Marvin Lewis: Andre Smith Became The Guy We Hoped We Drafted - Cincy Jungle
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Marvin Lewis: [Andre Smith]e Became The Guy We Hoped We Drafted
by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 25, 2012 10:57 AM EST
David Kohl - AP
almost 3 years ago: Cincinnati Bengals NFL Draft first-round pick [Andre Smith]e, right, from Alabama, holds his jersey with head coach Marvin Lewis, left, during a news conference at Paul Brown Stadium, Sunday, April 26, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
The story of [Andre Smith]e|/nfl/players/9270 has been one of frustration. Selected sixth overall during the 2009 NFL Draft, Smith's contract negotiations and foot injury his rookie season wiped out the first half of his rookie season. Despite being in Marvin Lewis' dog house for failing to achieve a certain professionalism, not doing whatever he could to recover before training camp in 2010 as expected, Smith played seven games with four starts before another foot injury prematurely ended his season.
Then Smith grew up.
During the players-only workouts last year during the NFL lockout, Smith arrived having noticeably lost weight with a steely determination to get better. Smith started 14 games -- missing two with an ankle injury -- and contributed on an offensive line that tied for fourth with the fewest quarterback sacks allowed (25). Smith himself only allowed three of those quarterback sacks in 2011, eight hits on the quarterback and 17 quarterback pressures. Not quite the level of Andrew Whitworth, but as good as anyone else on Cincinnati's offensive line (right, that's still not saying much but it's by far his best season).
When asked how much Smith has improved, Lewis was glowing with compliments (as only Lewis can do).
A huge leap. He made a transition mentally to being a pro. He became the guy we hoped we drafted and maybe he wasn't going to show those signs in year one, but we hoped he wasn't hurt and could show them in year two. OK, it took till year three, but he did it and that's what's key.
Last year the Bengals declined a two-year option on Smith's rookie contract, meaning that he will be entering 2012 on a contract year -- though the team will probably attempt to get Smith extended at some point before next year's free agency based on his continued progress.
0 recs | 18 comments
Comments
We saw Smith's potential being used all last year.
Took him a while, but he’s really doing well on the right side now.
sexsalad - February 25, 2012 reply
wondering how much more it will cost the bengals for not using the option
palewook - February 25, 2012 reply
+10000000000000000000000000000
DiddyGotGrillz - February 25, 2012 reply
THEN. WHY. DIDNT. YOU. PICK. UP. HIS. OPTION.
It’s comments like this that leave me scratching my head. Now that guy is going to demand so much more money – don’t think he won’t either, remember when you drafted him????
DiddyGotGrillz - February 25, 2012 reply
because he sucked up to the point we had to pick it up.
JCompton41 - February 25, 2012 via mobile reply
+1
This time last season most fans, myself included, would have hung MB if he even thought about picking up his option. You just can’t determine what a guys motivation will be or if he will ever find any.
Yarin - February 25, 2012 reply
Yep, Andre pulled off what I think most of us thought was impossible.....keep his weight down and play consistently well.
The Van Buren Boys - February 25, 2012 reply
But the fact still remains that the final two years of the deal were for practically nothing!
DiddyGotGrillz - March 3, 2012 reply
All the more reason to lock up Collins
There are no guarantee’s Smith continues to progress,or even stays healthy and motivated
Even though Smith appeared to at least be a starter,playcalling and a mobile QB contributed as much as any improved
play.This season should tell weather he is the guy or not, obviously he will be attempting to break the bank in FA.
If we have Collins in our back pocket,and Andre continue’s to be average at best,then we wouldnt have to cripple to his
demands just because there isnt anyone else on the depth chart capable
keithp - February 25, 2012 reply
The thing is, this year, Andre was not just "average at best".
Andre had a very good year (regardless of what PFF grades say – btw, his grades are actually much better than average), and the coaches know it, which is the most important thing. I’d like to highlight the game against the Colts this year, when Andre completely dominated and shut down DE Robert Mathis who is still one of the league’s best pure edge rushers. Mathis didn’t sniff A.D. all day thanks to Andre’s stellar performance that day. Does Andre have room for improvement? Certainly. However, his play this year was very good (dominant at times), and he was much better than “average at best”.
The_Black_Stripes - February 25, 2012 reply
Collins was who played against the Colts
Andre made big improvements,i’m not sold on him just yet,another season of development could change that
Having Collins in our plans,would be wise
keithp - February 25, 2012 reply
Nope, [Andre Smith]e started and played the ENTIRE game in the week 6 game against the Colts.
And he had a truly dominant game, and completely shut down Robert Mathis on all passing plays.
The_Black_Stripes - February 25, 2012 reply
I stand corrected
though the Bengals still lost 27-10 in a national game that was broadcast on the NFL Network (meaning that it wasn’t really a national game), Anthony Collins didn’t allow a single pressure on quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, much less a hit or a quarterback sack. Collins put together a near-identical performance the following week against Terrell Suggs and the Baltimore Ravens, only allowing one quarterback pressure (but no hits on the quarterback). Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney gave Collins problems, mostly due to his speed, registering two quarterback sacks against Collins.
I must have been reading about Andre’s success against the Colts,hard to compare this years Colts to those of 2 years ago
keithp - February 25, 2012 reply
Still the same edge rusher, Mathis, albeit 2 years older.
Cry - February 25, 2012 reply
The Colts were built to play with the lead
How many leads did they have this year?
That’s whats different from 2 years ago
keithp - February 25, 2012 reply
why would he obviously be trying to break the bank on FA
He had a good rookie contract and has only played 1 full season…with avg to maybe slightly above avg production. One would think when combining those- he won’t get a monster offer in FA and depending on his mentality could like to stick around on a young promising team…
TruWhoDey - February 25, 2012 via iPhone app reply
From a rookie holdout
To a guy who now thinks he lived up to that rookie contract,if he plays to his draft status,he will break the bank here or
somewhere else.To think he would just give us a discount cause were a young promising team,isnt very likely for a guy
who has already held out.
keithp - February 25, 2012 reply
Collins will be very tough to sign.
He wants to start and be paid accordingly. I still think Moobs would have been a probowl guard and the Bengals could have had Collins starting. Unfortunately, Moobs is paid like a starting tackle and by god that’s where he’s going to play.
featherman - February 25, 2012 reply
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