Former Heisman Smith Running Out Of Options
If you were not a football expert but had interest in Troy Smith
or the Ohio State Buckeyes back in 2006, you probably expected him to be a
future stud in the NFL. After
leading his team to a 12-0 record and winning the Heisman trophy Smith seemed
destined for greatness.
It is pretty clear today that the former Buckeye quarterback has
not lived up to the expectations many had for him. After being drafted by the
Baltimore Ravens and spending time in San Francisco, Pittsburgh and the UFL,
Smith may have just gotten his last opportunity to play in the NFL after being
released yesterday by the Steelers.
Although the average football fan may be surprised that Smith
didn't "pan out" there are many experts that are not surprised at
all. Smith has always been in the conversation of quarterbacks who had a ton of
talent that doesn’t necessarily translate to the NFL. If you’re incredible in
college, doesn't that mean that you have a great chance to be a great player in
the pros? Mostly yes, but in some cases the talent that some players possess
may not work in a “pro offense”. This is the case for Smith who did not have
the size or arm to lead a NFL offense. There was no doubt that he has the speed
and the ability to throw the occasional sneaky pass, but in the NFL league
today there are very strict requirements that must be met in order for a team
to believe you are part of their system. If you aren't above 6 foot 3 and don't
have a rocket arm, you will be overlooked.
Are the NFL standards correct? Players who have been treated
like Troy Smith and haven't been given a true opportunity, present extreme
hurdles for future players who fit this mold. You don't have to look far to
find a player dealing with a similar situation. Kellen Moore has the most wins
for a quarterback in NCAA history and had a terrific career at Boise State.
This didn't matter on draft day to NFL teams, as Moore was undrafted and is
currently trying to snag a spot with the Lions. Moore is undersized and doesn't
have the rocket arm that scouts dream about.
Unless another team suddenly has a desperate need for
quarterback help or a versatile player to run some sort of wildcat formation,
this appears to be it for Troy Smith. The signings of Charlie Batch and Byron
Leftwhich has made him expendable in Pittsburgh. 6 years ago he was fighting
for a National Championship against Florida with millions of people watching his
every move. Today Smith is an unemployed 27 year old man who was not given an
opportunity to play in the NFL because he doesn't fit the mold of franchise
quarterback. Don't we all wish we could have the build without the personality
of Ben Roethlisberger? Unfortunately for Smith the skills and size he and so many others possess are not up to par with what it takes to be an NFL quarterback.
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Have a great day,
Aaron Granoff
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