Submitted by admin on Thu, 2005-10-06 20:00. ::
Terrelle Smith was a focus of training camp because he caught passes out of the backfield, took handoffs from Trent Dilfer to plow up the middle and lined up as a flanker in some formations.
It was a different role for the sixth-year fullback who reported to camp with a different body. Coach Romeo Crennel told him to lose 20 pounds, which Smith did, to be effective in his new assignments.
So far, the carries have not been there in the regular season, and neither have the catches. That could change Sunday when the Browns host the Bears, but there is no evidence it will.
Smith touched the ball only one time during the first three games, and "touch" is the operative word, because a pass slightly behind him in the game against the Bengals glanced off his hands and was intercepted.
"The fullback is the lead blocker when we're in the two-back set," Crennel said firmly Wednesday. "Terrelle is a physical guy, he's conscientious, he's tough and he's pretty decent at it.
"If the game plan is to throw the ball to the fullback, then we'll do it. We're not going to alter the game plan for him. The fullback's job is to be the lead blocker for the tailback. Every once in a while, we'll throw him the ball out of the backfield just to keep him happy."
Smith is not the type to complain, and he isn't moaning now. In fact, he is looking at his role on the bright side. He averaged 15 plays a game in 2004, his first season with the Browns. He had four carries and seven catches all season. He is averaging between 25 and 30 snaps a game this year.
Only three players have carried the ball - Reuben Droughns with 54 attempts, and William Green and Trent Dilfer with five each. Now with Lee Suggs coming around from a sprained ankle and tight end Aaron Shea mended from a pectoral sprain, there are even more players who deserve a piece of the ball.
The odd part of the story for Smith was the demand for the weight loss. Now he doesn't have the same 260 pounds to knock linebackers off their feet. Plus, the Browns kept fullback Corey McIntyre. Most teams don't have one true fullback. The Browns have two.
"That's the way it is in 90 percent of all sports," Smith said. "If you're a boxer, you spend your time working on your left hook, then you get into the ring and end up throwing jabs all the time.
"It's still early in the season. I think they'll come around to it. If you look at the history of the offense we run, the fullback touches the ball a lot. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, I'm perfectly fine with what I'm doing."
Smith played four seasons with the Saints before signing with the Browns as a free agent last season. He blocked for Ricky Williams for two years and Deuce McAllister for two years. Williams ran for more than 1,000 yards each year, and so did McAllister.
Droughns is on pace to be the Browns' first 1,000-yard rusher since Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner each did it in 1985. Smith would feel special pride if he has a part in helping Droughns do something no Browns back has done for 20 years.
"Adrenaline is a beast," Smith said. "When Sunday comes, I don't care what play is called. I'm going to go as hard as I can. I don't need the ball to play hard. If I have to hit somebody, good luck to that guy."
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