Will Smith played "hurt" mush of last season, but expects to bounce back this season.
After signing a six-year contract extension last season that could be worth up to $70 million, he recorded only three sacks. He is guaranteed $25 million of the contract and is the third highest paid defensive end in the NFL, following only Minnesota's Jared Allen and Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney.
Smith started every game last season while suffering through a sports hernia that had nagged him since Week One.He showed toughness and waited until the end of the season to undergo surgery. A re-energized Smith is going to be essential in the Saints are going to reach the post-season for the first time since 2006. He says a bounce-back season for him is in place. The WhoDats are losing their patience after a two-year playoff drought.
The sports hernia and the ineffectiveness of former defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs, who was fired in January, contributed to Smith's struggles. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' more aggressive approach should be beneficial to Smith and Charles Grant, the team's other defensive end who also suffered through a poor season. Williams is going to focus a great deal of his energy on finding ways to make sure Smith, Grant and the other pass rushers are put in more advantageous situations than Gibbs was able to create for them.
While optimism about a return to prominence for Smith is high, there are still lingering concerns that four-game suspensions Grant, departed Deuce McAllister and Smith received last season -- but never served while a lawsuit filed by the players involved was heard in federal court -- could go into effect during the upcoming season. Smith and Grant were suspended after testing positive for StarCaps, a water pill that contains bumetanide, which is banned by the league Smith and the other players suspended for taking StarCaps filed a lawsuit against the company that produces the product. A trial to settle the matter is scheduled for June, the outcome of which may give the Saints an indication of whether Smith and Grant will be sidelined.
Smith was a team captain last season and is a veteran of 78 NFL games with 59 starts. He has 342 career tackles, 36.5 sacks for 245 yards. 13 forced fumbles with 13 passes defenses and 6 fumble recoveries. He made the Pro Bowl in 2006.
He said he's felling great now and ready for a good season. "I had a little surgery after the season to get the hernia corrected and I'm feeling 100 per cent ready to do," said Smith.
The Saints' pass rush will get more help this season with the addition of several new faces aboard.
"I've talked to all the new guys," said Smith. "I was already familiar with Rod Coleman because we played Atlanta twice a year, so I knew what kind of competitor he is and what type of person he is. But for the most part it's talking to them and getting to know them and letting them know how we do things and what's expected. I've met with Paul Spicer and learned more about him. The new guys are going to fit right in."
Smith will be working with a new defensive line coach this season, Bill Johnson.
"I knew him from when i spent some time with him when I was coming out of OhioState," said Smith. "I know what he expects from his players and how he coaches. We see eye-to-eye on things. He has his own ideas and his own expectations of what he wants to accomplish and the best way to accomplish what those things are.
"It's up to us to go out, , learn from him and improve. Anyone can tell you they have high expectations of you, but if you don't set high expectations and goals for yourself, then all the rest is just lip service..
"The biggest hing for a veteran is having the motivation to keep getting better and pushing to get better. In this league, there are always highs and lows. You have to learn to battle through them, be consistent and keep striving to get better.
"It's about getting up everyday with a goal, a plan and going out there and doing it."
SOME HITHER, OTHERS YON: Deuce McAllister is hosting the Allfax Specialties golf tournament at Beau Chene Country Club in Mandeville. The event will benefit Children's Hospital. Co-hosts are Saints Jon Stinchcomb and Kevin Houser.. It'll cost you $200 to play in the Friday, May 15 tournament and a tournament pre-party is Wednesday night at Southport in Jefferson. For info call (504) 896-9375 or click on sardenae@chnola.org. Deuce said there are still sponsorships available for space at the event....New on the Web site: Fire Byron Scott !!!...Rick Robey's son Sam will be the starting center for Florida's football team this fall. If you're new in this area, Rick was a basketball star at Brother Martin before becoming an All-American at Kentucky...Tulane ex Roydell Williams is attempting a comeback with the Redskins. He suffered a broken leg in 2007 while with the Titans, but still managed to catch 55 passes for 719 yards.
SI.com ranks LSU No. 13 in the country in its preseason rating system. Florida is No. 1, Ole Miss is No. 7 and Alabama is No. 10...SI's Peter King asked Peyton Manning if Matthew Stafford should play or observe as a rookie at Detroit. Peyton's reply: "I think you throw him in right away. I think he's lucky, the fact he's going in with a new coaching staff. That's a big advantage because he's basically just like all the other veterans as far as learning the new system, learning the way the new coach is going to approach things, learning his philosophy. I'm waiting for somebody to break that NFL rookie record for interceptions I set back in '98. Hopefully, Stafford will give it a good run. But I'll say this: there's no way I could have played as well as I did in my second year if I hadn't played the first year.".
Will Smith played "hurt" mush of last season, but expects to bounce back this season.
