Justin Smith, Star or Bust.

[jrandom42]

OK year after year we have just been watching Justin just miss so many sacks.He is close but just doesnt get there. Now we have him switching positions to the sack friendly left side. So is this going to rejuvinate his career or will it simply show what some people have been saying on different message boards(bustin Justin)

Marvin has stated that this guy has been a victim of previous coaches futility. However we have been hit with propaganda before-. Its easy to hold the company line on a guy.

However I havent noticed in Marvin. IMHO if Marvin believes in this guy then i do too. The real ? that i have is this guy ever going to live up too being drafted fourth in the draft?

IMHO Guys on the d line like Justin can have break out years in the right d, This guy might get 16 sacks from that position.

What do you think bengaldom?

Actually, Justin is living up to his potential a lot more than Leonard Davis, who the Cardinals chose with the 2nd pick of that same draft, and are still wondering if he can actually hold a starting job.

The draft is a crapshoot. That's a basic axiom of pro sports. For every Hall of Famer you draft in the first round, there are at least 4 busts, 3 average and 2 pretty good players . Justin falls into the good player catagory and he has done a much better job than other high picks like Tony Mandarich, Brian Bosworth, Courtney Brown and Mike Williams (Buffalo).

[The_Next_Big_Thing]

Hey, Brian Bosworth was awesome! Oh wait, that was Bosley in Charlies Angels, not Bosworth

[HairOnFire]

Guys watch the games. Even when he gets past the tackle he can't chase anyone. He can only sack stationery targets. Clemons is quicker, marginally.

That's idiotic. Congrats.

[bengalsLB]

when does smiths contract expire?

[Steve4192]

when does smiths contract expire?

After the 2006/07 season (http://www.bengalsjungle.com/salariesdl.html). That's going to be a rough year from a contract perspective, as Big Willy, Levi, and Steinbach are all set to expire the same year. Chances are, Marvin is going to let at least one of those four guys walk.

[bengalsLB]

i think which every position in th 06 draft that is deepest fraom those 4 we let that one go.

ex:alot of good guards we let steinbach go

[Spain]

OK I never bust on somebodies post but there is a point. BLB Steinbach is the best gaurd to come out of the draft in the 10 years. I know some people dont realize what these guys do- If he were to leave kiss the whole running game goodbye. He is probably our best player.com

[jditty47]

um, saying steinbach is not even top 10 on our starting 22 at this point. he has to show me alot more to say hes our best player.

[bengalsLB]

just using steinbach as an example

[andybren]

I know it's off-season and all, but the hyperbole is getting pretty thick.

Sure, Justin Smith will do better this year. But does that make him a 'star'? Can you truly be 'disappointed' if he only gets 11 sacks instead of 12? When his best so far is 8? What if Smith and Pollack get 10 each? Aside from detracting from Smith's impending stardom, wouldn't that be just as good?

And Steinbach is the best player on the team? Based on the promise of a 100% healthy preseason? You know who I think is the best player on the team? Brad St. Louis. I've never seen the guy mess up once. The dude's going to be the first long snapper inducted into the Hall of Fame.

[Kazkal]

Next year is going to be tough Mybe all of em will decide to play for same amount as this year Would be tough to let levi or eric go IMO sense their both young & justin is still our best DE atm...but big willie is a probowler ug....

[schweinhart]

Justin Smith is not and has not been the Bengals frontline problem. Would it be great if he were able to post a couple more sacks when he gets a hand on the QB but doesn't bring him down? You betcha.

But Smith is as good as any DE in backside pursuit vs. run. Also, his containment skills are much more than adequate.

Switching him to the left looks like it will add to the Bengals multiple look and I expect him to game alot with Pollack, which will drop Smith back into short coverage and allow Pollack to maximize his quickness on pass rush.

As for a contract extension for Smith, I seriously doubt it happens because of the cost it would take to sign a DE of Smith's caliber, which will be way above what his base salary is for this year and next year.

You've got 5 key players whose contracts expire after the 2006 season. Of them, Big Willie will be the only one whose extension should actually lower the cap hit. Levi would be fairly large hit to extend, but Steinbach is the guy they should extend before this season begins because his value could skyrocket (as much as a gurad's can) as the season progresses.

[Kazkal]

"The Bengals have made some noises about extending Pro Bowl right tackle Willie Anderson, left tackle Levi Jones and defensive end Justin Smith, all up after 2006. Anderson’s agent, Terry Bolar has met with Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn, and Blackburn has made a preliminary call on Jones, said agent Ken Zuckerman. Jim Steiner, Smith’s agent, hasn’t been called but said word had been given to his client that the club is interested in doing something."

Justin seems to be safe atm but no mention of eric /cry

[jditty47]

eric needs to earn that s**t first. give me this year...then lets talk.

[Kazkal]

eric needs to earn that s**t first.  give me this year...then lets talk.

"nods"

Isen't bobby williams contract also going up in 2006?mybe they plan on converting B. Wilkerson or E. Ghiaciuc to guard.