R1, P8: Roquan Smith, LB - Georgia

[wab]

The way I'm looking at this is that all of the linebackers, inside and outside, were still on the board. That means to me this was almost certainly Fangio's top rated linebacker. So I have to trust that.

Bingo. I can find a lot of comfort in that. If Fangio thinks this kid can be his Patrick Willis it's a home run pick.

I wish he was bigger (YES WAB I KNOW HE'S THE SAME SIZE AS DANNY TREVATHAN ) but it is what it is.

AT LEAST HE'S NOT A 6'3 LEFT TACKLE

[Boris13c]

Kid wasn’t my first choice but he’s being universally hailed as a great pick. And you gotta love that Bears picked the “Butkus Award” winner.

that is cool... and hopefully a very good omen

[Mikefive]

Gotta say... I just love the way the guy tackles. He grabs you, wraps up and if he can, he throws you down. You don't draw it up any better than that.

I never saw the guy get interviewed before. Talk about a clear headed, leadership guy. Wow. Travathan will show him the ropes to start off. And then that defense is his.

[G08]

The way I'm looking at this is that all of the linebackers, inside and outside, were still on the board. That means to me this was almost certainly Fangio's top rated linebacker. So I have to trust that.

Bingo. I can find a lot of comfort in that. If Fangio thinks this kid can be his Patrick Willis it's a home run pick.

I wish he was bigger (YES WAB I KNOW HE'S THE SAME SIZE AS DANNY TREVATHAN ) but it is what it is.

AT LEAST HE'S NOT A 6'3 LEFT TACKLE

SIX THREE AND 7/8 OF AN INCH!

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

The way I'm looking at this is that all of the linebackers, inside and outside, were still on the board. That means to me this was almost certainly Fangio's top rated linebacker. So I have to trust that.

Bingo. I can find a lot of comfort in that. If Fangio thinks this kid can be his Patrick Willis it's a home run pick.

I wish he was bigger (YES WAB I KNOW HE'S THE SAME SIZE AS DANNY TREVATHAN ) but it is what it is.

He's like, the EXACT same size. Kinda weird.

[wab]

The way I'm looking at this is that all of the linebackers, inside and outside, were still on the board. That means to me this was almost certainly Fangio's top rated linebacker. So I have to trust that.

Bingo. I can find a lot of comfort in that. If Fangio thinks this kid can be his Patrick Willis it's a home run pick.

I wish he was bigger (YES WAB I KNOW HE'S THE SAME SIZE AS DANNY TREVATHAN ) but it is what it is.

He's like, the EXACT same size. Kinda weird.

Same arm length, same hand size....it’s uncanny. Smith is faster though.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

Gotta say... I just love the way the guy tackles. He grabs you, wraps up and if he can, he throws you down. You don't draw it up any better than that.

I never saw the guy get interviewed before. Talk about a clear headed, leadership guy. Wow. Travathan will show him the ropes to start off. And then that defense is his.

It was the one thing that I noticed right off the bat. His tackling technique is flawless. I never saw him hit a ball carrier without wrapping him up, and sliding down the legs.

[Hiphopopotamos]

Gotta say... I just love the way the guy tackles. He grabs you, wraps up and if he can, he throws you down. You don't draw it up any better than that.

I never saw the guy get interviewed before. Talk about a clear headed, leadership guy. Wow. Travathan will show him the ropes to start off. And then that defense is his.

It was the one thing that I noticed right off the bat. His tackling technique is flawless. I never saw him hit a ball carrier without wrapping him up, and sliding down the legs.

Smith's high school coach was on 670 and he was asked about the thing that Smith improved the most on since he first saw him as a freshman. His coach said that he was a skinny kid who wasn't afraid to tackle but didn't have the bulk to punish kids when he did tackle. He said that when he got to Georgia and he got into a S&C program there he put on 30+ pounds and realized that he had the size to 'get nasty' when tackling.

Makes me think that Smith had to have good technique as a high schooler if only because he was a smaller guy.

Coach said that in the championship game Smith had 16 carries for 274 yards and 4 TDs on offense, and 24 tackles including 7.5 TFL on defense.

[BR0D1E86]

Wow... the play in this tweet... that’s some closing speed.

https://twitter.com/sportsmockery/statu ... 48097?s=20

[Mikefive]

Good article about speed LBs in today's NFL and uses Smith as an example.

[Mikefive]

The phone call from Matt Nagy to Roquan Smith.

Perhaps the most interesting thing in that clip is the Draftek pick value chart in full view on someone's PC screen in the war room. Who says they don't use that?

[Umbali]

I am geeked up about this pick. I Love his tackling and speed. But his tackling..wow

[mmmc_35]

The phone call from Matt Nagy to Roquan Smith.

Perhaps the most interesting thing in that clip is the Draftek pick value chart in full view on someone's PC screen in the war room. Who says they don't use that?

It sure does look like that chart but there are differences.

[UOK]

[video][/video]

[wab]

[video][/video]

I’m excited about this dude.

[cblaz11]

Ya, I agree. I feel like we have missing our identity on defense since the Urlacher, Briggs, Peanut years. This guy is going to be a major part in changing that..at least I hope. We need Floyd to truly put it together this year...

[wab]

Ya, I agree. I feel like we have missing our identity on defense since the Urlacher, Briggs, Peanut years. This guy is going to be a major part in changing that..at least I hope. We need Floyd to truly put it together this year...

This is sort of a make or break year for Floyd. He needs to have a big year or risk being replaced.

[Mikefive]

With our OLB position not addressed in the draft so far, I think we can pretty well predict more zone blitz stuff thrown into our defense that has this guy occasionally heading straight for the QB at high speed.

[Otis Day]

Nice to get back to having a home grown stud LB. I haven't been this excited about a pick in awhile. I think he is going to tear it up. I am envisioning him on a zone blitz putting Rodgers on his ass. Love me some Chicago Bear LBs.

[CrownMyAss]

As long as he gets a cool number like 50 or 58, or heck, have Urlacher bless the #54 for him.

Just don't want him getting an underwhelming number like 53 or 57, because I want to buy his jersey.

[cblaz11]

I'd like to see him in 59...isn't that the old Rosey Colvin number?

[UOK]

I'd like to see him in 59...isn't that the old Rosey Colvin number?

Yep. I think he'll wear some abstract number in the 90s or he'll don 53. Warrick Holdman's old number.

[cblaz11]

50 just seems like a natural fit..is it retired?

[UOK]

50 just seems like a natural fit..is it retired?

Nope. Shea McClellin wore it, for chrissakes.

[cblaz11]

Gross

[Mikefive]

As long as he gets a cool number like 50 or 58, or heck, have Urlacher bless the #54 for him.

Just don't want him getting an underwhelming number like 53 or 57, because I want to buy his jersey.

58 will be available. No room for John Anderson if we just drafted 2 "movement" ILBs in the first 4 rounds.

59... Travathan
??...Roquan
44... Kwiatkoski
53... Timu
??... Iggy

Unless he wants 43, the LB number with a 3 is taken.

[Mikefive]

Several good interviews discussing Roquan Smith here.

[GSH]

50 just seems like a natural fit..is it retired?

Nope. Shea McClellin wore it, for chrissakes.

Id be happy to have Roquan in 50 if he "pulls a shea" in week 1 and does Erin's collarbone a mischief!

[Umbali]

wasnt 58 Marshalls number? id be cool with that

[DaSuperfan]

wasnt 58 Marshalls number? id be cool with that

Yes, 58 was Wilbur Marshall. I wouldn't mind 58 or 52. To me, 52 would be fitting since Willis and Lewis wore that in SF and Baltimore.