Shelley Smith= best 6th round pick in Texan history?
 

Here's video from Arizona:

http://www.texansbullblog.com/shelly-smith/news/

You're right DM, he's real impressive in those 2 plays. Thanks for putting it up there.

I was wondering if you guys graded Smith or other new comers to OL, to compare overall running and passing grades with apparent top 5 , or top 8.

I guess all the guys have some highlights. and one might consider competition going against. At practices seemed to be quite a drop off after 5 starters, but I guess things can change with extra effort and injuries. And which plays want to highlight or perhaps who want to complain about, as all seemed to make mistakes as well.

I only graded out the first half. I will tell you this, though. Smith would have graded out higher than any other OLman on Saturday. He literally didn't have any negative plays, and often outright won the battle... like he did on the two that I put to video. The closest to a negative play that he had was on the Orlovsky bootleg to the right on the Arizona 17yard line. On that play, the DT got some penetration. But, even then, Smith easily rode him away from the bootleg and totally out of the play. He was awesome from start to finish.

Hard to say that Shelly Smith is the best interior linesman we've ever drafted because other than Chester Pitts, who was a good one in his time, there have not been too many OG/C's drafted. FA's yes but not draftees. It is also rather early (one preseason game) to be so optomistic. Just hope he continues to improve on his early success.

Here's further evidence in my campaign to get Shelley Smith on the field at LG. Here's the article:


This is my second article in a week praising Shelley Smith’s performance. So, I should preface this one by stating that I am not a Colorado State graduate. I watched Shelley Smith at training camp and came away unimpressed. So, I was as surprised as anyone to witness his performance in Arizona. It was flawless. Kubiak made special mention of Smith’s performance in the press conference after the Arizona game when asked an unrelated question. So, clearly the coaching staff took note. So, I was excited to see Shelley Smith play against New Orleans’ second unit this week. Unfortunately, because of a lack offensive snaps due to a pitiful defensive performance, Smith did not enter the game until the final drive. I am hopeful that Shelley Smith will get a genuine look in the game versus Dallas, but I am concerned that (for reasons I am not privy to) the Texan coaching staff has determined that he is not a consideration for an active day roster job, either as starting LG or as the G/C backup… He did, after all, start at center for three years at CSU.

Below is a play from the end of the game at New Orleans. Shelley Smith is LG, #71. He only played about 10 snaps but once again never got beat and always looked good. What I love about this video are a few things: He takes care of his primary job. He has his head on a swivel, looking for blitzes and stunts. He realizes he can help elsewhere. He is determined to hit somebody. The physicality and agressiveness he displays as he takes out the RDE. Below the Shelley Smith highlight are two lowlights of Wade Smith from Saturday. His play was very poor, in my opinion. Finally, there is a link below to check out highlights of Shelley Smith from the Arizona game, if you are so inclined.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS/LOWLIGHTS HERE

You got an attaboy coming for your call on our rookie guard from CSU. The Texans obviously saw the same talent/potential you did as they did not risk losing him by chancing waivers to place him on the PS, and instead put him on their 53-man squad.
Along with 7th round pick WR Dickerson, this had to be a good Draft for the Texans as it's not automatic for such late round picks to make the roster of a team like ours that has now established a respectible level of NFL talent.

I really like the way Smith and Kubiak are trying to build a team for the future. All nine of our draft picks are either on the 53 man roster or on IR. Plus we got the rookie CB from Dallas. We are not afraid to cut experience for youth. In the long run, that's the best way to go.

I read somewhere that Leinart would have been the top pick in 2005 had he come out that year so I went back to look at that draft. Good god what a wasteland as far as the Texans were concerned. I mean, they might as well have not participated and saved the money. It's satisfying finally to see some things changing over on Kirby.

Thanks. I'm just relieved that the Texans kept him. Otherwise, I would've had to conclude that either they, or I, didn't know what we were doing. Both of those are very unappealing to me.