Is Danny Smith on Thin Ice?

[wewantdallas]

I have to admit, I don't know much about where this guy came from, but I've been less than impressed with him since last year.

I know Gibbs made special teams a huge improvement project this year, but all the penalties on the returns last night were just killing me. :banghead: Seems like that has to come back to coaching at some point.

I just can't imagine Gibbs being very happy with that performance.

Thoughts?

[whitskins]

Thin ice as in what? Getting canned before the season starts? I don't really understand. But I know Gibbs loves the guy. And I think the special teams play has looked a lot better than last year, save for those penalties. I think a lot of it had to do with guys on the bubble pressing extra hard to make a big play and getting caught cheating a little bit. But I'm not freaking out about it yet.

[redskin_rich]

I wasn't too impressed with his ST units last year and they have been very penalty prone this preseason. 4 holding/illegal blocks in a row last night, 3 last week. I realize he is rotating a lot of guys out there to see who plays best, so I will wait for some real games to make a better judgement.

[PennSkinsFan]

well, for this year, no. Gibbs has indeed spent alot of time and roster turnover this off-season to bolster special teams. If return and coverage units are lacking this year, then Smith will have difficult question to answer considering the time and investment made in bringing in people who have good experience in playing special teams. That being said, I do nto have any fears with coverage or return units, regardless of what they looke dlike last night. i thinkt hey will be a strong unit, probabyl one of the strongest units we have. Just watch.

That being said, Smith has aklso had to deal with the loss fo Hall in 2004 and the loss of Tupa in 2005. Major problems that were unexpected.

[bgforever]

Thin ice as in what? Getting canned before the season starts? I don't really understand. But I know Gibbs loves the guy. And I think the special teams play has looked a lot better than last year, save for those penalties. I think a lot of it had to do with guys on the bubble pressing extra hard to make a big play and getting caught cheating a little bit. But I'm not freaking out about it yet.


Danny Smith wasn't the problem. The problem lies in execution and when the 53 man squad is made, some players like Brown, Rock, Nemo, Thrash will be a better part of it. Brown is making mistakes based on excitement, but he's an all around Pro type player with much to offer.

Rufus Brown and others will be packing and some guys didn't stand a chance.

Zebras make mistakes too, but apparently this one is Smith to check out, correct with who WILL be on the roster and go from there. I really think this ST is far better than last year, because of the personnel changes and their attitudes.

[wewantdallas]

Thin ice as in what? Getting canned before the season starts? I don't really understand. But I know Gibbs loves the guy. And I think the special teams play has looked a lot better than last year, save for those penalties. I think a lot of it had to do with guys on the bubble pressing extra hard to make a big play and getting caught cheating a little bit. But I'm not freaking out about it yet.

No, certainly not being canned already, but being more heavily scrutinized perhaps. More likely to get chewed out by Gibbs, maybe.

Could well be it was just a fluke thing last night with the "scrubs" (although Thrash was called for one of those, I believe, and Broughton's hit in the back was pretty blatant). I just remember last year's unit was not sharp, and I know it's been a major target of improvement this year, so I'm expecting a lot better coverage and smarter play on returns.

[The Skinsinator]

I don't know if he's on thin ice, yet. Special teams weren't great last year and the penalties have been bad so far. Whether he likes him or not, Gibbs has to be concerned. Smith is to be held most accountable for the unit. These penalties have to end.

[CapitalDefense]

Gibbs said after the game that they played alot of different guys on teams, just to evaluate them and see who will make the team. Lets not jump off the bridge just yet, now if it continues after a couple of REGULAR season games then thats another story.

[chrisbcbu]

nah, he isnt on thin ice. 1 bad game in the preseason isnt too bad, considering how bad we were last year.

[bgforever]

No, certainly not being canned already, but being more heavily scrutinized perhaps. More likely to get chewed out by Gibbs, maybe.

Could well be it was just a fluke thing last night with the "scrubs" (although Thrash was called for one of those, I believe, and Broughton's hit in the back was pretty blatant). I just remember last year's unit was not sharp, and I know it's been a major target of improvement this year, so I'm expecting a lot better coverage and smarter play on returns.

Expectations are high so I believe this helped. I'd rather see how and who makes these mistakes in games that don't count, so I can really give them more detail prior the opener.

[BurgundyNGold]

Danny Smith wasn't the problem. The problem lies in execution and when the 53 man squad is made, some players like Brown, Rock, Nemo, Thrash will be a better part of it. Brown is making mistakes based on excitement, but he's an all around Pro type player with much to offer.

Rufus Brown and others will be packing and some guys didn't stand a chance.

Zebras make mistakes too, but apparently this one is Smith to check out, correct with who WILL be on the roster and go from there. I really think this ST is far better than last year, because of the personnel changes and their attitudes.
Nemo and Thrash were each flagged as I recall. These weren't bubble players committing these infractions.

[Ibleedburgundy]

I have to admit, I don't know much about where this guy came from, but I've been less than impressed with him since last year.

I know Gibbs made special teams a huge improvement project this year, but all the penalties on the returns last night were just killing me. :banghead: Seems like that has to come back to coaching at some point.

I just can't imagine Gibbs being very happy with that performance.

Thoughts?


To me the biggest gray area in referreeing an NFL game is special teams play. They could probably find some sort of penalty on every play if they replayed it enough times. Remember two years ago when Daunte Hall was breaking out? His guys were throwing illegal blocks all over the place and they were not being called. The run back against Denver was the most blatant no-call I have ever seen.

This years special teams have blocked better than last years but I wonder if they are doing it legally. Probably not. I hope Danny Smith is testing the refs to see what he can get away with because Joe Gibbs ain't gonna put up with losing the field position battle over stupid penalties. As was said by others: part of the problem is the players. Nemo made a stupid block in the back but I think he atoned for it by making 2 or 3 nice tackles on special teams ( I love watching offensive guys tackle).

[Ibleedburgundy]

Nemo and Thrash were each flagged as I recall. These weren't bubble players committing these infractions.


Nemo might not be a bubble player but he's still a rookie. Do you think he will see special teams play in the regular season?

[bgforever]

Nemo and Thrash were each flagged as I recall. These weren't bubble players committing these infractions.

True, but again you still get in their face and get that commitment for concentration, and let Thrash know you are counting on him for some leadership. Yeah Nemo also can be reminded of how important he is to the ST and just the same, you are counting on his attitude, not how tricky he can be. That's what I am saying get it straight "now" before the opener, no matter the player.

[silverspring]

I think this is a valid question. Probably too late this season to cut him, but with gibbs putting so much emphasis on teams, if smith's unit doesn't perform this year i think it will be his last.

[BurgundyNGold]

Nemo might not be a bubble player but he's still a rookie. Do you think he will see special teams play in the regular season?
If he's good enough. A lot of folks seem to think that was one of the reasons we drafted him and Manuel "We Could've Had Chris Canty" White.

[GoDannyBoy]

Too bad that we could not have brought back Wayne Seiver!

[redskin_rich]

Too bad that we could not have brought back Wayne Seiver!
He is dead.

[EberKain]

I have to admit, I don't know much about where this guy came from, but I've been less than impressed with him since last year.

I know Gibbs made special teams a huge improvement project this year, but all the penalties on the returns last night were just killing me. :banghead: Seems like that has to come back to coaching at some point.

I just can't imagine Gibbs being very happy with that performance.

Thoughts?

Last night was scrubs vs scrubs, alot of guys playing those positions for the first time in a year, mistakes were plentiful, but I would not put any stock in it. If we see an episode like last night in a regular season game, then I think you might can start talking about thin ice.

[GWBlitzST]

Nemo might not be a bubble player but he's still a rookie. Do you think he will see special teams play in the regular season?
You'd better believe it.

[colkurtz]

I think this is a valid question. Probably too late this season to cut him, but with gibbs putting so much emphasis on teams, if smith's unit doesn't perform this year i think it will be his last.

Agreed. If the ST do not have good improvement this season, he will have not a lot of excuses. The team has brought in many young players just for ST play.

[RedskinsVision]

he was brought in by Gregg Williams from Buffalo so he's got some leeway before we think about canning him. the ST's did improve toward the end of last year so he's not on thin ice just yet.

[hail2skins]

Gibbs said after the game that they played alot of different guys on teams, just to evaluate them and see who will make the team. Lets not jump off the bridge just yet, now if it continues after a couple of REGULAR season games then thats another story.He also stated that a lot of players on ST were playing out of place because of injuries.