Marvin Lewis: Andre Smith Has Grown Up A Lot As A Man And Pro
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 7, 2010 10:27 AM EDT
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PrintAndre Smith. We could go through the troubling history of the offensive tackle starting two years when he was suspended during the 2009 Sugar Bowl after reportedly having "improper dealings" with an agent. Isn't that like 99% of all college football violations these days? He would later go to the NFL Combine, promptly bailing the event without telling his agent or the NFL of his departure. That was after he reportedly had terrible interviews with NFL teams before conducting workouts. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't pretty at all. His draft stock depressed quicker than common decency when Joey Buttafuoco actually thought it was a good idea to release a porn tape.
When Alabama had their Pro Day, Smith brought to the show an absolutely poor workout that included bench pressing 225 pounds only 19 times; for an offensive lineman that's entering the NFL, that's not very impressive. Unfortunately for Smith, this was the same day that the entire NFL community would be scarred forever, sprinting the 40-yard dash without a shirt on. In between all of that, Smith would shuffle agents to help his draft status after Keels, originally representing Smith, was let go after Smith's terrible Combine experience in favor of Rick Smith. Once Smith was drafted, Rick Smith was fired and Keels was re-hired to negotiate Smith's rookie contract, which took over a month to finally have resolution.
A broken foot two days after signing a contract severely limited his role in 2009, mostly being relegated as the sixth offensive lineman in jumbo packages. During February of this year, Smith would have a procedure done to strengthen his foot, hoping to prevent future breaks. Unfortunately, the expected 10-week rehabilitation time turned into a process that would have Smith missing his second training camp. Marvin Lewis, who tends to let slip his sometimes surly frustrations, said that Alabama wasn't being straight with him.
Head coach Marvin Lewis was non-too-pleased, saying:
“Andre’s going to figure out how to become a pro and do things the way it’s asked to do all the time. Hopefully he continues to do it in a timely fashion. Because otherwise, I’m not going to go through this year in and year out.”
Aside from being listed as inactive during the third week of the season against the Carolina Panthers, Smith's snap count has been between 10-12 snaps with an expanded role against the Cleveland Browns, having over 20 snaps on the offensive line.
All of that being said, Lewis' tone on Smith is changing.
“I think as the back of my shirt will say, ‘Work to do.’ He’s grown up a lot this year, and hopefully he continues to and work as a player and help make us a better football team -- keep working at it. Today’s another opportunity to get better. I like the positive steps he’s taken. I like how he’s grown up as a man and as a pro, and that’s a good thing. The team wants him to succeed; he has advocates who want to see him succeed.”
The Bengals are needing Smith to grow, and fast. Recent play by the team's right tackle, Dennis Roland, is leaving way too much to be desired. While we could praise the level of talent on this team, the offensive line is a group that's regressed since last year and the offense's biggest liability.
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Ugh
I want Smith to work out. I crave it.
But, I can’t help but think he is doomed to be a total bust after reading that resume.
The Bengals front office is subpar, and probably a bottom-5 group, and anyone who says otherwise is a fool.
Credit to the marketing department though, I drink the Kool-Aid every year.
Reading between the lines
It looks like Andre will be starting soon and the coaching staff and ownership is A) at least saying they have some trust in him and B) buttering him up to be confident when he is playing.
He has the ability to be a solid OL player so hopefully the maturing he has done will allow him to be an asset., but I’m cautiously hopeful looking at his NFL body of work to date.
by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Oct 7, 2010 10:51 AM EDT reply actions
I can only hope this is the case
Roland has killed us, I dont know if Lewis is to stubborn to play Smith 100% of the snaps, or he is trying to prove a point to him, but whatever the grudge is against Smith it’s costing his football team and he needs to suck it up and put him in there. It is oh so obvious Roland cant play in this league.
In Zim We Trust......Collaros for Heisman...An Avid Reader of Cincyjungle.com
by TennBengalfan on Oct 7, 2010 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
As bad as Roland has been...
Andre has looked worse at RT. Anybody else notice the whiffs last week. Hopefully that’s just from being rusty but the guy looks horrible on the field.
That is kinda what i was getting at, but your right he did whiff
I just think Andre should play more because Roland is worse so we might as well get Andre the experience. I mean it cant be any worse than Roland being in there.
In Zim We Trust......Collaros for Heisman...An Avid Reader of Cincyjungle.com
by TennBengalfan on Oct 7, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Another year gone by...
And soon, he’ll actually develop into the man and player they have paid him to be..of course, then it will be time to renegotiate his contract and pay him more big money!!
Everything surrounding this guy has been fishy.
There is obviously a lot going on behind the scenes that we don’t know about. How do you go from being listed as inactive 2 weeks ago, to high praises this week? Sounds like Mike Brown is pressuring Marvin for a return on his investment. I hope that Smith has been getting his paychecks docked for the lack of performance he has shown over the last year and a half. Brown is probably not wanting to look like a fool again so soon after the Antonio Bryant debacle.
I really think that that team was being cautious with his foot and the possibility of re-injuring it on the horrible rain-soaked field in Carolina that lead to him being inactive in that game.
by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Oct 7, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
RE: Carolina/Inactive
we activated our entire LB core for the first time in recent memory- my thoughts on that was b/c the only real threat Carolina presented was running the ball, and more LB"s would = more production in run defense vs man-tits whiffing on blocks and possibly hurting himself by doing the only thing he’s prepared his whole life to do…
Oh how great it would've been to have the Hard Knocks crew in there this season
In Zim We Trust......Collaros for Heisman...An Avid Reader of Cincyjungle.com
by TennBengalfan on Oct 7, 2010 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
New approach & Willie presence
I’m sure they’re trying to give Andre some positive reinforcement – in contrast to the relentless chastising he’s been getting which hasn’t really affected him much – and it may be stemming from Willie Anderson being here now.
Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.
I don't know that I would call that high praise
But the last 2 years Smith has missed most of the preseason. Last year he was our best right tackle towards the end of the season. He needs to mature and be ready at the start of the season, but he is the most talented lineman on the team.
It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain
He has, in fact, literally grown as a man
I’ll give him that.
by Crew Jones on Oct 7, 2010 11:41 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
theres no doubt the o-line needs some duct tape to fix it this season
not buying andre is ready to be that guy in 2010.
"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl
FIRE BRATKOWSKI
OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!!!
FIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKIFIRE BRATKOWSKI
because he's already been guarenteed a shit load of money up-front
and if we cut him, we’d essentially be throwing all of that away as opposed to still holding onto the hope that he can still produce – which I think is possible, though not at the level we expected.
Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.
Dennis Roland
I understand that Dennis has had a VERY tough time this season to say the least but i cant get mad at him. I can get mad at Andre for not getting on the field. Dennis even knows he doesn’t have the skills to be an everydown right tackle, he’s just too tall. Andre was DRAFTED to be put at RT. He cant cut the bill and we cant leave the RT position empty so we have to put Roland there until Andre catches up. Again i cant get mad at Dennis, but i will be at Andre.
+1
I actually think the major issue on the right side is the aging Bobbie Williams, which isn’t being talked about. Not all the sacks and pressures from that side are due to Roland. And frankly, I am getting sick of hearing people rip on him because he’s an easy target. After all, Roland wasn’t even drafted and provided a huge bang for the buck that Mikey Boy has been paying him. I hope we can hold onto Roland as a solid backup in the upcoming years.
Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.
Agreed on both points
As for Bobbie, the Bengals, to me at least, acknowledged his decline by drafting Hudson as his replacement.
As for Smith, while I am prepared to call him a bust, I stil have some hope that he will turn out. His main problem has been laziness, which can be cured.
It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain
Bobbie's replacement
Should it be Andre Smith? They alluded to this a couple weeks ago by claiming he was getting reps in at RG. To me, Smith isn’t quick enough to pick up speed rushers. I think he should be lined up on the interior going up against the behemouth NTs and 3-4 DEs of today’s game.
I am hoping we draft an OT with our 1st round pick. Then we could have Smith running on the inside of a solid RT. Or… do we maybe shift Whitworth back to LG with the potential newly drafted LT? And either have Smith at RT with maybe livings/Mathis at RG — or Collins at RT with Smith at RG?
I’d really like to see Whitworth back on the interior executing guard pulls where he stamped his name at.
Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.
Would be fine by me, as would Hudson if he works out, or Shirley. I could also see drafting 2-3 linemen in the first 4 rounds next year. As of this moment we could use help at LG, RG, and RT. In the past we have thrown multiple picks at need positions, (LB in 05, Saftey in 07, WR in 08 and 10, OL in 10)
It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain
What the DLine needs is a legit pass rusher on BOTH ends
Hopefully Dunlap pans out. I know they wanted to make the switch to tackle, but with Odom’s disappearance and Atkins emergence we might need him more as a DE. Even if he proves he can get to the QB, we need another guy to replace the solid, but unproductive pass rusher in Geathers.
This is our year!
Yes, Atkins' style of play reminds me of Dwight Freeney.
I mentioned this also a while back and I am surprised that they haven’t experimented with it. Especially with the lack of a pass rush, they have got to do something.
My thoughts.
Roland is at his best right now, with Andre he
A. Might actually get better.
Or
B. We can atleast tell ourselves he’s young and he’ll get better.
Either way better then Roland costing Nugent his only miss in his Career as a Bengal because of not protecting his gap. Really gave me a bad taste in my mouth about him.
The bigger issue, is Bobbie Williams hasn’t shown up. Period. He’s supposed to be one of our best OL and this year he’s not. With him not showing up, it makes our other weak link in Roland that much worse. If Stephens or O can make something happen there next season we should be a lot stronger, but this should be Bobbie’s last year in stripes. (Unless he can put it all together soon)
A lot of people rag on Livings. He’s doing fine. When you grade out at a 92 week 3.. You don’t need to go hunt down a replacement. He has a couple bad plays here and there but so does Whitworth and Cook.
where do you get those "grades" at for o-linemen?
I can’t seem to find anything on the internet machine objectively evaluating individual performances on the O-line. One thing that definitely impressed me about Livings was seeing him on a guard pull a few games ago. For a guy his size, he can actually move pretty well.
I think Andre Smith will get better and I’m hoping the primary reason behind his dissapointing play is because he is still recovering from a foot issue which may have had a bigger impact that we imagined – and not because he’s a lazy piece of crap. The question I have though is should he be replacing Roland or Williams? I’m sort of leaning towards the latter with the hopes that we’ll draft a RT in the first round and solidify that side.
Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.
Marvin, I see better than I hear
When I see Andre play like a pro you will not need to tout him. Until he does all of your words are meaningless. So, STFU and get this team and Andre up to speed. Your words really won’t convince anyone at this point. You said to judge you by wins. Believe me, we will.
"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"
Line play
Well at least last year they could run the ball effectively with what they had. All they had to do was have some sort of a reasonable passing game and the formula was clearly working. Run the hell out of it, and when the defense cheats up, throw it over their heads. They said the problem last year was the lack of a deep threat, now they have it in T.O., what is the freaking problem. As usual the coaching staff cannot figure out how to build upon what works, instead they have tear it all down and try to rebuild it. We will be here waiting for 20 years for these guys to get it right.
Note to Bratsucki – that doesn’t mean bring in a extra tackle and run to the right, everyone and their brother knows what is coming when you make that substitution! Or maybe at least try completing some passes from the unbalanced formation so it is not so freaking predictable! And it is not a coincidence that the run game is suffering without Jeremi Johnson, I don’t care what the guy weighed, he could block!
+1 on the unbalanced line and Jeremi...
We suddenly can’t run again when we don’t have a FB. Coincidence?
Where is Jeremi Johnson?
and I agree, I don’t care what he weighs. He needs that extra poundage to make blocks against 250 lb LB’s anyways. And what happened to his replacement (can’t remember his name)? I know he got injured, but how bad was it and is he done for the season?
Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.
Funny, shortly after I posted someone brought the fullback issue up with Bratsucki in an interview.
Of course he blew it off and went on to say that it wasn’t fair to compare what the tight ends are doing this year to what Jeremi Johnson was doing last year. Seems like all I ever hear out of him is that something is “not fair,” or “it’s not our fault.” Excuses are becoming a reoccurring theme.
With the trade deadline comng up
I know mikey boy doesnt like like to trade high drafts picks but with our falure too find people in the middle rounds lets make some noise. The Patriots gave 3rd for Moss what would they take for Logan and McNeal with the Charges. Lets take them both and put Whit on the right side till Smith comes around.
IF u think back we dont draft well at all, off the top of my head we wasted 3 on centers out of the nfl 4o5 lb (4 if u count A. Brookes 5 is D. Pollock hey i know he dont count) can u name the other 3?
There are many more if u think about it we singed TO Mikey boy needs to throw us that last Curve ball before the lock out. Mabey Fat Albert?
other 3 LB busts?
without researching, I can think of the following: Thurman (who had the talent, but didn’t have his head on right), James Francis, and Reinard Wilson. Is that who you were thinking of?
BTW, Brooks is playing as a 3rd down DE for the 49ers and was the guy who broke Reggie Bush’s leg. He also had a sack in that game. Additionally, Takeo Spikes is starting for the 49ers and playing pretty solid. Also, Justin smith, who looks like a beast is down there as a 3-4 DE (which is what I always thought he was perfect for).
Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.
Ment to say in the Marvin era
AJ Nickolson L johnston and Miller and i still say Brookes is a bust we gave up a 4th for him and got nothing.Oh how could i forget about Thurman( i know bang head on wall). What would have Zimmer done with Smith-Spikes-Simmons?
by darth zalmer on Oct 8, 2010 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn't call Landon Johnson and Miller busts...
I thought Landon had some pretty solid years for us and Miller looked like he had some potential, but was never healthy. Plus, I don’t think either of those guys were drafted very high either.
I’m still upset about the losses of Pollack and Thurman. Imagine Thurman and Maulaluga in the middle with Rivers as the weak side LB and Pollack as the hybrid LB/DE we knew he could be…
Not to mention the third round pick that same year was Chris Henry. That draft year was a killer for us. Pollack, Thurman, Henry, all young extremely talented players drafted with our first three picks – eliminated less than 5 years later.
Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.
and I thought Brooks was taken in the supplemental draft?
We traded a 4th to get that?
Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.
You're right
and I took the liberty of checking to see which offensive linemen were drafted in that round after Cincinnati’s forfeited pick. We could have had our pick between Mario Henderson (starting RG for Oakland) or Marshal Yanda (starting RT for Baltimore) – instead of having to rely in Santucci in the seventh round who washed out as a guard.
Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.
If they are out of the NFL
Them i call them bust and i believe Jonhson and miller were like 3rd and 4th or 4th and 5th round picks plus 220 pd lb dont work well in the Afc noth.
by darth zalmer on Oct 10, 2010 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Grown Up or Inflated?
He is definitily a bigger man. A regular ole Hindenburg! What do you get when you attempt to polish a turd? A shiney turd! Keep waxing on Marvin, he need a whole lot of work!
Show me that you can play and are worth what Bengals paid you
Enough is written and said about how Smith was overweight and slow coming in and holding out for more money instead of attending the rookie camp to upgrade his skills and learn how to play the game. Until he can show us all that he has changed and is solid on the front line, Andre Smith is still a nobody in NFL. As soon as the period for the guarantee monies is over, Andre Smith will be dumped just as fast as the injured Bryant was.
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