Yes. As Dilfer pointed out, for those who have not read his analysis or spent time in the thread discussing it, the Jets use a complex defensive scheme that in part is designed to confuse Qb's going through their reads, but also involves gambling in the sense of leaving the ocasional receiver open at some point as the play develops. I think the Smith Haters here reflexively assume when someone is wide open and makes a catch, that it is Smith's fault. Not so. He's a hard hitter, and although I appreciate that Rhodes was a great pass coverage safety, Smith is refreshingly willing to lay hard hits on when he gets the chance. He played an above average game against SD. I hope that continues.
He may be getting burned but, but he's not causing mass confusion in the secondary overall with him and Leonard on the field the unit is more cohesive and smarter.
That is an understandable reaction, and certainly in some percentage of cases is an accurate assessment. But as I understand Dilfer's analysis, that is not always true. If as Dilfer says some receivers are intentionally left uncovered, that could well mean that the nearest defender's assignment is someone or something else. In those cases not only is the perception you have described unfair. It should also be clear that most such cases will occur in the seams, which tend to be in the middle of the field, and the most damaging of them will be long gains. So, add long gains to the middle of the field, and whose area of responsibility is coincidentally in that area? The safeties.
Much better player than he will ever given credit for. Plays the role assigned. The weak link in the secondary is Jim Leonard. He has very little range.
Smith becomes one of our best run defenders when we got to a nickel or dime. And seals the outside lanes. He's a liabilty in coverage and its only augmented by rexs scheme of putting the safetyy in the box then asking him to drop back constantly This yr most of his beaten plays seem to be miscommunication.what happened with the gates td has happened a few times. Smith leonhard and another player staring at eachother. I'm mostly suprised by Pooles absence. He mustve regressed to not see the field as much I've said it before. To upgrade over leonhard u need a bonafide pro bowler. To upgrade over smith u need a ballhawk who can lay the wood in the run game Both easier said than done
Yes I agree he's smart and helps with the cohesiveness... and yes it's not always his fault when someone is open. But he is sooo slow! One of the two safeties needs to be a bit faster in my opinion. Not Chris Johnson fast but c'mon! Also both don't match well vs TEs... Smith is too slow and Leonhard is just too small. We need 1 S that's fast and big enough to play on TEs. And possibly not too stupid to fuck with the cohesivness of our D. That said Eric Smit plays great in 3 Safety packages... that's his role.
Eric Smith is terrible. The #1 job as a safety is to eliminate big plays. He doesn't do that. Another job of a safety is to help in the run game. He blows tackles by trying to knock everyone out instead of wrapping up. Another job of a safety is to cover TE's. He can't do that either. Therefore, he sucks. THE END!
I agree entirely. The fact that some Jets fans unfairly blame Smith doesn't chance the fact that Smith is frequently the weakest link on our defense. He's reads underneath plays well and we all know he can lay out some huge hits, but he's not good in man coverage and he's got absolutely no recovery speed. In a perfect world Smith would be a 3rd safety / linebacker in obvious passing situations.
Someone who only read some of the posts on this thread and did not see the game might complain. No one else will.
