Direckshun
03-29-2015, 04:03 AM
http://zonereads.com/?p=2702
The Human Torch: Devin Smith
by vixticator
Posted on March 22, 2015
If you haven’t watched any tape of Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith, then you’re in for a treat. He’s preternaturally gifted when it comes to making catches deep down field. In fact, that’s essentially all he does. He only caught 33 passes as a senior, 12 of which were touchdowns, for an average of 28.2 yards per reception. These numbers are meaningless without context. That’s what the game tape is for, and thanks to Draft Breakdown (http://draftbreakdown.com/players/devin-smith/) I’ve been able to watch four of them (Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Cincinnati).
In the game against Michigan State, Smith makes two beautiful over-the-shoulder catches. On the first play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ApMQsx0m8M&t=1m55s), he starts off standing on the 35-yard line, runs more or less straight down the field, and makes a rather ridiculous reception around at the 20-yard line. I’ll leave the math to you. That’s a big chunk of yards. The most impressive aspect of this play isn’t the speed, but the way he locates the ball midair and plucks it with both hands over his shoulder at an awkward angle. Later in the game he makes this catch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ApMQsx0m8M&t=2m43s) for a touchdown. Just another routine over-the-shoulder 45-yard reception. I feel bad for the Michigan State safeties there. That is a touchdown presnap as long as the ball is on target.
You ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Wisconsin fans might want to skip this next section. Touchdown #1 is all about the adjustment to the ball. He locates it in the air when he turns his head, then he gets his body where it needs to be in order to make the catch. He also plays it like a basketball player boxing out his opponent to snare a rebound. Touchdown #2 is similar to his touchdown in the Michigan State game. This time he gets one-on-one coverage from the slot against a safety. Lamb to the slaughter.
Touchdown #3 is a leaping two-handed grab. Smith’s location, location, location abilities are otherworldly. He didn’t drop a single deep bomb in any of the games I watched. Alright, so he can catch deep bombs. Can we move on? If this is what you are asking, get the hell out of here. Two more. First, this play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwdxC7oD5s8&t=0m31s) against Illinois. This guy Devin Smith sure can make deep over-the-shoulder touchdown catches. To prove he is, in fact, human, watch this play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvD6P8pmpwk&t=4m1s). He… almost didn’t catch it! Throwing the ball in the general direction of Smith and letting him do the rest is a foolproof plan I’m tellin’ ya.
He can do a bit other than run deep routes. Not a lot, mind you, but I have some evidence that he can. For instance, there’s this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvD6P8pmpwk&t=0m30s) play where he finds the right spot to sit against zone coverage and runs in for a touchdown. Here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ApMQsx0m8M&t=1m28s) he makes a catch over the middle on what appears to be a post route. On this play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvD6P8pmpwk&t=2m10s) he just comes to a screeching halt. Even though the quarterback is looking the other way, you still need to try to get open if the play breaks down. And, at least to me, both this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvD6P8pmpwk&t=3m33s) and this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0-_o6SchBM&t=1m44s) are poorly run routes.
In order to stay on the field (or become elite), Smith must get better at running short to intermediate routes. He will come in on multiple receiver packages and force the defense to respect his deep game, which opens up space for teammates. His deep game is special even among NFL players. He knows how to locate, and, more importantly, to adjust his body in order to make difficult catches with the ball flying 40+ yards. Over and over again.
If you’re going to be a one-trick pony as a rookie wide receiver, this is the best trick to have up your sleeve. Smith has excellent hands. In the four games I watched, he dropped one pass, and the degree of difficulty on his catches were very high indeed. At the end of the first round, I wouldn’t hesitate to send in his name if I needed some help outside. Are you telling me you don’t want to see Devin Smith catch bombs from Andrew Luck, or Russell Wilson, over the next five or more years? Please.
The Human Torch: Devin Smith
by vixticator
Posted on March 22, 2015
If you haven’t watched any tape of Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith, then you’re in for a treat. He’s preternaturally gifted when it comes to making catches deep down field. In fact, that’s essentially all he does. He only caught 33 passes as a senior, 12 of which were touchdowns, for an average of 28.2 yards per reception. These numbers are meaningless without context. That’s what the game tape is for, and thanks to Draft Breakdown (http://draftbreakdown.com/players/devin-smith/) I’ve been able to watch four of them (Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Cincinnati).
In the game against Michigan State, Smith makes two beautiful over-the-shoulder catches. On the first play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ApMQsx0m8M&t=1m55s), he starts off standing on the 35-yard line, runs more or less straight down the field, and makes a rather ridiculous reception around at the 20-yard line. I’ll leave the math to you. That’s a big chunk of yards. The most impressive aspect of this play isn’t the speed, but the way he locates the ball midair and plucks it with both hands over his shoulder at an awkward angle. Later in the game he makes this catch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ApMQsx0m8M&t=2m43s) for a touchdown. Just another routine over-the-shoulder 45-yard reception. I feel bad for the Michigan State safeties there. That is a touchdown presnap as long as the ball is on target.
You ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Wisconsin fans might want to skip this next section. Touchdown #1 is all about the adjustment to the ball. He locates it in the air when he turns his head, then he gets his body where it needs to be in order to make the catch. He also plays it like a basketball player boxing out his opponent to snare a rebound. Touchdown #2 is similar to his touchdown in the Michigan State game. This time he gets one-on-one coverage from the slot against a safety. Lamb to the slaughter.
Touchdown #3 is a leaping two-handed grab. Smith’s location, location, location abilities are otherworldly. He didn’t drop a single deep bomb in any of the games I watched. Alright, so he can catch deep bombs. Can we move on? If this is what you are asking, get the hell out of here. Two more. First, this play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwdxC7oD5s8&t=0m31s) against Illinois. This guy Devin Smith sure can make deep over-the-shoulder touchdown catches. To prove he is, in fact, human, watch this play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvD6P8pmpwk&t=4m1s). He… almost didn’t catch it! Throwing the ball in the general direction of Smith and letting him do the rest is a foolproof plan I’m tellin’ ya.
He can do a bit other than run deep routes. Not a lot, mind you, but I have some evidence that he can. For instance, there’s this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvD6P8pmpwk&t=0m30s) play where he finds the right spot to sit against zone coverage and runs in for a touchdown. Here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ApMQsx0m8M&t=1m28s) he makes a catch over the middle on what appears to be a post route. On this play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvD6P8pmpwk&t=2m10s) he just comes to a screeching halt. Even though the quarterback is looking the other way, you still need to try to get open if the play breaks down. And, at least to me, both this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvD6P8pmpwk&t=3m33s) and this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0-_o6SchBM&t=1m44s) are poorly run routes.
In order to stay on the field (or become elite), Smith must get better at running short to intermediate routes. He will come in on multiple receiver packages and force the defense to respect his deep game, which opens up space for teammates. His deep game is special even among NFL players. He knows how to locate, and, more importantly, to adjust his body in order to make difficult catches with the ball flying 40+ yards. Over and over again.
If you’re going to be a one-trick pony as a rookie wide receiver, this is the best trick to have up your sleeve. Smith has excellent hands. In the four games I watched, he dropped one pass, and the degree of difficulty on his catches were very high indeed. At the end of the first round, I wouldn’t hesitate to send in his name if I needed some help outside. Are you telling me you don’t want to see Devin Smith catch bombs from Andrew Luck, or Russell Wilson, over the next five or more years? Please.