49ers sign CB Keith Smith; release WR Micheal Spurlock

November 3, 2:26 PMSan Francisco 49ers ExaminerSamuel Lam

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the San Francisco 49ers Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Keith Smith joins the 49ers secondary.
(AP Photo)

The 49ers have announced the signing of CB Keith Smith (released at the beginning of the season by the Lions). To make room, the 49ers released WR Micheal Spurlock.

Smith's signing helps out a secondary that is without veteran CB Nate Clements. Clements is expected to miss at least six weeks with a fractured right scapula.

The team also released TE Carson Butler from the practice squad.

Smith has had some success since being drafted by the Lions in 2004. He has played in 71 career games (5 starts), registering 118 tackles, four interceptions, 14 passes defensed, one sack, one forced fumble and one touchdown.

A scouting report from last year's OTAs from MLive.com:

Smith, though, isn't as consistent on intermediate routes and his biggest problem is in run support - a necessity for a Tampa Two corner. It's not that Smith will shy away from contact or won't stick his nose into the action, but his tackling skills just aren't solid.

A former third-round pick (2004), Smith took a long time to develop, but his progress has been coming more rapidly lately, partly due to the coaching of coordinator Joe Barry and partly due to his own dogged determination. Smith has also been more effective on special teams the last two years and his production there should increase as well.

But there were some negatives:

Smith was Detroit's best downfield on-ball defender last year, but he never stepped up in training camp this season.

Smith was out for an extended period of time with a groin injury, and coach Jim Schwartz said he wasn't consistent when he returned.

The team's move to release Micheal Spurlock means that my idea of using him on special teams apparently wasn't something the team had in mind. With the struggles of special teams in terms of ball security, I though that Spurlock, with his experience, might be a good fit. Also, the team had Spurlock as a quarterback in the Wildcat formation. But I guess Spurlock just wasn't going to be used by the team, which made his release eminent.

For more 49ers news: Visit my my blog at  Mining the Gold Rush .
Follow me on Twitter for updates. Check me out here @SLam49ers