Tyron Smith

Tyron Smith

College:  USC

Age:  20 years old

Experience: Junior (3 years)

Starts at LT:  0  games

Starts at RT:  24 games

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Height:  6 feet 5 inches

Weight:  307 lbs.

Arm Length:  36.38 inches

Hand Width:  11.00 inches

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Projection:  Right Tackle

Projected Round:  1st – 2nd Round

Combine Results (Pro Day Results)

40 Yard Dash:  -.– seconds

3-Cone Drill:  -.– seconds

20-Yard Shuttle:  -.–

Bench Press:  29 reps

Vertical Jump:  –.- inches

Broad Jump:  — inches

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Speed: Smith didn’t participate in speed drills at the combine, but has a projected 40 time of 5.08-5.20 seconds. This would make Smith one of the faster prospects if that time holds up at his Pro-Day just before the draft. Smith gets fairly good marks for his down-field blocking speed. Game film shows that he didn’t actually block down-field all that often, and his normal blocking style did not require him to really demonstrate his speed. Given that he is below 310 pounds, which every other top tier OT weighed in above, his speed isn’t all that out of the ordinary.

Agility: Again, since Smith did not participate in any speed drills, his actual agility cannot be determined. From game film and scouting reports, Smith shows fairly good ability to move with defenders laterally and shows sufficient skill at pulling to lead one to believe his 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle times would have been towards the top as well. 

Experience: Smith is a 2-year starter at USC who was a Redshirt backup LT as a freshman. He has never started a game at LT during his collegiate career, and has only passing experience as a substitute on the left side. His first year as a starter, he played opposite 2010 LT prospect Charles Brown who entered the draft equally hyped, considered one of the top OTs initially before taking a serious fall to the very last pick of the second round. Smith was rated as the second best OT by CBS Sports, but most current mock drafts have him being the 5th or 6th OT taken. Game film shows him to be a generally acceptable RT who actually plays in a similar manner to Ryan Diem last year. Most concerns for him center on his lack of any practical experience blocking on the blind side.

Size/Build: Like the concerns for Smith are centered mostly in one area, the same is true for the hopes for Smith. He is considered to be the most ideal physical specimen at OT having a 6’5 frame, which is tall enough to support a 300-310 lbs bulk while not being so tall as to let him get leveraged by stocky defensive ends as easily. His height and weight compare to Charles Brown, who was also only a 2 year starter. The perception is that Smith will be one of the best LTs in the league because he has the ideal height, weight, and speed/agility measurables. He received the same honor as Charles Brown did in 2009 as the best offensive lineman in the Pac-10 and showed a good combination of upper and lower body strength with good arm strength as well as sufficient leg strength to plant his feet and get a good push.

Pass Blocking: While Smith gets high marks for his mobility, game film shows that he has serious problems sustaining blocks on the edge. Even beyond the obvious comparison of Smith playing the same position as Ryan Diem, there is a significant similarity in their playing styles. Both are very inconsistent off the snap, sometimes being very quick, while other times nearly letting quick defensive ends completely around them before getting out of their stance. He struggles against edge rushers in game film, and while not allowing a large number of sacks, this is more due to the play of the running backs and tight ends than on any ability of Smith to actually recover. Smith, like Diem, is fairly dominant against frontal assaults though and holds his ground fairly well. He shows good awareness of blitzes though and does show sufficient capability to pick up LB blitzes regularly.

Run Blocking: Smith is a generally acceptable run blocker. He has experience using cut blocks as well as manipulating defenders to open running lanes. He is not dominant in either case, but he is consistently average enough that it is likely he will not suffer a huge decline in the NFL as a run blocker. He shows good enough arm strength to take control of a defender when run blocking, but doesn’t show many instances of being able to push a defender off the line. His slow snap reaction can play into the hands of the offense in some cases when an quick handoff allows Smith to trap a fast DE in the backfield.

Health: Smith did not participate in the combine because of a knee injury that he is still recovering from. He missed one game over the past two years with injury (the same knee injury). While it is not believed to be serious, he was held out of the speed drills at the combine so as to not risk further injury. He is expected to fully participate at the Pro-Day at the end of March.

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OVERVIEW: Smith is not on many draft boards for the Colts, and there are reasons why. Smith was academically suspended one game in 2009, and he is only a junior. He has no experience at LT, and only limited experience at RT. He is not dominant as a pass blocker or run blocker, and has only marginal technique. He has a habit of flailing and over compensating on the numerous instances when he is beat around the edge which will draw penalties consistently in the NFL. He shows very little consistency reacting to the snap and with the increase in stout, but exceptionally fast edge rushers, it is not even a guarantee that he will do well as a RT. His only serious positives are having the “ideal” body with top tier speed and agility measurables. So, Smith plays like the 2010 Ryan Diem with the profile of Charles Brown. Fans of the Colts will know how well both of those guys worked out… Diem was easily one of the biggest liabilities on the offensive line last year, and Charles Brown disappeared into the Saints roster and didn’t see the light of day all year. There is literally nothing in his game film that constitutes a first round caliber OT, let alone anything in his resume that even remotely resembles something the Colts would even take a chance on at the end of the draft, not to mention as their first round or even second round pick. With other guys like James Carpenter, Danny Watkins, and Benjamin Ijalana being available in that same range while also fitting the bill for the Colts, the chance that the Colts pick Smith is remote at best.