Wade Smith's Lack of Intensity and other replacements in the O Line

[Maybe Memories]

The seasons over... close up shop... the way the oline played all game was ****ing pathetic... **** made me so mad... and the loss made me want too... ****in ey... they let me down...

 

[Shouright]

The coaching staff was partly responsible for the Freeney game; leaving a rookie all alone against an All-Pro DE is usually a disaster. Wannstedt, Turner and Wise flatly refused to leave a FB or TE over there to either chip Freeney or help with the double-team. Smith played poorly in that game, but the coaching staff failed to recognize his obvious limitations and instead threw him to the wolves.

But as a second-year pro, against Justin Smith, who is a good, but hardly All-Pro level pass rusher? Wade should have been able to do at least a competent job on his own. No such luck; he was terrible. At this point, he is clearly (to me) a worse player than he was at the end of the 2003 season.

McIntosh should absolutely be in the lineup next week, if he's healthy and up to speed with the playbook. Otherwise, Feeley and Gordon are going to get killed.

I agree -- and it makes no sense that Smith has regressed physically. The only explanation I can come up with for that is that he's making a "cry for help" that he's in over his head and wants McIntosh to start. I mean come on -- this guy had ONE year of experience at that position in college. I think it's pretty sadistic to line him up against the Dwight Freeneys of the world in his rookie year.

 

[PhinBeck]

It's a no-brainer that Smith is going to be benched. The front office severely over-estimated him. To play on the O-Line, you better have some intensity and toughness. Smith has neither. Apparently, he doesn't have much pride either. He cannot pass block and he is completely useless in the running game.

Now, I'd see if replacing him makes the O-Line better. If not, I'd get Hadnot and Carey into the mix too. It is imperative that Hadnot and Carey develop this year and not just waste the year.

LT McIntosh
LG James
C McKinney
RG Hadnot
RT Carey

I'm hoping that just replacing Smith will do wonders for the O-Line. If not, slowly work Hadnot and Carey in. My sense is that Hadnot and Carey can run-block but they are liabilities in the passing game. Hopefully they are learning and developing in practice. I see Whitley and St Clair as decent backups but Hadnot and Carey have much greater potential. Hadnot is brutally strong, which should translate to the running game.

That group should be able to run the ball.

Hadnot has the attitude as well. That is one thing missing. Carey needs to develop this as well. He can get by on skill hopefully until teh attitude comes. I dont know what the answer is, but I don know that answer better be found or the offense will NOT improve.