Cowboys | Team evaluating signing D. Smith

[Eternal_Cowboy]

Didn't see this posted anywhere...
Fri, 21 Jul 2006 18:38:13 -0700

Clarence E. Hill Jr., of the Star-Telegram, reports Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys are evaluating whether to sign free agent S Dwight Smith, (Saints) who was released by the New Orleans Saints Thursday, July 20. According to a source, the Cowboys' interest has nothing to do with S Keith Davis' situation but rather taking advantage of opportunity to add another good player to the team.

Per KFFL.

[SKINtil8tin]

I was afraid of that - Smith is a good player that would only make the boys better.

[TaylorPickSix]

yeah that could be a good pick up for them actually if they did get him. hope he goes somewhere else like arizona.

[Shotgunner]

The Boys need all the help they can get. No worries, Moss will glide by him into the end zone!!

[DWinzit]

Are you trying to ruin my Saturday. That would be a big pickup for the girls damn it.

[Skins4481]

It would be a good move. I mean its not scaring the **** out of me but it still would be a real good move for them and he is definitely better than any FS they currently have.

[Buford]

I heard on espn that he wanted to go back to Tampa. But, would listen to other teams.

Guess we'll see.

[Skins4481]

I heard on espn that he wanted to go back to Tampa. But, would listen to other teams.

Guess we'll see.

Yea I heard that too. Wasnt he the SB MVP? Reminds me of that Cowboys CB(Larry Brown?) that got 2 balls thrown right at him in the SB and the Raiders were stupid enough to give him a big contract.

[DWinzit]

Larry Brown was a bum, this guy has talent. Although if he follows Brown's footsteps and signs with Al Davis, he'll probably end out being a bum also!

[Skins4481]

Larry Brown was a bum, this guy has talent. Although if he follows Brown's footsteps and signs with Al Davis, he'll probably end out being a bum also!

Yea this guy is good. If the Cowboys get him, I bet we are going to be hearing how they have fixed their last weakness and how they are SB bound.

:dallasuck

[Chachie]

I would not want to work and reside in the city where someone shot me. Also- this man has been shot at a couple times. I question his decision-making abilities. Having made those 2 insensitive statements, ;) I won't worry about who other teams acquire right now. We have a good enough roster to play with the best and should fear no team, even if we don't win every week. Even during our bad stretch last season, I never counted us out of a game because of the other teams' players.

[fdarugar]

I saw this comming...

[909997]

noooooooooooooooooooo:mad:

[tr1]

Good move by the pukes if it happens...I hate it.

[DWinzit]

I would not want to work and reside in the city where someone shot me. Also- this man has been shot at a couple times. I question his decision-making abilities. ;)
Dallas would be the perfect for him then, no one gets shot there.

[HeHateMe]

I heard on espn that he wanted to go back to Tampa. But, would listen to other teams.

Guess we'll see.

He'll go where the money is.

And I'm not sure Dallas will invest a good amount just yet.

That being said, I wouldnt mind Dallas making a pitch for a reasonable amount for the short term.

I like Pat Watkins for the long term at the position though.

[CowboysForLife]

If we get Smith, and he plays well, I think our only problem on defense is the NT spot.

Obviously, FS isn't our ONLY flaw, but Dwight Smith would take our passing D and turn it into something special. After that, we can just load the box against the run. If we get this guy, our Defense will be very, very good...

Offense on the other hand, there are flaws. I'm hoping next year's draft will be loaded with offense, so I would be very happy if we draft a WR, QB, OL.

[jrockster21]

Yea I heard that too. Wasnt he the SB MVP? Reminds me of that Cowboys CB(Larry Brown?) that got 2 balls thrown right at him in the SB and the Raiders were stupid enough to give him a big contract.

Dexter Jackson was the SB MVP with two picks.

[jrockster21]

I like Pat Watkins for the long term at the position though.

:laugh: Okay, but first, which one is Watkins, and which one is the broom??? :laugh:

[HeHateMe]

:laugh: Okay, but first, which one is Watkins, and which one is the broom??? :laugh:

Excellent camp pic find.

For my sake, I hope he's the one with the jersey on.

But I did hear he's a huge Wizard of Oz fan.

[Jethrodsp]

OOOOOOO...Dwight Smith......

Im shaking in my boots...






Please. This guy has nothing for Santana. Enough.

[thespaniard]

If we get Smith, and he plays well, I think our only problem on defense is the NT spot.

Obviously, FS isn't our ONLY flaw, but Dwight Smith would take our passing D and turn it into something special. After that, we can just load the box against the run. If we get this guy, our Defense will be very, very good...


Smith is a pretty darn good safety, but in some ways he is the classic 'tweener' player. He's not quite fast enough to be a CB, but not quite big enough to be a great safety. He was caught out of position several times last year with the Saints - how much of that was his fault and how much was the crappy defensive scheme is up for debate.

For what it's worth, Smith wants to go to a team where he can play CB, probably in part because CB's get bigger contracts than safeties.

One this is for sure though, he is a ballhawk and when he is in the right position to make a play he almost always does. Good move overall for the 'boys if they pull the trigger.

[Birdlives]

Smith is a pretty darn good safety, but in some ways he is the classic 'tweener' player. He's not quite fast enough to be a CB, but not quite big enough to be a great safety. He was caught out of position several times last year with the Saints - how much of that was his fault and how much was the crappy defensive scheme is up for debate.

For what it's worth, Smith wants to go to a team where he can play CB, probably in part because CB's get bigger contracts than safeties.

One this is for sure though, he is a ballhawk and when he is in the right position to make a play he almost always does. Good move overall for the 'boys if they pull the trigger.

See, I knew having a Saints fan in the MB was a good idea. Thanks for the scouting.

:D

[IrishOrange15]

Yea this guy is good. If the Cowboys get him, I bet we are going to be hearing how they have fixed their last weakness and how they are SB bound.

:dallasuck

You won't hear that from me.

Smith was awful last year.

While FS was a weak spot last year, considering Dallas finished 2nd in completion percentage allowed and 9th in QB rating allowed, the terrible FS didn't kill them.

I'd like to see something better at FS because the rest of the secondary has put whomever plays FS in a great position to make plays and win some game for us, but I'm not convinced Smith is the guy to do that.

Perhaps he just struggled with moving to SS, but I don't know about that.


KJ, Baltimore: KC- Why did the Saints cut Dwight Smith. He seemed like he had a good season last year?

KC Joyner: To be perfectly blunt, he had a terrible season. He had to move to strong safety after Bellamy got hurt. He didn't adjust well to the new position and ranked dead last among strong safeties in a large number of categories. Add to this that Josh Bullocks did so well at FS and he ended up being an overpriced backup.

Rich............

[ouvan59]

Perhaps he just struggled with moving to SS, but I don't know about that.

I can see a natural FS struggling in the upgraded run support duties but it doesn't make sense that he would struggle in coverage. You might be right that the Boys should pass on him. I didn't realize he had that bad of a year. Still might be a good gamble for them with the unsettled situation there.

[thespaniard]

FYI, 3 other teams interested...

Buccaneers | Team makes offer to D. Smith
Tue, 25 Jul 2006 06:08:37 -0700

The Star Tribune reports the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reportedly made an undisclosed contract offer to free agent S Dwight Smith (Saints).


Ravens | Team makes offer to D. Smith
Tue, 25 Jul 2006 06:07:38 -0700

The Star Tribune reports the Baltimore Ravens have reportedly made an undisclosed contract offer to free agent S Dwight Smith (Saints).


Vikings | Team to complete visit with D. Smith today
Tue, 25 Jul 2006 06:04:25 -0700

The Star Tribune reports free agent S Dwight Smith (Saints) will wrap up a two-day visit with the Minnesota Vikings Tuesday, July 25. Agent Drew Rosenhaus refused to say whether his client was close to signing with the Vikings Monday evening, July 24. "I'm not going to have any comment on Dwight's visit," he said. Smith told the St. Petersburg Times before his trip to Minnesota Monday that he would return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a one-year contract if he is unable to get a multiyear deal from another team. Smith already has offers from Tampa Bay and the Baltimore Ravens. A Vikings spokesman said the team would have no comment.

www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl

[IrishOrange15]

I can see a natural FS struggling in the upgraded run support duties but it doesn't make sense that he would struggle in coverage. You might be right that the Boys should pass on him. I didn't realize he had that bad of a year. Still might be a good gamble for them with the unsettled situation there.

Most people don't realize the wear and tear the game of football puts on your body. A natural FS that has to move to SS may struggle in coverage because he's playing closer to the line of scrimmage and the beating takes such a toll on his body that he can't do what he once did in coverage.

Still, for him to be that bad has to be disconcerting. But the same could be said for Darren Sharper who struggled his last couple of years in GB when they started playing him much closer to the line. Once he went to Minnesota and played natural FS role, he was good again.


Rich............

[Gamebreaker]

Dwight Smith would be an upgrade for the simple fact he'll definitely be starter come week one, and the coaching staff will no longer be worried about a position battle.

Watkins was a fifth round pick, if he was good enough on a consistent basis in college he would've been drafted on the first day. Too many people who haven't watched him play, are just looking at his impressive measureables and not his skills as a football player. If Smith can't beat him or Keith Davis out, then they'll be in trouble.

[Eternal_Cowboy]

Dwight Smith would be an upgrade for the simple fact he'll definitely be starter come week one, and the coaching staff will no longer be worried about a position battle.

Watkins was a fifth round pick, if he was good enough on a consistent basis in college he would've been drafted on the first day. Too many people who haven't watched him play, are just looking at his impressive measureables and not his skills as a football player. If Smith can't beat him or Keith Davis out, then they'll be in trouble.

Watkins wasnt drafted early on because he had coachability issues and a lacking work ethic at FSU. He was a projected 1st round pick going into the 2005 NCAA season, before his issues came about

[Gamebreaker]

Watkins wasnt drafted early on because he had coachability issues and a lacking work ethic at FSU. He was a projected 1st round pick going into the 2005 NCAA season, before his issues came about

That is an awfully far drop for just those two issues. Plenty of great talents had both of those issues and didn't drop to the second day.

[IrishOrange15]

Free Safety wasn't as big of an issue as most make it out to be.

Dallas finished 2nd in completion % allowed last year (just 0.3% below Washington) and 9th in QB rating allowed.

If they had an average FS last year, they probably would've been in a better position to win a few games since neither Davis or Willie Pile had an INT or a FF last season. But, the FS play really didn't cost them last year.


Rich............

[WeownU]

That is an awfully far drop for just those two issues. Plenty of great talents had both of those issues and didn't drop to the second day.

I agree, it is a awfully far drop, but everything I read on the kid before the draft had him as a first, or worst case scenario 2nd round pick. He must've done something for all those teams to pass on him. Skinny as hell too, but I suppose a free safety doesn't need to be too thick.

A local radio station here in dallas interviewed him as soon as we picked him in the fifth round and he didn't seem happy at all. He seemed very angry, and very bitter. Hopefully he can channel that energy to the field.

He lost millions of dollars for dropping that many spots.

[Dirk Diggler]

I agree, it is a awfully far drop, but everything I read on the kid before the draft had him as a first, or worst case scenario 2nd round pick. He must've done something for all those teams to pass on him. Skinny as hell too, but I suppose a free safety doesn't need to be too thick.

A local radio station here in dallas interviewed him as soon as we picked him in the fifth round and he didn't seem happy at all. He seemed very angry, and very bitter. Hopefully he can channel that energy to the field.

He lost millions of dollars for dropping that many spots.

Sounds like Derek Ross. Hey - you get picked where you get picked for a reason (most of the time). He's a 5th rounder. Having X round physical ability doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot if you are a knucklehead.

I do get a good chuckle out of the 2002 draft where Jerry crowed about having landed 4 first round players with your first 4 picks. Then the 5-11 season follows. Then Ross was sent packing, then Bryant threw his uni at Tuna, and Gurode looks like a career backup. But Roy worked out - 1 for 4 on your "first rounders" aint bad I guess.

moral of the story: don't get toooo drunk on the kool aid, kiddies.

[IrishOrange15]

Sounds like Derek Ross. Hey - you get picked where you get picked for a reason (most of the time). He's a 5th rounder. Having X round physical ability doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot if you are a knucklehead..

Watkins is far far from Derrick Ross. Watkins actually has a great repoire with the FSU coaching staff and was one of the team leaders and never had one single problem.

If you want to see why Watkins stock dipped, traditionally safeties see their stock drop come draft day. Every year there's a ton of safeties projected to go in the first day and they wind up falling.

The big knock on Watkins was his man-to-man cover skills and his frame.

Derrick Ross was one of the biggest knuckleheads I've ever encountered in the draft. When he was 16 years old, he led police in a highspeed chase and then tried to jump out of his car while it was still moving.

Rich...........

[Bryan_Randall]

Smith has the ability to come down and cover slot receivers, and has instincts in deep zone coverage that Keith Davis simply doesn't, can even play CB in a pinch. FS is a position you can hide with tremendous scheming, but having one that can actually cover would make Roy more effective, it would eliminate some of the big plays (which DID kill us last year), it could help mitigate the damage we receive from TE's. If the contract is reasonable, I don't see why not whereas we can slowly bring Watkins along to fill out his frame and improve his hips.

[Skins4481]

Most people don't realize the wear and tear the game of football puts on your body. A natural FS that has to move to SS may struggle in coverage because he's playing closer to the line of scrimmage and the beating takes such a toll on his body that he can't do what he once did in coverage.

Still, for him to be that bad has to be disconcerting. But the same could be said for Darren Sharper who struggled his last couple of years in GB when they started playing him much closer to the line. Once he went to Minnesota and played natural FS role, he was good again.


Rich............

FS moving to SS struggling? Sound familiar?(Hint:31) :laugh:

[Skins4481]

I agree, it is a awfully far drop, but everything I read on the kid before the draft had him as a first, or worst case scenario 2nd round pick. He must've done something for all those teams to pass on him. Skinny as hell too, but I suppose a free safety doesn't need to be too thick.

A local radio station here in dallas interviewed him as soon as we picked him in the fifth round and he didn't seem happy at all. He seemed very angry, and very bitter. Hopefully he can channel that energy to the field.

He lost millions of dollars for dropping that many spots.

oh really? Here is what ESPN has to say about him

"However, he is a tall centerfielder-type with very good range in deep coverage. He continues to get bigger and has the frame to pack on more pounds, which will help him match up better at the point of attack vs. blockers and bigger ball carriers. However, Watkins is a fine open-field tackler at this point and he is a playmaker in all aspects of the game. Watkins is likely to come off the 2006 draft board by the end of Day 1."

I guess your sources are of the made up la-la land variety. :laugh:

btw, more proof of Cowboys fans bsing stuff just to make their players and teams look better.

[CowboysForLife]

I don't think we'll be able to get Smith. He's gonna get big offers from toher teams...

[thespaniard]

Vikings reach deal with Dwight Smith
The ex-Saints and Buccaneers defender said he will fit in wherever needed.
Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune

Last update: July 25, 2006 – 10:01 PM
The Vikings' aggressive offseason pursuit of free agents resulted in a late addition Tuesday. Veteran free safety Dwight Smith signed a three-year contract two days before rookies and selected veterans were scheduled to report to training camp in Mankato. The deal reportedly is worth $6.5 million.

http://www.startribune.com/510/story/574434.html


So much for that..

[Skins4481]

Vikings reach deal with Dwight Smith
The ex-Saints and Buccaneers defender said he will fit in wherever needed.
Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune

Last update: July 25, 2006 – 10:01 PM
The Vikings' aggressive offseason pursuit of free agents resulted in a late addition Tuesday. Veteran free safety Dwight Smith signed a three-year contract two days before rookies and selected veterans were scheduled to report to training camp in Mankato. The deal reportedly is worth $6.5 million.

http://www.startribune.com/510/story/574434.html


So much for that..

God damn those mother****ers keep signing players left and right. I think they have officially taken over as the off season champs.

[CowboysForLife]

FS moving to SS struggling? Sound familiar?(Hint:31) :laugh:

Actually I believe, not sure, that Darren Woodson was the SS? So then, Roy had to take the FS position, but he sure does seem like an SS more than a FS. He tackles better than he covers, so he would be the SS.

He's not struggling. I hope this was a joke.

[tr1]

Too bad for the pukes.....:-)

[DWinzit]

I'm glad he didn't go to dallas!:)

[IrishOrange15]

FS moving to SS struggling? Sound familiar?(Hint:31) :laugh:

I guess so. Of course that's not what KC Joyner or the 2006 Pro Football Prospectus have to say.


"No one expects Roy Williams to be great in coverage but the best measure of his coverage skills might be how he did against deep passes. Williams was solid on these passes, with a 70% success rate and a #14 ranking in the overall safety metric. Not great numbers, but not a bad tradeoff for the upside Williams gives the team against the run.” - Joyner (http://dallascowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57931&highlight=vela+joyner)



Roy Williams does not deserve all of the criticism he receives for his poor pass coverage. His Stop Rate of 43% ranked 6th among all safeties involved in at least 40 passing plays. Williams' biggest problem in pass coverage is that he gets little help from Keith Davis - Pro Football Prospectus 2006

Rich.................