| 01 September 2010
Kevin Smith has done nothing but play his best as a member of the Detroit Lions. He sure as Hell doesn't deserve bile I've seen generated in his name since his poor outing against the Browns.
It's time everyone took a breath, shut their damn yaps for a second, and think about what they're saying. Because, as usual, the mob screaming for Smith to turn in his playbook is wrong.
With Jahvid Best making like a reasonable facsimile of Barry Sanders, but with more straight line speed, in three exhibition games, many fans are all but counting the days till the much slower Smith gets (rightfully, in their eyes) cut.
And it's the lack of speed, exacerbated by Smith's ACL tear suffered last season, an injury I think he's not yet fully recovered from, that has Lions fans ready to cut bait. There's a certain very vocal minority //cough//Mlive fourm-ites//cough// ready to dump the 3rd year back like so much spoiled meat.
Even Jim Schwartz admitted Smith making the roster is not a sure thing.
Via the Freep's Carlos Monarrez:
The Lions have been fond of Smith, but when NFL rosters have to be trimmed to 53 players by Saturday, the Lions may have a tough decision with Smith.
"I don't know," coach Jim Schwartz said Tuesday. "I'll cross that bridge when we get there. I don't know that there's very many people that have 100% earned a spot."
Cross the bridge...slowly...many a Lions fan would add.
Speed has always been an issue with Smith, and it's become a bigger issue with the Lions drafting Best. A healthy Best runs like the wind. The recovering from knee surgery Smith has run like a emission control choked '77 Chevette.
Any resemblance between the two is unintentional
It's like comparing a thoroughbred to a plow horse. It's an unfair comparison. And let's not forget they both have their place on a farm.
Despite Smith having left body parts all over the field, and the fact he averaged 4.1 YPC as a rookie running behind a makeshift offensive line on the worst NFL team in history, it seems fans and possibly even the Lions, want to wash their hands of a player who could still be a productive RB2 in the NFL.
Smith is a more complete back than Aaron Brown, younger than Maurice Morris, faster than Jerome Felton and just plain better than DeDe Dorsey.
If there is one thing I'm concerned about when it comes to Smith, more so than the injury, it's the abuse he suffered at UCF. As a college back, it's a certainty Smith was rode hard, and put away wet.
His 450 carry senior season is finally taking a toll.. That's insane in any league, at any level. Smith set an NCAA record in 2007, which is 34 more than the NFL record of 416 set by Larry Johnson in 2006.
Johnson carried the ball 752 times in 06-07, and has not been the same back since. Smith had 688 carries between his senior season at UCF and his rookie campaign with the Lions. With so much tread off the tires, he may never be the same back...but that's not to say Smith couldn't remain a productive back, if used correctly.
Every team needs a pro like Smith in the backfield. He may not be a home run hitter anymore...if he ever was...but Smith can do all the little things a running back must. He can block, pick up the blitz, catch the ball out of the backfield, and run with power...if not with speed.
I'm sorry, but if one bad game (an EXHIBITION game at that) is enough to convince Lions fans Smith is ready for the waiver wire, then they should also have been crying to waive damn near every player on the roster at one time or another last season.
If you can blame Smith for anything, it's his coming back too fast after his knee injury...and you can toss the Lions just as much blame for allowing Smith to come back before he was truly ready.
The finger pointing at Smith isn't fair, nor is it correct.
Let Kevin Smith be...and more importantly, let Smith get fully healthy. Then we can talk about the kid's future in Detroit...and I do believe Smith has one.
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