-
Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
- Thread starter LightningRod
- Start date
Buckskin86
Moderator
New Orleans Saints' Will Smith adapting to his role as an outside linebacker
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan talks with linebacker Will Smith (91) during practice at Saints headquarters in Metairie on Saturday, July 27, 2013. (Michael DeMocker, Nola.com / The Times-Picayune)
By Larry Holder, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
July 27, 2013
Saints middle linebacker Curtis Lofton recited the philosophy of how any veteran player survives in the NFL to become a veteran with double-digit years under his belt.
"When you're a vet, you've got to understand that you've got to be able to adapt or you're no going to be around this league long," Lofton said.
When asked about that referring to new outside linebacker Will Smith, Lofton said, "He understands that."
Smith and the Saints' coaching staff has consistently downplayed Smith's changes this offseason. The Saints pushed Smith to move from his comfortable home as a 4-3 defensive end during his first nine seasons to become a 3-4 outside linebacker. Smith also accepted a $6 million paycut in March to remain with the Saints.
Adapting to change indeed.
"I think for anybody on the defense who's had a big change, it's Will," Lofton said. "Going from being a down lineman with your hand in the dirt where all you're worried about is rushing, now you've got to worry about coverage and blitzing and dropping and playing off each other.
"He's been doing a great job, though. One thing about Will is he's a true vet. He stops, studies extra film and that's what's really been helping him."
Smith said he's dropped about 10 pounds, down to 268 pounds, which he said was his playing weight as a rookie in 2004. Smith said dropping the weight was something the coaches asked him to do specifically with the shift to outside linebacker.
"I'm looking a lot sleeker," Smith joked.
cont...
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2013/07/new_orleans_saints_will_smith_6.html
Upvote
0
Buckskin86
Moderator
John DeShazier: Will Smith making a seamless switch to outside linebacker
By John DeShazier
Veteran New Orleans Saints pass rusher says position isn't that different from defensive end
Bottle the ?old dog, new trick? clich?. It doesn?t really apply if the new trick that allegedly is being taught isn?t totally a new, perplexing trick.
Thus, the move from defensive end to outside linebacker for nine-year Saints veteran Will Smith hasn?t been as much of a Rosetta Stone as it could have been, or as many may have perceived it to be.
?It really hasn?t been that hard of a transition,? Smith said. ?The hardest part is probably the individual part, with (linebackers coach) Joe Vitt, just him working the (linebackers). Overall, I look at the position as an extension from defensive end. I have some drop responsibility but most of the time I?m doing the same things I?ve always done.
?Typically, I?m not going to be covering the ?X? or the ?Z? receiver. I?m going to stick with mostly the tight ends and running backs.?
That?s not to suggest it totally is a glove-on-hand fit. Smith, after all, has played all of his 139 NFL games at defensive end, 120 of them starts. To suggest that he seamlessly, and uneventfully, was prepared for the transition probably wouldn?t give proper credit to players who have played the position and studied the craft for years.
?I have to do coverages, I have to do linebacker drills, I do a little special teams now,? he said. ?So I do a lot of different things than I was doing the previous nine years.?
But Smith, who dropped 10 pounds in order to help ease the move and said he now carries around his rookie weight (268 to 270 pounds) from 2004, doesn?t at all sound lost or intimidated when discussing his position and role.
He is, in fact, working with the first unit, lining up in both outside linebacker positions (Jack and Sam) according to the play that has been called.
?Will?s doing an excellent job,? defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. ?I know he?s had his hand in the dirt his whole life (as a defensive lineman), but some of those guys make great outside linebackers in a 3-4.
?Coverage is coming along pretty good ? he works hard at it. So he?s got a big chance to do well there and improve. The nice thing is, you?re going to be able to get an edge set with Will Smith, that?s for sure.?
cont...
http://www.neworleanssaints.com/new...nebacker/d5621904-ed59-4f84-8e5e-13d98564a5a6
Upvote
0
Buckskin86
Moderator
Saints' Will Smith slims down to fit shifting responsibility
Jul. 31, 2013
New Orleans' Will Smith (91) is spending training camp transitioning to linebacker. / AP
Written by
Brett Martel
Associated Press
METAIRIE ? From renegotiating his contract to losing weight and trying out a new role, Will Smith has made it clear to the New Orleans Saints that he?s willing to be flexible in order to spend his 10th NFL season with his only pro club.
Still, Smith has to prove this preseason that he can be effective in his switch from a traditional defensive end to an outside linebacker in the Saints? new 3-4 defensive alignment under new coordinator Rob Ryan.
?It really hasn?t been that hard of a transition,? Smith said, adding that one of the biggest adjustments was simply a switch in position coaches from Bill Johnson, who handles linemen, to assistant head coach Joe Vitt, who oversees linebackers. ?Overall, I would look at the position as just an extension from defensive end. ? Most of the time, I?m doing the same thing I?ve always done.?
cont...
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/view...-Smith-slims-down-fit-shifting-responsibility
Upvote
0
Buckskin86
Moderator
New Orleans Saints' Will Smith adapting to game speed as outside linebacker: notebook
By Nakia Hogan, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
on August 13, 2013
The preseason debut for Will Smith at outside linebacker wasn't necessarily a good one.
After serving as a defensive end for the first nine years of his career with the New Orleans Saints, Smith didn't appear to be too comfortable playing from a stand-up position in the team's 3-4 defense during Friday's 17-13 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in the preseason opener.
Smith, who didn't record a tackle in his limited playing time against the Chiefs, said he noticed a difference between practice and games.
"It's a little bit different," Smith said. "It's obviously a lot faster (in games). You're going up against different people. We don't really game plan for preseason games, so you don't really know what to expect.
"It's kind of a weird feeling, but I'm glad to get it out and keep working on it."
Perhaps the speed needed to play the outside linebacker position was never as obvious than on the first possession of the game when Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles caught a short pass in the left flat on second-and-8 and outran Smith to the sideline for the first down.
"I think there's a transition that takes place," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "I think Will is a guy that knows exactly what kind of player he is. He's physical at the point of attack, He still gives us pass rush, and it's more quickness than it would be speed."
Still, Smith said he felt comfortable on the field, even if it was at a new position.
"I'm a football player, so just being out on the field is always going to feel natural to me," Smith said. "Just learning the defense and adjusting to new things I'm seeing is the most difficult part of it."
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2013/08/new_orleans_saints_outside_lin_1.html
Upvote
0
Jamaal Charles outruns every linebacker in the league......and every DB for that matter. He is a legit 10.15 gut in the 100m
Buckskin86;2362696; said:
Upvote
0
Buckskin86
Moderator
John DeShazier: Will Smith transition looks more solid by the day
John DeShazier Senior Writer NewOrleansSaints.com
Like veteran predicted, switch to outside linebacker in 3-4 system not that big of change
Progress and production in a new system at this time of year generally are accompanied by several disclaimers, in no particular order. Specifically:
It?s early; an inordinate amount of praise shouldn?t be distributed for preseason success.
And there still is much learning to be done.
And opposing offenses haven?t schemed against the system/player.
The underlying theme and possible reality is, today?s smooth road will be pothole-filled tomorrow and with knee-jerk reaction being what it is, today?s hero will be tomorrow?s chum for a fan base starved for team success and individual production.
But disclaimers aside, the Will Smith transition looks more solid by the day and practice.
When the veteran defensive end was asked after nine seasons to take his hand off the ground, stand up and move to outside linebacker in the Saints? base, 3-4 defense, the legitimate concern was whether he seamlessly could make the adjustment.
Smith said that he could, and that he wouldn?t be taking on assignments that substantially would be different than the ones he always had carried out. So far, after a couple of preseason games, he seems to be fitting as well as projected.
new orleans saints
?I feel fine,? Smith said. ?Like I said, the majority of the time I?m rushing the passer, and every now and then I drop back in coverage and try to guard those speedsters. But I don?t do that much. I do what I?ve been doing the last nine years, rushing the passer.
?They wanted me rushing the passer and playing the run. They?re going to require me to drop in different coverages and do different things from time to time but for the most part, I?m going to be doing the same thing I?ve always done. That?s why I always said it wasn?t that big of a transition.?
cont...
http://www.neworleanssaints.com/new...-the-day/a44fd336-edae-4d03-a738-b7048f7531bd
Upvote
0
MD Buckeye
BP Soft Verbal
Staff member
BP Recruiting Team
Bookie
Former BPCFFB II Champ
Former FF League III Champ
Site Supporter: VIP
Upvote
0
Buckskin86
Moderator
New Orleans Saints' Will Smith plans to be back as long as the Saints want him
New Orleans Saints linebacker Will Smith (91) tackles Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) during the preseason game between the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints at the Superdome on Friday, August 16, 2013. (Michael DeMocker, Nola.com / The Times-Picayune) ((Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
By Katherine Terrell, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
October 15, 2013
New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Will Smith doesn't plan to give up football anytime soon. And even a major knee injury hasn't changed that.
Smith tore his ACL on Aug. 25 during a preseason game against the Houston Texans and was placed on injured reserve. He's been spending most of his time in Pensacola, Fla., rehabbing.
Smith, 32, spoke to the media while in New Orleans on Tuesday for his celebrity waiter luncheon. The charity event was put on by his "Where There's a Will There's a Way" foundation, which benefits the Bridge House/Grace House of New Orleans.
"We've all been touched by family members that had substance abuse problems ... and it's something that we're very passionate about," Smith said. "We want to continue to do as much as we can for the cause."
It's been an unusual time of year for the 10-year veteran, who rarely missed games during his first nine seasons in New Orleans. Instead of making tackles on the field, he's been chased around his home his three kids.
It's all good as long as they avoid his injured leg, he said with a smile.
But the time away hasn't ebbed his passion for the game. Smith said his only timetable for retirement is when playing ceases to be fun.
"First step is, I've got to get healthy, running around doing the things I do, and after that I'll be back," he said. "I'll be back as long as the Saints want me back. ... I want to play until I don't want to play anymore, until it becomes something not desirable for me."
It was a difficult pill for Smith swallow when he learned he would be placed on injured reserve. He'd never missed more than a few games at a time before.
"I didn't really know how to take it in," Smith said. "But life is a struggle, you have good struggles and bad struggles and this is one of the bad struggles. I figure I have to work through it and do my best and good things will come out of it."
cont...
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2013/10/new_orleans_saints_will_smith_7.html
Upvote
0
