Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Smith To Pro Bowl?


You take a look at Steve Smith's stats, and you get the feeling he's just a few catches away from becoming the first Giants Pro Bowl wide receiver since Homer Jones went in 1967.

That's 42 years, in case anyone's counting. And it's entirely possible if Smith keeps up his current pace. Right now, he's second in the NFC in catches with 78 catches, just five behind leader and current top Pro Bowl vote-getter Larry Fitzgerald of Arizona. And his 979 yards sit second behind Minnesota's Sidney Rice.

There's no telling how these things go, of course. Given the fact that he only has five touchdowns and, really, is just becoming recognized as a go-to receiver around the league, it's not unfair to think Smith won't make it. But it's a nice thought, anyway.

"Wow, I didn’t know it was 42 years," Smith said the day after he caught six passes for 110 yards against the Cowboys. "Can’t really worry about all that stuff right now. That would be nice, but I am just trying to help my team win."

Smith, just four short of Amani Toomer's franchise record for single-season receptions, will probably pass that mark Sunday against Philadelphia. And he certainly has a shot to pass Toomer's yardage mark of 1,343 by season's end. But those numbers won't necessarily get him into the Pro Bowl, since there are more recognizable names out there with numbers close to his.

But as he said, that's not important. Beating the Eagles, who sport the league's 11th-best passing offense headlined by big-play receiver DeSean Jackson, is the pressing issue here. The Giants saved their season with Sunday's win over Dallas. Now they must continue to pull the division back to them by beating the NFC East co-leaders.

Besides, there's a lot going against him that could not only affect his chances for personal recognition, but the team's chances for a postseason berth. Eli Manning's right foot is obviously bothering him, and it's not going to get better anytime soon.

And even if his quarterback was completely healthy, there's the matter of the cold and windy conditions of East Coast football at this time of year. Consider that the Giants play three of their last four games between Giants Stadium and FedEx Field before heading out to Minnesota's dome for the season-finale. The Giants will have to make a point of ramping up the running game and throwing the shorter routes to keep the sore-footed Manning out of trouble.

Those aren't the strategies that produce Pro Bowl wide receivers. But they do make for winning efforts, which is what Smith is what consumes Smith right now. He's absorbing the renewed energy in the locker room.

"I feel like I do feel a sense," Smith said. "Just from talking to the guys, I think there is a different bounce of energy around here. Talk is good, but you just have to go out and do it. So I feel like guys aren’t really talking as much about what we want to do. I think we are just going to go show it."

Smith said he'll remember that this 8-4 Eagles team ended the Giants' postseason in a one-and-out domination at Giants Stadium last year.

"Yeah, of course. Any time you lose, especially to a team in your conference, it is tough and it hurts. I think guys are going to remember that and are going to come out and play our butts off."

Personal glory will have to wait. There are bigger things at stake this week.

EP

10 comments:

  1. Steve Smith is not a pro bowl receiver.

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  2. I remember Homer Jones. I know Ernie does as well. I wonder how many fans realize that he is the "inventor of the spike" He would slam the ball down in the end zone after scoring a TD. Fran Tarkenton always would say I would just throw it as far as I could and #45 would run under it!

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  3. So, after Ernie shows you all the facts that state why Smith is a Pro Bowl receiver, Wayno2424 comes on and states, without any facts, that he is not a Pro Bowl receiver.

    I love how you make and then defend your argument. I have to try that some time. Do you normally win arguments where you proclaim some blanket statement without defending it?

    Ernie,

    Next time when you post a statement just pull a Wayno and say something like:

    Chris Snee is by far the most attractive lineman on this team! I'll be back with some more random thoughts that I refuse to defend or backup with facts later in the day. Have a good one!

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  4. I have watched every Giants game this year and Steve Smith is not a pro bowl reciever despite whatever #'s Ern has put up. His lack of gamechangers contributes to this and he is a very good possession reciever but not a pro bowl one. Is that good enough for u jerk?

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  5. The poster formerly known as a godDecember 08, 2009 3:28 PM

    Much better Wayno!

    Now we can have a discussion.

    Now I don't necessarily disagree with you. At first glance I didn't think Smith was necessarily a Pro Bowl player, but who would you put in front of him?

    Obviously Larry Fitzgerald, right? Well,Smith has more yards 979-969 and a higher average 12.6-11.7. But Larry has more TD's 10-5. Now you can also go with Sidney Rice - who isn't that much more well-known than Smith. He has more yard (1,036), a higher average (16.4), but fewer TDs (4).

    After that? It's Miles Austin, Donald Driver and Roddy White. Why shouldn't Smith make it? All the top receivers are in the AFC - Randy Moss, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Santonio Holmes.

    And I don't necessarily agree with your statement that a possession receiver can't make the Pro Bowl. Wes Welker is one, as was Keyshawn Johnson. Even Chris Carter.

    After reveiwing the facts, if Smith keeps this up - he's as deserving as any of the other receivers I've mentioned from the NFC.

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  6. I completely agree "poster formerly known as god". We are not talking NFC or NFL MVP. This is for a pro bowl WR, which Smith is definitely making a case. Offensively, he is the MVP of this team. Smith comes through in huge spots this year. Trying to be unbiased as possible, I would vote for him to be a pro bowl WR this year. Smith has been solid for us since his rookie year and has really came on this year.

    Speaking of rookies, Nicks should get at least consideration for NFC rookie of the year, especially if they would put him on the field more the rest of this year. And to back that statement up so no one comes after me, Nicks has 34 catches, 575 yards, 5 TDs, 16.9 avg and a long of 62. Not too shabby for a rookie WR who has played in 10 of 12 games.

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  7. I'm with Wayne on this one. Smith is close, but he won't get it. Pro Bowls are reserved for the glamour, high impact guys. Smith is a technician. I guess what I'm saying is his numbers are great but he is unspectactular and on a 7-5 team that won't get you in to the probowl.

    Nicks will perhaps get some consideration but he won't get rookie of the year either. However, I really, really want to see more Nicks and less Manningham, please!!!

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  8. Pro-Bowl WRs don't always mean they are gamechangers. I think stats are everything when it comes to Pro-Bowl players. Is Welker a ProBowl WR? I think so. Not because he's a gamechanger, but because he, like Smith, are go-to-guys that continue drives when you need them most.

    For his 3rd down conversion rate ALONE, I think Smith is worthy of consideration, ESPECIALLY in a class as weak as this year's NFC receivers.

    For those of you (like me) who DO believe he is a ProBowl receiver, don't forget to VOTE....AND VOTE AGAIN....AND AGAIN:
    www.nfl.com/probowl/ballot

    If you want to save time you can just vote for a handful of guys and enter it without filling out the full ballot.

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  9. DeSean Jackson will make the Pro-Bowl.


    Think about this there are two major groups that make up the Pro-Bowl roster.

    First is Fans the second is players.

    Both Fans and players know most of what they know from watching highlights.

    Seriously, a lot of N.F.L. players don't have time to watch teams they don't play.


    The Pro-Bowl players have A) Big Names and B) Make Big Plays.


    I think you'll see Fitzgerald, Maybe Boldin or Roddy White, Miles Austin, DeSean Jackson, and probably Sydney Rice (remember Minnesota Vikings games have had HUGE ratings this season) you might also see a player like Donald Driver (a respected veteran) get in.


    I think Steve Smith deserves serious Pro-Bowl consideration and just look for further improvement as we move forward.

    If Mario Manningham could figure out how to run routes like Steve Smith...whew!

    giantsgab.com

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  10. I voted for Steve.. Steve is very gifted player who has done really well this year and players his heartout.. I feel he deserves to go to the Pro-Bowl..

    Stacey Cowell
    Atco, NJ

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