Smith making big first impression on Lions (1 Viewer)

[Anthony Borbely]

His 4.60 40 isn't great, but isn't terrible. He has seemed faster playing than he ran the 40. Some guys are like that.

I'd thought he was e bit faster than that from the combine.When he and Tatum Bell hit camp, what to you think RM will think when he sees the speed differential?

If speed differential was so important, everyone would draft track stars.

 

[gianmarco]

His 4.60 40 isn't great, but isn't terrible. He has seemed faster playing than he ran the 40. Some guys are like that.

I'd thought he was e bit faster than that from the combine.When he and Tatum Bell hit camp, what to you think RM will think when he sees the speed differential?

If speed differential was so important, everyone would draft track stars.

AB, what's your take on Smith? Have you heard anything out of the ordinary (good or bad) that we haven't seen reported yet?

 

[Anthony Borbely]

His 4.60 40 isn't great, but isn't terrible. He has seemed faster playing than he ran the 40. Some guys are like that.

I'd thought he was e bit faster than that from the combine.When he and Tatum Bell hit camp, what to you think RM will think when he sees the speed differential?

If speed differential was so important, everyone would draft track stars.

AB, what's your take on Smith? Have you heard anything out of the ordinary (good or bad) that we haven't seen reported yet?

Pretty much the same difference in opinion as you see in this thread. I haven't heard anything earth shattering from the locals. It seems to me that he is a lock to carry the load. My personal opinion is that he is a very good fit in the Lions new zone blocking scheme, as long as he hits the hole and doesn't dance. That's the only concern I have with regards to his game.

 

[Alluro]

May. 19 - 10:44 am et

Rookie Kevin Smith has reportedly impressed the Lions' coaching staff with his attention to detail and understanding of the passing game.

Coach Rod Marinelli calls Smith "a gym rat" and says he's "really going to add to that (backfield) mix." The Lions think Smith can excel in blitz pickup, a crucial skill for rookies. They won't know for sure until the pads go on.

Source: Rotoworld

 

[Bob Magaw]

i liked what i saw in his highlight package... like forte, probably got docked some for not being a burner and less than blue chip pedigree, but seems to have a good all around game, & the opportunity is there...

one concern is that he shouldered a staggering workload in college, so he could have some tread stripped off his tires... & i guess there could be level of competition concerns, as he isn't exactly battle tested on the highest stages of the college game...

that said, i think he has some serious upside, & almost put him in my value plays i submitted for the magazine article... i also have some concerns that the OL is in disarray, but 1st rounder cherilus might have been the most powerful drive blocking RT in the draft (as well as otah)... & as with stewart in CAR possibly getting an uptick from the infusion of 1st round talent on the OL, a similar reason to like smith...

* if calvin johnson & roy williams can realize their potential as a WR tandem, smith probably won't face a lot of stacked defenses with eight in the box, so he may have some holes to run through...

** in dynasty, i would take forte 4th & smith 5th among the running backs... i have reservations about johnson, but i suppose in PPR he should be in the mix here, as some think he has reggie bush-like ability... the little i saw of them on film, forte's overall package & running skills impressed me the most among this group, & he would seem to have a goo opportunity as well, with only the disappointing benson standing between him & the starting gig (i expect him to be starting by sept/oct)...

 

[gianmarco]

i liked what i saw in his highlight package... like forte, probably got docked some for not being a burner and less than blue chip pedigree, but seems to have a good all around game, & the opportunity is there...one concern is that he shouldered a staggering workload in college, so he could have some tread stripped off his tires...

He had a staggering workload in his final year, but his overall workload is not as much as many other RB's who succeed in the NFL. I really don't think that should be a concern, especially considering his competition for the majority of those carries.

 

[TheFanatic]

The Lions are easily tickled..it does not take much.

Tickled or tackled? Both?

 

[Gopher State]

May. 19 - 10:44 am et Rookie Kevin Smith has reportedly impressed the Lions' coaching staff with his attention to detail and understanding of the passing game.Coach Rod Marinelli calls Smith "a gym rat" and says he's "really going to add to that (backfield) mix." The Lions think Smith can excel in blitz pickup, a crucial skill for rookies. They won't know for sure until the pads go on.Source: Rotoworld

This sounds like the same nose that was coming out of the Lions camp about T. Bell last year. How that work out

 

[twr]

Mississippi State has a very very very underrated defense... they are animals out there. they always fly around.

 

[gianmarco]

Smith's Armor

Former Central Florida running back Kevin Smith was speaking coach Rod Marinelli's language when he met with Lions management during predraft interviews in February.

Advertisement

"We were talking to him and talked about what he was doing in the off-season and he said, 'I build my armor,' " Marinelli recalled Thursday after an organized team activities session. "Just the way he said it: 'I get in the weight room, and I build my armor for the season.' That's a physical back."

For Smith, drafted by the Lions in the third round last month, it's simply a matter of practicality. Despite boasting 450 carries last season -- 70 more than anyone else in Division I football -- handling the load was no problem because of his "armor."

"You've got to lift very hard and build a coat on you and condition," Smith said. "Because this is a longer season than college and every game you're wearing down: 2% of your armor's gone, 3% of your armor's gone. Every game you're going to wear down and, by the end of the season, you should be shredded back to nothing and every preseason you go back up and build it back up."

Smith probably has as much of a shot to start at running back as his competition, Tatum Bell, Artose Pinner and Aveion Cason. Thursday morning, Smith, Cason and Allen Ervin were taking handoffs and catching screen passes during practice; Bell and Pinner were not in attendance.

Smith has spent the past few weeks at rookie camp, the full team minicamp and OTAs.

"He's got vision, he accelerates in the hole, and he breaks tackles," Marinelli said. "That's what we loved about him. ... You can see his cuts. I mean, he's got vision where he cuts. He can cut on a dime. ... He knows how to run. He went for (nearly) 2,600 yards in a season; you know how to run the ball."

If the Lions follow the rest of the NFL, more than one tailback likely will get multiple carries over the course of the season. But finding a starter -- especially after releasing Kevin Jones -- is a challenge.

"I started off at the bottom at Central Florida," said Smith, who led the nation in carries, yards and touchdowns last season as a junior. "I was a freshman, I was on every special team, No. 6 on the (running back) depth chart, and that's the way I remained through the preseason, just like OTAs (here) until we got on pads.

"When we got on pads, my coach gave me a shot. The first shot I got, I burst to the end zone untouched. And ever since then, they say you want to put your best 11 on the field, and I was the better running back."

In another quick little blurb:

Smith continues to impress

Smith snags attention

One player who has impressed throughout rookie camp, mini-camp and this week of OTAs is running back Kevin Smith , Marinelli said.

Smith, from Central Florida, has shown the team his ability to change direction quickly and make tacklers miss.

Smith's grittiness and intense approach to the game have caught Marinelli's attention.

 

[mdog1967]

Smith's Armor

Former Central Florida running back Kevin Smith was speaking coach Rod Marinelli's language when he met with Lions management during predraft interviews in February.

Advertisement

"We were talking to him and talked about what he was doing in the off-season and he said, 'I build my armor,' " Marinelli recalled Thursday after an organized team activities session. "Just the way he said it: 'I get in the weight room, and I build my armor for the season.' That's a physical back."

For Smith, drafted by the Lions in the third round last month, it's simply a matter of practicality. Despite boasting 450 carries last season -- 70 more than anyone else in Division I football -- handling the load was no problem because of his "armor."

"You've got to lift very hard and build a coat on you and condition," Smith said. "Because this is a longer season than college and every game you're wearing down: 2% of your armor's gone, 3% of your armor's gone. Every game you're going to wear down and, by the end of the season, you should be shredded back to nothing and every preseason you go back up and build it back up."

Smith probably has as much of a shot to start at running back as his competition, Tatum Bell, Artose Pinner and Aveion Cason. Thursday morning, Smith, Cason and Allen Ervin were taking handoffs and catching screen passes during practice; Bell and Pinner were not in attendance.

Smith has spent the past few weeks at rookie camp, the full team minicamp and OTAs.

"He's got vision, he accelerates in the hole, and he breaks tackles," Marinelli said. "That's what we loved about him. ... You can see his cuts. I mean, he's got vision where he cuts. He can cut on a dime. ... He knows how to run. He went for (nearly) 2,600 yards in a season; you know how to run the ball."

If the Lions follow the rest of the NFL, more than one tailback likely will get multiple carries over the course of the season. But finding a starter -- especially after releasing Kevin Jones -- is a challenge.

"I started off at the bottom at Central Florida," said Smith, who led the nation in carries, yards and touchdowns last season as a junior. "I was a freshman, I was on every special team, No. 6 on the (running back) depth chart, and that's the way I remained through the preseason, just like OTAs (here) until we got on pads.

"When we got on pads, my coach gave me a shot. The first shot I got, I burst to the end zone untouched. And ever since then, they say you want to put your best 11 on the field, and I was the better running back."

In another quick little blurb:

Smith continues to impress

Smith snags attention

One player who has impressed throughout rookie camp, mini-camp and this week of OTAs is running back Kevin Smith , Marinelli said.

Smith, from Central Florida, has shown the team his ability to change direction quickly and make tacklers miss.

Smith's grittiness and intense approach to the game have caught Marinelli's attention.

In my last dynasty draft this year I have the 1.04 and started to consider Forte rather than Smith. Every video of Forte shows a very dynamic runner. Everything I have watched of Smith shows a patient runner eluding multiple tacklers in the backfield behind the line of scrimmage and then going for the open spot. I haven't decided yet who to take.

 

[billymays]

Smith's Armor

Former Central Florida running back Kevin Smith was speaking coach Rod Marinelli's language when he met with Lions management during predraft interviews in February.

Advertisement

"We were talking to him and talked about what he was doing in the off-season and he said, 'I build my armor,' " Marinelli recalled Thursday after an organized team activities session. "Just the way he said it: 'I get in the weight room, and I build my armor for the season.' That's a physical back."

For Smith, drafted by the Lions in the third round last month, it's simply a matter of practicality. Despite boasting 450 carries last season -- 70 more than anyone else in Division I football -- handling the load was no problem because of his "armor."

"You've got to lift very hard and build a coat on you and condition," Smith said. "Because this is a longer season than college and every game you're wearing down: 2% of your armor's gone, 3% of your armor's gone. Every game you're going to wear down and, by the end of the season, you should be shredded back to nothing and every preseason you go back up and build it back up."

Smith probably has as much of a shot to start at running back as his competition, Tatum Bell, Artose Pinner and Aveion Cason. Thursday morning, Smith, Cason and Allen Ervin were taking handoffs and catching screen passes during practice; Bell and Pinner were not in attendance.

Smith has spent the past few weeks at rookie camp, the full team minicamp and OTAs.

"He's got vision, he accelerates in the hole, and he breaks tackles," Marinelli said. "That's what we loved about him. ... You can see his cuts. I mean, he's got vision where he cuts. He can cut on a dime. ... He knows how to run. He went for (nearly) 2,600 yards in a season; you know how to run the ball."

If the Lions follow the rest of the NFL, more than one tailback likely will get multiple carries over the course of the season. But finding a starter -- especially after releasing Kevin Jones -- is a challenge.

"I started off at the bottom at Central Florida," said Smith, who led the nation in carries, yards and touchdowns last season as a junior. "I was a freshman, I was on every special team, No. 6 on the (running back) depth chart, and that's the way I remained through the preseason, just like OTAs (here) until we got on pads.

"When we got on pads, my coach gave me a shot. The first shot I got, I burst to the end zone untouched. And ever since then, they say you want to put your best 11 on the field, and I was the better running back."

In another quick little blurb:

Smith continues to impress

Smith snags attention

One player who has impressed throughout rookie camp, mini-camp and this week of OTAs is running back Kevin Smith , Marinelli said.

Smith, from Central Florida, has shown the team his ability to change direction quickly and make tacklers miss.

Smith's grittiness and intense approach to the game have caught Marinelli's attention.

In my last dynasty draft this year I have the 1.04 and started to consider Forte rather than Smith. Every video of Forte shows a very dynamic runner. Everything I have watched of Smith shows a patient runner eluding multiple tacklers in the backfield behind the line of scrimmage and then going for the open spot. I haven't decided yet who to take.

if he succeeds by eluding multiple tacklers in the backfield then he is pure gold in detroit.

 

[kremenull]

In my last dynasty draft this year I have the 1.04 and started to consider Forte rather than Smith. Every video of Forte shows a very dynamic runner. Everything I have watched of Smith shows a patient runner eluding multiple tacklers in the backfield behind the line of scrimmage and then going for the open spot. I haven't decided yet who to take.

Well, it looks like you answered your own question in your comments.......I'd always take the "dynamic" RB, if that is what you believe about Forte......Forte was the targeted selection that I made in both a rookie draft (1.04) as well as a startup dynasty.......Smith's ability to elude defenders in the backfield will be far more challenging in the NFL than in Conference-USA......

 

[DA RAIDERS]

.

 

[UnknownCoach]

I'm on the Smith bandwagon. Smith can beat out Bell and start immediately. Smith can be a long term answer for Detroit. I temper my expectations by thinking Calhoun should win the third down back role this year though. I've already grouped Smith, Felix Jones, and Chris Johnson in the same rookie dynasty tier. It's pointless to argue their roles when considering none of them have secured a role short or long term. Yes, Smith has more of the appearance of an NFL starter, but there are plenty of the smaller type RBs starting in the NFL. You can guess their roles all day long, but they all three have the ability to earn lots of playing time and they all three have serious competition.

 

[mdog1967]

I wouldn't take this guy at 4. I would take Ryan/Felix Jones. But hey, what do I know, 8 leagues last year, 8 titles.

One man leagues dont count Chachi, I doubt you know squat.....wait a minute.....looked through your post..... yep you dont know squat.