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!!
Smith and Bolton have both brought levels of physicality to their side of the ball we just haven't had in a long time. Ragland played a little like Bolton, just not as well.
Both of those guys will see opportunities to drill someone and take them. Oh sure, they could go at 80% and the rep would probably end the same way, but both those dudes some ready to deliver a message every snap.
They're just looking to dish out pain rather than simply finish the play off. The play where Bolton came in after a runner got held up earlier in the year then set both feet and drove into the guy's sternum is probably still my favorite play of the year.
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Smith and Bolton have both brought levels of physicality to their side of the ball we just haven't had in a long time. Ragland played a little like Bolton, just not as well.
Both of those guys will see opportunities to drill someone and take them. Oh sure, they could go at 80% and the rep would probably end the same way, but both those dudes some ready to deliver a message every snap.
They're just looking to dish out pain rather than simply finish the play off. The play where Bolton came in after a runner got held up earlier in the year then set both feet and drove into the guy's sternum is probably still my favorite play of the year.
These dude's don't play around out there.
Bolton is an absolute tackling machine. He didn't even start to begin the season yet he leads the team in tackles by 25 and TFL by 5. What a great rookie season he is having. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
Smith and Bolton have both brought levels of physicality to their side of the ball we just haven't had in a long time. Ragland played a little like Bolton, just not as well.
Both of those guys will see opportunities to drill someone and take them. Oh sure, they could go at 80% and the rep would probably end the same way, but both those dudes some ready to deliver a message every snap.
They're just looking to dish out pain rather than simply finish the play off. The play where Bolton came in after a runner got held up earlier in the year then set both feet and drove into the guy's sternum is probably still my favorite play of the year.
Originally Posted by smithandrew051:
I wonder if some of his issues in pass protection have been due to having a revolving door of starters at RT. That could certainly cause some communication issues and take him off his game.
Man, what this OL could look like with a healthy Schwartz at RT…
That’s a great wet dream. Any indication if Schwartz will play next year? [Reply]
Originally Posted by T-post Tom:
That’s a great wet dream. Any indication if Schwartz will play next year?
He's on 610 every so often and the last thing I remember him saying was that he's still going to therapy for pain. That's been a couple of months back I believe. I think he wants to play. [Reply]
Originally Posted by tredadda:
Bolton is an absolute tackling machine. He didn't even start to begin the season yet he leads the team in tackles by 25 and TFL by 5. What a great rookie season he is having.
Not to mention hes playing outside of where most think he should. He looked so natrual when Hitch was out. Remember when many of us thought Veach drafted high floor, hit a single type guys? Fuck this draft class has been a nice shot in the arm already and they are just getting their feet wet. [Reply]
