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 htismaqe:
You're not hold anybody back just to put a vet on the field.
If your best UNIT is created by putting those 3 guys on the field (Niang, Smith, and Humphrey) then you do it.
I don't think that's what will happen but that doesn't mean it shouldn't.
I don't necessarily think that will happen either. But if it does, I sure hope we don't hold someone back just to have a vet presence to break up three first year players. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Coogs:
I don't necessarily think that will happen either. But if it does, I sure hope we don't hold someone back just to have a vet presence to break up three first year players.
I don't think they're going to force a vet into the mix. I still expect there to be a vet at either RG or RT but probably only to begin the year.
I think by the end of the year, you're probably looking at a line of Brown, Thuney, Humphrey, Smith, and Niang. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
If Humphrey and Niang are your starters at OC and RT respectively, then it might be desirable to have a vet in there, provided there's not a huge drop-off in physical play.
I think that vet is gonna be Remmers. I think the staff want to ease Niang back into football shape and not play him week 1.
I know he’ll have camp but that doesn’t seem like enough for a guy who hasn’t played in a game for almost 2 years [Reply]
I hope Remmers doesn't make this team. Y'all can sit around talking about how he was "pretty decent on the right side," but the dude got his shit pushed in during the super bowl, and it was embarrassing. No, I don't think moving him from left to right takes him from wet fart to starting caliber player. I think he sucks. He sucked in Carolina (playing right tackle) and he sucked for us. Of course, part of this is emotional for me.
And I don't think the staff agrees with me. I can easily see him or Wylie as the starting right tackle in week one, and I'm... okay... with that. But by the end of the year, it better be the new guys across the entire line, and I think it will be.
Look at it this way - there's no continuity at all unless you start Wylie and Remmers at RG and RT. Otherwise, there is literally no lineup where two guys played next to each other last year, so what difference does it make? Put the most talent in that you can, and I expect that to happen sooner than later. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
I think that vet is gonna be Remmers. I think the staff want to ease Niang back into football shape and not play him week 1.
I know he’ll have camp but that doesn’t seem like enough for a guy who hasn’t played in a game for almost 2 years
I said the same thing a couple of weeks ago.
Humphrey seems like a lock - there's just nobody on the roster to push him out of a starter spot. Blythe seems like a swing player destined for the bench.
Smith and LDT are going to compete for a spot but provided Smith picks up the plays, physically he's going to outclass LDT.
Remmers is actually a pretty decent RT. No slight against Niang at all but I just look at this spot as being the most competitive. I expect Remmers to win that spot, at least to start. [Reply]
Originally Posted by saphojunkie:
I hope Remmers doesn't make this team. Y'all can sit around talking about how he was "pretty decent on the right side," but the dude got his shit pushed in during the super bowl, and it was embarrassing. No, I don't think moving him from left to right takes him from wet fart to starting caliber player. I think he sucks. He sucked in Carolina (playing right tackle) and he sucked for us. Of course, part of this is emotional for me.
And I don't think the staff agrees with me. I can easily see him or Wylie as the starting right tackle in week one, and I'm... okay... with that. But by the end of the year, it better be the new guys across the entire line, and I think it will be.
Look at it this way - there's no continuity at all unless you start Wylie and Remmers at RG and RT. Otherwise, there is literally no lineup where two guys played next to each other last year, so what difference does it make? Put the most talent in that you can, and I expect that to happen sooner than later.
At least you're able to admit that your emotions are coloring your view. :-) [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
I don't think they're going to force a vet into the mix. I still expect there to be a vet at either RG or RT but probably only to begin the year.
I think by the end of the year, you're probably looking at a line of Brown, Thuney, Humphrey, Smith, and Niang.
We've seen Andy stick with what he starts with unless injury. So if that's what they think they'll get to, just start with it, IMO> [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
We've seen Andy stick with what he starts with unless injury. So if that's what they think they'll get to, just start with it, IMO>
I honestly don't care. I think all of the potential combinations are acceptable. All of the possible lineups are superior to last year. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
I honestly don't care. I think all of the potential combinations are acceptable. All of the possible lineups are superior to last year.
Agreed.
I'm just hoping we hit three clear home runs once the pads go on, and that the three 1st year players hit the field and we don't look back.
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
I honestly don't care. I think all of the potential combinations are acceptable. All of the possible lineups are superior to last year.
Definitely.
But looking forward, if you can get those 3 in there this year it really sets you up long term as well. [Reply]
The best long-term solution is having the three young guys play ASAP and prove they can do so at a high level.
On the same page we are.
That has been my biggest reason for giving them the nudge if it's close. It may be a bit rougher to start, but long term, if they hit? Whew boy. [Reply]
I'd love to see Humphrey, Smith and Niang week one. LOVE IT.
I expect we'll see Humphrey, LDT, and Niang.
I don't think Remmers can beat out Niang, the physical attributes are just not there.
I think LDT's experience in this offense, and putting a vet between the rooks help offset their inexperience because they've got veteran help next to them to help make the calls and point out stunts and blitz pick-ups.
But I think in the long run, Humphrey-Smith-Niang is best. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chris Meck:
I'd love to see Humphrey, Smith and Niang week one. LOVE IT.
I expect we'll see Humphrey, LDT, and Niang.
I don't think Remmers can beat out Niang, the physical attributes are just not there.
I think LDT's experience in this offense, and putting a vet between the rooks help offset their inexperience because they've got veteran help next to them to help make the calls and point out stunts and blitz pick-ups.
But I think in the long run, Humphrey-Smith-Niang is best.
I think LDT has the bigger uphill battle in terms of physical skills.
It's going to come down to whether or not they understand the play calls and assignments. I just think the gap between Remmers and Niang is smaller at this point but that could definitely change as they get more reps in camp.. [Reply]
