2013 NFL DRAFT

Syferus wrote: »

Smith's best 40 was 4.56, Wilson's median was around 4.53. Smith is obviously built differently but you're fooling yourself if you don't think a bad team with a bad line in a league trending towards the likes of RG3, Wilson, Newton, Knaepernick, and to lesser degrees Locker, Tannehill and Luck (whose own mobility is what helped him stay ahead of RG3 on most boards), isn't going to design more than traditional predictable QB runs.

You do realise Newton and RGIII runs are just as predictable as the bog standard QB runs. Most defensive coaches can read them mile away. The biggest problem for Defensive coaches is the Athletic ability of said QBs. Look at Tebow with Denver. Everyone was able to read the playbook a mile away but Tebow's athletic ability got him out of situations. Not only that with every QB run the whole point is to make a defense over or under commit in certain areas for it to work. Hence why RGIII and Newton struggled against better defenses also juts like Tebow.

Teams aren't going to sit on running ability when it's a great way of helping a green QB be effective early. Smith is agile in the pocket and now quite obviously fast moving to boot. Everyone knew he was a good passer already.

Smith is not a running QB and will most likely see only certain situation runs if at all. He lacks the awareness and build of all the other scramblers hence why he didn't do it in college. He is a designed pocket QB. Rodgers is fast enough to move on designed QB runs but you don't see him do it. Why? Because he is a good pocket passer. Your lack of understanding of how QBs are developed is still clear all the way through your posts rayray. But keep banging that drum.

The fact you think speed is the only ingredient that makes a QB mobile show your ignorance and more and more of the analysts and scouts would agree with the stance as I see it. No team will run Smith a lot. Why would you risk injury on a QB who is a pocket QB. It is daft at best.

Oh and to add your ignorance is shown even more if you think having mobile QB and bad offensive line is a good thing. Any team that wants to use a scrambling QB will have to fix their oline to allow the movement. It all starts in the trenches. Such a daft thing to bring up. The Redskins have a decent O-line as have the Panthers when it comes to running the ball. Hence why RGIII and Newton have an easier time finding holes.

Eli Manning wrote: »

Speed isn't everything. There has to be the ability to read the play, move out of the pocket and use your mobility, awareness and agility to move through the tackles and gain yards with your feet.

If you're not doing at college you're not doing it in the NFL unless you're a crazy talent.

JaMarcus Hustle wrote: »

If Smith had any sort of ground game, it would have been utilised to some degree in college. Simple as. But it wasn't, because he doesn't have that aspect to his game and that's why he put up less rushing yards per attempt in college than Tom Brady has in the pros. It's a non factor.

Both of you hit the nail on the head. So much more to a scrambling QB than speed. Smith's weaknesses are awareness and if he lacks awarness trying to find holes and gaps and avoiding fast strong linebackers, scrambling wont be his forte. I guarantee you any money if Smith wasn't black these conversations wouldn't come up. And before anyone says colour has nothing to do with it yes it does. Many of the same analysts banging on about it have been challenged on more than one occasion to explain why Smith is a scrambler and all they can come up with is that he is "Fast" and an "Athlete".

Sure they might not be saying oh he is black and therefore a good scrambler and will scramble but I guarantee if a white pocket passer put up that same speed with the same numbers as Smith in College the scrambling conversation would never happen. There is always an elephant in the room on this subject and many are afraid to admit or accept that the colour of his skin is dictating the whole scrambler tag.

Just watch people come on here and tell me oh they are not racist and not stereotyping him. Yes you are whether you are intentionally doing it or not, you are. Either find me a better argument showing why Smith will be a good scrambling QB or get the fook out with your Oh he is fast thing. If he was white we would not be having this debate.

What you have here is a college QB who is a pure pocket passer that just happens to be fast as fook. He lacks a lot of the necessary goods to be a scrambler simple as. Compare him more to a pocket QB like Rodgers who can pass deep and move if needs be.

davyjose wrote: »

It is quick. It's faster than Cam Newton ran. Cam Newton is the epitome of a mobile QB.

I do agree that Smith is much more a pocket QB, but I don't think he won't be able to be coached into running a few read option plays.

Cam Newton is a monster though and is a natural scrambler who knows how to use his feet and hit gaps the way a running back would. His awareness as a scrambler mixed with his athletic ability makes him a perfect candidate to run.

There is no doubt any coach who takes Smith on will be able to test on and probably use your bog standard Draws and Roll outs and the odd read play but they will develop him as a pocket passer first because that is what he is. The Packers have a fair few QB plays in their playbook that gives Rodgers the option of moving if needs be. They choose not to use them for the most part as lets face it they don't need to.

As for being coached into the position of a scrambling QB. That is basically like training a RB from scratch. And even then the best backs and scramblers are naturally gifted at finding cut back lanes and holes that dont exist initially.

eagle eye wrote: »

I think the Chiefs paying that for Smith shows just what they think of the QBs in the draft.

Exactly this and the Niners are no fools either. They know the QB class is weak this year and told the Chiefs to pony up if they wanted Smith.