re: Make or Break Players for the 2011 Season

While Smith did contribute to help stopping the run, the defense as a whole, missed his ability last season as a pass rusher. In passing situations, many times he failed to win one on one match ups even when he wasn't being chipped or doubled.

Fair or unfair, Smith set the expectations pretty high for himself with his '09 performance. There's DE's across the league that face chip blocks & double teams game after game & still manage to put up double digit sack totals at seasons end.

All I'm saying is that if you are going to be the man & get paid for being the man, then you better play & produce like the man. Last season, Smith's effort seemed there but it didn't show in his sack totals. The NFL is a numbers driven league. If Smith can't sack the QB in 2011, then one of our young hungry DE's may end up on the field in passing situations in 2012.