Scott Davis Article forwarded on Oakland Raiders football
Info sourced from Rich Winter
Running Backs, good or great, need proficient blocking up front. The Raiders seem to be very aware of this evident in one of their more recent decisions. The free agency period is now past and one acquisition by the Oakland Raiders seems to have flown under the radar. Barely a footnote and surprisingly so, was the signing of tight end Lee Smith form the Buffalo Bills.
The decision, at least up to now was to shelf the active pursuit of a receiver tight end like a Julius Thomas. Instead Oakland GM Reggie McKenzie nabbed a proven blocking machine from the Bills that will hopefully have a palpable impact on the Oakland Raiders offense as head coach Jack Del Rio and his cadre of coaches prepare to wield some force through a strategy of power football.
Smith is 6-foot-6 270 pound athlete who attended Marshall University. The Raiders decided they wanted to add some size and toughness at they grabbed a blocking tight-end. At 27 years young, Lee Smith is by most accounts entering his prime and should be able to fill some deficits up front. The Raider Nation, although somewhat underwhelmed by the decision is set to see a rise in Raider power football, especially in short yardage downs with the addition of Lee Smith.
Is he of a all-pro tight-end caliber? Some recent stats are that he had 7 catches, 42 yards and 1 TD last season. Over the course of his 4-year career he’s pulled in 20 catches for a total of 144 yards and 3 TD's. Smith may have not been brought in to catch and score; he is ideal for blocking and handling opposing DE's; he can help get the ground game going but he has the talent and drive to become a well-rounded asset for the team.
News of Lee Smith’s signing didn’t crash servers across the web but never-the-less he represents a smart acquisition that moves the Oakland Raiders in the direction of becoming the team they feel can win games.
Scott Davis Retired Oakland Raider posts news, articles, images promoting the Oakland Raiders and NFL