So much good stuff in here. Absolutely a must read, lots of good info!
Lawrence
“The surprise with him is his running ability and his toughness. I just don’t think people realize just how athletic he is. He is very good as a thrower. I don’t think his arm is out of this world. It’s not a Josh Allen or (Patrick) Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers, but it’s very, very good.”
“He’s about as good a quarterback prospect I’ve seen in college in years. He’s tall, mobile, smart, accurate. I love how the ball comes out of his hand. Teammates seem to really like him, and he’s played a lot of games and in a lot of big games.”
“I worried a little about him living up to all the hype that was heaped on him so early. He was great against Alabama as a freshman. He wasn’t impressive against LSU the next year. He was just a little off that night, especially after (Joe) Burrow and LSU’s offense got cranked up. You expected him to match that and he didn’t. But his receivers weren’t on the level of what Burrow had there. You still really like what you see from him on film and also how he carries himself.
The spotlight has been on him for a long time for a college kid, and I think that is a good sign because he’s gonna have to carry that franchise.”
Lance
“On film, you don’t realize how big he is because he is so athletic. He was much bigger than we thought he was. That size, athleticism and arm are so rare at this level. He broke some runs on us where he’d break tackles, push the pile. One play, we had one of the best athletes we had come free on a blitz, and he makes him miss and throws a perfect ball on a dig to pick up the first down.
“I think the one thing people can question is how well is he as a true pocket QB? When they played that game (vs. Central Arkansas) in 2020, he struggled some, and you wanted him trying to impress people. Was he pressing? Are they running a different system for this game?”
“This kid is whole other-level special. He has all the physical tools. Nothing phases him, and I think he’s a fierce competitor. He finds ways to make plays. He’s a big, strong kid who is hard to tackle and can make you miss in space. He’s extremely well-coached. You never saw just bad throws; most of them were where his guys are getting it right in stride.
“We’d go into it thinking what else can we do after other stuff we did didn’t work? We thought we’d trick him, and then he’d figure it out and throw a strike for a 12-yard catch on third down.”
DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
For as great as Bill Belichick is as a coach, he and New England have been dreadful drafting receivers, and this is a huge area of need. Fortunately for him — we think — an excellent one is going to fall into his lap, and it’s a guy Belichick’s old pal Saban knows better than anyone.
Smith,
the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner, capped a fantastic college career that included a lot of clutch moments for the Tide dating back to his winning touchdown catch in the national title win over Georgia. Smith’s numbers for 2020: 117 catches, 1,856 yards and 23 TDs. He had 17 catches of 30 yards or longer, almost double what the next-best WR had in the SEC. Smith might look really, really skinny at about 180 pounds on his wiry frame, but he is a willing blocker, can break tackles and is very good in traffic.
The Coaching Intel
“He doesn’t drop a ball ever. The most impressive thing, though, is after each series, he’d come off to the sideline and tell their coaches, ‘They did this and this and this.’ He really knows coverages and what defenses are trying to do. Our guys came back to the sideline and said he’s calling out what we’re playing and telling their sideline what our coverages are and how we’re playing our man coverage. God almighty, that’s different.”
“I told people last year that (Smith) is better than both those cats (Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs) that got drafted (in the) first round last year. How in the world didn’t he have more recognition a year ago? He might not be, physically, looking at him, but playing-wise, it’s not even close. He’s quick. He’s faster than everybody thinks he is. I don’t know how big his hands are, but I’d bet they’re 10 inches or bigger. He’s just so natural. He’s been durable and tough and competitive.”
“The thing people couldn’t wrap their heads around is that he’s so skinny. He’s so fundamentally sound from a technique standpoint. He can run all day long and he has the best ball skills and body control of any of that group (of Alabama receivers).
“He’s probably a high 4.4 (40) guy, but he’s really deceptively fast because he has this great long stride. He can close the (DB’s) cushion so fast, and he plays at that speed all the time. He creates so much separation. He’s also always been the best blocker (among wideouts) and the most physical.”
