Alphonso Smith traded because he was lazy? Also, CNNSI had Gronkowski as a third round talent

[bronco0608]

Alphonso Smith Article:


Alphonso Smith understands, probably better than most, the power of perception.

In Denver, Smith, a second-round pick in 2009, was perceived as an underachiever. He was perceived as someone who maybe didn't work hard enough, as someone who because of where he was drafted maybe carried a sense of entitlement. He was perceived as too small (5-foot-9) to be a starting cornerback. He was perceived, ultimately, as a bust.


Thus, the Broncos traded Smith -- for whom they traded a first-round pick in 2010 for the right to move up and select -- to the Lions on Saturday for tight end Dan Gronkowski, a fourth-string tight end taken 255th in 2008.

"I was shocked," Smith said Monday. "If I said I wasn't, I'd be lying to you."

But the more he thought about it, the more he made sense of what happened, and he's grateful for the chance to form new perceptions.

"It's really good to have a clean slate," he said. "I allowed certain individuals back in Denver to form a perception of me, and I paid for it. Hence, the trade. So it's really good for me and my family to be in a new place and in a new town with new teammates just to try to start it all over again."

Smith didn't blame anybody but himself for the negative perceptions in Denver.

"You allow it," he said. "Just in the way you carry yourself around the facility, the way you practice, the way you play. There are a lot of things that go into helping someone form a perception of you, a perception you don't want to give off. Even if it wasn't the case, it's still a perception that you gave them the room to make."



From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100907/SPORTS0101/9070354/1126/SPORTS/Alphonso-Smith-looks-for-a-new-start-with-the-Lions#ixzz0zqIVenZ3





Position:
TE Class:
Senior School:
Maryland Conference:
ACC Ht., Wt.:
6-5.5, 254 40 Time:
4.71

BIOGRAPHY: Three-year starter who posted career numbers of 29/287/3 as a senior after junior totals of seven receptions and 66 receiving yards.

POSITIVES: Nice-sized tight end prospect who plays much faster than his forty time. Quickly gets off the snap into routes, displays a burst of speed, and extends his hands to make the reception away from his frame. Gets vertical and adjusts in midair to come down with the difficult catch. Uses his frame to shield away opponents and protect the pass. Smooth moving around the field, and shows a good degree of quickness in his all-around game. Breaks down well, and plays with good knee bend. Solid strength at the point, and removes linebackers from the action.

NEGATIVES: Inconsistent hands and does not show the ability to pluck the fastball from the air. Lacks blocking balance and does not finish blocks.

ANALYSIS: Gronkowski is a terrific athlete with a lot of upside potential. He's could quickly find a home as a second tight end in the NFL, and he has all the tools necessary to develop into a number one at the position.
PROJECTION: Third/Fourth Round



Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/foo...#ixzz0zqHgdHiI

Even though he fell in the draft, at least some scouts were very high on him coming out of school. It is especially nice to know that he has all the tools necessary to be a number one tight end.

So all in all, getting him back in the Alphonso Smith debacle wasn't that bad.

[gunns]

At least he recognizes he was the problem.

[Br0nc0Buster]

I think it was Kaylore who said Smith seemed to dog it in practice when he went to watch

I seem to think something like that is what soured the coaches on him
Teams dont get rid of 2nd round draft picks a year later very often,and it was especially since he looked like he had improved

Maybe a fresh start is all he needed, too bad it didnt work out here
oh well lets see what his TE can do

[Lev Vyvanse]

Originally Posted by bronco0608

Alphonso Smith Article:


Alphonso Smith understands, probably better than most, the power of perception.

In Denver, Smith, a second-round pick in 2009, was perceived as too small (5-foot-9) to be a starting cornerback.

That's a strange perception to have of someone you drafted in the second round.

[bronco0608]

Originally Posted by Lev Vyvanse

That's a strange perception to have of someone you drafted in the second round.

Javiar Arenas is the same height and he was taken in the second round. With teams going to more three wide receiver sets, you need a slot cover corner to stay with the Wes Welkers, Austin Collies, Eddie Royals, and Desean Jacksons of the game. Shorter, quick-twitch cover corners become more valuable.

The issue wasn't the selection of a short cover corner in the 2nd round, but his untimely demise in Denver due to work ethic and attitude issues. That's the problem.

[bronco militia]

[Bronco Boy]

There are and have been a lot of successful CB's that are Smith's height.

[Lev Vyvanse]

Originally Posted by bronco0608

Javiar Arenas is the same height and he was taken in the second round. With teams going to more three wide receiver sets, you need a slot cover corner to stay with the Wes Welkers, Austin Collies, Eddie Royals, and Desean Jacksons of the game. Shorter, quick-twitch cover corners become more valuable.

The issue wasn't the selection of a short cover corner in the 2nd round, but his untimely demise in Denver due to work ethic and attitude issues. That's the problem.

Darrent Williams was 5-8. My perception is the author has no ****ing clue as to what the perception is in Denver.

[Naggle Nole]

For Smith's sake, I hope that he has learned his lesson that nothing is promised to you in this league
For our sake, I hope Gronkowski and Quinn both fully develop and become versatile, contributing members of this football team moving forward

[Br0nc0Buster]

Originally Posted by bronco0608

Javiar Arenas is the same height and he was taken in the second round. With teams going to more three wide receiver sets, you need a slot cover corner to stay with the Wes Welkers, Austin Collies, Eddie Royals, and Desean Jacksons of the game. Shorter, quick-twitch cover corners become more valuable.

The issue wasn't the selection of a short cover corner in the 2nd round, but his untimely demise in Denver due to work ethic and attitude issues. That's the problem.

Arenas wasnt drafted for his coverage skills though
he was drafted that high because of his special teams potential
not saying Smith cant become a good player, but those two were drafted for different purposes

[Kaylore]

It wasn't just me. Oskie saw the same things. Oskie coaches and there's nothing that pisses of a coach more than a lack hustle.

[spdirty]

Couldnt give a damn less about Alphonso. Though if he turns into a good player I'll really hate him.

[Popps]

Yea, it wasn't Smith's size... and he was plenty productive in college.

I guess he just thought he could walk into the NFL and play like he did in school.

[KipCorrington25]

Alphonso Smith who, last year, according too media reports couldn't grasp the special teams duties, you know like catch the ball and run really fast either left or right... this move will define the McDaniels fiasco when he's fired in a year or two.

[TomServo]

i think he wont play in the nfl is because he cant play in the nfl simple as that. the backup to sheff we got will probably never play in the nfl either i thought Mcd could pick character players and get them to play for him?
nfl college scouts are about as good as the clowns in washington DC. they still find work and get paid no matter how crappy a job they do.
they just replayed the top ten undrafted players on NFL network (Rod Smith was top10)

[Popps]

Shanahan had been drafting for years and still took guys like Travis McGriff, Willie Middlebrooks and Mo Clarett.

It's not a science, folks. McDaniels and Co. swung and missed on a guy in their first NFL draft. It'll happen again.

Get over it.

[TomServo]

Shanahan had been drafting for years and still took guys like Travis McGriff, Willie Middlebrooks and Mo Clarett.

It's not a science, folks. McDaniels and Co. swung and missed on a guy in their first NFL draft. It'll happen again.

Get over it.

shannys 14 years vs. Mcds 2.
Mcd cant afford two botched drafts in his first two years. 1st rounders must make an impact. alphonse prolly cant play in the nfl. knowshon has No passing gear. tebow wont be ready until 2012. the goodmans Rocked drafting (FINALLY) and Mcd dismissed them.
Mcd botched more drafts in two years than shanny did in 14 years.

[serious hops]

Originally Posted by TomServo

Mcd botched more drafts in two years than shanny did in 14 years.

Hyperbole much?

[TomServo]

Hyperbole much?

please elaborate

[TomServo]

alphonse?
knowshon?

[TomServo]

tebow wont start til 2012? hyperbole
much?

[Chris]

hyperbolic chamber

[TomServo]

hyperbolic chamber.l I guess im waiting? Chris hahaha

[watermock]

;

[Boomhauer]

Originally Posted by TwinCitiesBronco

There are and have been a lot of successful CB's that are Smith's height.

But they probably had speed and skill. Smith is a small, slow, ineffective CB that played man-coverage well in college, but shouldn't have been a first day draft pick.

Is he still the 5th CB in Det, or has he moved in front of their undrafted rookie?