1st round pick: Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa

[NoDak]

I post a lot of stuff that I don't necessarily agree with.

For the record, that question was more directed at Mosher, not you. Poorly worded on my part.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

a very Zeke friendly pick.

Yeah people talk about it being Dak friendly. It's probably far more Zeke friendly. There were plenty of guards that could protect Dak from the LG spot. But it's Tyler Smith's run blocking from that spot that is unique or special. Connor Williams just never had any power over there. Hopefully this pick solidifies the middle of the O-line so that Zeke can at least start running between the tackles better.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Honestly you don't ever replace a mutant like Tyron Smith, who could? Few humans are 6'5" 320 with 36"+ arms and the quickness of a TE. Just another great talent we've managed to mostly squander.

Yeah replace is probably the wrong word. If he could hold the LT spot down the road with good play that is a homerun every day of the week in my opinion. I'd love if he was the next Tyron Smith but if he can be a good NFL LT that works too. I'm kind of wondering if Tyler Smith is our starting LG what we do when Tyron has his annual injury this upcoming season. Seems like a lot to shift a rookie between OT and Guard. Plus then you have the problem of LG. I'd still take another O-lineman in this draft. Someone probably on day three.

 

[Cotton]

 

[Chocolate Lab]

FWIW... Around this time of year I like to listen to Pat Jones, the old Okie State and Dolphins and Raiders coach, and Jimmy's great buddy. He's got a lot of that McGinn scout in him where he's not afraid to call guys out. He lives in Tulsa and is very plugged into the local guys.

Basically saying a lot of what we have, he thought Smith was more of a top quarter of the second type guy, but that he has a lot of potential. Is ornery and aggressive. Not your typical Tulsa player that is undersized or lacking physically.

One thing, he says the holding penalties don't bother him one bit. Not even a little. Says that can and will be coached out of him. Says when evaluating college players for the draft he might not even put something like that on his report.

 

[Cotton]

 

[Cotton]

 

[boozeman]

 

[GShock]

FWIW... Around this time of year I like to listen to Pat Jones, the old Okie State and Dolphins and Raiders coach, and Jimmy's great buddy. He's got a lot of that McGinn scout in him where he's not afraid to call guys out. He lives in Tulsa and is very plugged into the local guys.

Basically saying a lot of what we have, he thought Smith was more of a top quarter of the second type guy, but that he has a lot of potential. Is ornery and aggressive. Not your typical Tulsa player that is undersized or lacking physically.

One thing, he says the holding penalties don't bother him one bit. Not even a little. Says that can and will be coached out of him. Says when evaluating college players for the draft he might not even put something like that on his report.

Speaking of McGinn...
5. TYLER SMITH, Tulsa (6-4 ½, 327, 5.04, 1-2): Another third-year sophomore. Started two of four games as a true freshman before redshirting. “Natural left tackle,” said one scout. ”This guy can pull and trap. Great technician. He can bend his knees and move his feet and slide. He was 21 on April 3. At the second level he was totally amazing. About as tough a guy as I saw. I don’t know how Tulsa got him. Only thing I didn’t like: he wants to hurt people. Sometimes when they do that, they get holding penalties (12 in 2021). He just smashes guys down and officials call a hold.” His high school in Fort Worth was small and fielded losing teams, reducing his exposure and college offers. “When you have the toughness he plays with and his makeup, there’s not an offensive line coach that would not want to work with him,” said a second scout. “He might have more upside than all these guys. You’re getting a really good athlete that can play guard or tackle. He’s long (34 arms). He’s a violent player. It’s hard for those guys to fail, but he has to clean up a lot of stuff from a fundamental standpoint. If you moved him to defense you’d be talking about a high-end nose tackle.” Made 21 starts at LT. Wonderlic of 30. “He’s a left tackle but I thought he was a long, long ways away,” said a third scout. “He’s just so out of control and so raw. Just sloppy. The big guy tries but the technique’s way off. He lunges, he’s top-heavy. I don’t see the top athletic ability that some others may see.”

 

[Cowboysrock55]

He is definitely the type of lineman I like. I very much like the player. Just feels too early for a raw dude. But maybe that's just what you have to do if you want a guy with that much upside at this point in the draft. You can get more polished OTs or guards but the upside isn't nearly as high. Like Connor Williams for example. Just zero upside.

 

[Genghis Khan]

You can't coach his size, power, nastiness, and wingspan

While this is true and fair enough, let's not lose sight of the fact that there are other reasons why guys fail.

I remember back to when the Sixers drafted Shawn Bradley way back. One of the things they said in justifying the pick is, "you can't teach size." While the statement itself is true, it turns out there are a lot of things you couldn't teach Shawn Bradley.

We'll see with Smith.

 

[boozeman]

He is definitely the type of lineman I like. I very much like the player. Just feels too early for a raw dude. But maybe that's just what you have to do if you want a guy with that much upside at this point in the draft. You can get more polished OTs or guards but the upside isn't nearly as high. Like Connor Williams for example. Just zero upside.

There is just a lot to clean up in pass pro.

If he can go the Collins route, stay at LG and avoid the penalties, it can work out.

 

[ravidubey]

There is just a lot to clean up in pass pro.

If he can go the Collins route, stay at LG and avoid the penalties, it can work out.

That's his path forward.

We over-drafted by 10-25 spots depending on who you follow, and we failed to capitalize on the falling value of Johnson, but this prospect is going to help us with lots of snaps at guard in 2022, and we need the talent and depth there for sure.

 

[boozeman]

One thing, he says the holding penalties don't bother him one bit. Not even a little. Says that can and will be coached out of him. Says when evaluating college players for the draft he might not even put something like that on his report.

So how did we not coach Williams out of his deal with holding?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

So how did we not coach Williams out of his deal with holding?

I dunno, maybe the difference between a small-school teenager and a big-school guy who played five years in the NFL?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

There is just a lot to clean up in pass pro.

If he can go the Collins route, stay at LG and avoid the penalties, it can work out.

I think pass pro will be a lot easier for him at LG. Hell it's just an easier position to pass protect. Inside is all about power. There isn't space for rushers inside so I think Tyler Smith will do great with just the physicality of it. Out at LT you're not only facing the best pass rushers but you're facing really fast dudes with lots of free space. If your technique isn't perfect out there you will either get beat or you hold.

 

[ravidubey]

So how did we not coach Williams out of his deal with holding?

He refused time on the wrack to stretch his wingspan? I don't know. Has all the physical tools, and frankly his problems grew worse vs improving.

Maybe we telegraph too much and it set him at a disadvantage, or maybe he plain lacks power, or maybe he can't get his hands punching because of that 2%-tile wingspan.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

So how did we not coach Williams out of his deal with holding?

Because Williams just lacked the physical talent. He didn't hold because he had bad technique. He held because the dudes he was blocking were just bigger, stronger and more talented than him.

Part of that too was just reputation. Connor got some holding calls that looked nothing like holding to me. But that's the NFL for you.

 

[Smitty]

Whatever. I've calmed down a bit but why does this team do the dumbest god damn things? It gets infatuated with its own needs because it doesn't do jack shit in free agency. It fixates on certain players for scheme fit and excludes far too many others. It penny pinches and drafts for cap savings.

It's trying to merely steer the ship. It's not trying hard enough to actually build a contender.

This selection is such clear evidence of that. Even if he ends up good he was a reach for need.

 

[Cotton]