Sean Smith CB Utah - Is there a thread about him yet?

[Mogamedogz]

Sorry if this is a dup. Mods pls merge it if it is.

6'2 - 215, can play CB/S.

has anyone done their homework on this kid yet? Might be one to watch at the combine.

[Box_O_Rocks]

He's a favorite as you'll note when you dig into the various threads.

[mayoclinic]

He's gotten a fair amount of attention. I had him going #23 to the Pats in my January 15 mock offseason and draft. Since that time he's been prominently mentioned in a number of posts on potential 1st round picks, CBs, safeties, etc.

Sean Smith is one of my binkies. I think he has tremendous potential at both CB and FS. There is not a lot of film on him but he seems to be a playmaker and to have good ball skills. No one really knows at this point how he will time and whether he has the agility to play CB, but he is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. I can't wait to see how he does at the combine.

[DaBruinz]

He's been mentioned in numerous threads as a potential 1st rounder for the Pats. As for his position, much of it will depend on how he does at the combine. He is supposedly not a long strider (means he gets to speed quickly) and supposdely has loose hips that help make his agility better than normal for a big man, almost on par with some of the smaller CBs...

[satz]

He is too big for our system but on the other hand if we do play mayo and guyton we gain some speed in the LB and maybe can loose some speed in our defensive back.

[mayoclinic]

Originally Posted by satz

He is too big for our system but on the other hand if we do play mayo and guyton we gain some speed in the LB and maybe can loose some speed in our defensive back.

What does "too big for our system" mean? What does size have to do with it? Either he has the agility, ball skills and other traits that BB values, or he doesn't.

The Pats reportedly rated DRC their #1 CB last year. At 6'2" he apparently wasn't "too big" for their system. All the people salivating at the thought of Asomugho don't seem caught up on the idea that he might be "too big" for the Pats' system.

We need speed everywhere on defense. More speed in the LB corps shouldn't be an excuse for slow DBs. If Sean Smith is too slow and doesn't have the agility to play DB for us then we shouldn't go after him. But if he does, then we can find a way to use him, whether at CB or S.

[Wretch]

Originally Posted by satz

He is too big for our system but on the other hand if we do play mayo and guyton we gain some speed in the LB and maybe can loose some speed in our defensive back.

I think the Pats value agility, technique, and speed over size, but I don't think they exclude players that meet their primary requirements who are also 6'+ or 200#+

But then again none of us really know what the Pats want, only the Pats do.

[Isaac]

I have a hard time seeing him at #23, I don't know why but he just doesn't quite seem well enough developed to be a 1st rounder. However, my hope is that he's a guy that appeals to draftniks a bit more than he does to NFL GMs, and that the Patriots could get him at #48.

[patchick]

Originally Posted by Wretch

I think the Pats value agility, technique, and speed over size, but I don't think they exclude players that meet their primary requirements who are also 6'+ or 200#+

But then again none of us really know what the Pats want, only the Pats do.

Totally agree with your assessment, and I'd even go a little further. If there's one position where the Pats have a significant and very consistent drafting history, it's DB. Here's a post I wrote 2 years ago outlining the skill profile:
Chris Houston on Sirius NFL Radio

For CB rather than safety you can add a physical profile, which is quickness/agility and leaping ability above all. Take a look at the corner they were reported to have ranked #1 last year (DRC) and the corner they actually drafted in the 2nd (Wheatley) and you'll see remarkable similarities.

[mayoclinic]

Patchick, I like what you wrote 2 years ago: "In short, there appears to be a clear profile for a Pats-drafted DB. It's not a physical profile, it's an on-the-field profile. Good hands, strong in run support, excellent field awareness and read-and-react/ball-tracking skills."

The first thing we need to find out is whether Sean Smith fits the profile for either CB or S. We'll know more in a month or so. The next question is what his measurables are and how likely he is to go in the draft (not so much because we are preoccupied by his measurables, but others will be and they will affect where he will go). He may end up being a top-20 pick, a low first round pick, or a second rounder at this point, but it's all moot until we get a better sense of how well he fits. His size, ball skills, and reportedly agility for a man his size are promising, but there's not enough to be certain how well he fits.