Justins is maturing...

[The PatternMaster]

Smith becoming more detail-oriented

Bengals DE wants to do more than 'chase the ball around'

BY MARK CURNUTTE | MCURNUTTE@ENQUIRER.COM

Bengals defensive end Justin Smith is true to his Missouri roots.

He's one of the most direct people in the team's locker room. Ask him a question, and he'll give a straight answer.

Direct also could describe Smith's approach to rushing the passer in his first six years in the league. He is fourth in franchise history with 41.5 sacks.

But this season, carrying the team's franchise player designation, and the $8.6 million, one-year salary that comes with it, Smith is trying to elevate his game.

He can be a free agent again come March.

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He has learned that the shortest distance between two points might not lead to more sacks.

"I was stubborn for a long time," Smith said during the preseason.

"I'm trying to work more stuff into my game. I try to work angles on guys.

"I used to not pay as much attention to formations as I should, what the tendencies might be.

"I'm trying to get a feel for what (offenses) are going to do before they do it, instead of chasing the ball around."

Smith was second on the team to fellow end Robert Geathers (10.5) with 7.5 sacks in 2006. Still, Smith's single-season best, 8.5, came as a rookie in 2001.

"People say, 'How many sacks are you going to get this year?' And the answer is always the same: 'As many as I can get,' " Smith said. "So it's going to be the same this year. I hope I can get 30. I've never been a guy who set a number on anything."

Smith and his Bengals teammates will practice today. It is closed to the outside media. They will play their season opener Monday night at home against Baltimore.

Smith does more than rush the passer. He is an every-down end who was second on the defense with 1,042 snaps played out of a possible 1,066. Smith has started 91 consecutive games.

The game is almost sacred to Smith. It's not a place for experimentation.

"Practice is a good place to try different things. Game situations dictate a lot of what you can do," he said. "Certain defenses, no matter what you want to do, you've got to do what the defense calls for. I'm definitely not going to go out there and be a maverick and try to create my own defenses, things like that. That hurts the team, not help it."

If this season is Smith's last in Cincinnati, he's not showing any anxiety. He's calm on the outside, wanting to contribute however possible to help the team win.

Smith is one of the most physical players on the roster. He's learning the value of a little finesse.

"Something I know about Justin is that he has no problem ever working," Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes said. "The thing he has improved on is paying more attention to detail. He used to have that attitude of, 'Just kill them all. Smash, smash, smash.' The thing I've tried to impress on him is that the devil's in the details."

It would be nice to see a spin move or a swim techinque every once in awhile. As long as he keeps his motor and passion to be the best he will be ok in my book. I just hope they can work out a long term deal before the end of the season.

[HoosierCat]

I think I read this same story in September of 2006. And 2005. And 2004. Justin's a good player but if they want more production out of him, they need to put better players next to him. Specifically we need some interior linemen who can collapse the damn pocket.

As to a long-term deal, I doubt it. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them just tag him again, tho.

[HairOnFire]

It would be nice to see a spin move or a swim techinque every once in awhile. As long as he keeps his motor and passion to be the best he will be ok in my book. I just hope they can work out a long term deal before the end of the season.

Smith uses a swim, rip, and arm-over moves all the time. Yup. And he does flash a spin move from time to time, but not nearly as often as he once did as a rookie. In fact, I'd say Smith now uses the spin move almost exclusively late in the play...after his initial rush has been negated, and even then always spins to the inside. And that's no accident, as his rookie head coach, Dick LeBeau, complained that the spin move took Smith out of too many plays, and openly challenged Smith to become a more complete run defender.

I think you've seen just that, but it comes with a price...as too much discipline and control can result in a too predictable methodical pass rush. But for whatever it might be worth...I love the bull rush, and don't really care if Smith changes tactics.

[HairOnFire]

I think I read this same story in September of 2006. And 2005. And 2004. Justin's a good player but if they want more production out of him, they need to put better players next to him. Specifically we need some interior linemen who can collapse the damn pocket.

Well there's the rub because the ultimate goal isn't to improve Justin Smith's sack totals, but to improve the pass rush heat from the entire defense. And that means the emergence of a DE who plays opposite of Smith, better interior pass rushers at DT, and a berserker that can finally fill the coveted Joker role. Geathers gives them the first, and Peko and Thornton should result in the second now that the Sam Adams mistake has been corrected.

But there's no joker.

[Kazkal]

Smith can have a normal season and I'd still wanna see him signed long term,He's a balanced DE ya he isn't dwight freeney but if we wanted a pure pass rushing DE we should have drafted mark anderson or Elvis last year and used them like how broncos and bears did.

[ArmyBengal]

I agree that this is nothing new coming from Justin and think he's working angles on more than just the players he's facing, but it is a business and he's still trying to get paid. That being said, this team needs a pass rush in the worst way and if Justin finds a way to do that (regardless of sack totals) I'm good with that...

WHODEY !!!