Should/will the 49ers sign Bengals DE Justin Smith?

by David Fucillo (Fooch) on Feb 22, 2008 11:36 AM PST in News Comment 15 comments

We are now one week away from the start of free agency and aside from the Lance Briggs tampering drama, names are being thrown around like crazy. The Bernard Berrian rumors have died down and there are some who are not convinced the 49ers will shell out for Briggs. However, Matt Maiocco is pretty convinced the 49ers will make a run at Justin Smith.

Last year the 49ers two big targets were Nate Clements and Adalius Thomas. 1-for-2 worked out ok, although I know most of us would have loved having Thomas lining up with Patrick Willis. This year, Justin Smith is one of multiple targets for the 49ers and so I thought I'd get what info I could on the Bengals defensive end. I spoke with our Bengals blogger over at Cincy Jungle who had some thoughts on the Bengals likely loss of Smith. One particularly interesting point was at the end:

The Steelers played with the idea of bringing him in for their 3-4 with Dick LeBeau quoted as saying he'd be a better fit in that system. Though I seriously doubt they'll pay his price tag if he doesn't drop his demands. The Rams and Buccaneers have also expressed interest.

Smith is a known commodity in the league but I thought I'd roll out Scouts Inc's thoughts on Smith (Insider protected) for your viewing pleasure:

He is a tough football player, will play hurt and has proven to be very durable. He has been reliable. Smith consistently chases the ball and makes plays downfield and from the backside in pursuit. He is a physical hitter and pretty good wrap-up tackler who is capable of jarring the ball loose. In the running game, he is difficult for most tight ends to handle and does a fine job of staying square to the line of scrimmage. He stays disciplined with his run lanes...

Off the snap, he has good, but not great quickness. He has several pass rush moves and continues to improve his skills and repertoire of countermoves, but many of his sacks are the result of hustle. Smith doesn't excel in any one area of his game, nor is he glaringly deficient in any area. He isn't particularly fluid and cannot bend the edge like many of the elite pass rushers in the league. The Bengals will occasionally drop Smith into coverage, but this isn't something that comes natural to him...

He is a liability against pass-catching running backs and tight ends, but he is light on his feet when moving in reverse. He can be slow to change directions and will occasionally come out of his stance too upright and expose too much of his chest to opposing blockers. He can also be a bit slow to shed bigger blockers...[Smith] isn't a game-changing player, but is an upper-echelon starting defensive end.

So, a generally scouting report would indicate he hustles and busts his butt even when hurt, but is not quite as athletic as the premier defensive ends. I'm curious to see what kind of contract Smith is able to net, whether it be with the 49ers or any other team. There is still the question of Marques Douglas, but I think Justin Smith is a clear upgrade at defensive end and could definitely benefit a young defensive lineman like Ray McDonald who has shown solid promise.

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3-4 or 4-3

Nolan stated no preference between running a 3-4 and 4-3. "We're about the best players . . . When teams look at us and break us down, they'll see, I don't know if it's a straight 50-50 but it's pretty close to a 60-40 split of 4-3, 3-4 in what we do." (Again, this is consistent with what Nolan has always said. He believes his 3-4 scheme easily transitions into a 4-3. While he says that the typical 4-3 scheme does not transition back to a 3-4 as easily. While I do not have any stats to back up my claim, I think the 49ers played 3-4 at least 75-percent of the time last season when they were in base packages.)

I find Nolan's lack of commitment to the 3-4 a little odd. It does make sense from a scheming standpoint but it's got to make personnel decisions all that much more difficult. I guess with all that said then Justin Smith does make some sense. He's a very solid and consitent player but he's definately not a world beater by any means.

Here's to hoping Albert Hanyesworth stomps on Alex Smith's head.

by methodrampage on Feb 22, 2008 12:19 PM PST reply actions

Re. Should/will the 49ers sign Bengals DE J. Smith

Sure. Why not? He may be expensive but we gotta do something.

I was looking up some info on Smith at wikipedia. Something I think is kind of interesting. Smith was taken in the 2001 draft with the fourth pick.
(Andre Carter was the Niners 7th pick in that draft but that is beside the point). My point is if we were to acquire Smith, it would kind of be like getting our pick from the Patriots back.

This move could possibly be a master stroke by the 49ers.

Bring back the YAC!

by jfainsf49 on Feb 22, 2008 12:32 PM PST reply actions

And if we signed Byron Leftwich

who went seventh overall in 2003, it would be like getting TWO first round picks.

But obviously that would be dumb. A seventh overall pick in a prior draft is not the equivalent of a seventh overall in this year's draft. If we do sign Smith, it should not be based on what position he was drafted in 2001.

by Rocktopus on Feb 22, 2008 4:35 PM PST up reply actions

Touche

You got me.

Bring back the YAC!

by jfainsf49 on Feb 23, 2008 7:25 AM PST up reply actions

Re. Should/will the 49ers sign Bengals DE J. Smith

Question: If Smith tells the Bengals he will play for, let's say, 9 mil a year and the Bengals pass. Could Smith then lower his asking price or would the Niners or any other team have to match the 9 mil? Just curious.

Bring back the YAC!

by jfainsf49 on Feb 22, 2008 2:38 PM PST reply actions

Justin Smith

He's not Jared Allen, but he would be a huge upgrade at the position. If we could sign him to a reasonable contract I would definately do it. If Allen doesn't sign a long term deal after being tagged by the Chiefs this year, we might be able to sign him next year. If the niners draft DT Pat Sims and put him with those two, we would have a pretty formidable line.

by illini49er on Feb 22, 2008 2:45 PM PST reply actions

Formidable but small (for a 3-4)

Size be damned that would be a pretty sweet line-up and it would probably work in Nolan's 3-4/4-3 hybrid (whatever that is). I wonder if Allen would be able to play off the line a little bit, kind of like a OLB/DE hybrid.

Here's to hoping Albert Hanyesworth stomps on Alex Smith's head.

by methodrampage on Feb 22, 2008 3:01 PM PST up reply actions

Defensive Free Agents: Vilma?

For lack of getting pulled over by the diary etiquette police I choose to talk about a possible signing of ILB Vilma to this Diary. Imagine that front seven... Douglas, Sopoaga, McDonald, Lawson, Vilma, Willis, (draft pick) either Marcus Howard/Derrick Harvey.

We can trade Ulbrich and Moore for extra draft picks and pick up receivers, athletic LBs and OLs

Joe and Steve were under the same system for years... don't expect Smith to be super so soon.

by bayboy on Feb 26, 2008 9:36 AM PST reply actions

Vilma? I'mmm home.

Bring back the YAC!

by jfainsf49 on Feb 26, 2008 10:14 AM PST up reply actions

Ulbrich and Moore?

Who would trade for these guys? This isn't baseball; player trades like this rarely occur.

As for Vilma, he's leaving the Jets because he didn't fit into their 3-4 defense. So I'm curious to your take as to why he didn't fit and to why he'd fit in ours.

Here's to hoping Albert Hanyesworth stomps on Alex Smith's head.

by methodrampage on Feb 26, 2008 10:28 AM PST up reply actions

basically...

Ulbrich sucks.. Vilma is an upgrade to this guy and feel he can fill Smith's void. The only reason why I mentioned Vilma is because he's a beast just like Willis and to have those two guys in the middle would be incredible...

Joe and Steve were under the same system for years... don't expect Smith to be super so soon.

by bayboy on Feb 26, 2008 12:36 PM PST up reply actions

Ok Ulbrich sucks

but your proposing that we trade him, why would anyone want to trade for someone who "sucks"?

So we're just recommending guys based on their beast-ocity? What makes you think Vilma can play the 3-4 in SF if he can't play it in NY? Is it the weather, the time zone?

Here's to hoping Albert Hanyesworth stomps on Alex Smith's head.

by methodrampage on Feb 26, 2008 1:09 PM PST up reply actions

agree...

maybe Vilma won't fit in a 3-4 it be nice to have the luxury of having Willis and Vilma in the middle. I still say a team like the bengals, who are in desperate need of a LB, can trade away a 5th or 6th rounder for ulbrich.

Ulbrich collects tackles by throwing himself on a pile.

Joe and Steve were under the same system for years... don't expect Smith to be super so soon.

by bayboy on Feb 29, 2008 10:20 AM PST up reply actions

No wonder you're not the Bengals GM

Here's to hoping Albert Hanyesworth stomps on Alex Smith's head.

by methodrampage on Feb 29, 2008 8:17 PM PST up reply actions

Vilma in a 3-4

I would have reservations about Vilma because, as you pointed out, the Jets are getting rid of him because he didn't fit into the 3-4. However, Vilma was pretty productive in the 3-4 for the first three years of his career. Plus, as teams game plan towards Willis it could make life easier for a very good player like Vilma. On the other hand Vilma is coming off a leg injury which could be why the Jets think he is no longer suited to a 3-4. On top of all this I think we all agree that the our problem on defense is the lack of a pass rush and Vilma is not going to be someone that will remedy that issue. Although Vilma would be an upgreade over D. Smith the other needs on defense makes trading for him less attractive.

Tom will never be as cool as Joe

by wader251 on Feb 26, 2008 12:42 PM PST up reply actions