Andre Smith costs himself money
No one questions Alabama tackle Andre Smith’s talent; he has enough raw ability to go first overall in the 2009 draft. His lack of maturity, however, has guaranteed that won’t happen.
Smith’s strange odyssey began when he was kicked off Alabama’s team before the Sugar Bowl, but reached its apex at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine. This was a job interview Smith showed up woefully unprepared for.
Smith admitted to anyone that would listen Friday that he wouldn't work out because he was out of shape – he just started preparing for the NFL Draft. Bad answer. Reports also indicate that he didn’t leave a great impression in team interviews. On Saturday morning, Smith was AWOL. It’s difficult for a 350-pound future millionaire to disappear, but the NFL Network was scrambling Saturday morning to locate him. Teams at the Combine had no clue.
Smith was found in Atlanta. He apparently left the Combine without telling anyone, including his agent. Their story is that Smith wasn't going to work out, so he left to begin working out faster with a new trainer. They just forgot to tell anyone. Now there’s a well-coached answer!
Talent rules in the NFL, so Smith seems unlikely to fall out of the top-15 no matter how immature he is. But with Virginia LT Eugene Monroe and Baylor LT Jason Smith performing well this week, Smith seems destined to be the third tackle chose in April, at best.
Comments
From the combine:
"Jason Smith or Aaron Curry best bets for Lions' top pick right now"
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/02/kowalski_on_the_huge_show_jaso.html
Kowalski is always wrong though - but a bit relevant to "destined to be the third tackle chose in April, at best".
Just please god, no Staffford.
Posted by: Lion Fan | February 21, 2009 06:41 PM
Any pro scout worth a spit must be counting this as a second strike against Smith.
His blatant disregard of NCAA rules meant that his suspension from the Sugar Bowl would deny the Alabama Crimson Tide of his All American services as a left tackle. His replacement was as effective as a swinging gate against the Utah rushers
that ravaged the Tide QB.
So all of you draft gurus out there should probably speak of some possible character flaws in this young giant.
Posted by: George D. Cushanick | February 21, 2009 10:11 PM
Anyone who doesn't believe that the majority of college athletes don't do one bit of actual class work on their own just need to look at this guy. We - Todd - It...say it 5 times fast, you'll get it.
Posted by: TX Sports Nut | February 22, 2009 06:57 AM
Lions,have muff 10 years of the draft.They need 40 some players, with only 9 picks.First a LT,or LB.Second a DE or NT.Third a QB of Kansas State.With the new Coaches maybe the other picks will be right. Thanks
Posted by: Lou Hirschman | February 23, 2009 12:39 PM
First of all, this article is entirely too hard on Andre. He did EXACTLY what was expected of him- he showed up to the Combine and put to rest the one fear everyone had about him: his weight. When Andre showed up to the Combine, he weighed in at 332 pounds, which, compared to his playing weight at Bama was a great weigh-in. It's pretty clear that for someone Andre's size to show up at 332 pounds, he had obviously been working out pretty hard. His only fault was not working on the absurd drills used at the Combine, which, quite frankly, don't measure a damn thing when it comes to game-time performance. This was quite likely the only reason he left the combine...he'd proven that he was in game-shape, so why bother with drills that could only hurt him. Is it his fault that unlike a lot of the seniors in the draft who KNEW they were coming out, that he didn't have time to hire a pro to teach him to cheat his way though the combine-specific drills? Also, let's be honest about the reason Andre left the combine: football. He left to go work out and not waste his time. If I were a GM, there's no way in hell I'd hold this against someone. Having proven himself on the field over the last three years with The Tide, Andre is trying to put the only fear teams may have about him to rest by working out and getting in better shape. I just don't see how we can blame kids like Andre from making "mistakes" at the combine if they aren't even allowed to have contact with an agent until a freakin month before the Combine! How the hell are they supposed to act like "pros" when they're 21 years old and aren't allowed to benefit from PROFESSIONAL help? The NCAA really needs to re-examine its policies regarding these players coming out early. Until they do, I see no reason for faulting a kid like Andre with any of his choices. If anything, I'd probably do the exact same thing if I were in his position.
Posted by: Roll Tide | March 1, 2009 07:04 PM
First of all, this article is entirely too hard on Andre. He did EXACTLY what was expected of him- he showed up to the Combine and put to rest the one fear everyone had about him: his weight. When Andre showed up to the Combine, he weighed in at 332 pounds, which, compared to his playing weight at Bama was a great weigh-in. It's pretty clear that for someone Andre's size to show up at 332 pounds, he had obviously been working out pretty hard. His only fault was not working on the absurd drills used at the Combine, which, quite frankly, don't measure a damn thing when it comes to game-time performance. This was quite likely the only reason he left the combine...he'd proven that he was in game-shape, so why bother with drills that could only hurt him. Is it his fault that unlike a lot of the seniors in the draft who KNEW they were coming out, that he didn't have time to hire a pro to teach him to cheat his way though the combine-specific drills? Also, let's be honest about the reason Andre left the combine: football. He left to go work out and not waste his time. If I were a GM, there's no way in hell I'd hold this against someone. Having proven himself on the field over the last three years with The Tide, Andre is trying to put the only fear teams may have about him to rest by working out and getting in better shape. I just don't see how we can blame kids like Andre from making "mistakes" at the combine if they aren't even allowed to have contact with an agent until a freakin month before the Combine! How the hell are they supposed to act like "pros" when they're 21 years old and aren't allowed to benefit from PROFESSIONAL help? The NCAA really needs to re-examine its policies regarding these players coming out early. Until they do, I see no reason for faulting a kid like Andre with any of his choices. If anything, I'd probably do the exact same thing if I were in his position.
Posted by: Roll Tide | March 1, 2009 07:04 PM
She looked like she was about 18!!!
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