Rankings:
Offense: QB RB FB WR TE OT OG C
Defense: DT NT DE Hybrid DE/OLB OLB ILB FS SS CB
Special Teams: K P RS LS
Defense: DT NT DE Hybrid DE/OLB OLB ILB FS SS CB
Special Teams: K P RS LS
Tyron Smith Measurables:
Position: Offensive Tackle
School: USC
Year: Junior
Height: 6-4
Weight: 285
40-Yard Dash:
School: USC
Year: Junior
Height: 6-4
Weight: 285
40-Yard Dash:
Strengths:
- Tremendously athletic lineman with a long frame
- Possesses the agility and quick feet to slide and mirror his opponent
- Gets outside quickly to handle elite speed rushers
- Has long arms and quick hands
- Gets off the ball quickly
- Keeps pad level low
- Gets to the second level quickly and does a good job sealing off linebackers
Weaknesses:
- Lacks size and can be overpowered by bigger defenders
- Struggles at times to get a push when drive blocking in the run game
- Needs to work on getting better hand placement
Bottom Line on Tyron Smith:
Although he played mostly on the right side at USC, Tyron Smith has the athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL. In fact, his biggest strength lies in his pass protection. He is, however, a little undersized and is going to have to continue bulking up. He does appear to have the frame to do just that without losing too much of his speed and agility. Right now, though, his best bet for success is to land with a team that employs a zone-blocking scheme, which best suits his skill set.
Projection: Smith appears to be a guy who, with a little time, has the potential to develop into a tackle who can be consistently effective against the league's elite speed rushers. He's a little raw and a bit of a risky pick, and he would probably benefit from another year in school. But his upside may be as high as any tackle in the draft, which could land him in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.