R1, P8: Roquan Smith, LB - Georgia

College football and the NFL Draft

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Smith (6-foot-1, 236 pounds) is widely regarded as a menacing sideline-to-sideline tackler with terrific instincts, in addition to leadership skills that could make him the face of an NFL defense.

“Roquan Smith is the truth, man,” said Louis Riddick, former NFL personnel executive and current ESPN analyst. “The kid is a player in every sense of the word. He should be a Pro Bowler very quickly.

“He is lightning off the spot, meaning his eyes are where they need to be. His (ability to) key and diagnose is exceptional. Very rarely does he take bad paths to the football. He takes on people hat-in-hand, meaning when he’s taking on offensive linemen, you see their head snap back. He can run, and when he gets there, he gets there with bad intentions.

“He can cover. He can play (against) running backs. He can match up against tight ends. He may have some size issues, but there are ways to get by that with technique and leverage. There’s nothing bad for me to say about Roquan.”

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46Blitz
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I'm good with that pick.
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WagonForce
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Was hoping for a deal like the Bucs got, or Nelson.

I’m good with Smith.
46Blitz
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WagonForce wrote:Was hoping for a deal like the Bucs got, or Nelson.

I’m good with Smith.
Felt the same, but this guy should be ready to be an impact right away and for years to come. He is not a project and can contribute at a high level. Def feel good about it.
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I think he'll be right in the middle, making the calls on the fly and quarterbacking the defense. I think he'll be a star.
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PlumBear
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Watched every Georgia game last season (son is a huge Georgia fan), kid is a stud.
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wab
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Nelson was my #1. Smith was my #2. I like the pick a lot. Hopefully they still figure out a way to get Kawasaki on the field.
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wab wrote:Nelson was my #1. Smith was my #2. I like the pick a lot. Hopefully they still figure out a way to get Kawasaki on the field.
Trevathan is hurt a lot, so that should help.
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So god damn excited. This kids a star.
Holy Shit - We got Justin Fields!

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I wanted a pass rusher, but this really was the next best thing ESPECIALLY if Vic Fangio thinks this kid is his Patrick Willis.
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He was truly the BPA as well as an area of need for us. I really wanted Nelson, but this is a good one too without question. Might have been the last blue chip pic left.
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I think this is the best 1st round pick of the Pace era.
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wab wrote:I think this is the best 1st round pick of the Pace era.
Fair.
Last year was pretty good too, but I certainly was unhappy in 2015 and 2016.
KFFL refugee.

dplank wrote:I agree with Rich here
RichH55 wrote: Dplank is correct
:shocked:
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In Fangio I trust.
Mikefive's theory: The only time you KNOW that a sports team player, coach or management member is being 100% honest is when they're NOT reciting "the company line".

Go back to leather helmets, NFL.
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This is a good pick. It was BPA, but did not necessarily fill the biggest need. In combination with Trevathan, he will be a monster.
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G08 wrote:I wanted a pass rusher, but this really was the next best thing ESPECIALLY if Vic Fangio thinks this kid is his Patrick Willis.

I wonder if they go Josh Sweat / Carter / Nwosu EDGE rusher in the second.

Hell - I’d try to trade back into the first to grab Landry at this point.
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Like the kid..measurables
Ray Lewis size..more speed..1" taller..similar weight as Ray was during his HOF career..and NASTY..side to side and can blitz..
Side to side like Brian..and covers as well..
Really helps rush as he does so much to slow the QB choices..

NICE.!
Last edited by docc on Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Hiphopopotamos wrote:
G08 wrote:I wanted a pass rusher, but this really was the next best thing ESPECIALLY if Vic Fangio thinks this kid is his Patrick Willis.

I wonder if they go Josh Sweat / Carter / Nwosu EDGE rusher in the second.

Hell - I’d try to trade back into the first to grab Landry at this point.
I was just talking about that in the chatroom, Adi said our 2nd rounder and our first 4th rounder should get us to #32.

I could live with Sweat or Carter in round 2, hell if we trade down in 2 I'd go for Turay.
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I honestly didn't watch any film on him as I was pretty sure he'd be gone. He looks fast as hell and can diagnose plays quickly. Like the pick.
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I feel like I need to preface this post in full disclosure...

I live in Georgia, my son is about to graduate from UGA, and I coached their QB in Little League. With that being said Smith is an absolute animal. He runs like a deer and makes plays all over the field. Can’t wait to see him add to the tradition at the position. Love the pick and have been wearing out my insides for months hoping he would be the guy!
Last edited by edep12 on Thu Apr 26, 2018 10:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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The next in the long line of great Chicago Bears LBs.
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Hiphopopotamos wrote:
G08 wrote:I wanted a pass rusher, but this really was the next best thing ESPECIALLY if Vic Fangio thinks this kid is his Patrick Willis.

I wonder if they go Josh Sweat / Carter / Nwosu EDGE rusher in the second.

Hell - I’d try to trade back into the first to grab Landry at this point.
They just said that the Bears were trying to trade back into the 1st. Howard as bait?
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Bears Whiskey Nut wrote:
Hiphopopotamos wrote:
G08 wrote:I wanted a pass rusher, but this really was the next best thing ESPECIALLY if Vic Fangio thinks this kid is his Patrick Willis.

I wonder if they go Josh Sweat / Carter / Nwosu EDGE rusher in the second.

Hell - I’d try to trade back into the first to grab Landry at this point.
They just said that the Bears were trying to trade back into the 1st. Howard as bait?
Their 2nd and the first 4th would get them to 32.
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Eagles traded w/ Ravens. No drama.
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G08 wrote:I wanted a pass rusher, but this really was the next best thing ESPECIALLY if Vic Fangio thinks this kid is his Patrick Willis.
Well, Louis Reddick sure does.
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Slept on it and still like the pick.

Fills a need for now and for tomorrow. Has all the tools and is said he is said to have great leadership skills.

The guy wasn't even on my radar, but I'm very happy with the pick.
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Watching more tape on him, a few things stand out;

1. The kid is lightning fast.
2. His tackling technique is nearly flawless.
3. He has a really high football IQ.

I honestly didn't think that the Bears were going to go this route, but I am happy they did. Fangio has to be ecstatic.
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If the Dline can keep him clean he will flourish... some of the plays he made in the CFP semifinal in the second half were really impressive. I didn't realize that he is almost exactly the same size as Willis and Bowman...

Plus Landry is still sitting there on the board... rumor is that he has some medical flags that caused him to drop...
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I went to go see Avengers last night so I missed the first round.

Over the past couple of weeks I had flip flopped between Smith, Davenport and Vea. I’m really excited. Of the three, Smith has the least amount of downside and was a very safe but needed and good pick. We potentially have our future leader on defense which is sorely needed. Like someone else already said here, he truly was the BPA on the board. I am also glad Nelson was gone before we picked.

For round 2, we still need to focus on BPA. Don’t draft an EDGE for the sake of drafting an EDGE.
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