TE - Alex Smith is underrated

[Nors]

Alex Smith
TE, Stanford
War Room analysis
Strengths: Runs smart routes. Gets clean releases and sets up defenders in man coverage. Knows how to come back to the quarterback. Excels at catching the ball on the run. Makes big plays after the catch. Can catch balls over his shoulder. Also is a strong blocker.

Weaknesses: Lacks great speed and explosiveness. Doesn’t get vertical or create mismatches over the middle. Could get stronger; isn’t overpowering. Must improve his blocking technique. Could use more of a mean streak to help sustain blocks.

Bottom line: Smith has the athletic ability and receiving skills of a top-flight tight end, but his lack of elite strength and speed limit him. He should be a mid-Day 1 selection.

Dan Pompei analysis
Somewhat athletic and can catch pretty well. Doesn't have great speed but has a knack for getting open. Position blocker. Needs to improve consistency.

 

[Avery]

He'll never be a Cowboy. Someone could use him in the top of round two though.

 

[Nors]

Jason Witten
SELECTED BY INDIANAPOLIS , ROUND 3, PICK 6, OVERALL PICK 69
TE | (6-5, 264, 4.75) | TENNESSEE
By Pro Football Weekly

Notes: Entered the draft after his junior season. High school All-America tight end and defensive end. Enrolled in 2000 as a defensive end but was needed on offense, where he started twice in extra-TE sets and caught his first pass for 11 yards. Was the best tight end in the Southeastern Conference in '01, although, technically, he only started two games. Caught 28 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns during the season and had 6-125-0 vs. Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. In 2002, was the leading receiver with 34-452-5, starting 12 of 12 regular-season games and earning All-SEC honors as a junior. Also started Peach Bowl (5-41-0). Finalist for the Mackey Award given to the nation's top tight end.

Positives: Big, fast, strong and athletic. Competes hard. Has very good hands and can stretch defenses. Is physical and flashes dominating ability as a blocker. Can make the tough catch and run over and away from defenders. Has a great upside. Very strong with a 455-pound bench-press. Only 20 years old.

Negatives: Not that fast. Inconsistent and not dominating as a blocker. Does not have thick legs and can improve running after the catch. Could have used another year in school.

Summary: Because of his potential, size and strength, will be drafted in the first two rounds.

* Player biographies are provided by Pro Football Weekly.

 

[Nors]

6-4 256 4.75

Witten
6-5 264 4.75

 

[Roughneck]

I think he has a chance to be a really good player for another team. We're already set a TE and don't need to be drafting one with one of our top picks.

 

[Nors]

I think he has a chance to be a really good player for another team. We're already set a TE and don't need to be drafting one with one of our top picks.

We were short at TE last yeart and trotted a cut 5th rounder and UDFA out there. We need DEPTH at all positions. Injuries happen. These guys can also play H back and have ability to play wide out in multiple WR sets.

 

[Roughneck]

We were short at TE last yeart and trotted a cut 5th rounder and UDFA out there. We need DEPTH at all positions. Injuries happen. These guys can also play H back and have ability to play wide out in multiple WR sets.

We have much greater probelms to deal with than TE. Witten and Campbell have that position good to go. Want a WR/H back? Then draft a WR/H back. Don't draft a TE and move him to a new position.

Yes injuries will happen but, looking at the Depth Chart, we can afford them at TE much more than we can at other spots. Fill those and then get back to me.

 

[Rush 2112]

Antohny Becht, Heath Miller, Alex Smith, Vincent Jackson.

One of those guys needs to be added.

Trotting out a young QB you need easy targets.

New chuck rules benefitted what position the most this year.

Suspect OL....even with upgrades what positon helps catching the ball as well as run and pass blocking.

It's Jerry Jones thinking that concludes we add one player and we're set at that position (Witten). How'd that workout with Lafleur and the scrubs from Cincy/Atl at that position.

It takes 53.

Build to strength! BP has always done it at LB and TE. Keep on adding even though you are good there. Make it a dominant unit.

Think Witten and Heap on the same team.

BP loves the full house backfield right now with Witten, JJ, Barnes. What about a Witten, Smith/Miller/Jackson, JJ backfield?

 

[Rack]

6-4 256 4.75

Witten
6-5 264 4.75

There's probably 500 people that are that size and run that fast. It means nothing.

 

[Rack]

We were short at TE last yeart and trotted a cut 5th rounder and UDFA out there. We need DEPTH at all positions. Injuries happen. These guys can also play H back and have ability to play wide out in multiple WR sets.

Smith is a first day pick. You don't spend first day picks on a position that you KNOW is gonna be 3rd on your depth chart.


Enough with the TE talk, Nors. It ain't gonna happen on the first day.

 

[Rack]

Build to strength! BP has always done it at LB and TE. Keep on adding even though you are good there. Make it a dominant unit.

That would be fine and dandy if we didn't have GLARING holes to fill elsewhere. As in we need STARTERS at several other positions. You don't draft one position to make it "dominant" while you can draft a starter at 3 different positions instead.

 

[Nors]

Smith is a first day pick. You don't spend first day picks on a position that you KNOW is gonna be 3rd on your depth chart.


Enough with the TE talk, Nors. It ain't gonna happen on the first day.

Heath Miller or Alex Smith may be there in Round 2 - thats tremendous VALUE.
Witten went from a 1 to 3 - happens.

HAVING 2 WITTENS ON THE FOOTBALL WOULD BE LETHAL!

Its the trend in the league - Get a 6-4 / 6-5 TE on a mismatch.
Parcells runs multiple TE sets. Think H back and 4th WR. Miller/Smith could take Randal's roster spot and no one would miss Randal!

 

[Nors]

Antohny Becht, Heath Miller, Alex Smith, Vincent Jackson.

One of those guys needs to be added.

Trotting out a young QB you need easy targets.

New chuck rules benefitted what position the most this year.

Suspect OL....even with upgrades what positon helps catching the ball as well as run and pass blocking.

It's Jerry Jones thinking that concludes we add one player and we're set at that position (Witten). How'd that workout with Lafleur and the scrubs from Cincy/Atl at that position.

It takes 53.

Build to strength! BP has always done it at LB and TE. Keep on adding even though you are good there. Make it a dominant unit.

Think Witten and Heap on the same team.

BP loves the full house backfield right now with Witten, JJ, Barnes. What about a Witten, Smith/Miller/Jackson, JJ backfield?

I've warmed to adding another TE of Witten ilk.

 

[trickblue]

Senior Bowl stuff from another thread...

By Mel Kiper Jr.
Special to ESPN Insider

TE Alex Smith from Stanford has not shown big-time quickness and is having trouble separating. He does catch the ball pretty well, but Smith needs to get after it a little more.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Heath Miller or Alex Smith may be there in Round 2 - thats tremendous VALUE.
Witten went from a 1 to 3 - happens.

HAVING 2 WITTENS ON THE FOOTBALL WOULD BE LETHAL!

Its the trend in the league - Get a 6-4 / 6-5 TE on a mismatch.
Parcells runs multiple TE sets. Think H back and 4th WR. Miller/Smith could take Randal's roster spot and no one would miss Randal!

Having one Butler or perhaps a Shazor would be more valuable IMHO.

Also, I seriously doubt that Miller will be there in the second round. He's too good for that.

 

[Avery]

This TE talk is making me nauseous.

I would rather have two good DE's than three TE's.
I would rather have two good DT's than three TE's.
I would rather have two good LB's than three TE's.
I would rather have one good FS than three TE's.

We're not in the position to draft a TE that high. We have too many holes and it's not a JJ/Lacewell train of thinking. It's the simple fact that we do not have good enough players starting at key positions to draft first day backups.

 

[Rack]

It's the simple fact that we do not have good enough players starting at key positions to draft first day backups.

Exactly.

I'm sure that's gonna fly right over Nors' head.

 

[Rush 2112]

How do you know it's too high to take a TE. FA and couple trade downs make it possible. Get a Ferguson and Howard now anything is possible.

Chris Cooley was one of 20 we brought in last year for look. BP said that. He went 2 picks before us in 3.

Brought in Michael Richs for a look when Campbell went down. BP said then he was looking for a contingency if Witten went down.

Right now LB's, CB's and safeties can't cover Witten. Why not add another?

BP wants a more versatile offense. To me that means a deep threat at WR, another runner, and another receiving TE.

Not impossible to do even with our needs on D.

 

[Rack]

Right now LB's, CB's and safeties can't cover Witten. Why not add another?

Because he'd do NO GOOD TO US ON THE BENCH. Which is where he'd be with Witten and Campbell in front of him on the depth chart. Meanwhile, as this TE keeps the bench warm, we could of drafted a starter that would be making an impact on the field, not the sidelines.

 

[Nors]

Having one Butler or perhaps a Shazor would be more valuable IMHO.

Also, I seriously doubt that Miller will be there in the second round. He's too good for that.

I agree on Miller but we were saying the exact same thing about Witten two years ago. He dropped to 3. Same player.