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December 09, 2009
Smith says he'd "probably get in trouble" if he spoke out about passing game
It's not difficult to see, or understand why, Panthers' wide receiver Steve Smith is having a frustrating year.
Whether it's Jake Delhomme or Matt Moore, Carolina quarterbacks have had difficulty getting the ball to Smith. The situation isn't helped by the fact that there isn't a strong No. 2 option at the position.
Smith dropped some hints about how he feels about the situation today (Wednesday) during a conference call with reporters who cover the New England Patriots, Sunday's opponent.
With thanks to the Patriots' media relations office for sending over the transcript, here are some highlights of the interview:
Q: Miami threw 53 times (against the Patriots) last week. Do you see the opportunity for a big game for yourself?
SS: Um, not even close. Nope.
Q: Why is that?
SS: I just don’t think that will happen here.
Q: How difficult has the transition been from Jake Delhomme to Matt Moore?
SS: I mean, it’s only one game, going into our second game. I think … I’m not sure if they named a starter yet, so it’s kind of hard to say if it’s been a tough transition. It just happened.
Q: Do you or the offense have to do anything different? Are the play calls similar to what they were before?
SS: I mean, I think the playbook is similar. They play calls are similar. We’re a run-first team and we have two good running backs, so everything is going to stay the same.
Q: You mentioned this is a run-first team. I can’t imagine that’s easy for you considering how productive you’ve been. Has this been a difficult year and/or a learning year for you?
SS: Professionally, this is probably a down year for me. Personally, I’ve learned a lot of things and steady learning every day. So you have … I hate that cliché, ‘You learn something every year.’ But it’s true. Honestly, there are moments where I do get discouraged and frustrated, but then there are moments where I go back and I think, ‘Oh, I did this and that.’ So that’s kind of how I treat it. It’s not too hard for me to say we are a running team first. That’s what we try to be. That’s what we are. We have two good running backs — three, four good running backs — and that’s what we do. But at the end of the day, run first or whatever you want to do, when we really need a big play downfield, in a hurry, they have to go to 89. So I don’t worry about it too much. I just keep coming back for some reason.
Q: How would you analyze your team’s passing game this year?
SS: I don’t know. If I say what I really want to say, I’ll probably get in trouble. I’ll just be honest.
Q: It would just be between us though …
SS: I was born in the morning — not this morning.
-- Charles Chandler
Posted by Observer Sports on December 9, 2009 at 09:35 PM | Permalink
Comments
I shall remember that comeback. I was born in the morning....not this morning. Go Steve.
Posted by: Steve Gilmore | Dec 9, 2009 10:09:19 PM
Fire Fox and hire a coach that will allow a quarterback to throw a forward pass.
Posted by: kevin | Dec 9, 2009 10:13:54 PM
i love smith, so honest. gotta be frustrating being so skilled and having a joke of a coach and a jake of a qb. hope you never leave steve but i wouldnt blame you if you did.
Posted by: john | Dec 9, 2009 10:19:21 PM
get rid of Muhammad. Maybe if they get a serviceable #2 receiver, Smith won't be double covered all the time.
Posted by: john | Dec 9, 2009 10:38:25 PM
They got rid of Muhammad moron... any got Me-Shawn and Keary Colbert only to get Muhammad back... so how did that work for ya?
Posted by: STH | Dec 9, 2009 10:46:21 PM
Trade Smith for a first and third round pick after the season. Once he loses a step, he is done due to his size, and he is on the downhill pull. He is selfish anyway, let's get something for him while we can, unlike Joo-lee-us.
Posted by: Phil | Dec 9, 2009 11:02:52 PM
Get rid of fox... that sorry _____ play book jeff davidson has... and Hurney, muhsin, jarret, gamble , godfrey , marshall and jake... maybe we would have a chance...
Posted by: donniebrasco | Dec 9, 2009 11:23:35 PM
Come on steve! you got a catch Sunday. You have to get open to get a chance to catch it. I think they've made a move at qb that'll help you, don't whine too much until we give it a chance to work. I think Moose is a good #2 receiver, he did a great job when Smith was injured. I think if they turn Moore loose Moose can still be effective.
Posted by: vic | Dec 9, 2009 11:24:21 PM
Smith is more than just speed you ignorant moron. He's a stellar route runner and the most physical player on the team.
But even if he was just about having an extra step, he's still 2-4 years from losing a significant amount. How old is Randy Moss and he still lights up defenders (as i'm certain we'll learn again Sunday)
Posted by: Gamble20 | Dec 9, 2009 11:25:29 PM
Bring back Drew Carter!!
Posted by: TylerB | Dec 10, 2009 12:03:06 AM
Dude, Phil you are a moron. Getting rid of everybody is just such an insanely stupid idea. There are a few guys that deserve the ax... Jake... Julius needs to be traded... Hopefully... But seriously our secondary isn't so terrible they need to get rid of them all. If fox and davidson left though, I probably wouldn't miss them too much but maybe, maybe they should get atleast one more year. ( that's if we win one or two of our last games.) if we can't win one I think they should be out. And I hate saying this but maybe we can get a good draft puck for one of our RBs. And I really do hate saying that cause I love Williams and Stewart, but what's gonna happen come time to resign both those guys and they BOTH want the money they deserve? I'd rather have a first rounder to get a future QB then have two awesome running backs. Oh, and since this article is about smitty I'll give my two cents on him.... He's arguably the best player in franchise history if not then definitly the mist memorable. I love that guy and hope he retires here. And I hope we get a QB that can throw the ball so he can get back to getting triple crowns and ruling the league.
Posted by: Brandon | Dec 10, 2009 12:55:36 AM
Moore hit him with a nice 66 yarder, so maybe he shouldn't whine so much. I wonder if he realized that he was making it sound like he had no confidence in Matt Moore.
Posted by: Jerad | Dec 10, 2009 2:36:38 AM
What does that mean?
I was born in the morning, Not this morning?
I would say this to him,
Steve baby; If they are going to Under/Over You on every play & your other Recievers can't shake their Man coverage, then maybe "You were born a long time ago, just Not Yesterday!"
Posted by: Tazwell | Dec 10, 2009 3:00:54 AM
How about putting Smith in motion. This isn't rocket science.
Posted by: Dan | Dec 10, 2009 7:18:58 AM
I dont think he made Moore sound bad i think he was talking about if he were to talk about Delhommehe would get in trouble. He said Moore only played 1 game & they hadnt named the starter for this week yet.My question is, why can a Patriots meadia relations, whatever that is, get an interview with Smith & the local Observer never gets 1? When is the last time this paper interviewed a player & got to ask questions they want to ask? Like asking Smith who he would rather see start. I also think when Smith said "nope not even close" he was referring to the Dolphins passing 53 times, not him having a big game.
Posted by: MrBernz | Dec 10, 2009 7:53:59 AM
@tazwell...please read the question he was answering before you open your mouth and just assume that that comment was made about the whole interview...the man clearly(a reporter none the less) said he wouldnt tell anyone how steve really felt. and steve (smart beyond his years) knows better then to believe nothing will be told...kudos
Posted by: JUST DUMB PEOPLE | Dec 10, 2009 8:38:17 AM
Hang in there, Smitty. Sunday might be the day you and Moore connect for 150+ yds!!
Posted by: BeanDipp | Dec 10, 2009 8:53:33 AM
I get the impression that when the axe falls on Fox (being the end of a contract year that's very likely to happen this year)
Steve Smith will be able to tell us a lot more about how F'd up the organization has been and what poor decision making he's had to suffer thru silently.
In Fantasy terms alone, sticking with Jake and the same game plan every week has ruined Smith's stats this season. I'm sure a low fantasy stat year kills a players national endorsement money. In what other way would a die hard AFC West team fan root for Smith for instance and associate him with winning?
Posted by: SportsDon | Dec 10, 2009 9:21:55 AM
They never got "rid" of moose. They offered him a 30 million contract. He took the 31 million from the Bears though. Moose has been one of my favorite panthers but there needs to be a true threat at the number 2.
Posted by: emuns4579 | Dec 10, 2009 9:24:29 AM
how quickly people forget his great season last year.. cant be the s**t every year.. and fox never has two winning seasons in a row any way.... What were you expecting?
Posted by: zach | Dec 10, 2009 9:50:07 AM
steve best thing for you and your career is to go to a team that knows how to win games, at least a playoff cailber orginazation,like the giants,baltimore,pittsburg new england, just to name a few they have great quartbacks that will get you the ball,but if you stay here you will grow resentments this is a small country ass town they have never won any thing so what do they know about winning leave steve before it,s to late.
Posted by: edward woods | Dec 10, 2009 10:34:15 AM
Whoa whoa whoa, Marshall is pretty good and Gamble can be when focused. Forget the long bombs, what about a slant pass for Rosario and King sometimes....
Posted by: VB | Dec 10, 2009 10:37:25 AM
Edward woods youre an idiot, ever heard of UNC? Duke? Theu dont know about winning? Its the Carolina Panthers, not the Charlotte Panthers dummy. Sportsdon, Fox has 1 more year on his contract, this isnt the last year of it. Fox has built this team up & it is a very good team now. All Fox needs really is a qb & then theyre all set when theyre healthy. Moore may be that qb, we dont know yet, if not Fox has the whole off season to find 1.
Posted by: MrBernz | Dec 10, 2009 10:39:51 AM
Steve Smith is a great receiver but we can't tell this year. I watch some of the other games and it seems like all the other teams are getting their star wideouts the ball..so why can't we??? In 2005 Steve had 12 touchdowns, 100 and something receptions and over 1,000 receiving yards. I think he would make a great slot receiver since he's fast. We need somebody who can get him the ball in space. Come sunday you'll probably see a whole bunch of conservative plays, Leigh Bodden will be covering Smith, and the Panthers will get into 3rd and long situations and therefore have a lot of 3 and outs. After this season Smith will probably want to be traded, leaving the Panthers without any wide receivers.
Posted by: Phylicia | Dec 10, 2009 11:10:18 AM
Talking about idiots MrBernz. "All Fox needs is really is a qb"? Imagine THAT insight. Glad you relaize that because if not for the "hand problem" Joke would STILL be our starter in Foxy's eyes. Fox had the whole PAST offseason to make a move at the qb position but for some reason they do not want anyone else competing for that position.
Posted by: JR | Dec 10, 2009 11:19:17 AM
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