I like Smith and project him as the season starter at SS across from Kerry Rhodes. His #s http://forums.theganggreen.com/showthread.php?t=5971&highlight=eric+smith
I don't think the new regime likes Coleman much either, he struggled badly at times last year and the fact that we tried to sign Tebucky Jones and then that we drafted Smith so highly leads me to believe they are looking for someone to replace him.
Coleman had a down season last year but has been suspect in coverage his whole year. Hell make a bunch of tackles but is not the truly physical player that Mangini has in Rodney Harrison back in NE. Like Ive said before... FS- Kerry Rhodes (Eugene Wilson) SS- Eric Smith (Rodney Harrison)
You are trying to compare Eric Smith to Rodney Harrison-is this a joke? If he turns out to be half as good of a player Harrison is I would be very happy
We should have drafted Ko Simpson instead, big mistake. I hope this guy can stay healthy long enough to show something (Even McGraw sounds less injury-prone than this guy) but I still can't believe we took Smith with Simpson just sitting there. Ko Simpson, former SEC defensive freshman of the year, SEC 1st team 2 years in a row, 2nd team All-American, team leader in tackles 2 years straight, a guy that just flies to the ball on every play...damn, I wish we had taken him. And no injuries, either. And we pass on him for a McGraw clone, great :sad: I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am. Ko is the real thing, and we passed. Other than that one move, I am happy with our draft.
In terms of his role on the field he will have the same responsibilities Rodney Harrison had in NE. I am not necessarily saying hell have as successful a career
I feel the same way, and the only reason why I can think Ko slipped this much is that he prob had poor interviews, but i never heard of character concerns for him....Ko Simpson is a damn ballhawk and you can just tell that he has "it"....should be a great player in the future.....damnnn
Yuck... Kerry rhodes is better than wilson, And smith is no rodney harrison. I said this before in multiple threads a while ago, i think coleman will be trade bait, and barrett after this season or maybe this season will be a converted ss. I doubt eric smith will start but he is one hell of a back up, and dont forget we have andre maddox. People say its hard to do the switch from CB to safety, boy they are so wrong.. Barrett can be our bob sanders (colts) or maybe even ed reed. He can be that good, at safety. Its a easy transition.
Yuck to this! I wasnt comparing their skills, I was comparing their responsibilities. Rhodes would have the same role Wilson did as FS in NE, and Smith will be an in the box safety like Harrison was. I agree though, I think we might trade Coleman to a team somewhere. Which is sade because he was one of my favorite players in 04 I do not know whethere or not we will move Barrett to safety...but if we do it wouldnt be this year, as Miller still needs time to learn. So like I said before, I think itll be Rhodes at Fs, and Smith at SS heading into the season
I know you weren't comparing skills man, it would be a joke if you did. But kerry rhodes is 6'3 and wilson is clearly not. Height makes a huge diffrence in the safety position. And harrison is amazingly durable player, smith so far has been injury prone. So what ever style mangini is implementing matters not if you can't stay healthy, and rhodes can play any style he got it like that.
McGraw is fast and is a hell of a hitter, But I think the shoulder has been hurt once or twice. Not 100% sure.
If we wanted to replace Coleman, whom I don't think needs to be replaced (sophmore slump is a coined phrase for a reason), why didn't we take Bing from USC over this guy?
In terms of reaching for talent and passing up on proven talent at the same position.....I would say based on pre draft scouting and in terms of potential to be a solid pro Eric Smith may be the worst pick in the draft
