Thursday, December 02, 1999Akili turning to teacher Blake
Hopes to learn from him before veteran leaves
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerSome of Jeff Blake's teammates are starting to realize he won't be around next year.
The big offensive numbers from the past two weeks are nice, but what does it mean for next season when this offense will have a quarterback in Akili Smith who missed all of training camp and could miss half of this season?
“We know next year there's going to be an inexperienced guy at the helm,” said right tackle Willie Anderson. “I'm not trying to be negative, but it's a fact. It's going to take awhile for Akili to fully grasp the system.
“In a way, I wish Akili was playing now to get experience, but that takes nothing away from Blake. I love him. I hope he gets a big fat contract.
“It's kind of sad to see him play so well and know that Jan. 2, that's it. When I got here, I thought he was going to be the quarterback when I retired.”
The one guy who realizes this is Smith. He went to Blake Wednesday and said he wanted to pick Blake's brain as much as possible, since he'll be around only for another month.
“That's basically what he said,” Blake said. “I'm not hanging out much. If he wants to come by the house and hang out and talk and watch some football, whatever. I told him to feel free.”
Smith, as eager as ever, said he'll try to get to Blake's house twice this week.
“Jeff is an enormously smart quarterback,” Smith said. “I'm going to spend a little more time with Blake on that (defensive) side of the ball. I pretty much have a good idea what we're doing on offense. Now I want to spend my time on the defense, and realizing what they did to us this season. We'll see some of that same stuff next season.”
Smith kidded about his prospects for playing on his sprained right big toe (“Stick a fork in me”), but he'll try to play in the last two games of the season.
If he doesn't play, he insists this won't be a lost year. He says he's learned plenty on the sidelines during games and listening on the headset.
“Just standing on the sidelines and the crowd noise and listening to the coaches call a game, all that helps,” Smith said. “No way in the world did I think we would start off 0-4. I'm thinking I'll be going into games after we're blowing them out. I've missed 27 practices and I'm starting. Then it was Pittsburgh, the Colts and Jacksonville playing good football. It's almost like I didn't have a chance.
“We'll get it done next year.
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