Smith is a great mix of athletic ability and quarterbacking. He's got a very good arm, and shows improving accuracy. Undisputed leader of the best team in the country, Smith shows great poise in the pocket, and is über dangerous, when he breaks contain, both with his arm and his legs. Has great wheels, and is a load to bring down. Shows more upside than nearly any quarterback in this draft and the team that drafts him, could really develop and amazing talent.
NEGATIVES
Two things stand out to me, watching Smith play, and neither are the fact he's only about 6' tall. One, is he's had a history of being a knucklehead, and that's something you always have to wonder if it's still in there somewhere. Second, and more football related is Smith's tendency to shut off half of the field, before the snap. If Smith picks the left side, that's where he's going, and he doesn't even consider the other side of the field, unless he's flushed that direction. Oh, and he's short, too. Do I care? Nah.
FINAL WORD
Brady Quinn gets all the pub as the No.1 QB this year, and JaMarcus Russell, should he declare, will certainly be in that first round mix, and all accounts are, Smith will be right behind them, hopping up and down, to see over them. Just like Drew Brees got passed up, because he wasn't big enough, Smith is going to make some teams feel dumb. Smith may not be able to make all the throws right now, and he certainly needs more polish to his game, but watching him play, the leadership and calm he has in huge situations, cannot be coached. Some have compared him to Vince Young, but no way is he the athlete or football player Young is, but Smith's combo of athleticism, along what appears to be teachable deficiencies, are very interesting.
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