Interesting topic and opinions, all of them. I have been fairly accurate in my predictions so far when it comes to all things BSmith related, so here is my take, FWIW, and Id agree with J-Rod in regards to point #1. If he continues to improve and has a really good year Id say Poke fans should be ready for anything.
Here is what scouts and prognosticators know right now about our QB1:
1) He is fearless and is exceptional in the pocket with his feel for pressure when compared to other draft eligible QBs
2) His mobility is exceptional when compared to draft eligible QBs
3) He has been highly productive for two straight consecutive years
4) He is and will be a team captain for two straight years (leadership)
5) He has a good arm and can make the throws on a consistent basis as demonstrated by his career 62% comp pct.
6) He is tough and is a fierce competitor
7) He is very dangerous and at his best when on the move or having to keep a play alive
8) He generally makes good decisions with the ball (high TD to INT ratio)
9) An extremely high character guy who wont fail drug tests or embarrass the team in the community
10) He plays with tremendous desire but has to dial down and have better composure in the heat of battle
What these same guys don't know but will soon enough:
1) He will put up 225 at a pro day or combine 20-25 times. Most QB's wont even attempt this test as the result would only
hurt their draft stock. The highest # of reps in the past three years at the combine was 15 by a QB.
2) He has already been clocked at under 4.60, but will run a 4.50-59 range 40-yd sprint
3) He will run a sub 4.00 shuttle, clean 330, broad jump 10'5 (Andrew Luck and Geno Smith both came in at 10'3 in 2012
and 2013 to lead all QBs) and will squat at least 450-500 pds
4) He has added about 15 pounds of muscle to his frame from last season while he has gotten faster and will continue to
add weight each season.
This is elite level stuff for a QB. In a combine type setting is where BSmith will climb up draft boards and pass more hyped up guys from the bigger schools. Happens every year and I see this happening with BSmith. Speed and strength of a guy remains the same whether it is in the SEC or Mountain West. A bold statement but Id be willing to put the overall athleticism of this QB against any of these hyped up QBs as Id bet none of them can match him in that regard. BSmith was the only top 20 ranked QB in the country, that didn't make it to a bowl game in 2012. That is pretty telling.
On average, 12-14 QB's get drafted every year. This past year was considered a down year when only 8 QB's were selected. There are still a lot of teams that have immediate QB needs to fulfill and a number of teams that will be thinking QB with aging QB's at the helm in the '14 draft. This year is considered a much better year for QB's than last year. Some experts are predicting that there could be as many as 5 1st round QB selections in next years draft. It might explain why so many teams elected to go the stopgap approach or to free agency for their QB (Palmer, Kolb, Flynn, ASmith) rather than to the commitment and overall investment of drafting a QB when the value isn't necessarily there.
Scouts speak to enough people to know what and who is out there and people are kidding themselves if they think that they aren't talking about BSmith as a potential early to mid round pick as early as next year with another highly productive season. Smith would be foolish not to consider a jump to the NFL if he is graded as one of the top 8 QB's in the country of draft eligible QB's, and guys, whether you wish to believe it or not, this is well within the realm of possibility. He won't fit every NFL system but I could see a scenario where a team like SanDiego, Houston or Dallas drafts him to develop to possibly take over in 3-4 years. One could argue that quality athletic QB play is exactly what these 3 particular teams are missing and keeping them from taking that next step to upper level echelon NFL teams.
