Will Smith Struggling

[infantrycak]

Saints | Smith Struggles in Minicamp - from www.KFFL.com
Tue, 15 Jun 2004 21:08:20 -0700

Chris Pika, of NewOrleansSaints.com, reports New Orleans Saints rookie DE Will Smith (asthma) struggled with a combination of the humidity and asthma during the team's minicamp workout Tuesday, June 15. Smith had to be tended to by the club's training staff during the practice. "Will is not in the best football condition he should be in," head coach Jim Haslett said. "He said the humidity got to him. Well, it's not going away down here (in Louisiana) and he better get used to it. He is a talented player who will help us win a lot of games, but this is an eye-opening experience for him."

Don't remember hearing about asthma beforethe draft. Surprised he is not in good condition.

[J-Man]

I chalk this one up to the age old saying,, "You pays your money and you takes your chances"...

I do think it was pretty odd that I hadn't heard he had asthma, particulalry since there were 2-3 other highly thought of players that had their draft stock drop like hot rocks for illness concerns.

[Hervoyel]

Of course Will Smith is struggling! Have you ever seen that guy? He can't be more than 190lbs soaking wet with his microphone and he's trying to play DE? He needs to go back to acting and making rap records because as great as Will Smith is he is NEVER going to be able to play defensive end in the NFL. Jazzy Jeff needs to try and talk some sense into him.

These Hollywood types think they can do anything...

[Porky]

I'm not going to read too much into one offseason workout, but the good news is that if he bombs at DE he can always play the lead in MIB III.

[nunusguy]

Yup, I remember Smith had some really quick 40 times (maybe clocked under
4.6 once or twice ?), for a guy around 265 and there was alot of talk here
of taking him to transition to OLB 'cause he's definitely not big enough to
be a DL in the 3-4. I'm glad they didn't want him instead of Babin 'cause based on what they paid for Babin (which was a lot), no telling what they
would have given up to get Smith since he did go higher in the first round.

[Lucky]

I'm not a Saint fan, but I would cut Will Smith some slack regarding his conditioning here in June. Every player need some time to back off training just to let their body recover. These rookies had to go right into these intense draft boot camps after their season ended. Once the draft is over, they're expected to head straight into these "coaching sessions" and mini-camps. Before you know it, training camp starts and then the season begins. Somewhere they have to find the time to heal up.

I would think that by the time the season begins, Will Smith will be good to go. Whether he was a good fit for the Texans was always debatable, but he should become a very good RDE in a 43 defense.