A few thoughts about Fred Smoot...

JPFair · Post by **JPFair** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 8:42 am

One thing that I've noticed this off season, is that the young, talented, smack talking, wild, eccentric young CB Fred Smoot, is quickly becoming among other things, a team leader, a powerful locker room presence, a media favorite, and a fan favorte.

The progression and maturity that Smoot has displayed over the last year and more importantly, this off season, should not go un-noticed. He has genuinely embraced the return of Joe Gibbs in spite of the media publicity surrounding Redskins players playing for yet another coaching staff. He has learned from the LaVar contract squabble and hired a new agent. Although he says the LaVar contract was not a factor in it, with his own contract due to be renewed/extended in the next year or two, I would certainly think that it played a major factor in his decision to switch agents. In my opinion, it was a mature, professional, and very wise move. He has also become what Joe Gibbs passionately refers to as Redskins material. In reading some of Smoots recent comments, he uses phrases like "Redskins family". He's becoming a real Team player. Anyone remember his "I'm ready to follow Joe Gibbs down the yellow brick road" comment? He's won the courage award for playing through pain last season. He's recognized by his fellow players as a vital part of the team. The coming season may very well be the ultimate "break out" year for Smoot, as well as make us all forget about Champ Bailey. Who's to say that Smoot won't soon be the coveted "shut down" CB that everyone talks about? IMO, people around the NFL are gonna know all about Fred Smoot by the end of next season.

Move over LaVar, you've got company!!

Just my .02

HardcoreFan · Post by **HardcoreFan** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 8:51 am

I agree that Smoot is becoming one of the team leaders and a fan favorite. I believe that Smoot, Arrington, and Jansen will be the leaders of that "core group" of Redskins that Coach Gibbs talked about. I'm hoping that Arrington's contract will be an afterthought mid-season.

ChiliPalmer · Post by **ChiliPalmer** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 8:57 am

Well said. I thought the same thing about Smooty last season as it was winding down. I'm glad he's a Redskin.

cjpck44 · Post by **cjpck44** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 10:17 am

I like Smoot too and he showed real toughness last year, playing and playing well. Now that this is his contract year let's hope that we resign him before the years' over and he leaves too.

jDub · Post by **jDub** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 10:23 am

yeah...i would hate to lose smoot. i'd like to see him develop his cover skills a little more. but, he's a tough SOB and he's becoming a locker room presence. a smack talkin' # 28?

tx_skins_fan · Post by **tx_skins_fan** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 10:48 am

Smoot has been one of my favorites since he's been on the team. I missed his weekly column on redskins.com this past season. He is exactly the kind of player this team needs. I think Gibbs will make his resigning a priority next year.

PROBOWL TOM · Post by **PROBOWL TOM** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:15 am

Smoot is great for playing himself up.He is a master promotor.Dont believe all his hipe.yes he played hurt and I give his props for that but he still not what he thinks or as some of you think he is that good.He is alot of mouth to me.Just play and let that speak for you.

riggofan · Post by **riggofan** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:37 am

Smoot talks a lot of trash, but I think he has proven to be a real team player as well. He seems to relish that role and understands that the TEAM is most important.

I like this quote from Smoot in the Post today:

"It's a lot of new faces, from the coaching staff to the players. It takes somebody like me to break that ice and get it going."

REDSKINS24 · Post by **REDSKINS24** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:49 am

What Nfl football player dosent talk smack though? I mean if its not abused than its a great competitive part of the game as long as smoot can back it up every game im all for it Champ was my favorite but smoot is not a bad runner up and now favorite he is a great young leader and will have a great season

PROBOWL TOM · Post by **PROBOWL TOM** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:00 pm

no not every great player talks smack!!! Two words and end of dicussion. BARRY SANDERS

NikiH · Post by **NikiH** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:18 pm

I like Smoot. He has heart. He showed that last year. He put all he had into this team, if every player gave what he did, we'd be an outstanding team. He's young and he talks smack but that's part of being a pro athlete. If you don't like talking smack you must hate Lavar?? Come on Tom I think playing injured if nothing else gives Smoot the right to talk whatever he wants. He's a Redskin. With any luck he's going to be around a while. Let him fire up the fans. I'm all for it.

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:33 pm

PROBOWL TOM wrote:no not every great player talks smack!!! Two words and end of dicussion. BARRY SANDERS

did barry sanders ever talk....at all?!??!?

PROBOWL TOM · Post by **PROBOWL TOM** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:39 pm

Playing hurt is what I liked about smoot,what I say again that running your mouth does not make you a pro.Idont recall D.G or Champ promotting themselvesd and the crowd yelling smooooooooot for someone who is average or bruccce for someone who was out of position all year makes them great.How many probowls if that makes you great either does smoot have .None. LA is not all that either and I LOVE him.Self promotted is what I am saying.Can they be great ,yes I think so, but a true jeteye I

PROBOWL TOM · Post by **PROBOWL TOM** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:42 pm

dont know why it got posted twice.sorry.I think most Joe Gibbs players dont self promote themselves.Actions speak louder than words.

REDSKINMARK · Post by **REDSKINMARK** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 2:25 pm

PROBOWL TOM wrote:dont know why it got posted twice.sorry.I think most Joe Gibbs players dont self promote themselves.Actions speak louder than words.

I hear ya Tom, I too don't like self promotion, but Smootie is different.

His self promotes, but plays hurt and brings it while being hurt.

He self promotes, but does it while also promoting the Skins.

He will self promote again this year, however, this year he will prove to you that his hype is warranted by playing himself to a pro bowl caliber type corner.

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 5:13 pm

i'm confused - how exactly does smooty 'self promote'? i know he talks more than most players do, and, sure, i've seen him celebrate after making a play, but no more than any other player. and i've never heard him refer to himself in the third person.

the last year or so, it seems to me as though he cares more about the team than he does about himself, as evidenced by his willingness to play through injuries. i would imagine that he introduced himself to joe gibbs and said 'whatever you need me to do, coach, i'll do it'. that's the type of player joe gibbs wants.

Doughboy · Post by **Doughboy** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 5:44 pm

So, he likes to talk trash. It all seems to be good-natured fun and he makes his teammates laugh. And the last couple of seasons, the Redskins REALLY needed someone to keep their spirits up. Nothin' at all wrong with a little Smooty-Smack!

frankcal20 · Post by **frankcal20** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 6:54 pm

One thing that made me upset is that teams were able to throw all over our secondary last year. Smoot got burned alot and whoever played safty got burned a lot as well. I just hope that all of them step it up in that area.

CHAZZ777 · Post by **CHAZZ777** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 8:40 pm

frankcal20 wrote:One thing that made me upset is that teams were able to throw all over our secondary last year. Smoot got burned alot and whoever played safty got burned a lot as well. I just hope that all of them step it up in that area.

I dont think the greatest CB that has ever played would be able to keep a WR in check for 25 minutes...opposing teams QBs had all the time in the world they could mail a pass and have enough
time to complete the pass :roll:

frankcal20 · Post by **frankcal20** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 8:44 pm

Well mainly the whole defensive scheme needs to be rebuilt b/c last year it wasnt working. Also, i hope that the whole false start issue is fixed b/c that got to the point where i was going to have a heart attack if one of them jumped off sides.

skinsfaninroanoke · Post by **skinsfaninroanoke** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:20 pm

gentlemen, ladies, may I introduce you to the well hated (well... at least by me) Cover 2 defense - run by a college coach who didn't know what he was doing and couldn't adjust.

Any of the other old timers on here could tell you long stories by the campfire about hearing a rabid fan in the bushes howling "Not the Cover 2"

That... was me ::sigh::

Doughboy · Post by **Doughboy** » Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:49 pm

frankcal20 wrote:Well mainly the whole defensive scheme needs to be rebuilt b/c last year it wasnt working. Also, i hope that the whole false start issue is fixed b/c that got to the point where i was going to have a heart attack if one of them jumped off sides.

False Starts calmed way down after Spurrier cut out some of the audibling and put in a "hot read" And with Bugel on the job, I gotta believe we'll have the top notch O-line in reality that we've always had on paper.

Smurfskin · Post by **Smurfskin** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 12:10 am

When Smoot first started playing for the Redskins--actually, when Smoot first started MOUTHING about playing for the Redskins, I was a little pissed. I didn't like the way he talked or acted. His mouthiness really put me off.

But last year, Smoot really showed me something. When this team was going down the toilet, Smoot stood up, claimed ownership in the team, and became a leader. the man played in obvious painn last year after the sternum injury. He stepped up and started to become a team leader when VERY few others were doing it.

It takes a lot of (guts) to be the guy that stand up during adversity, to try to right the ship. I believe that Smoot is that kind of guy. No, I don't always like his mouth, but the guy put in the effort--hurt-- when there were a lot of other 'team leaders' that we never heard about.

I know, I know--we're just fans. We don't get the whole story of what's going on with the team. But for my money, no matter how big his mouth is, Fred Smoot seems to be putting his (mouth) where the money is.

I think this guy is developing into a team leader. And I think that is just as important to this team, right now, as his skills as a cornerback.

Just my two cents worth....