Alex
Smith, the big tight end from Stanford, is about to
carry on a family tradition, following in the footsteps
of his father, Edwin Smith, who played defensive end for
the Denver Broncos (1973-1976). The foundation was set
by his father’s NFL career, but interestingly enough,
Alex could pick up where his father left off, ending
right back in Denver where he grew up.
Despite being a top TE prospect in the 2005 draft, not
surprisingly Alex didn’t start out his football career
at the position. He played wide receiver for Mullen
High School which helped hone in his receiving skills.
It wasn’t until his junior year of high school that he
was moved to tight end. It was a move that would pay
off. Alex helped Mullen win the Colorado 5A state title
that year catching 12 balls for 207 yards and 2 touch
downs. As a senior his numbers improved and they would
eventually lead to him being sought after by many
colleges around the country. USC, Oregon, Arizona, and
of course, Colorado were all in the running. Even the
power house from the east, Miami, who churns out NFL
tight ends at an astonishing rate, was hot and heavy for
the 6’5”/225-pound tight end. In the end, it was
Stanford winning the prize package.
When I
asked Alex why he chose Stanford as opposed to some of
the other major power-house football programs that were
recruiting him, he told me. “I thought it was the best
choice for my future, once you get past football, I felt
it gave me a great academic future as well.” Obviously
that’s no stretch, with Stanford being best known for
its academics, an Ivy League-caliber school of the west
coast if you will. Choosing Stanford as opposed to
USC or Miami
tells me that Alex was looking for a mental challenge as
well as a physical one. It would have been much easier
to go to one of the other football schools, and cruise
through on his athletic ability alone, yet Alex chose to
accept a larger challenge ― to succeed academically as
much as on the field.
Success on the field would be eminent. By 2002, Alex
Smith was beginning to firmly establish himself as a
starter for the Cardinals. He started in the final 10
games of the 2002 season, catching 30 passes for 380
yards and two touchdowns. In 2003, he started in all 11
games and was number three on the team in receptions,
garnering All Pac-10 honorable mentions in both football
and academics. People were beginning to talk about the
big tight end from Stanford.
In
2004 Alex showed why he was going to be one of the more
sought after tight ends in this year’s draft. Alex
played in all 11 games and hauled in 52 passes for 706
yards and 3 touchdowns. Despite averaging 64.2 yards a
game and 13.6 yards per catch, it was a frustrating
season for Alex. Stanford was not living up to their
football potential as a whole. They finished the season
4-7 and weren’t even close to being in the hunt for a
bowl bid. Even though he was first team All Pac-10 and
voted team MVP by his teammates, Alex wasn’t thrilled
with how the season went. Alex told me, “Those are all
great honors; however I would have preferred to go to a
bowl game. The individual awards are great, but we
never really got to get back to a bowl game besides the
Seattle bowl in 2001.”
Just
after the combine I had a chance to ask Alex a few
questions about football ― from himself as a player to
his experience at the combine, among others. Here’s
what Alex had to say…
DraftBoardInsider.com: Tell me a little bit about the combine. I know you didn’t
do a whole lot except for some passing drills. Why do
some athletes choose not to do some of the drills such
as the 40, the cones, etc.?
Alex Smith:
Originally I had planned to compete in all the events
but I bruised a bone on my knee during the Senior Bowl,
and that kind of set me back a couple of weeks in terms
of my training.
DBI:
Speaking of the Senior Bowl, I was there with my colleague
John Clifford, and we were impressed with your size and
pass catching abilities. I’m 6’6” and as you walked by
I almost felt small. You are a prototypical NFL tight
end size-wise. If you looked up tight end in an NFL
dictionary as far as size is concerned, a picture of
Alex Smith could easily be put there. Is that what you
are essentially hearing from people?
AS:
Yes,
definitely. I feel that’s what one of my goals is ― I
want to be that athletic tight end that can get down the
field and still have adequate size to get blocking
done. If you take a look around the NFL those
qualities are what seems to be hot right now.
DBI:
Since you didn’t have a chance to fully work out at the
combine, what is your 40-time as of your last Pro Day
and what is your vertical leap?
AS:
I’m
running around a 4.46 right now, and my vertical leap is
around 35.
DBI:
Tell me a little bit about focus. What does it take for
you to settle into your game and shut the crowd out in a
sold out Stanford house, or in the NFL? How do you
concentrate well enough to make the catch with so much
going on around you?
AS:
I
block everything out. I concentrate solely on me the
quarterback and the ball. I mean there are a lot of
things that can cross your mind at that time, but if you
let what’s going on around you affect you, and you
aren’t in your right mind, or say if your thinking too
hard about the defender and if he’s close enough to hit
you, or the way the ball is thrown… You have to try and
block all that out.
DBI: What is your best asset as a football player?
AS:
I
really think that I’m comfortable with my abilities.
I’m to the point where I really don’t feel I can be
covered one on one. Whether it’s a linebacker or a
safety, I think the only way to keep me from getting the
ball is to double-team me. I can use my speed to get by
the linebackers to get open and stretch the field.
DBI:
From what I’ve seen, and the circles I’ve been in and heard
things, run blocking seems to be a major weakness. Is
this what you are hearing, and is that what you feel you
might need to work on the most? Also getting away from
the jam at the line to get a clean release on your
routes?
AS:
Yeah,
I mean I’m definitely not where I think I can be. I do
believe that I have improved in my run blocking, but
it’s still a focus of mine in the coming year. I will
keep improving over time, but it’s just one of those
things where it’s an attitude type of thing. It’s one
of those areas where I need to focus on the little
things. I feel I will be able to overcome these
things.
DBI:
About run blocking. It’s not something most tight ends
just jump through hoops to do. I mean there are some
great blocking tight ends such as Mark Bruener, but for
the most part a tight end wants the ball just as much as
any receiver does. Still, is there a sense of pride for
you when you do end up laying out a linebacker or
pancaking the rusher?
AS:
Oh
most definitely, sometimes that’s almost better than
making the catch downfield. That’s just a personal
battle with the guy right there across from you. You
put him on his back and he realizes he’s just been
whooped, and maybe makes him think I don’t want to go up
against him anymore.
DBI:
It’s more difficult to become a superstar in the NFL at the
tight end position than say perhaps wide receiver, or
running back, or quarterback. What in your mind do you
think it takes to become a super star tight end in the
NFL like Shannon Sharpe or Tony Gonzalez, Jeremy Shockey,
and now Antonio Gates even?
AS:
You
know...I feel like it comes down to doing the little
things. Things like I did in college, making the plays
when called upon, and doing absolutely all you can play
in and play out. These guys you’ve mentioned, I don’t
think they do anything that is just spectacular but when
their names are called they capitalize on it. Whether
it’s Antonio Gates in the red zone, or Tony Gonzalez on
3rd down, they are consistent with
everything, and I think that’s why they stand out.
DBI: Of course, the question I have to ask everyone ― I’m an NFL
scout, what makes me want to draft Alex Smith?
AS:
I
think my competitive nature. You know I’m going to
leave everything out on the field, to make sure we come
away with the win. Basically what I live and die
for is competition. No matter if I’m playing checkers
or video games, I have a burning desire to win. These
last 3 years have been tough to deal with, and I want to
win.
Alex
will leave everything out on the field; of that, I have
very little doubt. In watching Alex play, you won’t see
him short-arm any balls, or give up on any of his
routes. He will give you everything he has on every
down on every play.
As
mentioned above, Alex has the prototypical build of the
classic NFL tight end. His body is one thing, but his
mind is another. Alex chose Stanford for its academic
standards, to push himself mentally as well as
physically. His most prized possession is his bible.
His pre-game ritual is prayer. What’s not to like about
this young man?
Getting an athlete such as Alex is a steal in my
opinion. Though slated to go in the second to third
round, I would have no qualms about taking him in the
first. He will develop into one of the marquee tight
ends in this league before it is all said and done.
If
Denver doesn’t jump on Heath Miller in the first round,
you can almost bet the farm that Alex Smith is on their
board as a possible replacement to his idol Shannon
Sharpe…and what a great fit that would be. Alex would
have the opportunity to play for his dad’s team, as well
as his idol’s team. In talking with Alex though, he’s
going to be happy wearing the colors of any NFL team
that takes him. When I asked him what team might
interest him the most, the reply was, “I like what San
Diego has done with Antonio Gates, and how they are able
to work him into the game plan to get him the ball as
much as they do. Denver would be a great place to go
play, and I also wouldn’t mind the situation Pittsburgh
has with Ben Roethlisberger.”
Two
things are evident when discussing Alex Smith’s football
future: he would be ecstatic to play for any NFL team
that feels that Alex is their man and he wants to win.
I feel confident in my interview with Alex that he will
be a super star tight end in this league for a long time
to come and doing all he’s capable of to contribute to
winning football games. He has the size, the brains,
and an incomparable will to win. If there is a weakness
in his game, he’ll work on it until he’s the best at
it. Do I think taking him in the first round would be a
stretch? I used to, but now that I’ve really had the
chance to speak with him and hear his answers, I am
inclined to say that the first round talent, and
definitely first round character, is there. Being able
to draft him later…well, I‘d consider that a steal.
