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!!
Regarding Niang...he hasn't played football for over a year and a half so how is he ever gonna develop if he's sat behind Remmers for potentially another year?? It doesn't make sense. I expect him to battle with Remmers all camp and then play in the two warm up games. If he shines alongside Brown, Thuney, Creed and Smith then just go with it...no point wasting another year of Niang just because Remmers is a vet. Niang needs in game reps now...that's the only way he can improve. [Reply]
With Smith and Thuney on teh left side, That's already 50% improvement over what was available in SBLV.
These rookies, have real upside, and I think an actual chance to start. Patrick will damn sure know what to do if he can eliminate one side (blindside) and work his magic with any rough edges on the right.
Butt, I'm pretty sure Reid will go conservative teh first few games. We'll see. [Reply]
Its something of a longshot, but damn man I sure hope he can blow Heck away enough during camp to steal the starting gig
Anything is possible, right?
I mean, before the draft the overwhelming consensus here was "hey don't get silly and expect a total O line makeover, you'll get two new starters at most!"
Then all of the sudden we grabbed Brown, Thuney, Humphrey and Long... giving us FOUR new starters* (presumably Long), and 5 if you wanna count Niang
Just sayin' mang, things aren't always as they appear... [Reply]
Originally Posted by Easy 6:
Its something of a longshot, but damn man I sure hope he can blow Heck away enough during camp to steal the starting gig
Anything is possible, right?
I mean, before the draft the overwhelming consensus here was "hey don't get silly and expect a total O line makeover, you'll get two new starters at most!"
Then all of the sudden we grabbed Brown, Thuney, Humphrey and Long... giving us FOUR new starters* (presumably Long), and 5 if you wanna count Niang
Just sayin' mang, things aren't always as they appear...
I think it is a certainty that Smith will be a starter- it is just a matter of time. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Dunerdr:
I cant see Andy benching LDT if he starts the season unless its an injury.
If Lucas Niang starts at RT, then I thin its LDT at RG.
If Mike Remmers is at RT, then I think it could be either Trey or Larry at RG.
A rookie center and guard combo is a bit dicey with the line calls etc.
Now as the season progresses it will change.... I think you will see Niang or Smith getting playing time (if they don't start), especially if the Chiefs get into Andy's milk the clock game plan. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Oxford:
If Lucas Niang starts at RT, then I thin its LDT at RG.
If Mike Remmers is at RT, then I think it could be either Trey or Larry at RG.
A rookie center and guard combo is a bit dicey with the line calls etc.
Now as the season progresses it will change.... I think you will see Niang or Smith getting playing time (if they don't start), especially if the Chiefs get into Andy's milk the clock game plan.
I agree. But i think theres a chance that remmers is good and gets the RG spot he started at last season, then Niang works outside. [Reply]
LDT missed one season. It's no different than if he had season ending surgery early in the year and recovered well. In this case, he doesn't even have that injury. He just hasn't played in a year.
Guys do that all the time. I don't think LDT will need to be "eased" back in for shit. He'll either get the job because Reid thinks he's currently the best or somebody else will get it because they're the best. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Oxford:
If Lucas Niang starts at RT, then I thin its LDT at RG.
If Mike Remmers is at RT, then I think it could be either Trey or Larry at RG.
A rookie center and guard combo is a bit dicey with the line calls etc.
Now as the season progresses it will change.... I think you will see Niang or Smith getting playing time (if they don't start), especially if the Chiefs get into Andy's milk the clock game plan.
Originally Posted by Dunerdr:
I agree. But i think theres a chance that remmers is good and gets the RG spot he started at last season, then Niang works outside.
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. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RealSNR:
LDT missed one season. It's no different than if he had season ending surgery early in the year and recovered well. In this case, he doesn't even have that injury. He just hasn't played in a year.
Guys do that all the time. I don't think LDT will need to be "eased" back in for shit. He'll either get the job because Reid thinks he's currently the best or somebody else will get it because they're the best.
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 [Reply]