their Super Bowl MVP. Gruden quickly announced the plan to move Smith to free safety, since the Bucs were set at corner with Kelly and Ronde Barber. It was fitting; Smith could have easily had Jackson’s MVP trophy, given that he was the first player in Super Bowl history to score two defensive touchdowns in the same game. Now he has Jackson’s position, and he has proved to be every bit the playmaker the Bucs believed he could be.

And Smith is also the sort of supremely confident performer that can help maintain Tampa Bay’s defensive swagger in the years to come.

link
[Edited on 5/3/2005 by GumboBC]

saintswhodi 03-05-2005 10:27 AM
FS Dwight Smith to visit
 
Does anyone else know Dwight Smith is facing his second charge of pulling a weapon on another motorist? Most recently, it was a pellet gun on a fan that recognized him, but previously he was charged with pulling a gun on another motorist. Good guy to have here. Maybe he can hold up Deuce in the locker room like Albert Connell.

GumboBC 03-05-2005 10:29 AM
FS Dwight Smith to visit
 
Quote:
Does anyone else know Dwight Smith is facing his second charge of pulling a weapon on another motorist? Most recently, it was a pellet gun on a fan that recognized him, but previously he was charged with pulling a gun on another motorist. Good guy to have here. Maybe he can hold up Deuce in the locker room like Albert Connell.
Yeah, but it was a BB gun not a pellet gun.. :P

And it was at a drive-through at McDonalds and he flashed the BB gun when someone was approaching his car on foot.

Still not a good sign though

saintswhodi 03-05-2005 10:32 AM
FS Dwight Smith to visit
 
It wasn\'t a BB gun the first time, and this is the SECOND time. That being said, he is better than Tesucky. With all the guns in NO, he should fit right in. :o

papz 03-05-2005 10:47 AM
FS Dwight Smith to visit
 
Definately an upgrade and I wouldn\'t mind having him here either. But with the baggage, and this being NEW ORLEANS, his off the field issues might become a cancer. And we all remember the kind of money Dexter Jackson signed for when he left the Bucs and what has become of him. But Smith is a playmaker which is worth the risk. We are so desperate to sign a free agent to keep our hopes up for the upcoming season, just go for it.

FireVenturi 03-05-2005 12:29 PM
FS Dwight Smith to visit
 
Anybody knows how much, if any of a cap hit we will take when we cut T-buck?

rAge 03-05-2005 01:17 PM
FS Dwight Smith to visit
 
He plays SS, BTW (unless depth charts lie to me ;) )

I\'m all for picking him up, but I\'d rather have Darren Sharper (who is set to be cut). Better yet, let\'s sign both and cut Tebucky lose. We would then have two major play-makers at saftey, and when needed one of them could play nickle (dwight) and bring Bellamy onto the field as the SS.

saintswhodi 03-05-2005 01:20 PM
FS Dwight Smith to visit
 
I like your thinking rage, but Sharper is being cut by Grren Bay cause he wants to get paid, kinda like MM. Someone will give him more money than us unfortunately. But if we got them both, what a coup. Smith with his baggage and all is better than T-suck any day of the week.


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