Broncos acquire DE Le Kevin Smith from New England
by John Bena on Aug 17, 2009 10:10 AM MDT
in Denver Broncos Roster Moves
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The Denver Broncos agreed to a deal with the New England Patriots to acquire defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith. Terms of the deal were not immediately known, though it is being reported that the deal has Smith, along with the Patriots 7th Round pick in 2010 heading to the Broncos for Denver's 5th Round selection. Again, that has not been verified.
Smith was drafted in the 6th Round of the 2006 Draft and has seen bit parts in the Pats' defense each of the past 3 seasons.
While this move is not going to tip the news scales, it is another move by the Broncos to bring in players that understand the defense the Broncos are trying to play. Depth along the front has been a concern and Smith will bring in another player to compete with the existing crew. It also provides the Broncos another 5-technique with experience in the 3-4 defense.
"The 3-4 defensive end requires a special technique and special athlete," said Smith's agent, Adisa Bakari. "It requires the size of a defensive tackle and the agility of athleticism of a large defensive end. It's hard to play the 3-4 without one. It's why those guys go so high in the draft. Le Kevin is athletic enough to play the end and strong enough to play over center."
Here are some of his highlights from the 2008 season, including a fumble recovery against the Broncos -
Played in a reserve role along the defensive line and totaled a career-high 21 tackles (10 solo) ... Tallied his first career fumble recovery against Denver (10/20) ... Notched a career high five tackles at Seattle (12/7) ... Played in the season's final 15 games after being inactive in the season opener against Kansas City (9/7) ... Tallied one tackle playing in reserve at defensive end against Miami (9/21) ... Played on defensive sub packages and made one solo tackle at San Diego (10/12) ... Credited with his first career fumble recovery, scooping up a ball freed on Lewis Sanders' strip of Broncos running back Andre Hall against Denver (10/20) ... Tallied three tackles ... Contributed two tackles in coverage playing in reserve at defensive end against St. Louis (10/26) ... Tallied a single-game career high five tackles, including three solo stops at Seattle (12/7) ... Dragged down Maurice Morris for a 1-yard loss ... Helped create the hole for Ellis Hobbs' 95-yard touchdown kickoff return as Hobbs tied the Patriots franchise record with his third career kickoff return for a touchdown at Oakland (12/14) ... Dropped Darren McFadden for no gain ... Notched two tackles (1 solo) against Arizona (12/21) ... Played in reserve at defensive end, tallying two tackles in the Patriots' shutout victory at Buffalo (12/28).
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Don't know much about the guy
However it looks like he will add some depth and knowledge of a 3-4 defense. Whatever helps us improve I am all for.
GO BRONCOS IN 2009 AND BEYOND!!
2009 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant
LeKevin?
That’s all I really have to say… Le Kevin?
(But seriously, seems like a good addition to add needed depth to the line.)
BTW
I think with a new player coming in, we’ll have to waive somebody right? Who could it be?
Bleeding Orange & Blue in The Netherlands
Really… We just signed another RB today and with all the injuries at RB, I’d be surprised if we cut Walker to add a DE (not that I think Walker make the team because I don’t)…
But cutting him today? Are you guessing or are you certain.
Love the Broncos, don't like their Coach.
I think he’s guessing.
My guess would be a WR. We have so many, and with B-Marsh back, I could see them letting go off Matt Willis or Travis Shelton, or maybe one of our many CB’s.
Bleeding Orange & Blue in The Netherlands
from DB.com blog Day 18 AM:
Head Coach Josh McDaniels said Rulon Davis has been released.
Sad to hear that, was rooting for him to make it.
Bleeding Orange & Blue in The Netherlands
Once he got banged up and missed some practices
…he was doomed. Hoped we might save him for the PS, but such is life. Out of he and Pedescleaux, Ped has the higher upside.
Bummer!
"Talk about the Broncos and I'm gonna 'put my dukes up'. I'm gonna hit you with these rings." -- Rod Smith's rebuttal to Jamie Dukes
by broncosmontana on Aug 17, 2009 12:56 PM MDT up reply actions
Semper Fi Rulon Davis
It makes me proud to see quality young men like Rulon coming out of the Corps.
I agree, Larsen shouldn’t get any bigger. I am getting tired of his bone crushing hits knocking the pixels off my TV, once they fall to the floor they are very hard to find.
by Arctic Bronco on Aug 17, 2009 1:38 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
From the Denver Post:
The Broncos have fortified their defensive front by acquiring Le Kevin Smith, a five-technique defensive end, from the New England Patriots.
“The 3-4 defensive end requires a special technique and special athlete,” said Smith’s agent, Adisa Bakari. “It requires the size of a defensive tackle and the agility of athleticism of a large defensive end. It’s hard to play the 3-4 without one. It’s why those guys go so high in the draft. Le Kevin is athletic enough to play the end and strong enough to play over center.”
“Le Kevin expects to have a chance, and hopes to earn a starting job there,” said Bakari, who also represents Broncos safety Josh Barrett.
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_13143905
Bleeding Orange & Blue in The Netherlands
Easy Decision I think
Get a big veteran guy who has played in a 3-4 and is versatile. I almost look at it like Oakland subsidized us on the trade too because there was added value for NE to trade for a fifth instead of something else.
Tis better not to throw it to the deep receiver but the open receiver.
This is a very solid backup when...
you already have a good solid line. Our line still has a lot of question marks, but I liked what I saw on Friday, hoping that was a prelude to what we can expect in the season. I expect to see Le Kevin to start, with Ayers directly behind him. That way, Ayers can make a smoother transition.
Correct me if I'm wrong
Actually, Smith would be on the opposite side of Ayers. They’ll play different positions.
This is what we wanted...
Hey, look what we got!
OFF Topic
Orton just threw a 50+ yd TD to Gaffney in practice according to Denver Post Twitter
Bleeding Orange & Blue in The Netherlands
he probably stepped into the pass this time!
by lolcopter on Aug 17, 2009 10:43 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Not so absurd
…if you listen to Klis or Gil Whitely. They’re agreeing right now that Orton won’t be able to stretch the defense.
Now I hope he does that Saturday against the Seahawks.
GO BRONCOS IN 2009 AND BEYOND!!
2009 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant
I hope we save it for the regular season.
It all starts in the trenches - HT 11/11/08
Leave the hateful vitriol to the uninformed - HT 3/16/09
DE
Makes sense you’ll have Smith and Peterson at one end and McBean and Thomas at the other. Good depth.
"Sanity is the realization that everyone is insane to some degree." Me
He plays Peterson’s position? I thought Peterson looked like our best starting D-linemen vs San Fran.
Love the Broncos, don't like their Coach.
I think he is being brought in to
rotate and relieve, not to start.
Precision in thought, concision in style, decision in life.
by Jeremy Bolander on Aug 17, 2009 12:54 PM MDT up reply actions
I like this pickup.
I’ve never heard of this guy before, but I think it says a lot when a 6th round pick sticks on a team with such a great, deep defensive front. Based on that, I’ll assume this guy can play. As a bonus, he’s big and has experience in the 3-4. Plus, it ratchets-up the competition level for the next month, which is nice.
Nunnely Rotates Players
Reminder, a hallmark of Coach Nunnelys DL is that he rotates players on a constant basis for match ups and to keep players fresh. So adding a DE is not necessarily a conviction on the play of Peterson, but maybe on the depth of the line
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also DREAM; not only plan, but also BELIEVE.
Rulon Davis was cut to make roo
by ocbroncomaniac on Aug 17, 2009 12:17 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
bummer.
I liked Rulon Davis…appeared to be a class act. I hope he finds somewhere to play…
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
if we’re lucky nobody picks him up, and we can sign him to the practice squad later on…
Bleeding Orange & Blue in The Netherlands
he was easy to like but
Davis had question marks about him even though his biography looked wonderful. There was nothing at all wrong with his attitude but look at his size = ~283 lbs.
I was originally intrigued by him in the pre-draft period but concluded that he wasn’t the answer for us. If he was about twenty pounds heavier and farther ahead in his development then he could help us. It’s too hard for a player of his size to handle the load.
"If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences". W. I. Thomas
added thought
Le Kevin Smith – 308lbs; Rulon Davis – 283 = 25 lbs. !!
Add to that a couple more years of experience, which is important for a DL.
"If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences". W. I. Thomas
what most impresses me
is how quickly they made this decison. Something tells me I wouldn’t want to get into a quickdraw with Xanders.
Precision in thought, concision in style, decision in life.
by Jeremy Bolander on Aug 17, 2009 12:55 PM MDT up reply actions
and the fact that as a process
this new way of teambuilding didn’t take a siesta just because we were in training camp…
Precision in thought, concision in style, decision in life.
by Jeremy Bolander on Aug 17, 2009 12:56 PM MDT up reply actions
I noticed that...
There is not so muich talk of neglecting the DL anymore. This appears to be another solid move to upgrade our talent level. I didn’t see much drop off Friday from the 1st quarter folks to the 4th. If this move makes us just that much deeper…. bravo.
When this team goes to the 53 man roster, there will be some talent let go. It’s starting to look like we are deeper on defense than we have been in many a year. Our taxi squad will have more talent than we started last year, I think,
With Cuts On The Horizon
I wonder if we could recoup this 5th rounder when we have to start letting people go. Maybe like a WR or so.
Tis better not to throw it to the deep receiver but the open receiver.
Thinking about trading a draft pick
It occured to me how DL are one of the most longshot investments you can make with a draftpick. You have to wait for years under nominal conditions to see if you got a real playmaker or a bust, and in the meantime, you still have to expend resources on the Dline until those years get caught up. It is a crippling process for teams requiring defensive rebuilds.
So if you could trade a fifth round pick for a dlineman (especially a 5-tech or Nose) who had already completed there "adjustment curve, it seems like it would be a nobrainer choice. The 5th round indicates more of a roleplayer investment, which is what it sounds like LePurr is. And we got compensation back? Hell, i would have been tempted to do the trade straight up for the fifth. I think Xanders worked them a little bit….
Precision in thought, concision in style, decision in life.
by Jeremy Bolander on Aug 17, 2009 1:10 PM MDT reply actions 3 recs
I agree
Between McBean, Peterson, and now LeKevin we have 3 guys who were drafted, and developed…(somewhat less for Peterson and McBean) by other teams and than brought in by the Broncos to fill a role. This seems to be a much sounder strategy than taking a flyer in the 4th to 7th round on an unknown rookie who would take a few years to pan out.
With that said Im sure McX will always be looking out for more Dline help, and next years draft will not be any different, but as for now this seems like a solid move that will help to bolster our defense.
And as an added bonus for us broncos fans we helped the Patriots swindle a lower pick out of the Raiders!! Always good to take something away from the Raiders even if it is such a small move.
On To Victory!!!
by alacumba!! on Aug 17, 2009 1:20 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Add Fields to that list
And, we seem to have gotten a good young fellow in Baker as well. Nice scouting!
Hillis/Moreno in '09
Very good point !
About other teams drafting these players People have bashed the broncos for years of bad drafting
For whatever reason they were let go from there former teams and found there way to the broncos
Now some people need to realize that another eye for talent selected these players and not
shannahans crew .
by broncosfaninphilly on Aug 17, 2009 3:12 PM MDT up reply actions
How often do great D-linemen hit FA?
And when they do, they get paid like Haynesworth. It’s a necessary evil, but you have to draft D-linemen and hope for the best. There is not another way to acquire them at a reasonable price.
Love the Broncos, don't like their Coach.
True but...
who from this draft outside of maybe Tyson Jackson could have contributed at a higher level than for say LeKevin Smith.
With that in mind I agree 100% about not being able to find a D-linemen of quality in FA without paying huge amounts, and I would like to see the Broncos draft a high quality D-lineman in round 1 or 2 in the next couple of years if such a player is available. This past draft Jackson was the only player available and he went number 3 overall, so next years draft may yield more 3-4 D-ends, but until than well just have to make due with what we have…..and hopefully it will work.
On To Victory!!!
by alacumba!! on Aug 17, 2009 1:40 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Let the Pats have Ron Brace with a second rounder
Baker, Smith, and McBean combined cost less, in all likelihood.
Well put, Styg. If the Broncs had drafted a D-lineman in the fifth round this year and he were a solid back-up in two years, that pick would be considered a success. To jump straight to the pay-off portion of the investment is a wonderful thing. Also: Good God, the Patriots have some serious depth.
I always thought this was the strongest argument against everybody complaining they didn’t find a D-Lineman to take with the 12th pick. The flame-out rate is high, even on top picks (Hello, DeWayne Robertson), and even the good ones take time to develop. At this position more than any other, I think the two-tier approach works: Grab the Ryan McBeans and LeKevin Smiths now, and work on the Chris Bakers of the world for the future.
Also: I love the fact that back-ups are no longer an afterthought for the Broncos. To see the GM actively spending to get reserve players…. wow. It’s almost like injuries happen in football and should maybe be expected.
by Chibronx on Aug 17, 2009 1:34 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Pryce was the most recent draft pick
to make an impact ok our D-line. Hayward and Eason went elsewhere to be effective. What a shame that young talent either wasn’t acquired or developed. Based on that history it seems okay to spend a 5th on Le Krunch. Having a 7th as a throwin makes this a decent trade.
I agree, Larsen shouldn’t get any bigger. I am getting tired of his bone crushing hits knocking the pixels off my TV, once they fall to the floor they are very hard to find.
by Arctic Bronco on Aug 17, 2009 2:58 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
LeKrunch
HA! Thank you for bringing a good chuckle to my day. What a great nickname. Hope it finds its way to him somehow.
by Bradoncadonc on Aug 17, 2009 3:44 PM MDT up reply actions
Another day of foot-brawl practice in Jokeland?
Yikes.
Sources: Raiders coach Cable punched assistant during altercation
(This is not officially confirmed, but sounds like a coach definitely got punched by another coach)
LeBackup
A backup with the Pats and the Donkeys give up a pick to get him. If he makes the team it just shows who much help is needed up front. Until a much larger move is made to bolster the middle it will continue to be tough to stop the run. I like the move, but more is needed.
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