Pete Prisco on Geno Smith
 

Geno Smith has potential but not the overall game to be a top-10 pick
March 28, 2013 11:32 AM ET

3 | Comments

At the league meetings earlier this month, I asked two general managers I respect greatly to assess the quarterback class in this year's draft, and both had similar responses.

They don't like it.

"Are we trying to like these guys more than we should?" one of the general managers said. "I don't love any of them."

Not even Geno Smith?
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"No, not even him," he said. "I want the guy at the top to jump out at me on tape, the wow plays, the big throws, the kind of guy you know will be your guy for the next 10 years. I don't see that from him. Can he be good? I am not sure he can. Can he be special? Doubt it. And if you are taking that guy at the top, you want special."

I watched a lot of Smith on Saturdays during the college season. He looked impressive. He had a good arm, made a lot of nice throws and led a high-flying offense at West Virginia.

So as I dove into his tape this week, I did so with an open mind. Were these general managers being too harsh? Was all the talk that Geno Smith should be a top-5 pick accurate?

After studying him closely, I will say this: There is a lot to like, but if I were the GM making the pick Smith wouldn't be my choice in the top 10 or even the top 20.

There are too many flaws.

In fairness to Smith, he played behind a horrible offensive line at West Virginia last year. He was pressured on a regular basis. But the flip side is he played with two outstanding receivers in Tavon Austin, a likely first-round pick, and Steadman Bailey, a likely second-round pick.

In the games I studied, Smith made some impressive throws. He also did some nice things when he moved away from pressure. He moved and reloaded without running. I like that.

But I wanted to like him a lot more than I did. I am a quarterback guy. This league is all about them now. They are 70 percent of the game.

I just didn't get that from Smith. I didn't see a future star. Maybe work can change that. But only time will tell. Here is breakdown of what I saw after studying Smith in several categories.
Arm Strength

When I watched him on television, I thought Smith had a big, powerful arm. After studying his tape, I will say his arm is just OK. He can make all the throws, but there are too many plays where he doesn't seem to have the zip you want from a big-time passer.

That doesn't mean his arm isn't NFL good enough. It certainly is that. But it would have to rank in the middle of the league's passers in terms of arm strength right now. Good, not great.

There were several plays where it appeared he tried to use just his arm, rather than stepping into throws. That's when the ball fell short or skipped to a receiver. I saw him do that on several deep outs.

He also seemed to try and finesse the deep balls, rather than sticking them with a nice throw. Sometimes, he got away with it because of the speed of the college defensive backs. But that won't work in the NFL. He has to be stronger with those throws and drive the football.

He threw a touchdown pass to Bailey against Texas Tech, and even that looked to be a little more of a touch pass than it should have been.

He did make a nice strong throw inside against Oklahoma State to Ryan Nehlen for a touchdown, showing off his arm as he fit it between two defenders. So he can do it. I think some of the problems are from his mechanics, when he just tries to use his arm.
Toughness

This is one area that impressed me. He took a beating at times, but kept getting up and making plays. It's tough to play quarterback behind a line as bad as he had. The pressure was relentless at times.

What I really liked was when I watched him scramble. Smith kept his head up and made plays when he scrambled. This wasn't a quarterback who just tucked it and ran. There were times, however, when he felt what I call "phantom" pressure. There wasn't anyone around him, but he felt it and moved out of the pocket.

That could be because of the poor line up front and the many shots he took. But that's not a good thing. You have to stay on the spot as long as you can if there isn't anybody flushing you out.

But this isn't an area of concern for the most part. He keeps his eyes down the field when the pressure is coming at him. And he can move and reset to throw without taking off to run. That's a plus.
Ability to see the field

Smith does move his head from side-to-side when he is reading the field. I like that. For a young player, he did a solid job at times coming off receivers. But there were other times where I wanted more.

There seemed to be times where he just wouldn't pull the trigger on an open receiver, and came off to a safer throw. That would scare me moving forward. You have to take the chances when they are there.

One such play came against Oklahoma State. On that play, he play-faked to a back out of the shotgun, then faked a reverse to Austin from left to right and set up to throw. He had Bailey wide open in the middle in front of the safeties and behind the linebacker who took a false step on the reverse fake. But he didn't throw it.

He also had J.D. Woods deep on the right sideline wide open, but never threw it. He instead waited for Austin to get into the right flat and he threw it to him for a short gain. That was a safe decision. That isn't what top-level quarterbacks do.

Another time against Iowa State, he had Austin wide open on a cross and held it too long. Eventually, Austin crossed the field and Smith tried to hit him with a soft throw that was easily batted away.
Mechanics

This was a trouble spot for me. His footwork needs a lot of work. He just seemed to use his arm for too many throws. That's a problem. A good quarterback has to step into his throws. That's where the velocity comes from most of the time. Too many times Smith didn't use his legs the right way. And his passes floated.

Most of these bad throws came on intermediate or deep passes. He did a nice job of setting and firing on the short passes. That isn't to say he won't drive it some of the time, but I saw some bad habits.

Against Iowa State, he had Bailey on a deep post for what should have been an easy score. But he tried to touch pass the ball with his arm and it floated. Bailey made a nice adjustment to make the catch for a big gain, but that should have been a touchdown.

Smith has worked to improve his footwork, and scouts at his Pro Day said it was noticeably better. But what happens in the heat of the battle? Does he go back to being more of an arm thrower?
Accuracy

This was a problem at times. Some of it, like I said above, is due to the poor mechanics. But some of it was waiting to throw to open windows all the time. The anticipation wasn't there. You have to feel receivers coming open. At times, Smith seemed to wait and wait and wait and wait.

This is a danger area for NFL quarterbacks. Windows are small and they open and shut quickly. He has to be better at anticipating them coming open, not waiting for them to do so. Some scouts wonder if he can improve that.

At other times, Smith would come off his primary receiver and throw to the other side and skip a pass because he didn't use his body the right way.

There were too many times where I expected passes on the receiver's hands, but they were a little off the target, and the receiver was forced to make a tough catch.
Summary

Smith is a case of a guy being forced up the draft boards. I would take him in the second round. He is in need of some refining. I hear he's a great kid who loves to put in the work, which could make the transition a lot easier. But as far as a top-10 pick, I wouldn't do it. There are simply too many flaws in terms of what I want from my quarterback on the next level. There is growth potential with this kid, but that's not what you want when you draft a kid high in the first round. I just wanted to see more.



http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/2...e-a-top10-pick

So somebody has a different opinion on Geno?


Great thread lol. Next.....

Get off his dick already, we get it. You don't like him. No one cares.

we get it. you don't like geno smith. it's obvious by now. I note that you go for all the anti-geno articles, you don't TOUCH the pro-geno articles.

Pete Prisco has the sloppiness to be a top-10 beat reporter, but just not the ability.

PETE PRICKO CAN SUCK MY PENIS AND GENO'S CHOCOLATEY PENIS.

What? Geno is not Andrew Luck? Shocking. Give me a C potential QB over any other position please.

http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/cbss...80x80/3708.png

He just loves to be a douchebag

Perhaps I'm the only one that actually appreciates the posting of this article. The more data the better, IMO. Even if Prisco doesn't know what he's talking about, he did take the time to break down (apparently) a lot of film. The more of these kinds of analyses we see, the more informed we can be.

Racist.

Pretty damning article.

+1

Of all the things he talked about it's only anticipation that really concerns me.

I don't know that 'feeling the windows' can ever really be learned.

Hey, I'm not complaining about the posting, but Pete Prisco is to analyzing college QB's as Steve Spurrier is to a shoe salesman..

I've seen Geno play and he has no problem with anticipating routes, hot reads, and when WRs break off routes when he scrambles.

I followed Pete on Twitter for all of about 2 weeks. I wouldn't let him save me from a burning house. Let alone, believe anything he writes.

Apologizes to the OP, I didn't read this.

so, shockingly.... those who hate geno LOVE the article, those who love geno HATE the article.

the world keeps going round.

Meh.

i thought it was a fair article. He didn't really say anything that others haven't said about Geno already.

Geno isn't a perfect QB. I've never said that. But I've always felt that the raw talent is there and that it's worth taking a risk on. If the Chiefs drafted him and sat him until Alex flamed out, it's a win/win.

Do I need to read it or can I just stick with my standard - "Pete Prisco is an uniformed jackass" response?

I'm fairly certain I've never seen anything from Prisco that I've found even remotely insightful.

He mentions some stuff that you and other have mentioned. Lacks leg drive etc.

At least he watched tape. I fear that people expect perfection. They are willing to take an LT that needs coaching; but, heaven forbid if you take a QB that needs coaching.

Yeah...I went ahead and read it.

I agree with his analysis, I just disagree with his conclusion. You're right - he says the same things I said about Geno 4 months ago; his lower half is just not that good and he falls in love with touch passes on throws he needs to fire in there (in all honesty, I'm not convinced he watched the tape - I think he just cribbed my posts).

All that said - why does that preclude him from being a high pick?

He has a flaw in his leg drive that he needs to work on. And for the record, it looked better during the combine and pro days, so I believe Weinke has helped in that regard.

I feel like Prisco's fallen into the "Luck" trap, just like so many others before him. If a QB isn't a perfect, polished prospect, then he's not worth taking high because "He's not Andrew Luck".

That's just not a fair bar.

Nothing he says from an analysis standpoint is unfair, but his application of the analysis is just wrong-headed.

I take some comfort from the fact that EVERYONE thought Russell Wilson was not NFL ready and that he was a late round pick. Some thought the Seahawks were crazy for taking him so early.

He did not compare favorably to Andrew Luck, so he was not worthy of an early round pick. The same fools are saying the thing about every other QB they have seen since Luck. Wilson has proven he had first round talent. Could Geno suffer from the same?

Isn't Prisco the one that said Matt Cassel was a better passer than Tony Romo?

Pete Prisco sounds like a porn name.

I legitimately like Matt Barkley.

But every post of yours about Geno just spews forth all kinds of period blood. It makes me hate the dude when I shouldn't.

When? Prisco has hated all things Kansas City for a while. He's been really anti SP since he got here. I think most Geno lovers would find themselves agreeing with a lot of Priscos views.

Who is Pete Prisco, and more importantly, why do we care what he says? Douche.

I was wrong. I asked him and he said it wasn't him. My bad.

He's actually a pretty knowledgable dude, and he calls shit how he see's it. Even if he's wrong.

Pete Prisco can suck a bag of dicks. And I'm indifferent on Geno.

Prisco just flat out blows his nut in horses.

This is complete and utter BULLSHIT.

Teams shied away from Russell Wilson due to the fact that he's only 5'11.

NO ONE said anything about his leadership skills, athleticism, arm strength, etc.

Goddammit, stop talking out of your ass.

So, you're a football fan but you don't know Pete Prisco?

JFC, I swear, some of you mother****ers live in a cave.

This is how I picture the Geno circle jerk after reading this.

http://fringebowlteamblog.com/images...-rage-gif-.gif

It sure would be nice if somebody would take the time to create two threads dedicated to talking about Geno Smith's pluses and minuses.

I loved the article and I don't hate Slow Eyes.

I wrote a year ago as the 2013 QB class was on the horizon, that I thought Geno was a 3rd round talent.

I think this past year proved me wrong. He's clearly a borderline 1st/2nd round product, that's being elevated because of his position, and the overall shallow depth of it this year.

That said, that elevation is justified. You have to reach for QBs.

Neither did Stanzi

You don't HAVE to, but teams are worried about missing out, then they wonder why so many first round QBs turn out to be average or below average.

Stanzi was essentially discarded, and all the coaching resources were focused on Cassel to salvage what they could so Pioli wouldn't look so bad.

I'd trust pete28's opinion on QB's before I went to Prisco

Needed to complete 80 percent of his throws to be considered a top prospect.

Too inconsistent. Threw an incomplete pass that one time...

So, Stanzi still has no problem with anticipating routes, hot reads, and when WRs break off routes when he scrambles. Sorta like Geno?

Your putting words in my mouth, I said he was discarded by the P.ioli regime in favor to salvage Cassel. Which means they most likely ****ed him up, and he regressed developing bad habits and killing his confidence by putting him behind a 3rd OL squad.

This is exactly how I felt. The greatest fallacy is the whole "not worth a top ten pick" nonsense. So, he's worth 11 but not 10? Why the arbitrary cutoff? What makes 11 so different from 9? The extra digit? Why not "not worth a top 13 pick but 14 is okay"? Or top 37 but not 38?

It's probably for the incredibly simple reason that he doesn't have him ranked as a top ten player, your potential disagreement notwithstanding.

It's hard for me to take a guy seriously who projected Jevan Snead as the best QB in the 2010 draft.

I like Prisco. I read all of his columns and most of his tweets. He's insightful and brutally honest, especially when it comes to older players, running backs, etc.

No one can be correct all the time and IMO, he's a good voice in a sea of ass kissers.

Prisco didn't say he was worth 11 but not 10. You can carry this line of thinking to absurdity and conclude that every player draft able is worth the 1.1. At some point, I trust, even you would distinguish between a pick worthy of 1.1 and one only worthy of a lesser pick. So where is your cut-off?

So you have two awesome recievers but a crappy line? How is that Geno's fault?

Complaining about Alex Smith throwing short safe passes and then hiding from the fact that Geno Smith does the same ****ing thing makes you look like a huge asshole.

"Smith does move his head from side-to-side when he is reading the field. I like that. For a young player, he did a solid job at times coming off receivers. But there were other times where I wanted more"

ya, but this I like about Geno. He's a gamer.

You know I'm a baby ocelot, so I'm not lying when I said I had never heard of Prisco until this year.

Meh. Seems like an educated beat writer, not someone who understands football.

The Cosell article I agreed with for the most part. This article just made me feel like I was reading an article from a journalist who doesn't really understand/know football but has enough knowledge to seem like an expert to the average/casual fan. He doesn't say what or how many games he studied and he also has gems like this: "Smith does move his head from side-to-side when he is reading the field. I like that. For a young player, he did a solid job at times coming off receivers. But there were other times where I wanted more." He then cites 3 plays. 3. Out of 3 full years of play.

Geno has as many tools for the position as I've seen out of anyone not named Luck over the past decade.

The criticisms that Prisco states are oddly similar to Aaron Rogers when he came out of college with the exception that Geno tries to put too much touch on the ball versus zip where Rogers tried to put too much zip on the ball versus touch.

However, the tools are there. It's not like a guy like Barkley who will never have the arm, or a guy like Glennon, who will never have the accuracy. Geno has both the arm and the accuracy and has exhibited the capability to do both in a game time situation.

The thing that Prisco mentions that is ultimately true was that WVU's offensive line was an absolute sieve. And that the Mountaineer defense was 117th out of 124th. Geno was throwing under pressure all game long, nearly every single game and he still passes for 71.2% completion and 42 TD's vs. 6 Ints. That's freaking ridiculous. His performances in the Marshall, James Madison, Baylor and Kansas games were things most QB's can't even do in practice against air.

A year or two under Reid's tuteledge and you'll see what an All-Pro QB is supposed to look like.

People should go back and read McNabbs scouting reports coming out. Tons of question marks....mainly because he was an option running QB. Andy Reid put a ton of work into him and made him get better. He always had accuracy flaws, but he got better.

Point is, if Reid was willing to do it once.....is he willing to try it again?

Quote:

But as far as a top-10 pick, I wouldn't do it. There are simply too many flaws in terms of what I want from my quarterback on the next level. There is growth potential with this kid, but that's not what you want when you draft a kid high in the first round. I just wanted to see more.

I'd seriously like to know who in this draft has done more at their respective positions than Geno has done at his.

Who are these mythical Top-10 guys that Geno doesn't fall into/can't beat out that have shown more potential at the next level for their position than Geno?

Werner? Jones? Lotulelei? Joeckel? Fisher? Jordan?

Sorry, but I don't see it.

This. Geno is a high probability bet. He's not a sure thing, but he has the potential to be great.

I like Geno. I like the article.

No, he does not.

Not only does he lack the explosiveness of Cam Newton or RGIII in the run game and the arm strength of Kaepernick or Newton or Eli Manning, he has the personality of a dead Muppet.

The guy has no charisma, he has no "pizazz" and he has no sizzle.

You're smoking too much synthetic.

I didn't realize "charisma" was such a key quality in a player. Joe Flacco better give his ring back.

Although I didn't agree with everything he observed, I concur with others in this thread saying that this level of analysis (correct or not) is sadly lacking from national media sources. Not that it needs repeating again, but Geno certainly isn't the kind of can't-miss prospect that Luck or RGIII were last year. However, I still believe that he is on the level of many other QBs taken at the top of other recent drafts. Given the lack of true top-tier talent in this draft, I see him being worth the top pick if Reid and Dorsey like him.

I don't and they wont either I bet.

Brett Favre just oozed charisma and pizzazz.

"Uhhh... we played hard... ah tried ter move the chains... uhhh... talked ta chilly bout that... felt good... uhh... good game"

Here's the thing.

You are full of shit.

You've become the same as the tools you been arguing with for years.

Aaron Rodgers may have been in the running with Flacco for the goofiest looking uncle fester ****er ever until he won his titles and got his discount double-check commercials rolling. Much like Flacco in terms of winning changing the perception of a guy's personality.

Remember how Eli was viewed before his?

Boring and no fire suddenly became unflappable.

Pete Pricksco LMAO

I don't know how this pos still has a job.

Thanks.

That means a lot coming from a guy that thinks that an almost 29 year old Brandon Albert can still "put it together".

You're a loudmouth phony.

Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Trent Dilfer, Joe Namath, Len Dawson, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees?

Duds, all of them.

No future in television, no charisma, nothing.

All of those guys have slow eyes, too.

What does any of that have to do with anything? The only charisma that matters for what we need is the kind in the huddle. And I doubt any of us can speak reliably about that for Geno or anyone else.

Really?

What does being a dynamic personality have to do with leading a team to a Super Bowl victory?

Are you really asking this question?

**** off Dane.

You're a useless ****ing blowhard.

Really? What did I "blowhard" about?

And it's nice and convenient of you to avoid your own recent claim.

You're my bitch now, John the Milkman.

Oh, I forgot: John, the OLD ASS, Milkman.

Like he asked already.

Tell us all about Joe3 Flacco's dynamic personality.

I have never shied away from any claim you useless prick.

I've said more than once that Albert hasnkt yet reached his full potential, because hasn't yet masteres the footwork and technique.

Are you a legit loudmouth?

What THE ****? Did you learn football from "Friday night lights" or some other ****ing gay ass TV after school special? Did twighlight have a football episode?

Your criteria for a franchise QB is if he gives you a boner?

I'm sorry Geno's droopy eyes is listed as one of your turn offs on SouthernCaLTwinks.com dating site but I can assure you that no one gives a **** about off the field charm.

Win. Just ****ing win. Lead by winning...no one needs fake hollow words.


Also **** Steve young. He doesn't deserve h o f

A career in broadcasting doesn't mean you have a dynamic personality.

A player like Sam Bradford would I'm sure be great on TV. That doesn't mean the guy isn't boring as snail rape, though. And you see that all the time among NFL QBs.

Most star QBs don't become "dynamic personalities" until they've had a few years at the head of the locker room. Kurt Warner and Tom Brady were probably thought of as boring douchebags when they first entered the league. They started winning shit and suddenly became "dynamic personalities."

Funny how that works.