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!!
Originally Posted by Wisconsin_Chief:
This is one scenario that hasn't really been discussed in all these o-line threads, but is definitely a possibility. Nobody really mentions Remmers in the guard conversation, but we probably should.
Andy always says he's going to play the best 5 guys. If Niang and Remmers both look like 2 of the top 5 guys, there's no reason this can't happen.
Should be very interesting to say the least. I don't think we've ever had so many different possible options on the line since Reid took over.
Humphrey is absolutely starting day 1. I think you're going to see a less talented veteran starting the season at RG and RT, but that is going to be over by the bye week.
I'd love to see Smith in the starting lineup this year, but I can easily see him as the guy who is brought along slowly. Then, in year 2 when Humphrey is solid and Niang is your RT, Smith is inserted into the lineup and we never hear of LDT, Wylie, or Remmers again. [Reply]
Originally Posted by saphojunkie:
Humphrey is absolutely starting day 1. I think you're going to see a less talented veteran starting the season at RG and RT, but that is going to be over by the bye week.
I'd love to see Smith in the starting lineup this year, but I can easily see him as the guy who is brought along slowly. Then, in year 2 when Humphrey is solid and Niang is your RT, Smith is inserted into the lineup and we never hear of LDT, Wylie, or Remmers again.
The best thing that can happen is the rest of the OL plays great to start the year, which gives Reid the confidence to start Smith and/or Niang whenever they’re ready if they aren’t already. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
The best thing that can happen is the rest of the OL plays great to start the year, which gives Reid the confidence to start Smith and/or Niang whenever they’re ready if they aren’t already.
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.
Yea, I found that interesting. It seems like it’s his job if he can take it. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Sofa King:
Let's hope Smith just outright wins the job.
If Humphrey and Niang are your starters at OC and RT respectively, then it might be desirable to have a vet in there, provided there's not a huge drop-off in physical play. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Kiimosabi:
I mean, sure in a vacuum but also this isn't a typical year. He didn't spend the year rehabbing in a Chiefs facility, he spent it on the frontline of a generation-defining pandemic. It's a unique situation and I could see "easing back in" to really be getting his legs and strength back. I'm sure he worked out as much as he could but still that could be a hill he has to climb just to get back to even
This.
I think Smith wins the job running away and LDT is vet depth. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Coogs:
So what happens if Smith is clearly the best RG. I mean between Humphry, Niang and Smith too. Smith is the guy who needs to be on the field.
Now let's also say Niang is the clear winner over Remmers at RT.
You holding Humphry out and starting Blythe just so we don't have 3 1st year players in a row?
You're not hold anybody back just to put a vet on the field.
If your best UNIT is created by putting those 3 guys on the field (Niang, Smith, and Humphrey) then you do it.
I don't think that's what will happen but that doesn't mean it shouldn't. [Reply]