Originally Posted by :
Henry Louis "Trey" Smith III has gone through much adversity since high school but continues to battle. His mother, Dorsetta, passed away from congestive heart failure when he was at the University School at Jackson in Tennessee. While there, he excelled on the gridiron, winning the Mr. Football Award twice and garnering a first-team All-American and top-10 overall recruit rating nationally. The Volunteers kept him in-state, and he received second-team All-SEC, Freshman All-American, and SEC All-Freshman recognition as a 12-game starter (eight at right guard, four at left tackle). After the season, however, he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs. Smith fought through that malady to return for the 2018 campaign but had to stop after seven starts at left tackle as doctors believed the clots had returned. However, additional study of those test results showed that doctors might have actually seen scar tissue from the previous clots. Smith worked hard in the offseason, losing 40 pounds, and he garnered 2019 first-team All-SEC honors after moving inside to left guard, where he started 12 of 13 games played. He was a first-team all-conference selection again in 2020, starting all 11 games at left guard for the Volunteers. He received the Jason Witten Award for leadership on the field and community service off the field, as well as the Fritz Pollard Trophy for extraordinary courage and community values. He accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. -- by Chad Reuter
Overview
When putting together a guard built for an NFL power-based scheme, the blueprint would probably look like Smith. He's big, wide, strong, long and will flash an aggressive streak when he gets geared up. The lack of body control and technique he put on tape suggests it may be difficult for him to overcome his limited athleticism. An offseason of fundamentals work should help Smith become more efficient into first contact, which will really unlock his power at the point of attack. He's been one of the more talked about guard prospects over the last few years but might be in for a bumpy beginning as he adjusts to the athletes and technicians he will face as a pro. Strengths
Elite size and length for the position.
Frame is broad and thick.
Very heavy-handed with plus upper-body strength.
Able to throw a sack of bricks at opponent when he punches.
Has physical potential to become dominant with better technique.
Drive power to turn base blocks out of the gap.
Can bang and cave his down-blocks.
Knock-back pop on both first and second levels.
Good job of finding targets on his short pulls.
Sets a very firm anchor against bull rushers.
Has faced off against a variety of current pro defenders during career.
Weaknesses
Lack of range shows up in run game and pass sets.
Long first step, causing him to overshoot his landmark and lose positioning.
Needs better footwork and hand clinch for improved sustain.
Will cheat secure block to save time getting up to linebacker on combos.
Plays with hitch and outside hands with pass punch.
Below-average body control and recovery potential.
Loses balance and positioning against rush counters.
Struggles to redirect weight after biting on fakes in pass pro.
Slide quickness to cut off the gaps is a concern.
Has dealt with blood clotting issues.
Sources Tell Us
"I guess you don't like big, aggressive guards, Lance? I know he has things to work on, but they can be coached up. The (history of blood clots) is a much bigger issue than anything on tape for me." -- Personnel executive for NFC team
I’m so happy for @TreySmith73 going to the @chiefs. Finally. Chiefs Kingdom got an awesome player and fantastic human!!
Originally Posted by staylor26:
I think that a pretty ridiculous thing to say considering Niang hasn’t played football in almost 2 years and Remmers was pretty damn good at RT.
Also, Remmers has started at least 10 games the last 6 years. He’s hardly a career backup.
Obviously it would be nice for Niang to win the job before week 1, but it doesn’t mean anything about his future if he doesn’t.
what I mean by my statement is that Niang is going to be given every opportunity to win that spot, and I absolutely expect him to do so.
Remmers did okay, but he's not a starting offensive tackle in the NFL. Dude has 30.25" arms!
He's a decent technician but not a talent to be reckoned with.
I don't think it's a tall ask at all for Niang, I really don't. He's rehabbed his injury, and he's worked out and worked on techniques and the offensive terminology for a year. I absolutely expect him to lock down RT. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
Well, all I can say is that if the Week 1 line is Brown, Thuney, Humphrey, LDT and Niang, this team is going to have an insane amount of depth.
While no one wants to see an offensive line comprised of five Andrew Wylie’s or five Nick Allegretti’s or five Mike Remmers, any of those guys could slide between Humphrey and Niang without a huge drop off. Remmers was solid at right tackle last year and Allegretti was probably their best offensive lineman towards the end of the year.
I never counted on Long to make it to Week 1, so his loss is no surprise, but I think they’ll be just fine without him.
I really think that is EXACTLY the week one starting line. [Reply]
Originally Posted by kccrow:
Doesn't mean much yet, we'll see where it goes. He could get it and I'm definitely in his corner. I don't fathom them starting two rooks and I'm not all that sure where LDT is at right now, I haven't been following reports too closely nor seen any on him. If Humphrey at OC, I'd have to think it'll be Blythe or LDT at RG over Smith to get started.
Center is a unique position. Physical reps between your starter and QB are Paramount to establish timing and muscle memory. When starting a new center, your off season objective is too get the new starter as many snaps as possible. Given the fact that neither Humphrey or Blythe had any reps with Mahomes prior to a few weeks ago, The fact that Humphrey is starting during workouts is VERY telling IMO. [Reply]
Originally Posted by ChiefBlueCFC:
Kyle Long injury may be a blessing in disguise in the long run... seems like I hear nothing but positives about smith
Eh.. I wouldn't go that far. Having more weapons in your arsenal is a good thing. You need quality depth up front... losing someone, especially a potential starter is NOT a good thing, no matter how you spin it. [Reply]
Are people going to be mad when we start the year up front as the following?
Brown Jr
Thuney
Blythe
LDT
Remmers
I won't... because it'll look completely different in January/February. There will be injuries and adjustments. I just wish we could have gone in fully healthy (Long). It's a long season (no pun intended) where that depth all around will be needed.
Smith, Niang, and Humphries will all have plenty of opportunity for snaps, if they are worthy. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Fansy the Famous Bard:
Are people going to be mad when we start the year up front as the following?
Brown Jr
Thuney
Blythe
LDT
Remmers
I won't... because it'll look completely different in January/February. There will be injuries and adjustments. I just wish we could have gone in fully healthy (Long). It's a long season (no pun intended) where that depth all around will be needed.
Smith, Niang, and Humphries will all have plenty of opportunity for snaps, if they are worthy.
I won't be mad, but I would question the ability of the guys who couldn't beat out JAGs in training camp. Niang in particular should blow Remmers out of the water from day one. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Fansy the Famous Bard:
Are people going to be mad when we start the year up front as the following?
Brown Jr
Thuney
Blythe
LDT
Remmers
I won't... because it'll look completely different in January/February. There will be injuries and adjustments. I just wish we could have gone in fully healthy (Long). It's a long season (no pun intended) where that depth all around will be needed.
Smith, Niang, and Humphries will all have plenty of opportunity for snaps, if they are worthy.
At the very least, Humphrey will be starting. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
At the very least, Humphrey will be starting.
I mean, maybe.
There's an approach to these guys sometimes to not hand them a job. Keep them hungry by making them earn it throughout the seasons as a young player. Reid has shown he may value that take. Whether that actually gives more meaning to the player when he does earn it or not, i don't know. I just wouldn't be surprised to see the vets all begin the year as the starters... let them take the beating early on physically, also they are less likely to be overwhelmed with the Tsunami of defensive schemes early in the season being thrown at them. Let the injuries and depth chart shifts happen naturally to take it's true form later in the year as they progress through the learning curve.
It's an approach... not sure I'm necessarily beating that drum for it to be the case.. just saying i won't shed a tear when it does happen. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Fansy the Famous Bard:
I mean, maybe.
There's an approach to these guys sometimes to not hand them a job. Keep them hungry by making them earn it throughout the seasons as a young player. Reid has shown he may value that take. Whether that actually gives more meaning to the player when he does earn it or not, i don't know. I just wouldn't be surprised to see the vets all begin the year as the starters... let them take the beating early on physically, also they are less likely to be overwhelmed with the Tsunami of defensive schemes early in the season being thrown at them. Let the injuries and depth chart shifts happen naturally to take it's true form later in the year as they progress through the learning curve.
It's an approach... not sure I'm necessarily beating that drum for it to be the case.. just saying i won't shed a tear when it does happen.