Irish Linebacker Brian Smith Signs with Browns

Given that six months of offseason free agent signings are being condensed into a matter of weeks its no surprise that a plethora of deals went down today in the NFL.

You will have to pardon the numerous posts that will ensue, but there are several Irish players who were signed today and each deserves a separate shout out. Bear with me.

Brian Smith, an outside linebacker and three-year starter who eventually lost his post but earned his way back into the starting lineup, signed a deal with the Cleveland Browns today. His career was certainly one of ups and downs. He almost wound up playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes, but when an offer from his father's alma mater came he jumped at the chance to join the Irish in 2007.

Smith is the perfect embodiment of what it means to belong to the Notre Dame family. He eats, sleeps, and breathes Notre Dame. Oh, and he wears his heart on his sleeve while giving it his all on the field. While he may not be the most athletically gifted player on the field, he can make up for it with his determination and hard work.

Congratulations to Smith and his family! For some nostalgia, check out Smith's career highlights below.




BONUS:
My favorite Brian Smith moment was during the 2008 victory over Michigan at Notre Dame Stadium. Pay close attention to #58 around the 3:00 mark of the video below for his fumble recovery and subsequent celebration in the monsoon that struck just as the game resumed in the fourth quarter.

ND vs SDSU - The Aftermath

This post probably could have come much earlier in the week, especially since I watched the recording immediately after getting back from South Bend. At any rate, here are my thoughts on the game:

• No matter how sloppy the final score made the game appear, a win is a win is a win whether it be 21-13, 100-0, or 2-0.
• Jimmy played very well, remarkably improved from last year in fact. His accuracy was reflected by his 62% completion percentage (21/34), and it is important to keep in mind that he wasn't merely dumping the ball off on screens the whole game. Clausen was given the ability to toss the ball downfield, a trend I hope to see carried into this week's matchup vs Michigan.
• We did not, as Charlie referenced the Irish running game this season, "pound it." This is a big concern amongst many Irish faithful wishing to see a power game a la the Lou Holtz years. I, however, am not too concerned as long as there is enough of a balance between passing and running plays to keep opposing defenses on their toes.
• Duval Kamara did not play up to his potential. The first interception was almost entirely his fault, as he tried to trap the ball against his pads rather than using his hands. I'm not sure how I feel about the 2nd INT, but it looked like there was some miscommunication between Clausen and Kamara. Chalk it up to being the first game of the year.
• Our defense performed well as a whole and I was impressed by the pressure they put on the SDSU offense. They only had 1 sack to show for it, but there were a multitude of tipped balls, hurries, and other forced errors.
• Staying on the defensive side, we need to learn to cover draw plays better. I know that the purpose of a draw is catch the defense off guard when they're thinking pass, but we let SDSU off the hook several times on several draw plays that went for first downs.
• The o-line played ok. Not great, not bad. The best thing about their play was that they kept the white jerseys away from Jimmy. No sacks? Awesome.
• Mike Anello deserved his scholarship. The kid is a force on special teams and will put the Irish in good situations all season long if he continues his stellar play.
• The game could have been 40-0. SDSU's second play from scrimmage was clearly a backwards lateral, which Brian Smith alertly picked up and returned into the endzone. Too bad it was blown dead and therefore non-reviewable. Also, the Hughes fumble was not a fumble. I was appalled after watching the replay that this call did not get overturned. His knee was clearly down.
• Michael Floyd is going to be a name you hear very often in the near future.
• Kyle Rudolph will be good but he needs to learn how to block at the collegiate level.
• I should have worn sunscreen.
• Overall, I couldn't be happier with the outcome.

Next up: Skunkbears