NCAA Scouting - Player Profile:
Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest by Ben Stockwell
13/3/2009
If ever there was a corner who exemplifies why scouts, internet “draftniks” and fans need to look past ideal height, blazing straight line speed and all of the other measurables that pre-draft workouts bring about, Alphonso Smith is that corner. At 5'9 he's a midget by NFL standards and he'll have some team and draftniks tutting audibly about how he'll not be able to cope with tall receivers, how he'll get bullied off of the ball and muscled around on outside runs. Then he goes and runs over 4.5 seconds in his 40 yard dash and the internet is a buzz with how he won't be able to run and cover receivers in man coverage, he can't cope with deep speed. Well to be quite frank, Smith has a massive body of work “between the hedges” that suggests that these “limitations” that the off-season workouts are throwing up are irrelevant. The draft throws up lots of players who “look better in shorts than in pads”, Smith is the opposite you've got to see him in pads to truly appreciate the player he is.
What we like about Smith
Much discussion over the internet on corners entering the draft often gets caught up on their straight line speed in the 40 yard dash, but let's be honest how relevant is that? Beyond a certain point it's just a perk and the more relevant and not easily measurable speed is football speed. How quickly can they change direction? How fluid are they reacting to cuts, how explosive are they breaking on the ball? For everything that Smith gives up in his straight line speed he takes back and then some with his football speed. For all that a sub 4.4 40 is brilliant, if you can't get quickly up to that speed you are going to leave receivers open out of their breaks. Smith doesn't do that, he reacts quickly in and out of his breaks to keep tight to receivers rather than relying on his straight line speed to recover for poor speed in and out of breaks. Combined with this terrifying speed breaking on passes he has some of the best ball skills amongst the defensive backs in this year's draft. He is the ACC's career leader with 21 interceptions, and can translate those interceptions into big returns when he gets his hands on the ball. On top of his athleticism in and out of breaks he is a smart corner, as a former high school quarterback he has an understanding of what QBs are looking for in coverages and can disguise his coverage to exploit that. In terms of coming up and taking on blocks, playing the run and attacking screens he plays bigger than his size. As an added bonus he has experience as a receiver and in the return game on special teams, he's very confident with the ball in his hands.
Question marks over Smith
We come back to his size for the biggest question, mark it's very tough to look past the fact that at 5'9 he is going to concede up to and over half a foot to the receivers that he'll be covering in the NFL, in terms of covering jump balls that is going to be a matchup that will be tough for him to cover. Further to his lack of size he'll have trouble getting off blocks to make tackles in the run game and won't be quick to drag down backs in the open field if he's matched up one on one. The simple question is how much you let these concerns drag him down your draft board? His attitude is exemplary, he'll work hard to come over his limitations but how much will teams let those physical limitations cloud their judgement of Smith?
Highlights of his College Career
- His 21 career interceptions are the most in Wake Forest and ACC history.
- Part of the Wake Forest team that won the ACC title for the 2006 season. Wake's first conference title since 1970.
- 1st team All-ACC in 2007 & 2008.
- 3rd team All-American (AP) in 2007.
Other Snippets of Info
- Playing both QB & DB led Pahokee High School to the Florida 2B State Championship.
- Nicknamed “Prime”.
- Made his career in 2005 against Vanderbilt & Jay Cutler, breaking up 3 passes.
NCAA Scouting - Player Profile:
Much discussion over the internet on corners entering the draft often gets caught up on their straight line speed in the 40 yard dash, but let's be honest how relevant is that? Beyond a certain point it's just a perk and the more relevant and not easily measurable speed is football speed. How quickly can they change direction? How fluid are they reacting to cuts, how explosive are they breaking on the ball? For everything that Smith gives up in his straight line speed he takes back and then some with his football speed. For all that a sub 4.4 40 is brilliant, if you can't get quickly up to that speed you are going to leave receivers open out of their breaks. Smith doesn't do that, he reacts quickly in and out of his breaks to keep tight to receivers rather than relying on his straight line speed to recover for poor speed in and out of breaks. Combined with this terrifying speed breaking on passes he has some of the best ball skills amongst the defensive backs in this year's draft. He is the ACC's career leader with 21 interceptions, and can translate those interceptions into big returns when he gets his hands on the ball. On top of his athleticism in and out of breaks he is a smart corner, as a former high school quarterback he has an understanding of what QBs are looking for in coverages and can disguise his coverage to exploit that. In terms of coming up and taking on blocks, playing the run and attacking screens he plays bigger than his size. As an added bonus he has experience as a receiver and in the return game on special teams, he's very confident with the ball in his hands.