Smith Talk Gets Serious Face
August 20th, 2010
Whoa, the Bucs’ esteemed leader of men got all serious in front of the media yesterday when asked about Clifton Smith’s role on the team.
After a largely loose, smiley news conference, the body language of the head coach would have made Frank Luntz take notice. About seven minutes into the video on Buccaneers.com, you can see Raheem Morris say he expects impact play from Smith.
Coach got all serious, as if to say there’s no way Smith doesn’t have a roster spot locked up.
“I don’t see anything different happening for him this preseason as far as what he’s been able to do when he gets on the football field,” Morris said.
Now Joe’s just an amateur on the body language stuff. The last time Joe thought he had had that down a chick slapped him in the face.
That said, Joe’s pretty confident Smith is here to stay, which might create a tough road for Kareem Huggins. There’ll be a lot to learn at running back on Saturday.
If Derrick Ward plays well, he can lay plenty of blame on the mud in Miami. If Smith performs better than Huggins … lots of ifs.
August 20th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Joe, Pat Yasinskas is a huge DOUCHE! I cant’ stand that guy. I just read his chat, he has no idea when it comes to the Bucs and pretty much only covers them because he has to. At least thats what it sounds like every time he opens his mouth. It sounds like he reads your site then listens to the DOUCHE Adam Schein then tries to make educated guesses. I think I’m pretty much done reading his crap. Anyway, how’s it going? Still love this site.
August 20th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Joe here,
Blackmagic00 – Joe doesn’t know you, but thank’s for asking, ‘how’s it going?’ It’s going pretty good, although Joe is down some food in the fridge and some annoying ass just tried to sell Joe landscaping services and didn’t want to go away.
August 20th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Blackmagic00:
It wouldn’t be a bad bet.
August 20th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
On topic (nudge-nudge-wink-wink), while listening to Duemigg, he said yesterday that he thinks Derrick Ward is getting a pass for last year because he came here expecting a zone blocking scheme, and they changed up on him later.
I’m assuming he was running behind zone blocking up north?
That said, this is what I think might happen (various scenarios):
#1 – Duemigg is mistaken and Ward gets cut or traded. A team with zone blocking in need of a rb might actually give a little something for him.
#2 – (Unlikely) Caddy could be traded. I think this would be the smartest move, seeing as how he’s been injured so much that he’s a bit aged now. He made it through last season, so it’s possible a team on the verge might consider trading for him. It’s a possible scenario only because no one expected Adams to be traded and he was…so Dominick has shown he can and is willing to make unexpected moves.
#3 – Smith stays, no matter what. I think he’s earned it, and the only things that could prevent this are injury or his ball security continuing to be an issue. Many great backs had this issue early on, so it’s possible he can correct it.
#4 – Huggins stays…I think there’s a very high chance that Morris will do his best to keep Huggins…for two reasons. First, Huggins performance has been awesome. Second, Morris has known him a long time, so he’s probably going to go out of his way to save a spot for him…somehow.
I think the most likely move is Ward getting chopped or traded. However, I also think it’s possible we keep 4 RBs, then Graham at FB and trying to move a FB to the PS.
August 20th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
I think Smith is the one on the bubble…
August 20th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Both CS and KH will be on the team come the start of the season.
August 20th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
”If Smith performs better than Huggins … lots of ifs.”
As a returner….probably….maybe. As running back? Not gonna happen. Smith has never shown one second of playmaking ability as a running back. He is slow and fumbles 24/7. He’s got great vision for returning kicks, but the guy is no RB. Huggins on the other hand looks explosive and natural every time he carries the ball and has never fumbled once in college or the NFL.
August 20th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
IMO
Smith- Returner
Caddy- HB’s
Kareem
Ward
August 20th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
I’m hoping Tyrell Sutton doesn’t make the Panthers squad this year and we sign him. He’s alot like Huggins but much thicker. Dude is 5’7″ 215lbs. Reminds me alot of Maurice Jones Drew in both body type and running style. He may get lost with Williams and Stewart on thier roster, but I’d love to see him here.
August 20th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
53 Best, 45 on Sunday.
Hold on to your old Cadillac.
August 20th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
I wanted John “The Terminator” Connor to come here, but the Jets took him in round 5. He would have made a perfect FB here.
August 20th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Can’t always get what you want.
August 20th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Fumbles DO have a huge impact on the game , this is true….Smith may have an impact.
August 21st, 2010 at 12:36 am
I think C. Smith is going to stay. Great return men are hard to find and he is a special one. Caddy isn’t going anywhere. I wouldn’t care one bit if Ward got cut. Good RBs should be able to run behind any blocking schemes. Ward just seems like he is a bad attitude and is full of excuses. I can’t believe Duemig will support that. Duemig on the same show said that Clayton be kept around as a mentor. A mentor?!! Hehehehe. He can be a mentor on how to drop passes and get lazy after a good rookie season. Clayton can not be a mentor. I think Huggins will be kept. He has shown ability in the first preseason game and in practice. One more good preseason game might seal it.
I participated in one of Luntz studies during the 2008 pres. race. Luntz has quite a temper. I saw him curse out one of his employees for messing up something. He ain’t a peach.
August 21st, 2010 at 9:40 am
I don’t understand why everyone is writing him off of this team. He’s a Pro Bowl kick returner. People underestimate the value of an extra two yards on each kickoff and the extra win per season he could give you if he takes one back in a close game.
As a KR/PR: Smith > Spurlock > anyone else on the roster
August 21st, 2010 at 9:48 am
Our return game actually got better last year after he went on IR…