Smith’s Issue Was A Broken Hand
October 5th, 2016
Dirk Koetter talks about one of his top rookies
The Buccaneers’ safeties have come under fire for subpar play.
That assessment is fair.
So what about a change? What about rookie safety Ryan Smith, Tampa Bay’s fourth-round pick?
Dirk Koetter talked about Smith on the Buccaneers Radio Network and revealed he broke his hand during the preseason. That was news to Joe. That deactivated Smith for the first two games, Koetter said, because Smith couldn’t catch the football.
Over the past two weeks, Bucs fans have seen Smith as the No. 1 kick returner, and Koetter praised his work there. Smith has had two chances to actually bring out a return and has just 27 total yards on those efforts.
On defense, Koetter said a hamstring injury during spring practices set back Smith’s development and he’s “just a little bit behind as far as learning the defense as a safety.” The former cornerback at North Carolina Central has the added burden of learning a new position.
“He’s making the adjustment. We’re trying to move him back,” Koetter said.
October 5th, 2016 at 9:28 am
his college film as a cb was a lot better than a safety….the one thing that stood out was that he is a good tackler….I still say throw him into the fire and let him learn that way….I wouldn’t mind a rookie that has missed time with injury messing up…he would still probably be an upgrade over conte…GO BUCS!!!
October 5th, 2016 at 9:33 am
Here can’t make not more mistakes that Conte. Conte is as good as he will ever get and that’s not good enough. Let there kid take his lumps learning.
October 5th, 2016 at 9:38 am
what about Banks to safety? …nobody has made many plays at safety for years…count on a SS + FS drafting in the spring….also need WR-FB-DL-OL and on and on and on….
October 5th, 2016 at 9:47 am
Lemmee see, Smith has to learn out to play safety, Spense needs to learn how to play the run, Aguayo has to learn how to kick in the NFL. Is there any draft picks that can actually play?
October 5th, 2016 at 9:48 am
We have to spend time and roster slots to develop young players and during that time they help on ST.
I think its time to give Russell Shepard some snaps that would normally go to Vjax….we desperately need some speed at WR….and not next year.
October 5th, 2016 at 10:01 am
This is honest getting ridiculous with the number of injuries we are having to endure the first part of the season… That being said, Ryan Smith could’ve been a HUGE upgrade over Conte if hadn’t been injured and fell behind. Especially with the amount of one-on-one pass coverage that Mike Smith asks his safeties to do, apparently. What is up with that???
Chris Conte one-on-one covering Emanuel Sanders???
That is a recipe for failure.
How can Banks NOT BE a better option there??!?
Once we get Dougie back and once we start getting some of our guys back on Defense (and Ryan Smith or Banks) replaces Conte, hopefully we can go on a winstreak.
October 5th, 2016 at 10:07 am
Jason Licht is a genius
October 5th, 2016 at 10:36 am
I’m still asking the age old question, can Banks not play safety or would he be a downgrade or have they not even considered that?
October 5th, 2016 at 11:06 am
Waterboy my little sister that plays girls high school football would be an upgrade, But if Smith can come to understand this defense, I’d like to see him in before Banks.
October 5th, 2016 at 11:21 am
Jason Licht following the genious domminik has destroyed the franchise for years to come, licht could have dramatically helped this defnse in the 2nd round as well as drafted an impact #2 WR in round 1 or a 10 year OL in round 1, but he gets the kicker we didnt need and the CB that was more of a luxury that we could get from FA
October 5th, 2016 at 11:49 am
I’m pretty sure that the people making the decisions about who to play know who can and who can’t. Clearly Banks CANNOT play safety or he would already have been taking snaps there. And I completely disagree with just throwing a body there because Conte is struggling. Why? It CAN and WILL be worse.
We are going to have to wait for Smith to develop and be ready. Until then, Conte is the best option. If you want to help Conte, get a pass rush.
October 5th, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Bucsfanman with some actual common sense and realistic thinking.
Hard to find that around here these days.
October 5th, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Miko has a point, maybe Banks would be better at safety. He certainly has the size and his lack of elite speed wouldn’t be such a problem.
October 5th, 2016 at 2:48 pm
Conte is our Safety because the only other option is Ryan Smith. I am at a loss for why he has not gotten into a game yet? If he can return kicks there is no reason he can’t at least get on the field in a back-up role. If Banks could play Safety we would have seen him in that position by now. Maybe he is not a good enough tackler? I really liked the way Jude Adjei-Barimah played the slot last Sunday. I would leave him there and maybe use Verner at Safety or trade bait?