The first thing to understand with L.J. Smith is that, while he is in his fourth NFL season, this is only his second as a starter. He is learning every day, improving on every snap and is, whether you notice it or not, taking his game to a new level.

All of a sudden, Smith's game is not judged by the media and the fans solely on his statistics. He is looked at now as an all-around tight end, as the national television networks noticed on Sunday.

"Now I'm getting all of these questions about blocking," said Smith, laughing. "I thought I was doing a pretty good job of blocking before that."

Hey, such is life. We may be a little slow on the draw, L.J. Truth is, Smith's blocking -- already lauded in Eagles coaches' circles before this season -- is being circled when the national television analysts use those telestraters and point out the little things on big plays. Smith has been instrumental working the edge, helping clear the way for Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter, using his 250 pounds well against 260- and 270-pound defensive ends.

It may not be the preferred employment -- "Do I like it? Spadaro, come on, man. I'd definitely rather be running routes and catching balls," Smith said, when asked if he did, indeed, enjoy the art and craft of bashing heads at the line of scrimmage -- but Smith has been part of a renewed and successful ground game that has kept the Eagles balanced in the second half of the season and has helped propel this team to the second round of the NFC playoffs.

"I think I've played well this season," he said. "It's funny as far as the blocking goes. Nobody talked to me about my blocking until ESPN said something. It's just funny how somebody says something and it just starts to snowball and everybody wants to talk about the blocking. I haven't gotten any questions about my blocking until this game.

L.J. Smith, one of the best receiving TEs in the league, is rapidly becoming one of the better blockers, too

"Even friends of mine, they don't pay attention to my blocking. They don't notice it. I'm blocking better. I'm improving. I had a couple of games when I blocked really well. I've just had more opportunities to block now because everything is balancing out as far as the run and the pass.

"Honestly, from watching film, I think I do more pass blocking now than most tight ends do. A lot of times I'm solo on a d end -- 250 going against 290 -- and you win some and you lose some."

It's called "setting the edge." Smith's just isn't necessarily to blow away a defensive end -- that just isn't going to happen a lot -- but he needs to keep the edge firm and keep it that way in the passing game.

In the running game, Smith has to get a body on a body and give Westbrook and Buckhalter enough room to get through a lane. On Sunday, the Eagles ran to Smith's side, the strong side, during that game-winning drive. Everybody chipped in to help Westbrook move the chains, Smith included.

"It felt good to see Brian get through and make some yards," said Smith.

In the big picture, in the awards section of the world, in the Pro Bowl voting, tight ends are judged on their numbers. Smith's are pretty darn good -- he had 50 catches this year, 6 touchdowns and was named a second alternate for the Pro Bowl -- and they will continue to grow and grow as his opportunities increase.

Smith is a player the Eagles like to use in various spots in the formation because he is too fast for most linebackers and too big for defensive backs. There have been times when he has been the featured receiver in the offense and Smith has been up to the challenge.

Now, well, he has added a heavy responsibility in the run game. And if Smith hadn't been able to hold his own, Westbrook wouldn't have been so dynamic and Buckhalter wouldn't have been such a weapon.

Smith clearly is becoming an all-around tight end, something you don't hear much about in a traditional West Coast offense.

"Most of the tight ends in this league are based on numbers, and if you want to be considered among the elite, you have to put up numbers," said Smith. "As I'm blocking, sometimes, I think, 'I would have caught a ball on that play.' But I also know I'm helping Jeff complete a ball, so I'm getting satisfaction out of it.

"What would I rather be doing? That's an easy answer."

Maybe the Eagles will feature Smith on Saturday in the passing game. Maybe they will ask him to "set the edge" and block, block, block to keep the Saints off of Garcia and Westbrook.

The good news is that Smith is capable of doing anything the Eagles ask. He is still a young player, a developing talent. No phase of his game has come further than his blocking.

And the joy he gets seeing his dirty work reward the team.

"It's nice," said Smith. "I get more satisfaction out of them, truthfully, than I do catching the ball. If Brian breaks one and scores, that's great. We have a key play, three minutes left, and they're running to my side -- that's a confidence they have in me. The fan in the 50th row may not see that, but I'm helping the team win and that is all that matters.

"At the end of the Giants game, I felt good. They ran to my side and I had to put a hat on a hat and I did that. Everybody did their jobs. I just did my job and it's nice, it's nice."