OT Marvel Smith in town: Implications

by Fooch on Mar 18, 2009 8:00 AM PDT in News Comment 38 comments

As is being reported all over the place, Steelers free agent OT Marvel Smith is scheduled to come to town today for a visit. Smith will be 31 in August, but more importantly, has had a disc injury in his back that has shelved for 15 games the past two seasons. He had lower back surgery in December 2007, and ended up on IR for a sizable chunk of last season. Rotoworld even went so far as to say that more than likely Smith has failed several physicals in free agent visits this offseason.

Smith was a Pro Bowler in 2005, so he definitely brings some talent to the table. Of course, Jonas Jennings did too but he was more fragile than any antique. I'm working under the assumption that the physical won't go so well tomorrow, but in the meantime, here's a scouting report on the big fella:

Smith can recover pretty well if initially beaten, but isn't extremely fluid. He has heavy hands, shoots them with power and uncoils very quickly. He has excellent size and enough strength to move bigger defensive ends off the ball.
. . .
He picks up blitzes cleanly and has a very good understanding of the game and his position. Smith packs a powerful punch and places it well. He is still a plus athlete as offensive tackles go and can get out to the second level or pull effectively.
. . .
He is a good run blocker, but not overly explosive and will not simply blow people off the ball. High end speed rushers give him trouble, because his quickness out of his stance and overall agility is just average for a left tackle.

Smith was playing left tackle for the Steelers but started his career as a right tackle. If the 49ers could get a healthy version of Smith they'd be in a much more flexible position with the #10 pick. They could go in just about any direction with the pick, up to and including trades.

At the same time, if Smith manages to pass his physical, I think you still draft a young right tackle. Maybe not with the 10th pick, but I think one of your higher picks could be used for depth there. The offensive line has had numerous injury issues the last few years, so clearly it would not be a poor choice. In reality, given the age and injury issues, I don't know how much this really changes your draft strategy.

I wouldn't expect them to give Smith a huge deal. Back when they opened up the safe for Jennings, he was 27. I'd think we'd find out pretty quickly how the physical goes. On the one hand, if Smith passes the physical, I think you try and lock him up real quick. On the other hand, if he does in fact pass the physical, you have to wonder what happened with the other teams.

I think the best way to describe my opinion of this right now would be "wary." Of course, given Smith's recent injury history, "pessimistic" might be a better word.

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Are they making the same mistake?

Smith? Jenning? What"s the difference? Do you really want to fill the Roster with injured players? Do you sign him and put him on IR? Are their any other FA lineman out there who can help? Say so if you know.

by LASVEGASNINER on Mar 18, 2009 8:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

the difference is likely in their salaries. I wouldnt have even been opposed to bringing Jonas back at a very reduced price. Both these guys can be more than adequate RTs if healthy, its just that you have to pay them according to the limited number of games they will actually play.

Thing A

by sam23 on Mar 18, 2009 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

List of FA OT's

Here is a lis of all Free Agent OT’s, according to SB Nation’s Free Agency List:

Davis Anthony OT Rams UFA
Duckett Damane OT 49ers UFA
Dunn Joe OT Lions UFA
Essex Trai OT Steelers UFA
Foster George OT Lions UFA
Gorin Brandon OT Rams UFA
Harris Kwame OT Raiders UFA
Jackson Scott OT Texans UFA
Johnson Marcus OT Vikings UFA
Miller Fred OT Bears UFA
Runyan Jon OT Eagles UFA
Salaam Ephraim OT Texans UFA
Scott Jonathan OT Bills UFA
Shaffer Kevin OT Browns UFA
Smith Marvel OT Steelers UFA
Slaughter Chad OT Ravens UFA
Tauscher Mark OT Packers UFA
Willis Ray OT Seahawks UFA
Britt Wesley OT Patriots RFA
Butler Rashad OT Texans RFA
Clabo Tyson OT Falcons RFA
Federkeil Dan OT Colts RFA
Penn Donald OT Bucs RFA
Clary Jeromey OT Chargers ERFA
LeVoir Mark OT Patriots ERFA

Blind devotion.

by ProfessorBigelow on Mar 18, 2009 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

one name jumps out on that list.....Kwame Harris

GIT R DONE NINERS BRASS

Simply by pulling on both ends, Patrick Willis can stretch diamonds back into coal

by 49erLou on Mar 18, 2009 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

NINNNRRRSSSS BRRRSSSSSSS

GET KWAAAMEMEEE!!!!11

Blind devotion.

by ProfessorBigelow on Mar 18, 2009 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you guys serious?

I can’t tell.

I can tell Kwame Harris is a terrible football player who’s madly in love with the false start.

by Neon on Mar 18, 2009 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mocking

They’re mocking the stereotypical forum posters with CAPS and BRASSSSSSSS. The are a very common mocking trait, too.

by sfgfan on Mar 18, 2009 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the list

But….. I don’t see signing a older or rehab player temporary. Why, to do this all over again next year? Why not pick two lineman this year and not have to worried about it for years to come!

by LASVEGASNINER on Mar 18, 2009 7:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Signing Smith..

… shouldn’t (and won’t) prevent the team from drafting a tackle if one they like falls to them.

by sfgfan on Mar 18, 2009 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This seems like this would be a higher risk with a medium reward type of signing. I don’t think it’s worth it. Too many things have to go right for a signing like this to pan out.

by RealDrew on Mar 18, 2009 9:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

considering the bargain rate he’d likely be signed for if he does pass the physical it seems more like a low risk medium reward type signing to me. The guy could be a solid stopgap at RT while we develop a younger guy. If he can pass the physical I say go for it. If he’s signed for as little as I suspect he can be, even a handful of games from him would probably be about worth it. I’m guessing if he does sign it will be a games started incentive laden deal. I dont see whats not to like.

Thing A

by sam23 on Mar 18, 2009 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Price or Risk

I don’t believe that Jonas or Smith are worth the price considering the risk. Jonas is still rehabbing his shoulder. Smith hasn’t played in two years with surgery over a year ago. Spend the money for someone who can help today. Then the Price is worth the Risk or vise versa.

by LASVEGASNINER on Mar 18, 2009 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Marvel Smith...

… passes a physical, the team obviously thinks he can help today.

Jennings isn’t worth it because he’s due to make over $4M this season. Smith will likely only cost the team $2M, if that.

by sfgfan on Mar 18, 2009 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly.

I don’t think he’ll be making much more than Sims made last season, and both are decent RTs when healthy. Stopgap and CYA is probably what the 49ers are looking for out of Smith.

Kind of a random off-topic thought, but if the 49ers took A.Smith at #10 and signed Marvel Smith, they’d have Al.Smith, An.Smith, J.Smith, M.Smith, and R.Smith. That’s a lot of Smiths on one team.

by sfgfan on Mar 18, 2009 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd

For the sole reason that you picked up on the Smith thing. Thats nuts.

Blind devotion.

by ProfessorBigelow on Mar 18, 2009 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

didnt the Cowboys have a bunch of them back in the early 90’s?

Thing A

by sam23 on Mar 18, 2009 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think the risk would be in the salary he would demand, but in the lack of depth we have at his position. Starting Smith without a strong backup is a problem. The team needs to draft a tackle in the first round (unless someone they weren’t expecting falls to 10…Crabtree maybe). I guess if they signed Smith AND used their first round pick on an OT that would make me feel a little more comfortable with signing Smith.

by RealDrew on Mar 18, 2009 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you're looking for a "solid" backup...

… then Snyder and/or Sims provides that. What it sounds like is you’re looking for, essentially, a third starting tackle, and not very many teams have that.

by sfgfan on Mar 18, 2009 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know…maybe I’m being unrealistic, but I think the niners are in position to hedge their bets at OT. They can sign Smith and find a franchise tackle for the future in the draft.

I probably am being unrealistic. The team isn’t in a position of building depth when they have so many holes that need to be filled.

by RealDrew on Mar 18, 2009 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Franchise tackle.

The 49ers think they already have their “franchise tackle” in Joe Staley. To take a tackle high in the draft basically forces them to either (1) move Staley to RT in favor of an unproven talent or (2) give Staley an extension that somewhat negates what value he is currently providing the team.

While I understand that people don’t want an oft-injured player starting, that’s sometimes the nature of the beast. I don’t think that by signing Marvel Smith they will completely ignore their need for a RT, but it definitely allows the team to draft an RT at a more appropriate spot (i.e. the second round) that provides them proper value. Basically, the signing of Smith is like the signing of Huard. It doesn’t preclude the team from drafting a player of the same position.

by sfgfan on Mar 18, 2009 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

With a young bunch of lineman, other than Sim and Jonas. Heitmann is the oldest at 8 years. The rest are 3 to 5 years in the league. That means,they haven’t either drafted or kept a lineman in three years. Maybe it time to draft at least one. I remember what Walsh OL coach did with the talent he had. He turn it into a force that protected Montana and Young for years. So, with the combination of good coaching and new talent, we could have a line for years. Instead of having to look for a O Lineman every year .

by LASVEGASNINER on Mar 18, 2009 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bad memory?

What about these guys:

2007 – Joe Staley, Rd 1, pick 28

2008 – Chilo Rachal, Rd 2, pick 39
2008 – Cody Wallace , Rd 4, pick 76

We have drafted to starters in the past 2 years, both of whom look like they will be solid mainstays on the line for years. And we’ll see what happens with Wallace.

I honestly think the line is making its way towards respectability. Staley, Rachal and Heitmann are great linemen (Rachal looks to be heading that way). Bass is pretty good I think. Snyder can hold his own at RT. I think some depth and competition will help the line, but really, the line should be much better next year even if we don’t make a huge change at RT. Snyder or Marvel Smith, if we sign him, would be fine RTs to start with. If we pick an RT somewhere in the draft (preferably not in the 1st) we can work him in over time.

But yeah, I think we will have a solid line for years. A young RT to groom. Wallace might be the eventual replacement for Heitmann in a few years (or maybe he’ll take over sooner and Heitmann will move to LG as some have suggested). I think we have a lot of solid young talent, and we’re building the line from the ground up. Some FA’s to fill in the holes is okay, but I’m glad for the most part their going through the draft. I mean, the 5 guys currently pegged to start: Staley, Bass, Heitmann, Rachal and Snyder are all Niner draft picks. Now hopefully we can have some continuity and things will improve.

And sorry, that was an ADD ramble and a half. I was all over the place on this reply.

by Sebaz49 on Mar 18, 2009 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

You’re right! After reviewing your comments and rechecking the roster and then looking at their profile, I found that the Niner post is incorrect regarding the players years of exp.( roster vs.profile) example, Rachal drafted in “08” which means 1 year but the 49er roster says 2., They say the same with all that you mention above. They do have a bunch of young guys to build on, now fill in the holes with draft picks (2) no more old guys! That’s all I was trying to say. And good coaching!

by LASVEGASNINER on Mar 18, 2009 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I got what you were saying

and completely agree. You build through the draft. I just wanted to point out that the team has in fact been doing a decent job at that with respect to the line. Now, my reply to you stopped at:

We have drafted to starters in the past 2 years, both of whom look like they will be solid mainstays on the line for years. And we’ll see what happens with Wallace.

Everything after that was just a general reply to the discussion as a whole, not just you specifically.

by Sebaz49 on Mar 19, 2009 7:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Smith would be ok by me if we signed him to a 1-2 year deal

for about 2 mil a year. I’d rather sign him to a one-year deal which, since it seems he’s been rejected a lot of places, seems possible.

by foosball4949 on Mar 18, 2009 10:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

One-year

It’s very possible that he signs a one-year deal for ~$2M.

I think it’s a little more likely he’ll sign for two-years at about the same yearly rate, but where there are very little guarantees in the second year.

by sfgfan on Mar 18, 2009 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Depth at O-Line is critical

If he’s healthy and you can get him for a reasonable price we should definitely do it. The guy was a Pro Bowler OT and adds valuable depth, regardless of what happens in the draft where we’d probably get another OT in one of the rounds. There is absolutely no downside to having depth at O-Line, esp. OT.

by Neon on Mar 18, 2009 10:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly.

by sfgfan on Mar 18, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

MURS for President!!!!!!!

by jtoj on Mar 18, 2009 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sign

him for cheap, 2 years. and draft a tackle anyways. Smith’s job should be not to start….but to take Barry Sim’s roster spot.

by save10 on Mar 18, 2009 11:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

NO

I’m really constpated with old rehabs. I don’t want to talk about the O-line next year. lets lock it up this year. We got 8 good and young lineman, now fill in the holes with 2 picks. Gees, we got nine picks. The Oline is the hardest to work together. Get it done and move on!!!

by LASVEGASNINER on Mar 18, 2009 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

To Witt: nine picks

WR, Pass Rusher, Olb/Ilb, CB,SS/FS, Rb, and Qb and oh yea, 2-O-line = 9 .How about theses positions to fill? But where? Lets see what choices you make for each selection. Come on, I want to see how you would draft in each round. Remember you have either the 10th or 11th pluck in every round except for the supplemental rounds. Supps. are after the 3rd and wiiln’t not be decided until then. A Contest of Sorts,of course!!

by LASVEGASNINER on Mar 18, 2009 7:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs