Justin Smith >_<

[Kazkal]

Smith lets future play out

By GEOFF HOBSON

May 3, 2006

Posted: 1:40 p.m.

Smith: "I’m not a 3-4 guy" (Bengals photo)

If he had to guess, defensive end Justin Smith doesn’t think his future lies with the Bengals after this season.

But no matter, he’ll play 2006 as hard as he played his five previous seasons. And if it goes like those five, he won’t miss a game, he’ll play all three downs, and he’ll be among the top three in tackles and sacks.

“I haven’t heard anything and if they’re not talking this late in the game, probably not,” Smith said Wednesday after one of his offseason workouts. “They feel comfortable with the offense and how it’s going. It’s a business and that’s where their interests lie right now. I’m looking forward to fulfilling my contract and playing well for the team this year. That’s up to them. I’d like to do something, but I can’t sign myself back.”

Not only are the Bengals trying to sign three of their offensive line starters for beyond ’06, but Smith also thinks one of the reasons the Bengals haven’t approached him is because of an evolution to the 3-4 defense.

“I’m not a 3-4 guy,” said the 270-pound Smith, about 20-30 pounds lighter than the typical 3-4 end. “I can do it, but it’s not ideal. If I go on the free-agent market, the team I go to I doubt is going to be a 3-4 team. One of the reasons you go to a 3-4 is for special teams. You don’t have all those hogs up on the D-line, and you can draft smaller, faster guys. I’m just guessing. I could be wrong.

“That’s what is kind of funny. We don’t know anything, either.”

Smith has started 75 straight games, the longest streak on the defense, and he’s gone three straight seasons with at least 90 tackles and five sacks.

“I know when I break down my stats and playing ability, I rank with just about anybody,” Smith said. “I’m not concerned. It’s more about where it will be. That’s the main concern, but all I’m worried about now is this season.”

A starting defensive end is another guy that gets big money. Maybe not as much as a starting offensive tackle, but Smith, too, is most likely staring at an eight-figure bonus.

In the six seasons Grant Wistrom spent as a Rams end, he played in 91 games, had 41.5 sacks, and 462 tackles. In five seasons, Smith has 34 sacks and 414 tackles in 79 games. Project ’06 into the mix and Smith’s numbers are almost dead on if you put him down for 16 games, six sacks, 90 tackles: 94 games, 40 sacks, 504 tackles.

The Seahawks got ripped for overpaying Wistrom in free agency after the ’03 season with $14 million up front in a six-year deal for about $33 million. Who knows? But that just shows you the kind of numbers that are out there.

“I’m not worried about it,” Smith said. “Not my call. It’s their business.”

Smith thought the Bengals had a draft worthy of an established team.

“If you have to draft somebody to play that year, you’re in trouble,” Smith said. “They were drafting for the future and that’s what good teams have to do. When you draft a cornerback in the first round and don’t have to play him a lot until the second year, that’s good. When you draft an offensive lineman in the second round and you don’t have to play him in the first or second year, or whatever they want to do. And you’ve got a defensive end coming in who doesn’t have to play a lot of snaps until maybe next year.”

Smith doesn’t think the drafting of USC end Frostee Rucker was aimed at his situation.

“We need ends,” Smith said. “There’s Robert (Geathers ) and myself. (Jonathan) Fanene is a little big at 295. He can play a lot of positions, but we’ve only really got two pure ends. We needed a new guy. I didn’t take anything with that.”

my take on it is if we go 3-4 he doesn't wanna return

Then again our DE"s we picked up aren't 4-3 DE's eric henderson is what 6'1 270 and we alrdy know about frostee

[WretchedOne]

Justin is a good player and gives it his all on every play...BUT...

He's gonna want a pretty penny when he's a FA, and if he has Adams next to him and he gets double digit sacks for the 1st time, it's going to get worse.

Again, Justin is a good player but I've heard rumblings that Marvin is not hot on his play.

Justin is a bit of a rouge DE and plays his own game at times, dosen't maintain his gaps and we all know how Marvin is. He wants someone who does EXACTLY what he wants.

I also think there is looking to be a good crop of DEs in this next draft and LDEs at that. This is a big reason I think we took Whitworth higher than a DE.

We take Whitworth now and develop him and then if a OT goes, Whitworth can step in.

But it also allows us to focus on a LDE in the 1st next year as we won't be pressed to take a linemen in 1 since we took Andrew in 2006.

[Kazkal]

"nods" i'm big fan of justin but if he left i'd understand but still dont wanna go 3-4 lol

[HairOnFire]

With the 32nd pick in the 2007 NFL Draft the Cincinnati Bengals select...Quentin Moses, DE, Georgia.

[LABengalsFan09]

Moses will be taken in the top 5 Hair, bit I like your style nonetheless......

[Kazkal]

Kinda want bengals take patrick willis myself after watching "the hit" even though is a LB and all

[HairOnFire]

Moses will be taken in the top 5 Hair, bit I like your style nonetheless......

Wow, top 5?

Regardless of who the replacement will be or at what spot they're drafted at the part of Hobson's article that screamed at me was the bit about how much Smith is likely to earn as a FA. We can argue all day about what he can or can't do, but the end result is always the same. He's far better than he's given credit for and another team will happily pay him big bucks if given the chance. And if that happens the Bengals cupboard at DE will be almost totally bare....demanding an infusion of fresh blood be added in the draft.

Right or wrong I pegged Moses as a likely mid to late 1st round pick, but if that was far too optimistic then pick another name. Whoever you come up with I think right now, at this frozen moment in time, we're looking at a 2007 need list topped by the DE and OL positions.

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Moses will be taken in the top 5 Hair, bit I like your style nonetheless......

Wow, top 5?

Regardless of who the replacement will be or at what spot they're drafted at the part of Hobson's article that screamed at me was the bit about how much Smith is likely to earn as a FA. We can argue all day about what he can or can't do, but the end result is always the same. He's far better than he's given credit for and another team will happily pay him big bucks if given the chance. And if that happens the Bengals cupboard at DE will be almost totally bare....demanding an infusion of fresh blood be added in the draft.

Right or wrong I pegged Moses as a likely mid to late 1st round pick, but if that was far too optimistic then pick another name. Whoever you come up with I think right now, at this frozen moment in time, we're looking at a 2007 need list topped by the DE and OL positions.

We've taken care of the Oline over the last few drafts. Even if we lose a couple of our top guys, we have guys who are learning behind them.

Our DE/DT situation remains, as always, as weak as our safety position....

[Kazkal]

he doesn't get credit thats for sure he's not a sack master but hes like old faithful you know hes gonna play every down you know hes gonna give it his all he plays the run and pass hes a complete DE rather then a master at 1 thing

[HairOnFire]

We've taken care of the Oline over the last few drafts. Even if we lose a couple of our top guys, we have guys who are learning behind them.

The players currently learning while the starters play will very likely remain backups. If the plan to extend Steinbach and Jones fails to produce results I fully expect the Bengals to tag one following this season and replace the other with a very high draft pick. Then, the following year they'll pull the tag and replace the other veteran with a high draft pick if no long-term deal could be reached.

[andybren]

If we go fulltime 3-4, it's not going to be a matter of whether or not Justin wants to come back. He'll be shown the door.

I'm no expert on D-lines, so I don't really see the big deal about Smith either way. He doesn't seem to make big mistakes, but he doesn't really make a big impact either. If he's gone next year, no big deal.

And by the way, is there any stat for how many of his sacks could be considered "coverage sacks"? The late sack against the Steelers is memorable, but it's easy to forget that they were in a must-pass situation by then. Rothlesberger was a sitting duck.

Show me where the other team was mixing things up, driving down the field, and Justin stepped up and stopped 'em cold. The memories aren't exactly flooding back for me.

[HoTbOy]

The memories of JSmith doing that are non existent...you would probably catch Osama 1st that to see a JSmith highlight beating a double team...at this point I think we can do better...yeah he has a good motor, he uses it to run upfield pass draw plays...we need someone who can get pressure on the QB, and to be the 4th pick in the draft I don't think we got our $ worth...

[schweinhart]

I like the idea of Justin laying it all out on the line this year to boost his value on the market. Give it all you got, possum.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Pollock can out-perform Smith at DE.

[KiLBurn]

Like it or not guys, we will be losing some familiar names come next year. Bottom line is we can't re-sign everyone. Levi Jones, Eric Steinbach, Willie Anderson, Justin Smith... Dollars to Donuts that at least 2 of these players aren't on the team come February 2007.

[HairOnFire]

And by the way, is there any stat for how many of his sacks could be considered "coverage sacks"? The late sack against the Steelers is memorable, but it's easy to forget that they were in a must-pass situation by then. Rothlesberger was a sitting duck.

Show me where the other team was mixing things up, driving down the field, and Justin stepped up and stopped 'em cold. The memories aren't exactly flooding back for me.

Knocks the ball out of David Carr's hand as the Texans drive down the field. (Hooray!)

Sacks Tim Couch and promptly drives nails in the Browns coffin, sealing a win. (Who-Dey!!)

Sacks the Dolphins QB on back to back plays. (Who-Dey-Who-Dey!!!)

Sacks Tim Couch just before halftime, pushing the Browns out of FG range. (Take the points off the board.)

Sacks Roethlisberger to seal another win, prompting you to point out that the Steelers were in a must-pass situation...which is exactly when most sacks occur. (Baby and cry me a river.)

I could go on, but you don't care.

You want a Michael Strahan or a Dwight Freeney.

But the funny thing about that is they already have jobs.

Meanwhile, Justin Smith is here, already knows the scheme, and he's better than you'll ever know he was...until he leaves. Best of all, he wants to stay....unless Marvin throws up his hands and junks the scheme he can't get to work.

So who wants to bet me that Justin Smith doesn't cash in BIG if he reaches free agency?

[ShulaSteakhouse]

And by the way, is there any stat for how many of his sacks could be considered "coverage sacks"? The late sack against the Steelers is memorable, but it's easy to forget that they were in a must-pass situation by then. Rothlesberger was a sitting duck.

Show me where the other team was mixing things up, driving down the field, and Justin stepped up and stopped 'em cold. The memories aren't exactly flooding back for me.

Knocks the ball out of David Carr's hand as the Texans drive down the field. (Hooray!)

Sacks Tim Couch and promptly drives nails in the Browns coffin, sealing a win. (Who-Dey!!)

Sacks the Dolphins QB on back to back plays. (Who-Dey-Who-Dey!!!)

Sacks Tim Couch just before halftime, pushing the Browns out of FG range. (Take the points off the board.)

Sacks Roethlisberger to seal another win, prompting you to point out that the Steelers were in a must-pass situation...which is exactly when most sacks occur. (Baby and cry me a river.)

I could go on, but you don't care.

You want a Michael Strahan or a Dwight Freeney.

But the funny thing about that is they already have jobs.

Meanwhile, Justin Smith is here, already knows the scheme, and he's better than you'll ever know he was...until he leaves. Best of all, he wants to stay....unless Marvin throws up his hands and junks the scheme he can't get to work.

So who wants to bet me that Justin Smith doesn't cash in BIG if he reaches free agency?

Wow, going back to the Tim Couch days and those big, bad Texans eh?

Smith would be fine in a rotation situation, but he's hogged that spot for so long on bad defenses, that no one else has been able to develop there. I think Pollock, Geathers and Frostee will make him expendible in 07.

They need a guy who can put more consistent and immediate pressure on a QB, more often, and create/disrupt things. Smith still disappears for 3-4 games at a time during the season it seems. And his # padding is a result of simply being in the game every defensive down and running around like he's on crack.

If he were such a great player, they wouldn't be near the bottom of the league in defense every single year he's been here. And just about every position has had turnover except his and Brian Simmons.

Phase out time soon, I look forward to watching someone new at that spot hopefully.

[Spain]

Him and willie are gone. The ? is does levi go?

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Him and willie are gone. The ? is does levi go?

I really wouldn't get rid of both my tackles at the same time. Might as well fit Carson with a suit of armor now.

[turningpoint]

Moses will be taken in the top 5 Hair, bit I like your style nonetheless......

Like Matthias Kiwi, last year?

[HairOnFire]

I think Pollock, Geathers and Frostee will make him expendible in 07.

I'm guessing the master plan will include using a high draft pick on a DE next year, but if Smith is allowed to leave all I'll care about is that he's adequately replaced. A true upgrade would be even better. But everybody moves on at some point and I'll have no problem thanking him for the fish if that day comes.

That said, I think he's been far better than most here give him credit for, and it's precisely because of that fact that his price tag will be large enough to put his future in stripes in serious doubt.

[derekshank]

I think Pollock, Geathers and Frostee will make him expendible in 07.

I'm guessing the master plan will include using a high draft pick on a DE next year, but if Smith is allowed to leave all I'll care about is that he's adequately replaced. A true upgrade would be even better. But everybody moves on at some point and I'll have no problem thanking him for the fish if that day comes.

That said, I think he's been far better than most here give him credit for, and it's precisely because of that fact that his price tag will be large enough to put his future in stripes in serious doubt.

I have to agree with you on this Hair. I'm not going to make a huge fuss about letting Smith walk... but he won't be as easy to replace as most people here think.

Smith has a lot held against him because he was picked so early. Is he a bust? Not by the true definition of the word... because he's still a productive DE in the league. Had we picked him at #24 none of this would be an issue, because he would be viewed as a decent but not stellar 1st round pick.

Assuming we continue having success, we will be picking late again next year... and I'm going to doubt we are going to find a DE that would truly be an upgrade over Smith. There were only a couple DE in this years draft that would be better than Smith has been, and they were long gone by our pick.

I imagine we're going to let Smith go... but as you said, we for damned sure better get an adequate replacement... and that might mean through FA. In which case... why don't we just re-sign Smith?