'14 KS OL Braden Smith (Auburn Signee)

[STLDomer]

Top 3 ND, TCU, and A&M (no order). Sexy time.

Plus Steve just added a note saying he thinks ND might be the leader

Sounds like we hit it out of the park. Braden had the attention of Elliott, Hiestand, Kelly and Martin apparently. Looks like we should get an OV at this point.

 

[koonja]

Great that we're in the top 3, but also that there's finally an elite lineman who doesn't have scUM as his leader.

 

[dwshade]

There is no way this guy plays guard. No matter where he decides to play football, he has left tackle written all over him

Dominant guard all the way. Excellent pulling skills. He and Montellus would be quite a pair of starting guards down the line. If only we could add McDermott as a tackle, that would be terrific.

 

[BeauBenken]

There is no way this guy plays guard. No matter where he decides to play football, he has left tackle written all over him

He's athletic, but not to an extreme for a big guy. Especially considering he has a lot more size to add. What makes him a very good guard prospect his he is athletic enough to pull and move, but he has great drive and strength which you like to see in your guards. His pass protection skills are not as advanced as his run blocking skills.

 

[Ricochet]

His big negative is that he's got short arms and once the evaluators realized that his upside and stock dropped because now they see him as less versatile prospect who can't play anywhere on the OL.

 

[STLDomer]

He's athletic, but not to an extreme for a big guy. Especially considering he has a lot more size to add. What makes him a very good guard prospect his he is athletic enough to pull and move, but he has great drive and strength which you like to see in your guards. His pass protection skills are not as advanced as his run blocking skills.

He plays in a wishbone offense so that explains your analysis well

His big negative is that he's got short arms and once the evaluators realized that his upside and stock dropped because now they see him as less versatile prospect who can't play anywhere on the OL.

+1

 

[Buster Bluth]

His big negative is that he's got short arms and once the evaluators realized that his upside and stock dropped because now they see him as less versatile prospect who can't play anywhere on the OL.

Which doesn't mean as much for for a guard. He will be a force in the interior line. So strong, so quick, and athletic enough to get where he needs to be.

He won't be a LT. hahaha

 

[Luckylucci]

A 247 writer also said he had some trouble with footwork and technique at the under armor combine when doing one on one with guys coming off the edge. I always thought of him as a pure OT prospect but the more you read the more that isn't his skill set.

 

[koonja]

I'm the worst talent evaluator on this board, but his arms don't look short to me. They look big, but not short. This guy has no business on the DL or what?

When a guy is 6'6", 280-ish, I can't decipher between whether a guy's future is on DL or OL.

 

[Irishnuke]

So, if OL isn't his skill set, what are we recruiting him as? Does he play DE?

 

[STLDomer]

So, if OL isn't his skill set, what are we recruiting him as? Does he play DE?

We are saying OT isn't his skill set not OL. He is still the #1 OG.

His 5 rating was largely based on his ability to play OT and OG at an elite level. Now people are saying he will only be an OG, thus is small drop in ranking.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I'm the worst talent evaluator on this board, but his arms don't look short to me. They look big, but not short. This guy has no business on the DL or what?

When a guy is 6'6", 280-ish, I can't decipher between whether a guy's future is on DL or OL.

A DLs best weapon is space between he and the OL. So the longer the OLs arms are, the more he reduces this for the DL. You want your OTs to have very long arms for DEs.

It just doesn't matter as much for OGs/OCs, (there isn't as much space to move around like DEs have), so this is a sort of nonissue.

For what its worth, it's basically the reason Zach Martin won't be a first-round NFL pick in 2014.

 

[Irishnuke]

We are saying OT isn't his skill set not OL. He is still the #1 OG.

His 5 rating was largely based on his ability to play OT and OG at an elite level. Now people are saying he will only be an OG, thus is small drop in ranking.

Yup, nevermind. My bad.

 

[Buster Bluth]

A 247 writer also said he had some trouble with footwork and technique at the under armor combine when doing one on one with guys coming off the edge. I always thought of him as a pure OT prospect but the more you read the more that isn't his skill set.

Elmer played like crap as those combines and will still be an absolute stud. I wouldn't take too much out of combines for OL recruits. As Alford said in his latest interview, no one really cares about what someone can do in shorts.

 

[koonja]

A DLs best weapon is space between he and the OL. So the longer the OLs arms are, the more he reduces this for the DL. You want your OTs to have very long arms for DEs.

It just doesn't matter as much for OGs/OCs, so this is a sort of nonissue.

For what its worth, it's basically the reason Zach Martin won't be a first-round NFL pick in 2014.

Makes sense for seeing the difference between OG and OC vs. OT. But why couldn't he be a great DL? Does a prospect grade out better at DL than OL if he's more athletic or what? Seems like 6'6", 280-ish is a perfect size for a 3-4 DE. This is a difference I've been struggling with forever, not just with Smith.

 

[Ricochet]

Make no mistake the kid is a stud he's just not OT. Other than his short arms his flaws are normal, small and easily correctable with work ethic and coaching. He's hands down the best OG and still one of the best OL prospects in the class.

 

[GBdomer]

Didnt know we had so many talent evaluators on this board. Staff likes him at OT per rivals

 

[BeauBenken]

He plays in a wishbone offense so that explains your analysis well

Want to know the truth?

I don't even know the last time I watched the kids film. I'm saying all this just because of what I remember him looking like. But I've never been THAT high on Braden. He's a 4* for sure, but not 5. IMO

 

[NDhoosier]

Didnt know we had so many talent evaluators on this board. Staff likes him at OT per rivals

Dont really care what position he plays, if he is in Blue and Gold, ill be a happy camper.

 

[arrowryan]

Why is that?

Every analyst says he has Guard written all over him.

I just think 6'6" would make for a tall *** guard, don't you think? When I think of a guard, I think of someone around 6'4". If he feels more comfortable at guard then put him there, he is going to be a mauler no matter where he lines up

 

[Luckylucci]

Elmer played like crap as those combines and will still be an absolute stud. I wouldn't take too much out of combines for OL recruits. As Alford said in his latest interview, no one really cares about what someone can do in shorts.

The reason for bringing it up wasn't that I put a lot of stock in combines after a junior season but to add to the conversation about why some recruiting services have started to evaluate him as a guard and not OT.

 

[IrishLion]

I just think 6'6" would make for a tall *** guard, don't you think? When I think of a guard, I think of someone around 6'4". If he feels more comfortable at guard then put him there, he is going to be a mauler no matter where he lines up

To be fair, John Montelus and Colin McGovern project as the guards for the '13 class, and Montelus is the shortest at 6'5". I don't think the staff cares either way about height so much in the interior.

 

[t3hjc]

He looked like a guard in the combine drill video posted earlier this year. He was slow in dealing with guys coming at him off the edge.

 

[ant80]

Top 3 ND, TCU, and A&M (no order). Sexy time.

Do you have a link for this?

 

[STLDomer]

Do you have a link for this?

Braden says straight up he preferred ND to OSU & Michigan

EDIT: no idea what happend with that link, here is the real one Notre Dame Improves Shot To Sign Branden Smith

 

[beryirish]

Do you have a link for this?

I'm sure you guys don't want him anyways.

 

[drake29]

One on one's in a camp setting are set up for OL to lose because OTs end up trying to block smallerand quicker players. Smith has the long limbs and height to play OT in college. Also, Montelus is 6-3 tops.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

One on one's in a camp setting are set up for OL to lose because OTs end up trying to block smallerand quicker players. Smith has the long limbs and height to play OT in college. Also, Montelus is 6-3 tops.

Must have been light gravity the day I stood next to him, then.

 

[t3hjc]

One on one's in a camp setting are set up for OL to lose because OTs end up trying to block smallerand quicker players. Smith has the long limbs and height to play OT in college.

But not the feet. There's a reason consensus has built around him at guard despite the fact he remains a highly rated offensive line prospect, it's not some coincidence.

 

[drake29]

Smith's problem in his pass set isn't slow feet or knee bend. It's lack.of experience and technique, things he will pick up when he gets to college.

Regarding Montelus' height, I believe Kelly even referenced him only being about 6-3 in his signing day presser.