Aldon Smith-Don't be surprised if he's in the discussion at pick #5

[Lomax to Green 84]

I posted a thread about 2 months back about a discussion I had with a Missouri fan regarding Aldon Smith. He told me that Smith was the most dynamic athlete Missouri has produced in a long time and Missouri has cranked out some really talented football players. He said that Smith was being talked about as a future #1 overall selection after the phenonenal freshman year he had in 2009. Smith suffered a leg injury early in the 2010 season that dampened some of those expectations.

Mike Lombardi from NFL Network said that Aldon Smith was considered by a number of teams as the most unique talent in the draft. He said teams view him as a Willie McGinnist type of talent who can fit any scheme (4-3 or 3-4). Lombardi has Smith listed as a top 10 talent and said he would be one of the most talked about players in the next 6-7 weeks leading up to the draft.

I got a chance to see Smith versus Illinois in the 2010 season opener in St. Louis (before the leg injury). He was unblockable. He was hands down the best player on the field.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I posted a thread about 2 months back about a discussion I had with a Missouri fan regarding Aldon Smith. He told me that Smith was the most dynamic athlete Missouri has produced in a long time and Missouri has cranked out some really talented football players. He said that Smith was being talked about as a future #1 overall selection after the phenonenal freshman year he had in 2009. Smith suffered a leg injury early in the 2010 season that dampened some of those expectations.

Mike Lombardi from NFL Network said that Aldon Smith was considered by a number of teams as the most unique talent in the draft. He said teams view him as a Willie McGinnist type of talent who can fit any scheme (4-3 or 3-4). Lombardi has Smith listed as a top 10 talent and said he would be one of the most talked about players in the next 6-7 weeks leading up to the draft.

I got a chance to see Smith versus Illinois in the 2010 season opener in St. Louis (before the leg injury). He was unblockable. He was hands down the best player on the field.

..... but even Lombardi, his biggest backer, had him going at #10 in his mock.

 

[WildBB]

I posted a thread about 2 months back about a discussion I had with a Missouri fan regarding Aldon Smith. He told me that Smith was the most dynamic athlete Missouri has produced in a long time and Missouri has cranked out some really talented football players. He said that Smith was being talked about as a future #1 overall selection after the phenonenal freshman year he had in 2009. Smith suffered a leg injury early in the 2010 season that dampened some of those expectations.

What were the stats in 09'?

What injury did he have?

If he really only has one yr. of college football experience, why is he coming out this year?

 

[kerouac9]

Aldon Smith just jumps out of the screen, but I don't know if he can play OLB in a 3-4 defense. I think he could be amazing as a DE in a Tampa-2 defense or even in a traditional 4-3... I'm just not sold on him being physical enough.

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

What were the stats in 09'?

What injury did he have?

If he really only has one yr. of college football experience, why is he coming out this year?

Smith is a 3rd year draft eligible sophomore much like Larry Fitzgerald was back in 2004. He had something like 12.5 sacks and an impressive number of tackles for loss and was the runaway winner for newcomer of the year in the Big 12 in 2009.

The leg injury (broken tibia) sidelined him for close to a month. When he returned, he played the rest of the year at far less than 100%.

 

[ARodg]

I would be so pissed if the Cards took him at #5.

 

[Early]

He is very disruptive against guards.

He can fall to second round. I think he is a special talent, but he is raw. usually i prefer polished players. But i really do believe with good coaching, Smith can turn into something. In few years he can be a good player.

he is not completely raw, he does attempt to use his hands very often and sometimes he does it well. He has long hands and is very athletic. Not as strong, therefore not that mismatch outside, there is no bullrush. But inside he is a huge mismatch against guards. It is the same technique that Campbell uses to passrush for the Cardinals, it can be very effective inside.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

He is very disruptive against guards.

He can fall to second round. I think he is a special talent, but he is raw. usually i prefer polished players. But i really do believe with good coaching, Smith can turn into something. In few years he can be a good player.

he is not completely raw, he does attempt to use his hands very often and sometimes he does it well. He has long hands and is very athletic. Not as strong, therefore not that mismatch outside, there is no bullrush. But inside he is a huge mismatch against guards. It is the same technique that Campbell uses to passrush for the Cardinals, it can be very effective inside.

I neither read or heard any suggestion from people of note, that he could fall to the second round.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Aldon Smith just jumps out of the screen, but I don't know if he can play OLB in a 3-4 defense. I think he could be amazing as a DE in a Tampa-2 defense or even in a traditional 4-3... I'm just not sold on him being physical enough.

I agree that I don't think he's a 3-4 Backer, but I think he's plenty physical enough.

Missouri routinely lined him up at Tackle and he absolutely destroyed college guards. I don't think he can do that in the pros, but I think he's got the tool set to be a pretty good DE. I just don't think he has the agility needed to be a top 3-4 OLB. He's got the straight line speed, but he looks a bit stiff.

 

[football karma]

"...Smith was the most dynamic athlete Missouri has produced in a long time"

kind of grading on curve, isn't it? and I am a Mizzou fan

 

[kerouac9]

I agree that I don't think he's a 3-4 Backer, but I think he's plenty physical enough.

Missouri routinely lined him up at Tackle and he absolutely destroyed college guards. I don't think he can do that in the pros, but I think he's got the tool set to be a pretty good DE. I just don't think he has the agility needed to be a top 3-4 OLB. He's got the straight line speed, but he looks a bit stiff.

Fair enough; I meant as a tackler. Maybe it was the injury.

 

[Goldfield]

He looks like a player.

 

[joeshmo]

after the phenonenal freshman year he had in 2009.

The most talented freshman I have seen in close to 10 years IMO.

 

[Chopper0080]

Great player, poor fit for the 3-4.

 

[john h]

I posted a thread about 2 months back about a discussion I had with a Missouri fan regarding Aldon Smith. He told me that Smith was the most dynamic athlete Missouri has produced in a long time and Missouri has cranked out some really talented football players. He said that Smith was being talked about as a future #1 overall selection after the phenonenal freshman year he had in 2009. Smith suffered a leg injury early in the 2010 season that dampened some of those expectations.

Mike Lombardi from NFL Network said that Aldon Smith was considered by a number of teams as the most unique talent in the draft. He said teams view him as a Willie McGinnist type of talent who can fit any scheme (4-3 or 3-4). Lombardi has Smith listed as a top 10 talent and said he would be one of the most talked about players in the next 6-7 weeks leading up to the draft.

I got a chance to see Smith versus Illinois in the 2010 season opener in St. Louis (before the leg injury). He was unblockable. He was hands down the best player on the field.

I would be surprised if he is even on our radar. I have heard little to nothing about him. If he is a top ten pick then I am not seeing it on the draft boards I visit.

 

[AsUdUdE]

I WILL be surprised if Aldon Freakin Smith is even IN the discussion...
no way he is in a Cards uniform nless we trade down to 15 or lower...

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

I WILL be surprised if Aldon Freakin Smith is even IN the discussion...
no way he is in a Cards uniform nless we trade down to 15 or lower...

14.5 sacks later I would say he probably was in the Cards discussion if Peterson wasn't available.

 

[WarnerHOF]

Aldon Smith looks like Demarcus Ware.

 

[Shaun M Church]

14.5 sacks later I would say he probably was in the Cards discussion if Peterson wasn't available.

It was actually 14 sacks. Both NFL and ESPN have the same total. Still, that's the second most in NFL history for a rookie. Not too shabby.

For the record, I'm still happy with Peterson at No. 5!

 

[GatorAZ]

One dimensional but that dimension has elite potential. He's pretty stiff in space but if he can improve his technique in coverage he can be truly dominant. He was for sure being considered at #5.

 

[Garthshort]

Holian, good call.

 

[football karma]

This is exhibit A on: draft rankings, even at the top, are far less precise than we think they are

At the end of the day: the 2011 draft is looking like one of the better ones overall

And give the 49ers credit -- they have picked up two players at #9 spot (Willis and now Smith) that looked a little "reachy" when they took them, but have paid off big time.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

This is exhibit A on: draft rankings, even at the top, are far less precise than we think they are
At the end of the day: the 2011 draft is looking like one of the better ones overall

And give the 49ers credit -- they have picked up two players at #9 spot (Willis and now Smith) that looked a little "reachy" when they took them, but have paid off big time.

Very true.

Says a lot about the cards pick though, that we would stand pat with Peterson instead of trading for smith.

Give everyone time to think about though, and some here might say they would trade.

 

[football karma]

Very true.

Says a lot about the cards pick though, that we would stand pat with Peterson instead of trading for smith.

Give everyone time to think about though, and some here might say they would trade.

But no guarantee that if they wanted to do something like that, there was a trade partner in a spot they felt good about.

At the time with what everyone knew, Peterson was the right pick

Smith was coming off a year where he had broken his leg.