Just keeping it real, Smith is facing some long odds of coming back from that injury and returning to the form he had in college. Not saying it can't happen but to have every team in the first round pass him up and 2 teams in the second round shows the kind of gamble we took. To use the 34th overall pick on a player that suffered nerve damage was foolish in my opinion. I could see a team that has a solid defense risking a move like that but not a team that has a number of defensive holes. I just hope we stop designating our #2 picks as gamble picks and start making smart, safe picks with those selections.
That's just not correct anymore. We're far enough removed from the injury and have enough data to say the guy will play next year. The fact he is able to function normally without a brace ie walking is enough to say the foot drop is becoming a non issue as far as normal functions go.
It also appears per his own statement and others he is able to play with little dysfunction. He has five months and change to improve further. Professionally speaking it appears he will return to 95-100% efficacy during that time. Playing with a brace is not a significant liability assuming he must. That appears to be less likely than playing without one at this point although his improvement, which has been steady, could fall off the curve.
Your position is not realistic. Right now one could say he may be less than 100% but will work into the rotations. I think that is imminently reasonable.
It is reasonable at this point to discuss where he will play and how does he fit in the rotation. Will he and Lee be the cover LBers ie play in SPs at some point?
