Marcus Smith injured

[Iggloo]

Looks like a knee or leg injury according to reporters. Sustained on a kickoff drill. He was carted off.

Tough break for this kid, who was starting to show progress. I think we're going to need to trade some inside linebackers for outside linebackers or something. No depth behind Barwin and Graham.

 

[lpennington]

Seeing reports it's just a tweaked hamstring.

 

[Wings]

Just heard it may just be a hammy

 

[mall3013]

Just heard it may just be a hammy

Damn. Hopefully thats all it is. When I hear or see carted off, automatically thinking ACL tear.

 

[ctc]

they were already thin at the position

 

[Iggloo]

Yeah, hammies can be serious too, but that sounds better than a torn ACL or other possibilities.

 

[L.Freamon]

TC is the scariest time of the year

 

[DaEagles]

No big loss

 

[Iron Eagle]

TC is the scariest time of the year

...no doubt. I get anxious reading the practice recaps on 24/7.

 

[old duke]

I think that it is a big loss, especially if he was showing some real progress and promise. We don't have a real good backup, so now Braman moves up. I would rather he stay put as a great ST player. So, most likely we have to prioritize OLB in next year's draft, barring someone rising up this year, or Smith is not seriously hurt, and grows into a good NFL player.

 

[L.Freamon]

No big loss

We have 0 depth at the position.

 

[DaEagles]

We have 0 depth at the position.

He was there by default cause he was a 1st rounder.

If he is that injured they can find someone to replace what he brings off the FA list.

 

[DutchBird]

Reportedly out 2-3 weeks. Should be ready by week 1 or 2.

 

[L.Freamon]

He was there by default cause he was a 1st rounder.

If he is that injured they can find someone to replace what he brings off the FA list.

Who is out there? End rushers aren't falling out the sky.

 

[DutchBird]

Who is out there? End rushers aren't falling out the sky.

And good coverage LB's are even harder to find...

 

[old duke]

Vinny Curry; Braman; Dasman McCullers (UDFA); and Dashan Watkins (UDFA).
The last 2 bear watching tonight. they have potential, and have good size.
Hopefully Smith is ready to start the season, and this is a make or break season for him.
I hope he doesn't become another Wolff, and is injury prone, or worse yet - a stiff.

 

[Iggloo]

It sounds like 2-3 weeks, which is not as bad as I had feared. Smith could have used that preseason work though. He is basically OK to good in coverage and run support but still badly lacking in pass-rushing technique.

 

[old duke]

Elliott Shore-Parks, NJ.com, thinks that Smith may get cut. He's out now, and who knows if he can play the OLB position? I don't think they'd cut him, but may trade him for a late round pick.

 

[DutchBird]

Elliott Shore-Parks, NJ.com, thinks that Smith may get cut. He's out now, and who knows if he can play the OLB position? I don't think they'd cut him, but may trade him for a late round pick.

Okay:


- Was playing okay to good when healthy; looking seriously improved, and probably the best of all the back-ups.

- Even when bad, his coverage skills were probably the best of ANY LB on the team. You do not throw that away needlessly. OLB is already extremely weak, and cutting Smith would make it weaker. Mind you, Smith has done okay against starters and back-ups, the rest other than Graham and Barwin have only played the scrubs, from what I have seen. Huge difference.

- There is nothing to suggest this is a chronic problem (unlike with Woolf).

- Cutting him would mean a $5 million cap hit.

- Cutting him means that already for next year (as well as now) you are looking at having to get a number of OLB's, while there are still serious holes on the O-line (depth wise definitely).

Not sure, but I get the feeling that ESP has determined that Smith is a bust (and had so before the season started), and is a bit too fixated on that.

 

[Iggloo]

Smith is not getting cut, that's comical.