Tyler Smith - Give us your scout report

[America's Cowboy]

Tyler Smith was a 3rd round grade talent who got drafted 2 rounds too early. He likely will turn out to become another Taco Charlton, especially if he's forced to start this upcoming 2022 season (as any 1st round pick should). If he is forced to watch from the sidelines to protect Jerry & Company's another major draft screw up, why was he drafted in the 1st round???

Tyler Smith was ranked the 9th, yes, count it...9th best O-Tackle in 2022's draft and a 3rd round talent by NFL Draft Buzz, Sporting News, Our Lads and CBS Sports.

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Tyler-Smith-OL-Tulsa

This 24th overall pick should have been top 10 talent Edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, especially since he fell into the Cowboys lap. Sadly, they pulled another Pass On TJ Watt blunder draft once again. The Cowboys made the same mistake last season's draft when they overdrafted for gangsta thug troublemaker Kelvin Joseph while failing to move up 6 picks in the 2nd round to grab monster NT Christian Barmore. Yet, so many hate Jerry and wonder why this team is average or gets torn apart by better talented teams in the regular season and playoffs??? Quit being blinded by the master puppeteer. He and his clan are average when it comes to drafting, and sadly, that's what this team is: average.

 

[America's Cowboy]

I don't see how people can't see Chaz Green all over again. It's like we cloned him.....and have been keeping him on ice....just waiting for the right moment. Let's just hope Chaz Green 2.0 is a better copy.

Too many blind followers. All bark but no bite.

"Jerry & Sons suck!!! Except during the draft..."

 

[Carter]

I don't see how people can't see Chaz Green all over again. It's like we cloned him.....and have been keeping him on ice....just waiting for the right moment. Let's just hope Chaz Green 2.0 is a better copy.

Chaz Green was a slow footed fatty mauler with no leverage.

Tyler Smith is a quick feeted super athlete mauler with bad technique and penalty prone.

 

[csirl]

Most analysts have him graded as R2 or R3. Seems to be a risky project type pick rather than someone who can start right away. From the DFW area - did local familiarity blind the evaluation process? Could we have gotten this player in R2 or R3 anyway? Seems to be a typical Jerry pick rather than coaches/FO pick.

 

[Carter]

Most analysts have him graded as R2 or R3. Seems to be a risky project type pick rather than someone who can start right away. From the DFW area - did local familiarity blind the evaluation process? Could we have gotten this player in R2 or R3 anyway? Seems to be a typical Jerry pick rather than coaches/FO pick.

Kiper had him in the 1st. Many had him low 1st - high 2nd. He shot up the boards after his wonderlic score and measurements.

Rumours is that Titans tried to trade up in the 1st to get him. 2nd Round maybe. But not where we pick.

 

[cnuball21]

He’s a boom or bust traits pick IMO. Good size / length / athleticism and is a solid run blocker but is not a good pass blocker.

Way too early for me and not a good pick. Just really hope the plan is LG and not RT bc he’ll get killed outside.

Would’ve been way happier with Johnson, Linderbaum, Lloyd, Ebiketie, Karlaftis, etc…

 

[streetcredit]

CBS sports
"
Cowboys: Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
Grade: A

This is one of my favorite picks in this draft. This kid is a mauler who will help them at right tackle right away. He needs a little help in pass protection, but the Cowboys will coach him up. Teams loved him more than analysts and his tape showed you why. This is a really good pick. "

 

[Gaede]

I think he's going to get easily exposed by professionals, due to his hand usage. I think he probably won't even play right away as a result. Love the nastiness, and he has great size and movement, but that isn't so impressive when you see him getting blown up because he doesn't know how to play

This is a long term, upside pick, when this team is one bad season away from Payton's return. We need a guy, NOW

Better players available, who also filled needs.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

The guy Smith reminds me of is Alex Leatherwood. Plenty of power and all the straight-line athleticism in the world, but poor change-of-direction and balance killed him last year.

And it was easy to see too. Whenever a speed rusher hit Leatherwood with the fastball, he'd bail and lunge at them, and right there he's dead. There's a dozen different ways for an NFL end to dispose of a flailing, off-balance tackle after that. Smith does the exact same thing... when he gets hit with speed, he doesn't stay seated in his chair and mirror them. He lunges and grabs, and that will be a fatal flaw.

He's excellent at run-blocking. His special sauce is just Hulk-smashing dudes in a phone booth, but he also pulls far better than most power guards with his build. I think that part of his game easily translates at both guard and tackle. He's an NFL-ready run blocker even at 20 years old.

But I don't think his pass pro issues go away at guard. Even if he's hidden against outside speed, he still has terrible hands and still grabs when guys start to get past him. Slippery 3 techs are going to abuse him.

I get why Smith declared for the draft. He's physically ready for the NFL even as a redshirt sophomore, but he really needs some good coaching on his technique, and he wasn't going to find it with another year at Tulsa.

That being said, I think his problems with holding go deeper than just bad technique. He's just kind of a straight-linish power athlete, and that's getting out of place in a speed-and-space oriented league. He played nose tackle for most of his football career and I think he fits better there... just go freaking Hulk-smash on every snap and be a load at the LoS.

Good take. I have similar thoughts about him.

Dude is a complete mess as far as technique and is really just a brawler at this point. I will say what may be giving the Cowboys hope is the way Terrance Steele developed under Philbin. I know Steele also went into some OL program down there in Texas (can’t remember the name).

I do think the team needs to have him play one position (hopefully OG) and put blinders on him. OT and OG are just completely different techniques.

With all that said, we absolutely needed a step-in starter at OG due to the team’s lacksidacal approach in free agency. I don’t think Smith fills that role this season or maybe even next.

 

[Longboysfan]

When I read the bio from the scouting book I get.

Flozell Addams all over again.

 

[Parcells4Life]

Most analysts have him graded as R2 or R3. Seems to be a risky project type pick rather than someone who can start right away. From the DFW area - did local familiarity blind the evaluation process? Could we have gotten this player in R2 or R3 anyway? Seems to be a typical Jerry pick rather than coaches/FO pick.

Tennessee was going to take him at 26. They didn’t reach by 40 spots for him

 

[Parcells4Life]

When I read the bio from the scouting book I get.

Flozell Addams all over again.

As long as Smith can hear the snap count we’re good then

 

[morasp]

The 49ers blew our OL up. They knew they needed to get better on the OL. If he can improve his technique he could be a great pick.

Overview
Power merchant who plays the game with a field demeanor that can work in his favor on one play and against him on the next snap. Smith is able to displace defenders as a run blocker despite lacking proper hand usage for leverage. He's explosive and athletic but struggles to sustain and finish what he starts. He's too quick to discard any semblance of technique in favor of bear-hugging the opponent and drawing a penalty. A move from tackle to guard would allow teams to feature his downhill power in the rushing attack while reducing exposure in pass protection. The holes in his game can all be filled if he accepts coaching and brings it to the field on Sundays. There is some bust potential present, but the ceiling could draw a team to him on Day 2 of the draft.
Strengths

• Big, wide and nasty.
• Violent and powerful at the point of attack.
• Strong grip to stymie opponents.
• Leg drive to move interior defender out of the gap.
• Can kick-out or cave-in the edge defender.
• Ability to slide laterally and capture play-side edge on wide run.
• Adequate quickness out of stance and into pass set.
• Flexion in hips and ankles helps establish his anchor.
• Could see vaulted success rate with improved hand usage.
• Reactive athleticism aids recovery talent in pass pro.

 

[Cowboyny]

Connor Williams vs Tyler Smith

• 296lbs vs 324 pounds
• 33" arms vs 34" arms
• Technician vs Mauler
• Struggles to catch vs struggles to punch
• Great seal blocking vs Collapsing down hill
• Struggles to sit and anchor vs Can be wrong footed when cross faced

Connor Williams need to gain 25lbs and improve his core strength and ability to sit down and anchor. Tyler Smith excels in the areas CW were weak but needs to improve his footwork and hand fighting which were Williams' strength, they are completely different and I think Tyler Smith compliments Biadasz where as Williams had the same issues.

Tyler has all the physical traits to become an elite starter, the question is, does he have the want to, to become great. If so, he will reach that huge upside.

 

[morasp]

Tyler has all the physical traits to become an elite starter, the question is, does he have the want to, to become great. If so, he will reach that huge upside.

In the pre-draft process do you remember if the Cowboys had meetings with him?

 

[Cowboyny]

In the pre-draft process do you remember if the Cowboys had meetings with him?

At the combine, I heard Dane state the Cowboys really liked him.

 

[morasp]

At the combine, I heard Dane state the Cowboys really liked him.

Hopefully they got a feel for his willingness to accept coaching.

 

[Cowboyny]

Hopefully they got a feel for his willingness to accept coaching.

Heard an interview with Chris Simms at the combine, seemed like a real good kid. The secret audio yesterday, he came off very humble and willing to put the work in.

 

[CowboyoWales]

Ironically, I think they're almost polar opposite players. Williams was technically sound, just had no power to play well at the NFL level w/out holding. Smith is strong as an ox, but has no idea what to do with his hands and feet.

Time for Philbin to earn his paycheck.

 

[morasp]

Heard an interview with Chris Simms at the combine, seemed like a real good kid. The secret audio yesterday, he came off very humble and willing to put the work in.

Sounds like a move inside would do him some good. I think he could help improve the running game and pass protection.