Kevin Smith, Det RB (1 Viewer)

[george]

I know Rudi Johnson has been named the starter. But I just got Smith as a throw in as part of a deal.

Haven't seen Detroit play. Don't know much about him. Why did he lose the starters job? What are his chances of regaining the starting spot midseason?

 

[Wu-banger]

not sure why you would acquire a player (even as a throw in) who you know nothing about..??

 

[george]

Not that it matters, but the other team threw him in to even out the # of players in the trade.

So, what do you know about him?

 

[King of the Jungle]

Smith appears to be a competent yet unspectacular RB prospect. He carries a competitive will but doesn't overwhelm opponents with either speed or power. While watching him run he appears to waste a lot of movement thus slowing him down. I think he has the potential to start in Detroit but I don't foresee him becoming a pro-bowl caliber player.

 

[bonesman]

I wasn't impressed at all by his highlight reels when "scouting" the Rooks this offseason... but he got cut last week so I dropped Pierre Thomas for him.

In looking at the situation, he got 4 receptions out of the backfield in the first two games before getting benched for Rudi... who got 3 himself. I think he has some upside, particularly in PPR leagues, considering how pedestrian Rudi has been in that aspect of the game so far in his career (though he converted 3 of 4 targets last week). Detroit doesn't really have a GOOD rushing matchup until week 15 and 16 when they play Indy and the Saints (I think by that time of the season he'll probably be getting the majority of the carries if healthy for no other reason than to give him experience for next year)... but if they're going to be playing from behind like most everyone expects them to be... maybe Smith can emerge as the better option in the passing game.

ETA: After looking at Rudi's catch % since 2003 his reputation as a bad receiver is unfounded... he just hasn't been utilized much. He catches around 75% of his passes.... though his 6.1 career YPC isn't particularly impressive.

 

[Yitbos69]

I know Rudi Johnson has been named the starter. But I just got Smith as a throw in as part of a deal.Haven't seen Detroit play. Don't know much about him. Why did he lose the starters job? What are his chances of regaining the starting spot midseason?

He got demoted because Rod thinks Rudi is a better back to help them win now.....Smith is the future....I don't think Coach Rod will be there past this year. If you got him in Dynasty it's a good play if it was redraft I don't think he will do much for you.

 

[Wu-banger]

Smith has average ability as compared to most starting NFL backs.... does everything ok, but needs to block better.

It does not appear that he has the talent to excel on a bad team.

 

[captbly]

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Jim Colletto met with the media today and here are some excerpts from that interview:

On the situation with running backs Rudi Johnson and Kevin Smith:

"They're both going to play. If we have 65 plays, we'd like to see them both play about half the time and that's what we'll work at. If a guy gets going real good, we might keep him in there a little more. I leave that up to (running back coach) Sam (Gash). If somebody's going good, I don't object to that, they're both good backs. I decide who starts the game and how much we want to play them and he operates from there. If I tell him 'Half the game for one guy and half the game for the other' we let it go in that direction.''

Have there been pass protection issues with Smith?

"He's gotten on the edge of guys a little bit instead of getting them right down the middle like he should, but he hasn't been too bad. The sack at the end of the game in San Francisco, there was a snap-count problem - three linemen went on one count and the other two went on antoher.''

What does Smith have to do to improve?

"He just needs to get a little bit more downhill faster. I think he's doing a little too much waiting instead of making a decision and going and being a little more north-and-south. He's doing OK.''

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2008/...open_up_th.html

 

[bonesman]

Kevin Smith-RB- Lions Oct. 5 - 11:14 pm et

Kevin Smith started Sunday's game over Rudi Johnson.

"I was always starting. You all wrote that in the paper," he said after the game. Smith told reporters last week that he'd been benched, but he got red-zone carries and saw 12 touches to Rudi's eight. The Lions will use a timeshare going forward, but Smith is the more desirable fantasy back to own.

Source: MLive.com

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Pretty solid game from the rook... especially considering the competition and the game situation (blow out).

 

[thecardiackid]

I wasn't impressed at all by his highlight reels when "scouting" the Rooks this offseason... but he got cut last week so I dropped Pierre Thomas for him.In looking at the situation, he got 4 receptions out of the backfield in the first two games before getting benched for Rudi... who got 3 himself. I think he has some upside, particularly in PPR leagues, considering how pedestrian Rudi has been in that aspect of the game so far in his career (though he converted 3 of 4 targets last week). Detroit doesn't really have a GOOD rushing matchup until week 15 and 16 when they play Indy and the Saints (I think by that time of the season he'll probably be getting the majority of the carries if healthy for no other reason than to give him experience for next year)... but if they're going to be playing from behind like most everyone expects them to be... maybe Smith can emerge as the better option in the passing game.ETA: After looking at Rudi's catch % since 2003 his reputation as a bad receiver is unfounded... he just hasn't been utilized much. He catches around 75% of his passes.... though his 6.1 career YPC isn't particularly impressive.

now that's a damn