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!!
Niang might know all of the plays but it’s one thing to have the knowledge and it’s another to execute without the slightest bit of hesitation.
I don’t think there’s any doubt that Veach absolutely stacked the offensive line room, so regardless of who starts Week 1 at right guard and right tackle, the upgrade to the offensive line will be clearly evident. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud:
Niang might know all of the plays but it’s one thing to have the knowledge and it’s another to execute without the slightest bit of hesitation.
I don’t think there’s any doubt that Veach absolutely stacked the offensive line room, so regardless of who starts Week 1 at right guard and right tackle, the upgrade to the offensive line will be clearly evident.
Understanding that it's unlikely that Reid lets 3 rookies/first year guys start on the right side. I'll consider it a win if either Smith or Niang find a spot with the 1s. I'd prefer it be Niang just because hes already a year older than where he could have started. But if we can get either of these guys starter reps this early its a win for the organization. [Reply]
Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19:
Looked at the pictures from practice on the Chiefs website - Smith was running as the starter at RG. LDT 2nd team.
You gonna be changing your AVI since the he sleeps with the fishes? :-) [Reply]
Originally Posted by tredadda:
So you don't want him on the team even though he did well on the right side because he didn't do well on the left side? Interesting logic there.
I disagree he did well on the right side, either. [Reply]
Originally Posted by saphojunkie:
You don't get to talk about offensive line anymore, given how insanely wrong you were all fucking offseason.
How was I “insanely wrong all offseason”?
Because I didn’t think they would rebuild the entire OL in one offseason? I absolutely wasn’t the only one, and it wasn’t that I was against doing so, it just seemed unrealistic. If that’s what you’re referring to, I’m more than happy to be wrong about that. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
How was I “insanely wrong all offseason”?
Because I didn’t think they would rebuild the entire OL in one offseason? I absolutely wasn’t the only one, and it wasn’t that I was against doing so, it just seemed unrealistic. If that’s what you’re referring to, I’m more than happy to be wrong about that.
I still don't get why y'all thought it was all that unrealistic. Veach did a similar dismantle and rebuild in the 2019 off season with the defense. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Superturtle:
I still don't get why y'all thought it was all that unrealistic. Veach did a similar dismantle and rebuild in the 2019 off season with the defense.
Because at the time, Fisher and Schwartz were both under contract, and they were talking as if they’d both be back. [Reply]
