Tag: irv smith jr.

Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 82 days

With just 82 days remaining until Alabama kicks off its 2023 football season, let’s take a quick look at a former TIde star that wore No. 82, Irv Smith.

The Alabama Crimson Tide will take the field for the 2023 college football season in 82 days, as Middle Tennessee State visits Bryant Denny Stadium on Sept. 2.

Here at Roll Tide Wire, we will be counting down the days until [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and his team take the field.

Today, with 82 days remaining, we will take a look at one of the best tight ends of the Nick Saban era, [autotag]Irv Smith[/autotag].

Smith had a dominating junior season for Alabama in 2018 when he hauled in 44 receptions for 710 yards and seven touchdowns. Smith was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Smith now plays for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Freshman wide receiver Jalen Hale currently wears No. 82 for the Tide.

Irv Smith’s Photo Gallery

Bengals TE Irv Smith Jr.’s contract incentives revealed

New details on the contract for Bengals TE Irv Smith Jr.

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Irv Smith Jr. is the latest tight end to get a shot at a big payday and more while standing as the No. 1 tight end on the depth chart for the Cincinnati Bengals.

But Smith can certainly do well for himself in 2023 by hitting a few contract incentives.

The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov tracked down contract incentives for a lot of the new signings around the league recently and Smith has two built into his deal:

  • 700 or more yards receiving $125,000
  • 9 or more receiving touchdowns $125,000

Smith’s deal with the Bengals was previously reported as a one-year contract worth $1.75 million.

A year ago, Hayden Hurst had 414 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games as Joe Burrow’s top option at tight end. Smith could surpass those numbers though, provided the offense shifts more to include the position in the attack or the targets suddenly open up for other reasons such as due to injuries.

Not bad for Smith either way — even Hurst’s numbers didn’t stop him from going and getting a three-year deal worth $21.75 million with the Carolina Panthers.

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Joe Burrow excited about the Bengals’ addition of Irv Smith Jr.

Irv Smith Jr. has the Bengals locker room buzzing over his talent

The Cincinnati Bengals have arguably the best receiving unit in the NFL, but they found a way to make it this off-season by adding former Alabama and Minnesota Vikings tight end, Irv Smith Jr. Smith is an upgrade from their 2022 TE room which was led by Hayden Hurst, who appeared in 13 games and recorded 52 receptions for 414 yards and two touchdowns. Hurst departed this off-season to go play with Bryce Young in Carolina.

Smith spent the first four years of his career with the Vikings, but mid-way through the 2022 season, Minnesota traded for Pro Bowl TE, TJ Hockenson. Smith had previously been a second-round pick of the Vikings, but will now get to join a roster that is in the midst of its Super Bowl window and will have a chance at consistent production.

He missed the 2021 season with a torn meniscus, but in his three other years in the NFL, Smith has posted 91 catches for 858 yards and nine touchdowns. There are still a lot of things to be excited about with Smith as a player, he just needs to find a chance at constant production, and I believe he has that with the Bengals.

In fact, Bengals quarterback, Joe Burrow, is already impressed by what he has seen of Smith this far going on to say, “Irv, first of all, he’s upstairs all day every day learning the offense, watching tape with [tight ends coach] James Casey. So that’s exciting to hear. And he’s looking smooth — big, strong, athletic, smooth hands. So we’re excited to have that guy.”

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor Irv Smith Jr. and his tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Ja’Marr Chase hyped about Bengals adding Irv Smith Jr. to offense

Ja’Marr Chase might be more excited than anyone about Irv Smith Jr. joining the Bengals.

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The Cincinnati Bengals might have been excited about the addition of tight end Irv Smith Jr. in free agency — but apparently not as excited as star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

Chase told reporters this week that he’s thrilled to see Smith join the team given the history there. The two worked out in high school with the same trainer, never mind the LSU connection.

It goes beyond connections too, with Chase really excited to see how Smith fits in the Joe Burrow-led offense.

Chase told Geoff Hobson the following:

“I know exactly what he’s capable of. We played against each other in high school and in college, so we’ve been following each other the whole journey, but I feel like he’s good with the ball in his hands and he can make a play, he has YAC, he can definitely make a guy miss. He’s not the average speed tight end. He’s a smart player, too, and all that plays a part in his game.”

Smith steps into that role previously occupied by C.J. Uzomah and Hayden Hurst on a one-year deal and will look to excel while functioning as the third or fourth option in the progressions when the three wideouts are on the field.

Based on Chase’s hype and what we’ve seen from Smith in the pros so far, there are plenty of reasons for fans to look forward to his fit in the offense as the No. 1 tight end after the team didn’t use one of its eight draft picks on the position.

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17 ex-Vikings set to face former team in 2023

The Minnesota Vikings will be facing a lot of former teammates during the 2023 season.

The Minnesota Vikings are no exception when it comes to NFL rosters changing from year to year. This offseason, we witnessed several long-time players leaving to join other teams. However, with a new season on the horizon, we will soon see them again.

The Vikings will be taking on a lot of old friends, including ones that were Vikings for a long time.

Bengals’ draft confirms it’s all about Irv Smith Jr. at TE

Irv Smith Jr. is tops on the depth chart after the Bengals didn’t use a notable draft pick on a tight end.

Like we stressed in our top 2023 NFL draft takeaways for the Cincinnati Bengals, it would appear it’s Irv Smith Jr. and little else for the team in 2023 at tight end.

Maybe Duke Tobin and Co.’s unwillingness to draft a tight end over eight picks and only adding to the position in undrafted free agency was just an unlucky falling of the board.

But the proverbial writing has been on the wall. C.J. Uzomah wasn’t exactly a highly-paid player two years ago. Hayden Hurst was on a cheaper one-year deal. Now Smith is, too.

Maybe the Bengals just don’t value the position all that much, at least compared to how fans on social media do.

The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. put it best after the draft: “The Bengals need to find bodies at tight end. Irv Smith Jr. looks entrenched as the starter and Drew Sample is a capable backup, but two more potential contributors should be added.”

Sample is a great backup who fills a blocking niche and it’s safe to presume Wilcox comes back. They’re adding at least one undrafted free agent and avenues like trades, waiver claims and signing recent cuts can still add to the spot.

But it turns out the signing of Smith was always the big move. It’s understandable if they love the upside of the former second-round pick in this particular offense, despite his missing notable time with injuries over the course of his career.

The Bengals indeed need longer-term contracts at the position, but 2023 is the Irv Smith Jr. show, barring something shocking.

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Joe Burrow influenced Irv Smith Jr.’s decision to join the Bengals

Irv Smith Jr. on why he joined Joe Burrow and the Bengals.

The Cincinnati Bengals got their tight end when Irv Smith Jr. signed a one-year deal with the team in March.

Smith has said that he believes he could be the missing piece the Bengals need to get over the hump and win a Super Bowl.

A big reason that Smith came to Cincinnati was because of Joe Burrow, according to an interview from Mohammad Ahmad at Cleveland.com.

“It definitely factored my decision. He’s arguably the best quarterback, if not one of the best, quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s young as well and he’s had a lot of talent and has been to a lot of big games and played in a lot of big situations. He has everything you want in a quarterback,” Smith said.

That’s one of the many benefits of having a star quarterback. Not only does Burrow make the team better with his play on the field, but he has other players wanting to come and play for the Bengals as well.

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Zac Taylor says plan is for Irv Smith Jr. to play Hayden Hurst’s role

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor dished on the plan for new tight end Irv Smith Jr. before the draft.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor says the plan is for new tight end Irv Smith Jr. to play in the same role Hayden Hurst had last year with the team.

As the team’s offseason program starts, Taylor said that is the “vision” for Smith and the position, at least.

Of course, that “vision” can change in a hurry thanks to the draft. Smith is more than capable of stepping up as the primary pass-catcher at tight end while Drew Sample returns to his normal blocking role.

But the Bengals taking a tight end early would create a competition to be Joe Burrow’s primary target in the offense at the position.

Still, what else would Taylor say? This close to the draft, there is no reason to show the team’s hand as far as draft plans go. That was a nice bonus about the Smith signing besides his high upside — the team doesn’t have to take a tight end early, but it can depending on how the board falls.

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Irv Smith Jr.’s father advised TE to join Bengals in free agency

A fun note about Irv Smith Jr.’s path to the Bengals.

Much was made about Irv Smith Jr. joining the Cincinnati Bengals over another competitor for his services such as the Mimai Dolphins.

Turns out a family member and former pro urged Smith to choose Cincinnati over all other options.

Smith’s father. Irv Smith Sr., doesn’t have a hard time recalling his pitch to his son about joining the Bengals.

“You need to sign with Cincy. That’s where you need to be. I feel it in my bones,” Smith Sr. said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “I didn’t even look at the roster. I just said that team fits you perfectly. Two amazing receivers, that (running) back they’ve got … that quarterback … the tight end they had is gone. You’re the guy they need for that situation.”

Another fun nugget? Smith Sr. actually steadily advised his son to embrace the tight end position as opposed to wide receiver over the course of his early career.

Sage advice all around, as Smith Jr. is now the third or fourth option in one of the NFL’s most prolific passing attacks — headed up by Joe Burow, whose last two tight ends were rewarded handsomely in free agency after producing in the exact same role.

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Bengals coach details Irv Smith Jr.’s fit in offense

The Bengals scouted Irv Smith in the draft years ago and now add him to the offense.

The Cincinnati Bengals think new tight end Irv Smith Jr. can fit in better than expected as a run blocker while also providing a boost to the passing game.

So says tight ends coach James Casey, who scouted the offense’s newest free-agency addition personally on the run up to the 2019 NFL draft.

“He’s a good route runner. He’s got speed. He’s tough. He runs hard after the catch,” Casey said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “He’s got good technique as a blocker. He’s not the biggest person, but he’s got good effort and isn’t shy about doing his job. He fits what we do and he’s just a great guy. Good person. Dad played. He knows what it’s all about and he does it the right way.”

Smith has always been a little underrated as a blocker, which has been a pleasant bonus to his game, considering his smaller frame (6’2″) for the position.

So while much of the focus centers understandably on Smith’s fit in a passing offense as the third or fourth option behind Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, Bengals coaches also had other factors in mind when signing a free agent they watched closely during the draft process.

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