Andre Smith STRUGGLES AT ALABAMA PRO DAY

[KYPack]

Smith cost himself money. He probably won't go that high. He's no top 5 pick anymore. But a bum and a day 2 pick? No way.

A lot of the negative flack he's getting comes from teams trying to snag the kid themselves. He's still a day 1 pick and still a first rounder.

We will have a shot at him.

No way, you all say, eh?

The shirt off move was stupid, but everybody knew he was a fat sumbitch before he ran.

[BlueBrewer]

i just saw that he also only put up 225, 19 times

thats not very good for a top tier o-lineman

I'm pretty sure we were talking weights a month ago on here and Bobblehead said he put up more 225 lb. reps than that in high school!!

<<Snake bows...

TT loves those street FA's yo! Need an agent?

I could do 25 reps when I was a freshman in college. This is a sad unmotivatable person. With the tens of millions of dollars sitting there in front of him and all he has to do is put down the jelly doughnut and go to the gym. There are some serious issues here.

[DonHutson]

Not only that point, Fritz, but let us not forget that he was suspended for Alabama's Bowl game. It appears this guy has major maturity issues.

Didn't he get suspended for hiring, or at least making arrangements with an agent? That agent is out a lot of money, too. There's your silver lining. I guess.

[Waldo]

He was 10 lbs less than his playing weight and looked good in positional drills. His 40 is in fact quite impressive when you consider he did it at 330lbs, not 310. His game isn't being faster than everybody else, his game is being bigger than everybody else, while still fast enough.

Every team that matters knew he was leaving the combine (they interviewed him before hand), it is the guys not privy to those interviews that didn't know that it matters to.

Gil Brandt was on Sirius this morning, he doesn't figure Andre will drop out of the top 10, and suspects that he still goes top 5. Tackle need it too great and his tape is too great. Any scout that watches his tape also knows that he looks bad in shorts. That isn't his game. His game is to look nothing more than good enough in shorts, but being bigger than everybody else while doing it.

[texaspackerbacker]

OK, I'll take the risk of being the Lone Ranger here--it wouldn't be the first time.

I'd be pleased if this caused him to fall to us at #9, and Thompson took him there.

Based on a silly little thing called a career of college football, he was considered the best OT in this whole draft--one of the very best players.

[hoosier]

He was 10 lbs less than his playing weight and looked good in positional drills. His 40 is in fact quite impressive when you consider he did it at 330lbs, not 310. His game isn't being faster than everybody else, his game is being bigger than everybody else, while still fast enough.

Every team that matters knew he was leaving the combine (they interviewed him before hand), it is the guys not privy to those interviews that didn't know that it matters to.

Gil Brandt was on Sirius this morning, he doesn't figure Andre will drop out of the top 10, and suspects that he still goes top 5. Tackle need it too great and his tape is too great. Any scout that watches his tape also knows that he looks bad in shorts. That isn't his game. His game is to look nothing more than good enough in shorts, but being bigger than everybody else while doing it.

But if there were already questions about whether he's athletic enough to play LT and then he compounds that through his borderline bizarre behavior (or at least appearing to show profound lack of motivation), it really makes it hard to believe that some team would be willing to risk a high #1 on him. The potential for bust and the prospect of getting Dmitrius Underwood Jr. are just too great.

[LL2]

I'd consider him with our second rd pick...and definitely with one of the 3rd rd picks. The Packers need a stud OL and even if he's a risk....look at Harrell...what has he contributed and he was the 16th pick in the 1st rd. #9 is WAY TOO high though for him.

[KYPack]

No, actually Tex, I think Waldo and I are with you, my Lone Star bro.

Smith was a dominant difference maker in the SEC.

He blew away other guys that are #1 picks and did it all the time. He's the quickest big strong guy to come out in years.

Actally, it could be great that he had a shit combine and all these hijinks happened. If he falls to 9, TT would snap him up in a NY minute.

All these kids have a bad game in their career. Based on that game, you don't write him off. You don't write off a guy who's great based on the weak combine. Look at it this way. He left the combine, went to ATL and worked out with his trainer like a maniac. He shed 15 - 20 pounds in a short time. Does that sound like a goof who doesn't care?

I think he agent isn't doing him any favors, but he's still a big thing and will go high in the draft. If we get a shot at him, we'll take the kid.

[Waldo]

He was 10 lbs less than his playing weight and looked good in positional drills. His 40 is in fact quite impressive when you consider he did it at 330lbs, not 310. His game isn't being faster than everybody else, his game is being bigger than everybody else, while still fast enough.

Every team that matters knew he was leaving the combine (they interviewed him before hand), it is the guys not privy to those interviews that didn't know that it matters to.

Gil Brandt was on Sirius this morning, he doesn't figure Andre will drop out of the top 10, and suspects that he still goes top 5. Tackle need it too great and his tape is too great. Any scout that watches his tape also knows that he looks bad in shorts. That isn't his game. His game is to look nothing more than good enough in shorts, but being bigger than everybody else while doing it.

But if there were already questions about whether he's athletic enough to play LT and then he compounds that through his borderline bizarre behavior (or at least appearing to show profound lack of motivation), it really makes it hard to believe that some team would be willing to risk a high #1 on him. The potential for bust and the prospect of getting Dmitrius Underwood Jr. are just too great.

What is his bizarre behavior?

It is common knowledge that most projected high draft picks hire agents well before they are officially allowed to (same as tampering and FA), he's the guy that got caught. Guys that wait until the last minute are typically at a disadvantage against those that get the agent earlier. It actually shows some of his competitive fire that he got his agent early. But his agent has shown that he's a moron by getting Andre caught.

He didn't show up to the combine out of shape (for him). He was still more than 5 lbs lighter than he was at the end of the football season. Leaving the combine early is not bizarre behavior. Not working out at the combine is common practice among top draft picks, especially in years past. He was there, got weighed, did the medical stuff and the interviews. That is what he was there to do. Giving his itinerary to the staff at the combine is not his job, his agent should have done that. Again, his agent looks like the idiot.

Then his pro day comes, he's even lighter than the combine. He does OK in the athleticism tests, certainly not elite, but then goes on to do good in the position drills.

His only bizarre behavior is how bizarre the press has been over this. They are trying to tear him down for really trivial nothings. That and I highly doubt that his agent ever gets a top pick again, he's screwed up bad.

LIS, his game is not to look like the best prospect in shorts. That has never been his game. If you want that, J. Smith is your guy. Andre has never been an elite dancing bear. He's so big and long, and athletic enough, that he's tough to get by. But he's much more of a run game mauler than the rest of the guys.

Andre is not your guy if you never want your QB touched. He's a very good pass blocker, but not the best of the best, and will likely always struggle with the cream of the crop speed guys. For teams like Mn, who move the ball primarily on the ground, and need their LT to be good enough to stop the pass rush most of the time, Andre is a beast. For a team like GB whose game is air superiority, who are willing to trade run blocking ability for an absolute shutdown LT in the pass game, Andre is not the best option.

TT and co. are probably hard at work determining whether or not Andre is in fact a better pass blocker than Colledge. If not, there is absolutely no point in drafting him. RT's and G's are not top 10 picks. His run blocking would be great, but that is not GB's game. He would be the ultimate LT for Pit. His game and place of best fit is their game exactly.

[Pack-man]

No, actually Tex, I think Waldo and I are with you, my Lone Star bro.

Smith was a dominant difference maker in the SEC.

He blew away other guys that are #1 picks and did it all the time. He's the quickest big strong guy to come out in years.

Actally, it could be great that he had a shit combine and all these hijinks happened. If he falls to 9, TT would snap him up in a NY minute.

All these kids have a bad game in their career. Based on that game, you don't write him off. You don't write off a guy who's great based on the weak combine. Look at it this way. He left the combine, went to ATL and worked out with his trainer like a maniac. He shed 15 - 20 pounds in a short time. Does that sound like a goof who doesn't care?

I think he agent isn't doing him any favors, but he's still a big thing and will go high in the draft. If we get a shot at him, we'll take the kid.

Add me to the list that think that he would not be a bad pick at #9. They said that the scouts were really impressed with his agility & footwork. Don't be surprised if you hear "with the 9th pick the Packers take...Andre Smith"

[bobblehead]

i just saw that he also only put up 225, 19 times

thats not very good for a top tier o-lineman

I'm pretty sure we were talking weights a month ago on here and Bobblehead said he put up more 225 lb. reps than that in high school!!

<<Snake bows...

TT loves those street FA's yo! Need an agent?

Actually I was 24 at the time...in high school I would have been a state lifting champion with that strength (I think). The poster above who says he did it at 19 is more impressive. (or roided)

One thing you have to remember, elite LT's have long arms and their bench numbers are always a bit off. I'd be more interested in what he squatted and WHY he became a piece of shit overnight.

I'm not a fan of guys like this, but if by some chance he slipped to our pick in the 2nd you gotta consider it, unless we get monroe in the first or something like that.

edit: Didn't see the street FA thing. You think TT is interested in a slow 5'9" 210lb. 39 year old coming off shoulder surgery??

[bobblehead]

He was 10 lbs less than his playing weight and looked good in positional drills. His 40 is in fact quite impressive when you consider he did it at 330lbs, not 310. His game isn't being faster than everybody else, his game is being bigger than everybody else, while still fast enough.

Every team that matters knew he was leaving the combine (they interviewed him before hand), it is the guys not privy to those interviews that didn't know that it matters to.

Gil Brandt was on Sirius this morning, he doesn't figure Andre will drop out of the top 10, and suspects that he still goes top 5. Tackle need it too great and his tape is too great. Any scout that watches his tape also knows that he looks bad in shorts. That isn't his game. His game is to look nothing more than good enough in shorts, but being bigger than everybody else while doing it.

Mark Tauscher looks horrible with his shirt off too. All he did was dominate (unnoticed) for about 10 years in the NFL.

Tex could be right, he could be ours at 9 if the interviews and such fall right. But if he really is a head case I wouldn't take him there. But again, tex is right, being the best LT in college for how many? seasons is a resume more important than combine numbers.

[Fritz]

A. Smith seems to be this year's wild card. Reminds me of Warren Sapp's fall years ago - he got caught smoking dope I think, and "fell" to, I believe, the #13 pick - Tampa Bay.

But other guys have fallen, and end up disappearing. Who knows?

I hope Ted does.

[Patler]

For all those who want the Packers to draft Smith, there is a Packer connection.

Smith's agent, Alvin Keels is young (just 29), with a very short list of NFL clients, but among his clients are Aaron Rouse and Koren Robinson. I'm not sure if he represented KR when KR was a Packer or not, but I suspect not. Keels also represents DeAngelo Hall and Larry Johnson, among just a few others.

As I wrote before, a team drafting Smith absolutely must understand what went on here. Waldo has presented a case in the best possible light for Smith. Maybe its that way, but I suspect there is more than that. Whether the "more" is significant or not is hard to understand from where we sit.

Every year there seems to be a player who drops significantly because of "issues", who later goes on to have a solid or even great NFL career. On the other hand, there are even more players who have had dominant college careers who basically flop as pros. Smith could fall into either group.

[KYPack]

For all those who want the Packers to draft Smith, there is a Packer connection.

Smith's agent, Alvin Keels is young (just 29), with a very short list of NFL clients, but among his clients are Aaron Rouse and Koren Robinson. I'm not sure if he represented KR when KR was a Packer or not, but I suspect not. Keels also represents DeAngelo Hall and Larry Johnson, among just a few others.

As I wrote before, a team drafting Smith absolutely must understand what went on here. Waldo has presented a case in the best possible light for Smith. Maybe its that way, but I suspect there is more than that. Whether the "more" is significant or not is hard to understand from where we sit.

Every year there seems to be a player who drops significantly because of "issues", who later goes on to have a solid or even great NFL career. On the other hand, there are even more players who have had dominant college careers who basically flop as pros. Smith could fall into either group.

Keels is 90% of Smith's trouble in the upcoming draft. I'd think the worst is over. Smith is in a jackpot due to his agent's inexperience. Keels had represented players before, with mixed results.
Keels negotiated Larry Johnson's contract and got it done, but took his sweet time getting the deal cut. He screwed up DeAngelo Hall's deal with Oakland. Keel's allowed Oakland too big an out in a quirky deal that basically said "cut me after 8 games".

Then he landed Smith as a client. Alvin Keels was flat out not ready to rep a top 5 NFL pick. Either Keels (or the other agents) got Smith declared ineligible for the Sugar Bowl. You have a huge target on your back with a top 5 pick and everybody shot and hit Alvin keels.

Then came the combine. Keels ran the "good ship Smith" on every sand bar imaginable and made his client look like an inept cartoon character. Keels managed Smith into being a media target. The media, the other agents and coaches and scouts all had an interest in running poor Andre's ass into the ground. And they all did a great job. Most of this stuff going around is scouts, media, and coaches dis-info-ing their asses off. The other agents are joining in the party and having a great time.

Keels was clueless on how to rep a top pick, but I bet he knows how the game is played now. He got his masters degree at the hands of some of the most brutal teachers you can think of.

I doubt he gets another top pick to rep, but if he does, he'll be a lot better next time.