Tag: Fred Smoot

Brian Mitchell encouraged about the Commanders under GM Adam Peters

The former Washington star and current radio host is excited about the new direction of the Commanders under Adam Peters.

Brian Mitchell likes what he sees from the Commanders’ new leadership.

The former Washington Redskins running back/returner was a guest on the “Command Center” show Thursday and was rather upbeat in comparison to how he so often had mostly bad news to report regarding the Commanders during the Ron Rivera era.

Asked initially what he felt the Commanders needed going into this week’s draft, Mitchell responded an offensive lineman, linebacker, a cornerback to replace Kendall Fuller, and then a defensive end and tight end (knowing. of course, they are selecting a quarterback in the first round).

When host Fred Smoot inquired regarding offensive tackle, Mitchell expressed he has been saying the Commanders should trade back into the first round, obtaining an offensive tackle they really want, rather than waiting to see which one is available in the second or third round.

Mitchell reminded the audience that new general manager Adam Peters was very active in free agency and made surprising moves. Thus, Mitchell believes Peters will be busy during the draft as well, and the Commanders consequently draft in different places than they are currently scheduled.

Traveling to the draft this week, Mitchell is really looking forward to the draft in Detroit. “The ultimate thing is I’m going there to begin to see how it is really supposed to work. You know, I’ve experienced this thing before, and I’ve seen how this thing has fallen off.”

“I have seen what is going on since they signed Adam Peters, and I just want to continue seeing that.”

No doubt, the Commanders look to be in much better hands with the hiring of Peters as general manager. Commanders fans, as well as former players, such as Mitchell, desperately are hoping Peters is the man to turn around a franchise that hasn’t had a winning season since Kirk Cousins was the starting quarterback (2015 & 2016).

Fred Smoot: Sam Howell ‘is a dangerous weapon’

Are people sleeping on Howell’s ability as a runner?

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Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell remains a hot topic ahead of the 2023 NFL season. Many believe the second-year passer will be the latest in a long line of Washington’s quarterback failures. Why? Well, sometimes, it’s as simple as Howell being a former fifth-round pick.

We are only half joking here. We can debate that Howell should’ve gone much higher than the fifth round in 2022, but there’s no point in doing so. Howell is a former fifth-round pick, and history isn’t on his side. But that doesn’t mean Howell can’t succeed in the NFL. He has the arm strength, accuracy, leadership and running ability to be an NFL starter.

That running ability is often underrated when discussing Howell. In his final season at North Carolina in 2021, Howell rushed for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns after passing for over 7,000 yards in his first two seasons.

In a recent episode of the “Command Center” podcast, former Washington cornerback Fred Smoot said the following about Howell:

“I think the unknown of Sam Howell is a dangerous weapon,” Smoot said. “Because defensive backfields do not know how to prepare for him. People are going to realize they cannot run two-man under against him.”

In his lone appearance as a rookie in 2022 — a season-ending win over Dallas — Howell carried the ball five times for 35 yards and a touchdown. Check out this touchdown run:

You see a little bit of everything from Howell here. First, it was a nice fake; then, you see the quickness, vision and fearlessness to go against the grain and take it in for the score.

When discussing Howell, not enough is said about his ability as a runner, which adds an extra element to Washington’s offense. Howell is athletic, but he’s also thickly built to withstand some of the hits he could take by running the ball.

The Commanders should be able to run the football in 2023 with Brian Robinson Jr., Antonio Gibson and Howell.

Forbes feels Mississippi State prepared him well for the Commanders

Forbes chats with fellow former Mississippi State alum Fred Smoot and tells a great Mike Leach story.

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Emmanuel Forbes told a Mike Leach story this week.

Forbes, who played at Mississippi State under the late head coach, told Fred Smoot that the next team meeting after a loss to Alabama, players were in for a great surprise.

Leach took out a children’s book and read it to the Bulldogs team. Forbes recalled hearing the little train saying, “I think I can, I think I can.” Forbes continued that not only did Leach read the book to the team, but that he started again and read the children’s book five times to the team and then asked some related questions as well.

A couple of days later, a little message had been placed on everyone’s locker reading, “I think I can, I think I can.” Leach wasn’t quite finished. The next day shirts arrived for everyone with the little engine on the front saying, of course, “I think I can, I think I can.”

Leach’s reasoning? Forbes recalled that Leach told the team, he didn’t really see in them that they thought they could win the game against Alabama.

Smoot was direct, asking Forbes if he has found anything that will help increase his playing weight. Smoot told Forbes he needs to start eating steaks and work with the weights to put on needed weight to his frame.

Smoot recalled he watched film and attempted to pattern his game after Deion Sanders. Forbes replied that when he was in high school he would watch film of Jalen Ramsey. “I am physical, and I can tackle,” insisted Forbes.

Smoot warned Forbes that teams will want to attack his slim frame and want to run outside at Forbes. Forbes seemed to think it was simple, “Honestly, it’s mental, just being locked in every play.”

Forbes feels playing at Mississippi State prepared him for the mental awareness he will need in the NFL. “Honestly, I’ve been in the playbook and been watching film, and it’s literally like the same thing. The only thing different is the terminology.”

Logan Paulsen on Montez Sweat: ‘He’s poised for a big year’

Montez Sweat was terrific last season. Will 2023 be his breakout season?

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Lost in all the talk regarding the Washington Commanders declining to pick up defensive end Chase Young’s fifth-year option is fellow pass-rusher Montez Sweat.

Sweat, like Young, will be a free agent after the upcoming 2023 NFL season. The 2019 first-round pick is playing this season on his fifth-year option.

Through four NFL seasons, the 6-foot-6, 262-pound Sweat has 29 sacks and 37 tackles for loss. He’s been durable, too, having missed only seven games, all of which came in the 2021 season. Sweat suffered a broken jaw that season and tragically lost his brother late in the season.

Sweat was one of the NFL’s more productive pass rushers in 2022, however, didn’t receive the recognition of others because he finished with eight sacks. Sweat, an outstanding run defender, was often around the quarterback, and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio believes Sweat’s numbers could “explode.” It’s all about finishing a few of those pressures for Sweat.

On a recent episode of the “Command Center Podcast” with former Washington players Logan Paulsen, Fred Smoot and Santana Moss, all three agree the 2023 season will be a big one for Sweat.

“He’s poised for a big year,” Paulsen said. “I just think he’s going to come out and set the foundation for a big year.”

“His energy was just there,” Smoot said after recently talking with Sweat. “It’s set up for him to dominate.”

“If you watched closely, these guys play last year, Sweat was so close,” Moss said. “He could’ve easily had so many more sacks. So many other guys that we talk about, the guys on the inside [Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen], we talk about Chase Young, and Sweat is just out there making plays every time.”

Washington wants to extend Sweat before he ever hits the free-agent market. However, until new owner Josh Harris and his group are approved, any long-term agreements are on hold.

With Sweat being this close to free agency and so many predicting a huge year, would he sign a new deal now? Or wait until after the season? If Sweat and Young have big years, the Commanders will have a good problem on their hands in deciding which one to pay.

Commanders Quan Martin confident he has been prepared for this moment

Martin is confident, ready to help the Commanders this season.

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Jartavius “Quan” Martin thinks he has been prepared for this moment.

Martin, a defensive back out of Illinois, chatted briefly with former Washington cornerback Fred Smoot recently.

Martin revealed his middle name is Daquan, and thus “Quan” became a nickname early in his youth. He also unveiled that he really appreciates his college head coach at Illinois, Lovie Smith.

The Commanders rookie, drafted in the second round of this year’s draft (2023), expressed that he feels he is indebted to Lovie Smith for preparing him to play at this level. He is confident he can take what he learned from the experienced Smith and apply it to the NFL level.

“I will probably start out as a nickel back and move around some after that,” expressed Martin. When Smoot asked Martin how he would describe himself, Martin did not hold back, stating he was “tough, smart, dependable.” “I am just a guy who loves the game who’s going to go out there and do whatever it takes to help this team win by getting the ball back for the offense.”

Hearing his name announced at the draft by London Fletcher, Martin said was an awesome experience for him. He and his family were together in Orlando for the draft, making it a memorable night for Martin when he was drafted in the second round by Washington.

During Covid, Martin said he started cutting his own hair. This led to Martin cutting his roommate’s hair. He told Smoot he likes the fact that he has not paid for his haircuts in three years now.

Growing up in Florida, he loved the football played by Deion Sanders. This led him to choose to wear No. 21 in Youth football, high school and college. Martin understands with that number being retired in honor of the late Sean Taylor; this is his first year he will not be wearing No. 21.

Fred Smoot predicts a big year for Chase Young in 2023

He thinks Young will reach double digits in sacks.

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Chase Young looked to be on the verge of superstardom in 2020. The Washington Commanders defensive end finished his rookie season with 7.5 sacks and was named NFL defensive rookie of the year.

Young regressed in 2021, recording only 1.5 sacks through nine games before suffering a devastating knee injury in Week 10. Young would miss the remainder of the 2021 season and all but three games of the 2022 season.

Young’s injury and lack of production over the last two years led the Commanders to decline to pick up Young’s fifth-year option for 2024.

Declining the option made good business sense. However, it comes with risks. Young will be a free agent after the 2023 season, along with Montez Sweat. Had Washington picked up the option on Young, and he and Sweat both had big 2023 seasons, you could control both for 2024.

That’s no longer an option. Washington is very likely choosing between Sweat and Young. While some are skeptical that Young can finally reach double-digit sack numbers, former Washington cornerback Fred Smoot isn’t among them.

On a recent episode of “Logan Lives in the Comments,” starring former Washington players Logan Paulsen, Smoot and Santana Moss, Paulsen asks Smoot which defensive players have stood out thus far. Smoot names two: Young and safety Kamren Curl.

While Smoot didn’t necessarily cite their performance in OTAs or minicamp, he went a step further, predicting a big season for both players in 2023. He believes Young will have a huge season in 2023.

Smoot thinks Young could reach “15-to-10 sacks” in 2023.

If Young reaches those numbers, you can probably expect the Commanders to apply the franchise tag on him in 2024.

Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson calls former Vikings CB the best trash talker he faced

The former Viking was an elite trash talker during his time in the NFL.

Asked to name the best trash talker he played against, former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson pegged former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Fred Smoot.

Smoot was signed to a six-year, $34.7 million contract during free agency in 2005. That was one of the biggest free-agent contracts ever awarded to a cornerback at the time. He didn’t last very long in Minnesota, both because of his play on the field and also his role in the infamous Love Boat scandal.

The praise from Ochocinco is warranted, as many over the years have spoken about how good of a trash talker Smoot was.

Fred Smoot says he can see Kurt Warner in Sam Howell

This would obviously be a best-case scenario for the Commanders.

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Everyone loves comparing young players to current players or retired players. It’s especially true around draft time. Some comparisons are fair, while others are…..odd.

What about Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell? Who can forget some of the comparisons ahead of the 2021 NFL draft, comparing Howell to former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield?

Then there was the recent comparison from ESPN’s Matt Miller, who compared Howell to Colt McCoy. While it wasn’t a knock on McCoy, who has enjoyed a long NFL career, his reasoning didn’t make much sense. He noted the following on Howell: “Not great arm strength.” Anyone who has watched Howell knows arm strength is not an issue.

Since we love comparing players, former Washington cornerback Fred Smoot had a comparison of his own on a recent episode of the Command Center with fellow former Washington players Logan Paulsen and Santana Moss.

He compared Howell to Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. Warner, the former grocery store stocker turned Super Bowl champion and two-time MVP, is one of the NFL’s best all-time stories.

Why did Smoot make the comparison?

The former longtime Washington cornerback noted that Warner and Howell were built similarly, and they throw the ball in a similar way.

Smoot further reiterated his comparison on Friday’s episode of “The Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast.

Smoot talked about the St. Louis Rams from Warner’s era, noting how Washington’s top three receivers compare favorably to the Rams’ three from that era. Then Sheehan asked him who was going to be Kurt Warner.

Smoot explained what Howell lost from his final season at North Carolina. He then discussed how all the Commanders need is above-average quarterback play with their defense and offensive weapons. He believes Howell can bring that in 2023.

“Yeah, but he didn’t start off a Hall of Famer,” Howell said of Warner. “You watched him develop; you watched the story play out. So I am asking you to watch the story of the ‘Lone Wolf,’ Sam Howell…….give this guy a chance.”

Smoot is an excellent analyst. He gives facts and experiences when discussing why he feels a certain way. As he noted, no one can predict the future, but it’s clear that he believes too many are sleeping on Howell.

Smoot’s appearance on Sheehan’s podcast is worth a listen.

When the Commanders were on the clock at No. 47…

Logan Paulsen and Fred Smoot like the Jartavius Martin pick.

When the Washington Commanders went on the clock at No. 47 in the second round, a YouTube live broadcast with Julie Donaldson and her team of analysts dove in, awaiting the selection.

Logan Paulsen asked to name a few names as the better possibilities to be the selection. Offensive linemen Cody Mauch, Tyler Steen, linebacker Daiyan Henley, and “Fred (Smoot), I think you will like this, man. I think we got Sydney Brown and Jartavious Martin. Both from Illinois, both really fun to watch on film.”

Suddenly the card was already submitted, and Donaldson read the name live, “Jartavius Martin.”  Paulsen did not hesitate to respond, “Oh, that’s a bad man right there.”

Paulsen had again nailed it as he often does. The Commanders had chosen Martin. Paulsen said he believed Martin really was the best player left on the Commanders board at this time.

Santana Moss asked if the selection of Martin was “Kam Curl insurance” if the Commanders cannot sign Curl to a contract extension.

Smoot relayed to the fans watching they need to realize 70% of the guys drafted these next two days will not be in the league in four years. So why would the Commanders reach to fill a need? No, they need to take the best player available when selecting early in a draft at No. 47. Paulsen echoed you don’t want to reach and devalue the No. 47 pick.

Moss reminded fans that those who might be upset because Washington did not select a linebacker that the team plays more packages with more defensive backs. Therefore, this pick probably makes more sense for the packages they play.

Paulsen assured fans there are offensive linemen that the Commanders will be able to select later.

But he reminded fans the draft has to fall to you, meaning that, of course, there were offensive linemen they would have loved to have drafted, but other teams in front of the Commanders wanted those players, so they are gone.

Thus the Commanders have to go with better players that fall to you. Smoot echoed this sentiment take the draft as it comes to you; get players who can contribute now.

Donaldson reminded viewers that Bobby McCain is no longer with the team, and he played many snaps the last two seasons, so the Commanders really need to ensure they can plug in players who can contribute this season where McCain did in the past.

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Commanders land playmaking cornerback in Daniel Jeremiah’s final mock draft

Fred Smoot would be very happy.

Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network released his final mock draft Wednesday, and it was vastly different from his previous version for the Washington Commanders.

In Jeremiah’s previous mock draft, he has Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid landing with the Commanders at No. 16 overall. Jeremiah is high on Kincaid, ranking him as his No. 9 overall player in the 2023 NFL draft class.

However, in his final mock draft, Jeremiah has Washington selecting Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes.

The Ron Rivera-led Commanders appreciate ballhawking cornerbacks, and Forbes is the best ballhawk in this draft. He’ll make plays on the ball in zone coverage for Washington.

In his three years at Mississippi State, Forbes had 14 interceptions and returned six for touchdowns.

Former Washington star cornerback Fred Smoot, also a former Mississippi State Bulldog, is a big fan of Forbes.

The biggest knock on Forbes is his size. Forbes is 6-foot-1 but weighs just 166 pounds.