Two fumbles and an 80 yard TD...

[Neo]

Originally Posted by DawgFan

You can teach 'holding on to the football', you can't teach speed that can pull away from a CB who has the angle on you. The Browns TOTALLY lack that kind of speed, so if we need to put this kid on the 53 just to hide him, I say we do it.

I said the same thing lastnight. This kid blew the doors off the defense lastnight and maybe the roof too. We finally have a homerun hitter even though he is raw. Some guy that used to fumble all the time (What was his name?) Tiki Barber. He fixed his issue with fumbles and I think he turned out alright I guess. I can do with us lacking one TE if it ensures this guy a roster spot. It would sure be a shame if someone like the Stoolers picked him up and is running 80 yard TDs in the Superbowl like you know who.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by Flugel

And in Hardesty's case he's had major knee recons done on both knees over the years so that warrants concern over proneness/vulnerability. I think one of those had more than 1 so I'd hate to go the route of thinking we're gonna use him before he's ready this year and lose him forever while we also give a promising kid like Smith away to someone else.

I'm not ready to put all my eggs in one basket "hoping" Hardesty will be the same player because with his type of injury, that's all we will be doing is hoping. I would think that a runningbacks knees are pretty important and take TONS of abuse when making cuts and pushing the pile. I am not about to just wait around and hope for the best, we have a young promising RB that we need to retain.

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by Flugel

If Hardesty isn't ready this year, we simply put him on IR

Well yeah, sure. But if he is ready I want to see Hardesty as well. Look it is great the kid blew open for a big TD. But how durable is this kid? Can he run between the tackles all of the time? What are his weaknesses and strengths?

Sure it depends on Hardesty. But not everyone is shut down just because they've had surgery. We'll see.

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

I like the kid a lot. His acceleration is jaw dropping. That being said, I hope he earns his way into a roster spot maybe by hustling on special teams or something. It'd be a real shame to see him turn into a stud for another team all because we signed Jackson, or are holding onto the hope that Hardesty becomes who we envision. It would be real nice to find a spot for him.

[Neo]

Boy I would love to see Smith line up in a dual RB shotgun on 3rd down and have him motion out of the backfield and run a vertical pattern. Instant deep threat. With the way he blew past the Detroit defense lastnight, they would have to respect his speed.

[DawgFan]

Originally Posted by Neo

Boy I would love to see Smith line up in a dual RB shotgun on 3rd down and have him motion out of the backfield and run a vertical pattern. Instant deep threat. With the way he blew past the Detroit defense lastnight, they would have to respect his speed.

BINGO! Smith and Hillis in the backfield....Hillis is a danger to go up the gut on you, swing out for a pass, or even just stay in and block (instead of the TE)...which forces the LB's to stay up. Then Smith goes in motion out of the backfield leaving either a LB or a S on him...and there is NO WAY either can cover him. If nothing else, it forces single coverage on our WR's. That set would be MURDER to cover.