Smitty's interview on the Panthers offense

[Dpantherman]

Q: Miami threw 53 times (against the Patriots) last week. Do you see the opportunity for a big game for yourself?

SS: Um, not even close. Nope.

Q: Why is that?

SS: I just don’t think that will happen here.

Q: How difficult has the transition been from Jake Delhomme to Matt Moore?

SS: I mean, it’s only one game, going into our second game. I think … I’m not sure if they named a starter yet, so it’s kind of hard to say if it’s been a tough transition. It just happened.

Q: Do you or the offense have to do anything different? Are the play calls similar to what they were before?

SS: I mean, I think the playbook is similar. They play calls are similar. We’re a run-first team and we have two good running backs, so everything is going to stay the same.

Q: You mentioned this is a run-first team. I can’t imagine that’s easy for you considering how productive you’ve been. Has this been a difficult year and/or a learning year for you?

SS: Professionally, this is probably a down year for me. Personally, I’ve learned a lot of things and steady learning every day. So you have … I hate that cliché, ‘You learn something every year.’ But it’s true. Honestly, there are moments where I do get discouraged and frustrated, but then there are moments where I go back and I think, ‘Oh, I did this and that.’ So that’s kind of how I treat it. It’s not too hard for me to say we are a running team first. That’s what we try to be. That’s what we are. We have two good running backs — three, four good running backs — and that’s what we do. But at the end of the day, run first or whatever you want to do, when we really need a big play downfield, in a hurry, they have to go to 89. So I don’t worry about it too much. I just keep coming back for some reason.

Q: How would you analyze your team’s passing game this year?

SS: I don’t know. If I say what I really want to say, I’ll probably get in trouble. I’ll just be honest.

Q: It would just be between us though …

SS: I was born in the morning — not this morning.

-- Charles Chandler

the interview was actually done by the Patriots media relations

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/2009/12/smith-says-hed-probably-get-in-trouble-if-he-spoke-out-about-passing-game.html

[Gokz1000]

Doesn't Sound too happy. You can tell he really wants to sound off about Jake's Play/Coaching though.

Found it surprising that he wouldn't even refer to Moore as the starter. Maybe Fox is going to wait until the last minute to see if Jake is ready.

[PanthersFanNY]

Wow he is certainly pissy, isn't he?

[Kurb]

I'm scared he is going to demand a trade

[Brooklyn Bully]

He's had a bad year, I'd be down too. Some people think atheletes are toys, or not human. He's like every one of us...frustrated.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

I'm not worried.

If Smitty didn't sound discouraged about the passing offense, then I'd be worried.

[House]

I work at a job that would be a fun and easy job to do especially for what they are willing to pay me. However, there are 2 people that I work with that do not pull thier wieght and so the rest of us must compensate for them. This makes everyones job harder and to compound it everything one of the two does do is FUBAR.

This makes what would probably be my dream job into somewhat of a nightmare scenario that I at times can not stand. I am sure everyone is or has experience with this. That is how SS feels, you can't blame him, if things change then his attitude could do a 180.

[rko396]

Wow, that doesn't sound good

[grateflday]

The Panthers are a run first team with two great running backs, BUT they are not a passing team because their QB has been abysimal. With how bad Jake has been and whether Moore is good enough or not is why Smith is not having a goode season, etc.

The Panthers have a good passing game to go along with their run 1st offense when they had a QB that could throw the ball.

[Fox007]

Hard not to be pissy when you have had one of the worst QB's in the league throwing the ball to you, have a losing record, and have to see or hear John Fox on almost a daily basis.

That last part alone would drive me insane.

[Delhommey]

Our pass game is an atrocity. Smitty has never been shy about expressing his disapproval.

I appriciate his holding back honestly.

[Proudiddy]

His blow up on Davidson during the ATL game was all I needed to know about he felt about this year's passing game/coaching...

[Kakarot]

I'm scared he is going to demand a trade

I hope not, but I wouldnt be surprised if he did.

Hard for him not to be frustrated when he has an awful QB at the helm.

[unicar15]

Greatest Panther of All Time...I love that guy. I feel bad for him that he has never had the opportunity to play with a guy that can consistently put it on his numbers so he doesn't have to bust his butt for every single catch he makes.

I firmly believe that as far as raw ability Steve, Andre, Larry, and Randy Moss are head and shoulders above every other WR of the last decade.