Andre Smith..Would You Take Him At 13?

[Ruhskins]

I heard the guys on the Sports Reporter today talking about how so many little things in the combine can make or break a player, without actually affecting his actual ability to play. I for once think some of these kids are probably not given the best advice as they make this transition, and yes you might say they are 20 or 21 yrs old, but I'm sure there are a lot of people trying to exploit these kids and make money off of them and not give them the best advice.

This situation also make me think how some players don't think the combine is that important and put their school's pro day and private workouts as a bigger priority. I wonder if there's way to make the combine just for players that are projected to be picked after the 1st round to avoid having this "oh X star player is not working out at the combine" or make the combine mandatory for all players period.

[DirtyLandry]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

I heard the guys on the Sports Reporter today talking about how so many little things in the combine can make or break a player, without actually affecting his actual ability to play. I for once think some of these kids are probably not given the best advice as they make this transition, and yes you might say they are 20 or 21 yrs old, but I'm sure there are a lot of people trying to exploit these kids and make money off of them and not give them the best advice.
This situation also make me think how some players don't think the combine is that important and put their school's pro day and private workouts as a bigger priority. I wonder if there's way to make the combine just for players that are projected to be picked after the 1st round to avoid having this "oh X star player is not working out at the combine" or make the combine mandatory for all players period.

Absolutely. I think this is a problem in all of sports. Agents have been known to contact kids even as early as high school. Fame and the prospect of a lot of money can really screw with someones head, especially at a young age.

[Eknox]

I would take him

[That Guy]

I'm just saying, ryan leaf bombed his interviews, clarrett obviously bombed his combine, and the red flags sure showed up in their careers. And hoping for other players to pull them in and "fix" them doesn't actually work out about 90% of the time. see TO or pacman jones or the raiders... and coaching couldn't make cory raymer stronger, arch deluxe fast, the raiders less dysfunctional, our 2nd day OL projects into actual starters, llyod or TO into not a douchebag, stubby or jagr into people who actually cared enough to play or any other miracles either. I mean, I hope for his sake this is just all blown up over nothing, but that usually isn't how it works.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Well, he went to Alabama. We've got a pretty good veteran offensive tackle on our team who went to Alabama. If Chris Samuels isn't a tailor-made mentor for this guy, I don't know who is. I bet you a gazillion dollars Samuels would take him right under his wing and make sure he does the right things. At 13 I would be thinking hard about it.

I lean this way too. Admitting I don't have any clue about the guy other than the hyper-scrutiny he is going through right now. With the veteran leadership we have on the line...we really have a good set of guys from that standpoint...I think if he is a competitor that just needs to reined in and focsed then yes. If he is captain douche then I look to see if someone wants to trade up for him. Tripp makes a good point. If he isn't a Samuels type but ends up in a Leonard Davis mold we're still a winner. Plus it seems everyone thinks he has a little versatility. sounds like maybe he is suited to G but could probably role to T in a pinch...or vice versa. Guys like that are invaluable.

[backrow]

I watched the NFL Network when the word came down about an AWOL Smith. Some thought it a sin, some thought not a sin.

I think it was a made for TV/Media moment, and probably not all that important. Pro day will tell. After all, according to VC, it is all of the pieces put together, not just one thing.

I'd prefer to trade down, and pick him up a little later maybe, but I doubt he lasts! I'm greedy, and I want more picks!

[KLHJ2]

I would take him in a heartbeat. On the other hand I have the feeling that we are one of the teams that dropped him from the draft board because of this mess.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

I lean this way too. Admitting I don't have any clue about the guy other than the hyper-scrutiny he is going through right now. With the veteran leadership we have on the line...we really have a good set of guys from that standpoint...I think if he is a competitor that just needs to reined in and focsed then yes. If he is captain douche then I look to see if someone wants to trade up for him. Tripp makes a good point. If he isn't a Samuels type but ends up in a Leonard Davis mold we're still a winner. Plus it seems everyone thinks he has a little versatility. sounds like maybe he is suited to G but could probably role to T in a pinch...or vice versa. Guys like that are invaluable.

I heard one of the guys covering the combine- I think it was Mariucci- say that he thinks Andre Smith could be a pro-bowl caliber guard right now. That's something to consider. If we snagged him and he wasn't quite ready to start at T, he could always help at the guard spot. Kendall and R.Thomas aren't getting any younger.

[bigdaddy2348]

Originally Posted by ChickenMonkey

Not a chance hes only a subpar RT, If Smith is there at 13 its great, because Detroit will be salivating to trade up...Keep Dropping Mr. Smith, you could very well get us 2 additional draft picks

ha ha I never thought about that. It would be beautiful to get Detroit's 20th and their 1st 3rd round pick i think it is 65 overall

[Ruhskins]

One thing I don't understand from this Smith situation is...he was supposed to be there on Saturday, but he wasn't going to work out...so if he's not working out, what was he going to do there on Saturday? Meet with teams? That's the part of this whole deal I don't understand, if he wasn't there to workout, then what's the big deal. If he had meetings setup with teams, then I would say it is a bit irresponsible, but it's not like he skipped out on working out at the combine, right?

[freddyg12]

If I have to decide, I say yes, take him at #13. Sometimes players get overhyped negative publicity during the combine. W. Sapp fell to #12 due to a positive marijuana test. He turned out to be a bargain for tampa. I think Smith will have a solid if not great career.

Ideally, his stock will really fall & he'll be there if & when we trade down. As Detroit was mentioned, he would be a steal at #20.

[SmootSmack]

I'd take him. He's ready to start today at RG and probably even RT. It's not like those aren't positions of need for us, or at least they will be within the next two years. He had a disastrous weekend, true. But, as I've said before, it's not like he's some kind of hoodlum and his talents on the field have been pretty evident in the fall. This has the potential to be another Warren Sapp situation, when Sapp fell to the 12th after the marijuana rumors in 1995, but still went on to have a pretty damn good career.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

If I have to decide, I say yes, take him at #13. Sometimes players get overhyped negative publicity during the combine. W. Sapp fell to #12 due to a positive marijuana test. He turned out to be a bargain for tampa. I think Smith will have a solid if not great career.

Ideally, his stock will really fall & he'll be there if & when we trade down. As Detroit was mentioned, he would be a steal at #20.

Didn't notice you had mentioned Sapp already. Great minds...

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I'd take him. He's ready to start today at RG and probably even RT. It's not like those aren't positions of need for us, or at least they will be within the next two years. He had a disastrous weekend, true. But, as I've said before, it's not like he's some kind of hoodlum and his talents on the field have been pretty evident in the fall. This has the potential to be another Warren Sapp situation, when Sapp fell to the 12th after the marijuana rumors in 1995, but still went on to have a pretty damn good career.

I'll go out on a limb and bet a dollar he's a bust. This isn't a case of a guy kicking-ass on the field and doing a few bong hits at a party on the weekend. These issues raise a serious red flag and no way I risk the pick and millions in guaranteed money on this guy.

On a side note, his agent is the same agent as Koren Robinson's. I played on the same flag football team with him (the agent) a few years ago. His agent is a good guy (but I still don't take Smith).

[Son Of Man]

If Smith is there, use him as trade bait to accumulate picks. I pass on a guy who's biggest question mark is work ethic. He missed his bowl game due to a team imposed suspension and showed up to the combine out of shape. This guy is not a competitor and thus not worthy of the 13th overall pick when there will be guys available who want to work.