M. Smith

[Lynch Mob]

I know M. Smith is faster and better in coverage but I think O'brien Schofield should have been starting at the SAM spot. Schofield to me would make a better difference in the run game and rushing the passer. He could be vulnerable in coverage but KJ Wright is not the fastest man either but is definitely effective. I think Schofield is a underrated playmaker that should hold down the SAM spot for Bruce Irvin until he gets back.

 

[C-Dub]

Irvin will be back week 5, so might as well keep Schofield as Clemons backup.

 

[McGruff]

News flash . . . Malcolm mith has quietly developed into our teams most effective blitzing linebacker.

Dude is a stud. I like Schofield as well but Smith has the better overall game IMO.

 

[Happypuppy]

Scofield has a better all around game. I agree he needs to play the most at SAM. He sets a much better edge

 

[Lithium]

News flash . . . Malcolm mith has quietly developed into our teams most effective blitzing linebacker.

Dude is a stud. I like Schofield as well but Smith has the better overall game IMO.

has he? ive hardly ever noticed him, does he even have a sack in his career?

 

[Hamhawk]

Ahh,....isn't it nice to have depth on the roster?,...

 

[McGruff]

News flash . . . Malcolm mith has quietly developed into our teams most effective blitzing linebacker.

Dude is a stud. I like Schofield as well but Smith has the better overall game IMO.

has he? ive hardly ever noticed him, does he even have a sack in his career?

Watch the games and not the stat line . . . In preseason and in the first two games, Smith blitzed with some regularly and great effectiveness.

And while he didn't get a sack in the SF game, he did force the hold in the ends zone leading to our fist two points.

 

[-The Glove-]

I've been a fan of Smith since he got some PT behind Hill

 

[Seahawks Guy]

So many contributors on the D-line this year...it's wonderful.

 

[ivotuk]

Malcolm is playing very well, and he is exceptionally fast, 4.4 speed, no wonder he's such a good blitzer. "Obie" has great potential and if he stays healthy will turn in to a "plus" starter who Arizona will regret letting go. I can't wait until we play them :lol:

Malcolm, imaho, is a much better pass defender too, especially with that make-up speed. Plus he has a lot more experience that Schofield. Later in the season it will probably be a battle on who is playing better, but right now Malcom Smith has a leg up.

 

[ImTheScientist]

News flash . . . Malcolm mith has quietly developed into our teams most effective blitzing linebacker.

Dude is a stud. I like Schofield as well but Smith has the better overall game IMO.

Smith has one sack in his career. I would be more than open to hear you justify or defend your comments above. Maybe I don't know something. :snack:

 

[ivotuk]

News flash . . . Malcolm mith has quietly developed into our teams most effective blitzing linebacker.

Dude is a stud. I like Schofield as well but Smith has the better overall game IMO.

Smith has one sack in his career. I would be more than open to hear you justify or defend your comments above. Maybe I don't know something. :snack:

His "career" consists of 5 starts, Schofield has 11 and a full year on Malcolm. Neither has really had a career yet but OBrien has a lot more playing time. They have different strengths and as time goes on their competition will be a lot stiffer, but as of right now, Malcolm knows the defense a lot better and is much faster. Using sacks to determine which might be the better player is useless.

 

[Evil_Shenanigans]

Admittedly the numbers don't always tell the story. But for my eye test Schofield has been the flashier player. Pete seems high on him as well.

Another thread where Wright just seems to get glossed over. Interesting! I like his play, just no one is talking about him? Good thing or bad?

 

[DavidSeven]

You can create pressure on the QB and openings for other rushers without accumulating official sacks on the stat sheet.

Smith has played very well thus far and did quite well subbing for an injured Hill last season. He's probably one of the primary reasons the team didn't consider LB a huge draft need. I wouldn't be surprised if he held on as starter, even after Irvin returns. Irvin might be used more in pressure packages or just as a new look to keep opposing offenses guessing.

 

[DavidSeven]

Another thread where Wright just seems to get glossed over. Interesting! I like his play, just no one is talking about him? Good thing or bad?

I think Wright did fairly poor against Carolina and then pretty well against San Francisco. Jacksonville is Jacksonville, so it's hard to extrapolate too much from individual defensive performances against that team.

 

[McGruff]

I like Schofield a lot . . . As a LEO and spinner. He's a good LB, but I think Smith is better.

 

[kearly]

I like Schofield a lot . . . As a LEO and spinner. He's a good LB, but I think Smith is better.

I feel exactly the same way, except with the names reversed. I think Smith is really solid as any type of LB, but Schofield can play LB just fine and he's very natural / comfortable around the LOS (whereas Smith seems out of his element at the LOS or as a standup DE). Schofield has also been making a ton of plays. Smith has been good, but his contributions have stood out a lot less than Schofield's. I think the more involved Schofield is, the better our defense will be.

That said, Smith IS faster than Schofield. By quite a bit actually. I think that's a big reason why we've seen so much of Smith on the field early this season, and why he probably won't be replaced until another very fast SAM (Irvin) replaces him.

 

[Tical21]

Smith got picked on a bit against Carolina but was truly magnificent against SF. Their TE's were wearing him all night. He looked more like a FS flowing into breaks. In this passing league we're in, if that becomes his normal game, he is extremely valuable. Irvin is going to have a hard time getting onto the field.

 

[Zebulon Dak]

And while he didn't get a sack in the SF game, he did force the hold in the ends zone leading to our fist two points.

This. He was about to CLOBBER what's his face.