Originally Posted by
slacker00
Smith isn't a franchise QB or even a reasonable backup. I'm not even sure that he could be a wildcat type guy. Nevertheless, he's got a funny niche talent which my gut is screaming will lead to success in this weekend's venue. Maybe someone who can break down the field surface versus the Broncos defensive scheme can shed more light, but I feel like this is a great matchup and maybe a one game miracle for Troy Smith. I expect him to have a career game on Sunday, maybe leading to some momentum for the team and himself. But it will eventually fade because Troy Smith just isn't a long term solution as an NFL QB. No matter how one breaks down this game, they have to put Troy Smith under a microscope in this particular situation to get an idea of how to play this game.
Also, consider that this is a neutral field game which brings an interesting dynamic. I think this hurts the Broncos due to the QB position because Orton is a well seasoned veteran who would benefit greatly if the crowd gets involved, but I almost expect a confused or even an overly polite crowd in London. On the other hand, Troy Smith who has minimal NFL experience during the regular season will benefit from a more 'sterile' venue. For an inexperienced QB, I imagine that even a home crowd might be more of a distraction than a benefit as opposed to a purely neutral field.