Cut Brad Smith

[mattsox]

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

 

Agreed. No Way do you cut him... To Valuable, gives the other teams something to prepare for..

[DukeyBomb]

I think if the experiment fails with him this year we cut him, but he has the potential to be a weapon. You do have to give Smith somewhat of a pass because the team couldn't work on the wild cat in the offseason.

[BuffBill]

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.

I really don't remember him being all that effective on any downs so far. Not sure you cut him, if you do then you just have to fill that roster spot with a #3 quarterback, so you don't gain much. At least you can use Smith in a pinch at receiver, running back or returning kicks. We all should be praying that we never actually have to use him at quarterback though, that would be a disaster.

[HeHateMe]

Meh I wouldn't cut him but he does suck. I think Freddie Jackson would of had the same success on those run plays as Smith did... He didn't break a single big play at all last season. All we heard about was "he has big play potential and is a real weapon out there"... really?

 

Smith is not a QB either. If Fitz and VY both got hurt, and he had to start - he would be the worst QB to start a game in the NFL in years if that happened. They would have to pick someone else up.

 

But still, I wouldn't cut him since it doesn't make any sense. I do however think he really needs to earn his millions this year though.

[artmalibu]

Cut him for what upside, the team is not in cap trouble and they dont have 2 other great future QBs to develop.

He provides depth at WR, a very good special teamer.

 

Cut him to have another guy standing on the sideline, or keep him and have a guy that contributes in every single game.

[TheKickIsGood]

This team needs Brad Smith, he will personally help us get one extra win this year. Don't believe me? Read this: http://www.thekickisgood.com/?p=3140

[Malazan]

Smith is not a QB either. If Fitz and VY both got hurt, and he had to start - he would be the worst QB to start a game in the NFL in years if that happened. They would have to pick someone else up.

 

Yes, if Fitz and VY goes down, we'll be thanking the gods for Tyler Thigpen....riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

 

 

Since the people who wanted to cut him have no idea, I'll supply the numbers:

 

3rd and 1: Wildcat had a 60% success rate. Smith was only stopped one time.

 

3rd and 2: Wildcat was 100% successful.

 

That's disregarding his ability as a returner.

 

 

I honestly have no idea why people want to cut 80% of the depth on this team. Especially guys who who are money on 3rd down.

[BillsBiker]

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.

 

Im sorry dude... but that is the sillyist thing I heard. Don't you remember how explosive Smith was as a jet? Smith was near automatic ever time the jets needed short yards. Every time he came in vs buffalo I used to say "KCUF... every time this BSmith" Now we have him and like spiller is.. he will come around more and more.

 

Yet keep Smith, Buffalos own Namaan, and VY for thjis year.. think about it Fitz, spiller, jackson, vy, bsmith, chandler, sj13, tj's upside ect... thats a lotta opportunity for points!

 

damn i am excited for the season.. 2 long weeks to go..

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Yes, if Fitz and VY goes down, we'll be thanking the gods for Tyler Thigpen....riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

 

 

Since the people who wanted to cut him have no idea, I'll supply the numbers:

 

3rd and 1: Wildcat had a 60% success rate. Smith was only stopped one time.

 

3rd and 2: Wildcat was 100% successful.

 

That's disregarding his ability as a returner.

 

 

I honestly have no idea why people want to cut 80% of the depth on this team. Especially guys who who are money on 3rd down.

 

For the money we paid him, we were expecting him to run the ball for more than 2 yards a pop. Did he have even one big gainer last year?

 

On kickoff returns, Rogers outplayed him by miles.

[Webster Guy]

The Bills have Brad Smith simply because he generates so many posts on this message board it keeps the fans passionate and involved.

 

Its a conspiracy I tellya...........

 

On a serious note, the dude DID complete over 800 passes in college and I am guaranteeing a throw out of the wildcat in the first 5 times we run it.

 

It should be noted that Vince Young is AT LEAST equal the runner that Brad is. Oh and he is a 2 time NFL Pro Bowl quarterback. No matter what Brad or coach Lee say about the "nuances" of the wildcat, I would rather have Vince run it if we insist on keeping it in the gameplan.

[Just in Atlanta]

We used Smith very effectively as a third-down direct-snap running back in the first few weeks. But the guy, from what I've seen--I hope I'm wrong--can't throw. So, if he's going to run 90 percent of the time, it seems pretty useless to keep him as a QB, because defenses will be prepared for it.

 

This whole Brad Smith thing is weird. He's a ruse--a threat of a threat, like Lee Evans. People respected Evans, who never really caught that many deep balls because we haven't had a QB who could effectively get it there. Will defenses respect a guy who throws (poorly) once every 10 plays?

[Just in Atlanta]

He actually has quite a gift for getting yards. He also has a fun-to-watch ability to be deceptively fast. I just looked at a highlight reel--he's elusive. Maybe he just hasn't been used effectively for the Bills.

 

Seems to me he's simply a Swiss Army knife--WR, HB, KR--and not a backup QB. I'm inclined to wait and see what he delivers next season.

 

Chan on Brad: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-mini-camps/09000d5d829de44e/The-Bills-the-Wildcat-and-Brad-Smith

 

Jets highlight reel:

(several against the Bills).

[RyanC883]

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 Brad Smith can be a good WR given enough reps in pre-season. He played pretty well last season for a guy that was pressed into duty suddenly. I think he's very multi-functional. I'd keep him around, but Chan needs to use him better/prepare him better this year.

[Best Player Available]

Agreed. No Way do you cut him... To Valuable, gives the other teams something to prepare for..

 

I guess the "to valuable" part is something I just don't see. He sucks as a kickoff returner wait let me rephrase that he Really sucks, A quarterback? Give me a break. I'd rather have Fred-Ex as our emergency Quarterback give him some reps. Wide receiver well maybe if 3 go down in a game he would at least know where to line up. The wildcat a silly overpriced fad gimmick. We have a 2nd string q-back that can scramble and get yards. In fact it may be the best part of his game. It was a bad decision to overpay this guy. Show me his value at his salary level. it's not there. That's why the Jets let him walk.

 

It's not my $$$$ but it could be added to the Merriman savings to land a receiver or someone not pulled out of the dumpster.

 

He won't get cut Nix is because already asshurt from the Merriman "experiment". he won't let another foolish signing go away this year.

[MikeSpeed]

Yes, if Fitz and VY goes down, we'll be thanking the gods for Tyler Thigpen....riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

 

 

Since the people who wanted to cut him have no idea, I'll supply the numbers:

 

3rd and 1: Wildcat had a 60% success rate. Smith was only stopped one time.

 

3rd and 2: Wildcat was 100% successful.

 

That's disregarding his ability as a returner.

 

 

I honestly have no idea why people want to cut 80% of the depth on this team. Especially guys who who are money on 3rd down.

So let's make him the 3rd RB and save the WR/QB spot for someone good.

[hondo in seattle]

I'm not sure those who want to cut Smith understand the new NFL rules. THe #3 QB is not simply the third string QB. It's a special position in and of itself.

 

The NFL now allows teams to dress and play an emergency #3 QB but this player does not count against your team total. In other words, if you designate someone as a #3 QB, he's an extra player on game day.

 

So what Gailey wants is a #3 QB who can actually contribute in other ways since he won't see the field as the QB leading your offense unless #1 and #2 both get hurt and that's not likely. Last year - the first year of the new rule - most #3's simply sat on the bench in their pads and did nothing. Smith actually played and contributed.

 

Smith can return kicks, play WR and run the wild cat. He might not have been great at any of those things but at least he contributed on the field.

 

If we made VY our #2 and Thigpen our #3, Tyler would sit on the bench and do nothing for the team because he's not a multidimensional player. At best, he might contribute by holding a clipboard. There's no point in having a conventional QB as your #3. If we did have some QB injuries and had to go down our depth chart, it wouldn't be hard to find a street FA of Thigpen's calibre to come in and help us. But your season's screwed in any case if you've lost both your #1 and #2 to injuries.

 

If the NFL allows us to dress a #3, we might as well dress someone who can do other things. What FA QBs out there can do more things than Smith?

 

I'm happy we have a coach and GM who understood the implications of the new rule quickly.

Edited August 24, 2012 by hondo in seattle

[Just in Atlanta]

I'm not sure those who want to cut Smith understand the new NFL rules. THe #3 QB is not simply the third string QB. It's a special position in and of itself.

 

The NFL now allows teams to dress and play an emergency #3 QB but this player does not count against your team total. In other words, if you designate someone as a #3 QB, he's an extra player on game day.

 

So what Gailey wants is a #3 QB who can actually contribute in other ways since he won't see the field as the QB leading your offense unless #1 and #2 both get hurt and that's not likely. Last year - the first year of the new rule - most #3's simply sat on the bench in their pads and did nothing. Smith actually played and contributed.

 

Smith can return kicks, play WR and run the wild cat. He might not have been great at any of those things but at least he contributed on the field.

 

If we made VY our #2 and Thigpen our #3, Tyler would sit on the bench and do nothing for the team because he's not a multidimensional player. At best, he might contribute by holding a clipboard. There's no point in having a conventional QB as your #3. If we did have some QB injuries and had to go down our depth chart, it wouldn't be hard to find a street FA of Thigpen's calibre to come in and help us. But your season's screwed in any case if you've lost both your #1 and #2 to injuries.

 

If the NFL allows us to dress a #3, we might as well dress someone who can do other things. What FA QBs out there can do more things than Smith?

 

I actually saw him drop a clipboard last season.

[Gugny]

Yeah ... Brad Smith. All he does is get first downs and fill in respectfully at the WR position. We can't afford that whopping $4 million. Cut him now. That's an awesome idea.

[apuszczalowski]

I guess the "to valuable" part is something I just don't see. He sucks as a kickoff returner wait let me rephrase that he Really sucks, A quarterback? Give me a break. I'd rather have Fred-Ex as our emergency Quarterback give him some reps. Wide receiver well maybe if 3 go down in a game he would at least know where to line up. The wildcat a silly overpriced fad gimmick. We have a 2nd string q-back that can scramble and get yards. In fact it may be the best part of his game. It was a bad decision to overpay this guy. Show me his value at his salary level. it's not there. That's why the Jets let him walk.

 

It's not my $$$$ but it could be added to the Merriman savings to land a receiver or someone not pulled out of the dumpster.

 

He won't get cut Nix is because already asshurt from the Merriman "experiment". he won't let another foolish signing go away this year.

And thats why your just another internet GM/Coach and they pay guys that actually understand the game to coach the real teams.

He really sucks at returning kicks? maybe Last year with teh new rule change he wasn't as effective, but look past his 1 year with the Bills and the guy was one of the better return guys in the league

And of course Freddie would be a better 3rd string QB, he has proven this so many times at the pro and college level

Your WR comment was just so dumb, I'm not even going to respond to it seeing as how his play stepping in at WR last year when they were badly hurt was just as good as some of the guys that started on this team outside of Stevie

 

We get it, you nad many others hate the WC offence and feel that its useless. Yes its a gimmick, but so is almost any type of offence, its one thats shown it can work and be effective. The Bills should never try and go out and do something extra that might help them on offence, or give teams something else to epxect or prepare for. They have proven time and time again that their offence is so great that they don't need gimmicks to score and win

[MRW]

I'm not sure those who want to cut Smith understand the new NFL rules. THe #3 QB is not simply the third string QB. It's a special position in and of itself.

Very good post. There is, IMO, no good argument for cutting Smith from a roster perspective. What I'm on the fence about (but willing to see how it plays out this year) is whether he is worth the rather hefty salary he's getting. If cutting him made it possible to extend Byrd or Levitre's contract, I would probably say go for it. But I'm not sure that's the position the Bills are in right now.