John Belucheese Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 Brad Smith is no longer a luxury that we can afford and seemingly not a luxury at all now that Vinnie Young is striving. I realize Chan has said a lot of great things about Brad Smith and the strategy of the other team having to prepare for the wild cat but he has also being tempted by rookie Potter's leg. The Thigpen has a great grasp of the offense and Vinnie needs more time to prove that he also can master it. And with that VY arm and the speed of TJ we could have something great to replace Fitz in case he poops the tub or gets hurt. I'm 100% sure VY is a run and throw threat w the wild cat and it will give him something a tad easier to fucus on as he digests the playbook. Cutting Brad Smith may also allow us to keep Namaan who is having a great pre season. in conclusion we cut Brad and keep Young and Tyler. let those two battle all season. keep potter as kick off specialist and keep sticky hands Rose. Thoughts my brothers? Really looking forward to a great season and T-ing off on Rex and company to start the party.
AReed Deep For6 Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 VY has never ran the wildcat before. So on top of trying to learn our base packages, you want to throw a new offense on top of learning the one he doesnt know. Brad Smith was very effective on 3rd downs, he extends drives. I dont know why nobody around here can remember how automatic he was on 3rd and short.
MARCELL DAREUS POWER Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 you dont cut brad smith, he can be a decent special teams player as a returner or gunner, he can play rb, emergency qb, and wr... and hes great in short yardage... its dumb as hell to cut him. you save a roster spot with him on the team
John Belucheese Posted August 24, 2012 Author Posted August 24, 2012 Potter will save reserves from injuries as well as Wannys hair. VY has a canon arm and Thig has the system down. are you saying that Brad Smith is worth more than that? lol
PromoTheRobot Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 I doubt it would happen, but I would not rule it out. PTR
San Jose Bills Fan Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 From Tim Graham's Bills report in today's News: "Brad Smith did not wear the red no-contact quarterback jersey for a third straight day and worked out instead with the receivers. Gailey is running this week's practice schedule as though it's the regular season. The third quarterback generally runs the scout team to simulate the upcoming opponent's offense. Tyler Thigpen has been doing that this week." Significant or not?
....lybob Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 If I really needed to open a spot the first thing I'd do is go with just two RBs with another one on the practice squad- Brad Smith and Dorin Dickerson could be emergency RBs.
djp14150 Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 From Tim Graham's Bills report in today's News: "Brad Smith did not wear the red no-contact quarterback jersey for a third straight day and worked out instead with the receivers. Gailey is running this week's practice schedule as though it's the regular season. The third quarterback generally runs the scout team to simulate the upcoming opponent's offense. Tyler Thigpen has been doing that this week." Significant or not? All it means is in camp it sounds as if he wanted Brad Smith to sit with the QBs a bit to learn that as being a third/emergency QB...now the second half of camp they play him as a WR and special teams. They likely keep Smith and they likely keep Potter. If Potter fails in getting touchbacks with wind of november and december he gets cut then and they pull someone off the practice squad.
Dragonborn10 Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 I am squarely on the fence here. I see no reason why VY could not run the wildcat type offense and be a wonderful passing threat out of it. He has never run the wildcat in the NFL but virtually all of his snaps in college were from the shotgun and many were designed runs. And it can't be that hard to learn four or five wildcat plays - run left, run right, fake run pass to te, fake run pass to wr, fake run pitch to rb. However I also agree with poster, MDP. Smith can play multiple positions willingly. He is expensive but it's not my money and they are nowhere near the cap even if they did resign Levitre and Byrd. He can be the sixth WR, a gunner for special teams which usually is a WR or a back-up safety which they may not have on the roster. Lastly I would take my chances that Tigpen is not signed by anyone if he is cut. Thigpen is not the answer if Fitz goes down for a game or two. I truly think VY could win a game or two with his legs a not too horrible passing game, the Bills ground game, and the defense. So if I have to choose it is let Thigpen go and keep Smith as the #3 QB and #6 WR.
#34fan Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 Thigpen goes. -It's the only way. Fitz is probably making a last-ditch appeal for his buddy, but it won't won't work. Thiggy got the vote of no confidence when Fitz got his ribs busted last year.
sweatpantsjoe Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 Every time Brad Smith ran the ball from the wildcat formation the Bills converted and got a first down. That was without a full off season. Now he's had an entire year in the system and is only going to get better. But the Bills should cut him because they need to make room for a second kicker. Yeah that makes sense.
Russ Brandwagon Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 I dont know why nobody around here can remember how automatic he was on 3rd and short. Thank you Dre, I have been reading these posts and scratching my head on this one too. AUTOMATIC! I went through the season w/ game rewind condensed versions (25 mins per game, sooo fun) and could not believe how many 3rd and shorts he converted. It got to the point where the defense, me, and Sarah Palin knew what the play was gong to be and it didn't matter. Personally I think Brad is working at receiver because they are going to run with 5, which does not bode well for our boy Marcus
Zulu Cthulhu Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 Why exactly do the Bills even need to run a wildcat package? Why do we need to retain some guy simply to run it? It's not 2008 and this ain't the dolphins. It's a played out gimmick.
papazoid Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 From Tim Graham's Bills report in today's News: "Brad Smith did not wear the red no-contact quarterback jersey for a third straight day and worked out instead with the receivers. Gailey is running this week's practice schedule as though it's the regular season. The third quarterback generally runs the scout team to simulate the upcoming opponent's offense. Tyler Thigpen has been doing that this week." Significant or not? i think it is significant.....gailey always telegraphs his depth chart.....i think brad smith should be cut, he is god awful throwing the football and without the real threat of throwing, the wildcat is too predictable. there are half a dozen better choices to return kickoffs. brad smith excels at nothing !!
Hplarrm Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 Why exactly do the Bills even need to run a wildcat package? Why do we need to retain some guy simply to run it? It's not 2008 and this ain't the dolphins. It's a played out gimmick. The Bills do not need to either cut or keep Smith. I do not see a particular decision to do either thing as making the difference for whether this team wins or loses as long as the actual starters (Fitzy at QB backed up by VY, VY learns to run the Wildcat effectively, Donald Jones remains healthy and turns out to be the #2 we want, and/or the plethora of talents we have to watch the ball sail over their heads for a touchback on kickoffs remain healthy or do not fumble or do not foolishly try to return the ball). The reason why you keep Smith is that though it is unlikely that any particular one of these things will happen or make the difference for this team if they break badly for us, when you keep Smith you have a credible (not great but credible) plan B for all these desires. The key question here is if you keep Thiggy over Smith, what is your plan B for the Wildcat, plan B (or maybe C) at #2 WR, and plan B or C on KR. The simple fact is that I would rather have Smith sit on the bench as my disaster QB than have Thiggy sit on my bench as my disaster QB. Smith gives me the plan B or plan C I NEED at a variety of positions (but hope I do not have to use) rather than keep Thiggy and roll the dice at a variety of other positions. Why the man-love for Thiggy as yiour disaster QB?
San Jose Bills Fan Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 It got to the point where the defense, me, and Sarah Palin knew what the play was gong to be and it didn't matter. You watch the games with Sarah Palin? Politics aside, she is a cougar. i think it is significant.....gailey always telegraphs his depth chart.....i think brad smith should be cut, he is god awful throwing the football and without the real threat of throwing, the wildcat is too predictable. there are half a dozen better choices to return kickoffs. brad smith excels at nothing !! I wouldn't say that Brad Smith excels at nothing but despite putting up good numbers in college, I remain totally unconvinced that he can actually, you know, throw the football.
Malazan Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 all of you who want to cut him, can you tell me his 3rd down success percentage out of the wildcat last season? If you can't, you should probably consider whether your opinion is based on how you 'feel' (something you should discuss with a therapist) or hard evidence.
Captain Hindsight Posted August 24, 2012 Posted August 24, 2012 In favor of what? Seriously who else would you want to take up that roster spot? Stop telling me a guy sucks and tell me who you are going to bring in thats better.
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