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Originally posted by 4everFaithful:
As a student at Ohio State I can speak on behalf of his talent and hope we draft. But idk about in the 1st rd. He's a 2nd rd talent at best. I fear he's a one dimensional player.

I don't see any reason he can't be a multi-dimensional player. He doesn't have any problem running the entire route tree, and he's really good with the ball in his hands. If Kaepernick is going to be back next year (shutter), Smith seems like the kind of WR he needs because Kaep's best passes are in the intermediate to deep range. If the Niners want to get past Seattle, they're going to have to get a fast WR who can give Sherman problems like TY Hilton did. But Smith isn't just fast; he's extremely flexible, agile, has great hands and high-points the ball as well as anyone in this draft class.

At worst, Devin Smith seems like a Torrey Smith prospect IMO. That's a petty good floor. At best he's a Desean Jackson or Brandin Cooks with more size and WAY harder to tackle.

Originally posted by NinerSickness:

Originally posted by 4everFaithful:
As a student at Ohio State I can speak on behalf of his talent and hope we draft. But idk about in the 1st rd. He's a 2nd rd talent at best. I fear he's a one dimensional player.

I don't see any reason he can't be a multi-dimensional player. He doesn't have any problem running the entire route tree, and he's really good with the ball in his hands. If Kaepernick is going to be back next year (shutter), Smith seems like the kind of WR he needs because Kaep's best passes are in the intermediate to deep range. If the Niners want to get past Seattle, they're going to have to get a fast WR who can give Sherman problems like TY Hilton did. But Smith isn't just fast; he's extremely flexible, agile, has great hands and high-points the ball as well as anyone in this draft class.

At worst, Devin Smith seems like a Torrey Smith prospect IMO. That's a petty good floor. At best he's a Desean Jackson or Brandin Cooks with more size and WAY harder to tackle.

Its hard not to like a guy who who is not just a deep threat but incredibly good with his body control and tracking the deep ball. That makes him a possible great deep threat. If that's all he can do in the NFL, that may be good enough for this team. He wasn't fully utilized at Ohio State until a strong armed QB was in and in 2012 Kap was great at throwing the deep ball. This team can use his talents to complement the current passing game, but can possibly continue to improve on running a full route tree.

I have been back and forth on this guy, but I think he is better than Ted Ginn at tracking the deep ball, and this team was pretty solid in 2012 when we had a deep threat. I tend to think he is worth a 2nd rounder but not as a first.

Originally posted by birdie2bogey:
Its hard not to like a guy who who is not just a deep threat but incredibly good with his body control and tracking the deep ball. That makes him a possible great deep threat. If that's all he can do in the NFL, that may be good enough for this team. He wasn't fully utilized at Ohio State until a strong armed QB was in and in 2012 Kap was great at throwing the deep ball. This team can use his talents to complement the current passing game, but can possibly continue to improve on running a full route tree.

I have been back and forth on this guy, but I think he is better than Ted Ginn at tracking the deep ball, and this team was pretty solid in 2012 when we had a deep threat. I tend to think he is worth a 2nd rounder but not as a first.

Tedd Ginn was really skinny and hesitant on in routes. He wasn't nearly as agile as other fast receivers like Desean Jackson. He also wasn't great at locating the ball & had below-average hands.

Devin's a guy who's going to catch the ball in traffic because of his great concentration, leaping, coordination and timing IMO. Hope GMs sleep on this guy. He should at least get drafted in the top 25, and I think he might even go 15th to the Niners.

I think the lowest he goes is 22 to Pittsburgh. But that's just my guess.

Originally posted by NinerSickness:

Originally posted by birdie2bogey:
Its hard not to like a guy who who is not just a deep threat but incredibly good with his body control and tracking the deep ball. That makes him a possible great deep threat. If that's all he can do in the NFL, that may be good enough for this team. He wasn't fully utilized at Ohio State until a strong armed QB was in and in 2012 Kap was great at throwing the deep ball. This team can use his talents to complement the current passing game, but can possibly continue to improve on running a full route tree.

I have been back and forth on this guy, but I think he is better than Ted Ginn at tracking the deep ball, and this team was pretty solid in 2012 when we had a deep threat. I tend to think he is worth a 2nd rounder but not as a first.

Tedd Ginn was really skinny and hesitant on in routes. He wasn't nearly as agile as other fast receivers like Desean Jackson. He also wasn't great at locating the ball & had below-average hands.

Devin's a guy who's going to catch the ball in traffic because of his great concentration, leaping, coordination and timing.

Totally agree with your assessment. Do you think he is worth a first round pick? Also, Ginn was solid as a Punt Returner and Kick Returner. Can Devin compete as a returner? If so then maybe a late first round pick

Originally posted by birdie2bogey:
Totally agree with your assessment. Do you think he is worth a first round pick? Also, Ginn was solid as a Punt Returner and Kick Returner. Can Devin compete as a returner? If so then maybe a late first round pick

I absolutely think he's worth a first rounder. I think he's going to be better than Amari Cooper, and Cooper's a really good (not great) prospect IMO (rich man's Crabtree).

He's exactly what the Niners' offense needs IMO. Team him up with a big receiver like Boldin or maybe even Andre Johnson (if he gets cut), and I think that'd be a dangerous passing game.

...Unfortunately, I have no faith that Kaepernick wouldn't screw it up anyway, which is why I want the Niners to go defense in round 1.

Originally posted by NinerSickness:

Originally posted by birdie2bogey:
Its hard not to like a guy who who is not just a deep threat but incredibly good with his body control and tracking the deep ball. That makes him a possible great deep threat. If that's all he can do in the NFL, that may be good enough for this team. He wasn't fully utilized at Ohio State until a strong armed QB was in and in 2012 Kap was great at throwing the deep ball. This team can use his talents to complement the current passing game, but can possibly continue to improve on running a full route tree.

I have been back and forth on this guy, but I think he is better than Ted Ginn at tracking the deep ball, and this team was pretty solid in 2012 when we had a deep threat. I tend to think he is worth a 2nd rounder but not as a first.

Tedd Ginn was really skinny and hesitant on in routes. He wasn't nearly as agile as other fast receivers like Desean Jackson. He also wasn't great at locating the ball & had below-average hands.

Devin's a guy who's going to catch the ball in traffic because of his great concentration, leaping, coordination and timing IMO. Hope GMs sleep on this guy. He should at least get drafted in the top 25, and I think he might even go 15th to the Niners.

I think the lowest he goes is 22 to Pittsburgh. But that's just my guess.

Man, I hope he falls to us whenever we decide to get him. Pitt already has a good offense/good WRs, they need more help on defense/in secondary. I hope they don't get him if we gamble (if Smith is on our radar) and wait till later.

Originally posted by NinerSickness:

Originally posted by birdie2bogey:
Totally agree with your assessment. Do you think he is worth a first round pick? Also, Ginn was solid as a Punt Returner and Kick Returner. Can Devin compete as a returner? If so then maybe a late first round pick

I absolutely think he's worth a first rounder. I think he's going to be better than Amari Cooper, and Cooper's a really good (not great) prospect IMO (rich man's Crabtree).

He's exactly what the Niners' offense needs IMO. Team him up with a big receiver like Boldin or maybe even Andre Johnson (if he gets cut), and I think that'd be a dangerous passing game.

...Unfortunately, I have no faith that Kaepernick wouldn't screw it up anyway, which is why I want the Niners to go defense in round 1.

While I'm super high on Smith, Cooper is much better than him. Cooper runs great routes, breaks tackles, is faster than Crabs( a lot), and is a high character kid.

Not sure why you think Kap would screw it up? This season was plagued with injuries and the starting O-line played together for a whole quarter! He was sacked 52 times and only responsible for 7 of those sacks (according to PFF). His WR/TEs didn't do him any favors with dropped balls either, also throw in the horrible play calling last year and he didn't even have a chance to succeed. It's pretty easy and almost lazy to blame Kap for the struggles this season.

Originally posted by NinerSickness:

Originally posted by birdie2bogey:
Its hard not to like a guy who who is not just a deep threat but incredibly good with his body control and tracking the deep ball. That makes him a possible great deep threat. If that's all he can do in the NFL, that may be good enough for this team. He wasn't fully utilized at Ohio State until a strong armed QB was in and in 2012 Kap was great at throwing the deep ball. This team can use his talents to complement the current passing game, but can possibly continue to improve on running a full route tree.

I have been back and forth on this guy, but I think he is better than Ted Ginn at tracking the deep ball, and this team was pretty solid in 2012 when we had a deep threat. I tend to think he is worth a 2nd rounder but not as a first.

Tedd Ginn was really skinny and hesitant on in routes. He wasn't nearly as agile as other fast receivers like Desean Jackson. He also wasn't great at locating the ball & had below-average hands.

Devin's a guy who's going to catch the ball in traffic because of his great concentration, leaping, coordination and timing IMO. Hope GMs sleep on this guy. He should at least get drafted in the top 25, and I think he might even go 15th to the Niners.

I think the lowest he goes is 22 to Pittsburgh. But that's just my guess.

yeah I see people trying to compare him to Ginn based on the fact that they went to Ohio St and are both fast, but that's about all that's similar.

Like you said Ginn was hesitant, isn't physical at all, can't track and adjust to the long ball, and avoids contact....Smith is the exact opposite.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/131740/devin-smith

Ohio State WR Devin Smith "has a chance to run in the 4.2 range," writes ESPN's Todd McShay.


"He's a track guy, participating in the high jump and 4x100-meter relay for the Buckeyes, and his speed translates well to the football field," McShay wrote. "I think he was a bit overlooked in terms of how important he was to OSU's success this season, as he was the best downfield threat in college football." Smith has run a reported 4.33 forty. He was Ohio's high school long jumping champion and also ran a 10.56 100-meter dash. Smith is a potential Round 1 pick if he singes the track in Indy.

He will shoot up the boards if he runs a 4.3 or better, honestly I won't mind taking him at 15, but I don't see Baalke doing that.

It's scary how close his 100 meter high school time is to DGB's. I think he runs faster at the combine and has better acceleration/quickness, but DGB has as much long speed or more.

Originally posted by LVJay:

Originally posted by NinerSickness:

Originally posted by birdie2bogey:
Its hard not to like a guy who who is not just a deep threat but incredibly good with his body control and tracking the deep ball. That makes him a possible great deep threat. If that's all he can do in the NFL, that may be good enough for this team. He wasn't fully utilized at Ohio State until a strong armed QB was in and in 2012 Kap was great at throwing the deep ball. This team can use his talents to complement the current passing game, but can possibly continue to improve on running a full route tree.

I have been back and forth on this guy, but I think he is better than Ted Ginn at tracking the deep ball, and this team was pretty solid in 2012 when we had a deep threat. I tend to think he is worth a 2nd rounder but not as a first.

Tedd Ginn was really skinny and hesitant on in routes. He wasn't nearly as agile as other fast receivers like Desean Jackson. He also wasn't great at locating the ball & had below-average hands.

Devin's a guy who's going to catch the ball in traffic because of his great concentration, leaping, coordination and timing IMO. Hope GMs sleep on this guy. He should at least get drafted in the top 25, and I think he might even go 15th to the Niners.

I think the lowest he goes is 22 to Pittsburgh. But that's just my guess.

Man, I hope he falls to us whenever we decide to get him. Pitt already has a good offense/good WRs, they need more help on defense/in secondary. I hope they don't get him if we gamble (if Smith is on our radar) and wait till later.

I would love a trade down with Carolina at 25 (perfect value for a extra 2nd rounder) and they need a OT.... The only teams I see looking at WR between us and 25 are the Chiefs (do they want a burner with Alex's noodle arm) and Cleveland (do they go WR earlier or get one in FA). All the other teams need help in other ways and are pretty set at WR.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
yeah I see people trying to compare him to Ginn based on the fact that they went to Ohio St and are both fast, but that's about all that's similar.

Like you said Ginn was hesitant, isn't physical at all, can't track and adjust to the long ball, and avoids contact....Smith is the exact opposite.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/131740/devin-smith

Ohio State WR Devin Smith "has a chance to run in the 4.2 range," writes ESPN's Todd McShay.


"He's a track guy, participating in the high jump and 4x100-meter relay for the Buckeyes, and his speed translates well to the football field," McShay wrote. "I think he was a bit overlooked in terms of how important he was to OSU's success this season, as he was the best downfield threat in college football." Smith has run a reported 4.33 forty. He was Ohio's high school long jumping champion and also ran a 10.56 100-meter dash. Smith is a potential Round 1 pick if he singes the track in Indy.

He will shoot up the boards if he runs a 4.3 or better, honestly I won't mind taking him at 15, but I don't see Baalke doing that.

He's not nearly complete enough as a receiver to take at 15, people fawning over him reminds me of the hype over Darius-Heyward-Bey in all honesty. People focus so much on the athleticism and not enough on the football skills.


The guy is limited as a route runner, mostly one-dimensional, similar to a Mike Wallace, there's nothing wrong with that but you don't take that guy with the 15th pick, you take a guy like Beckham who was eons more developed in terms of being a route runner that early. I've seen him compared to a shorter Martavis Bryant in terms of their overall game and I think that description is apt. He's there to go deep, but if that is the only qualification you're looking for from a WR, I think Dorsett in the 2nd or Lockett in the 3rd would be better value.


I think if you take a wide receiver early, you want the most complete player you can get. I don't think Smith really fits that description compared to guys like Cooper and Parker who are far more developed in terms of overall WR skills.


Smith's bread and butter was the fly pattern, he struggled, especially on shorter routes where he had most of his drops,until he improves more as an intermediate receiver, I can't see him being anything more than a role player and you don't really drop the 15th pick in the draft on a role player. His sophomore teammate Michael Thomas actually seems to be a more complete receiver overall, more versatile.


The 49ers need a guy like Devin Smith, a true deep threat that can make plays way downfield, I'm just not too excited about dropping a 1st rounder on him. There's the thought that he MIGHT improve as a route runner but the same things were said about Wallace and Cordarrelle Patterson as well, both were athletic freaks that were fairly one-dimensional and they've turned out to be fairly one-dimensional receivers in the NFL as well. Its not always a situation where you can coach a guy up.


Guys who already tend to be very good route runners in college, usually progress to that level in the NFL. Both Beckham and Landry were outstanding route runners at LSU, unsurprisingly they have been very good route runners in the NFL as well. The margin of error that you get in college due to superior athleticism tends to vanish quickly in the NFL, so you have to be every bit the technician to continue to be able to beat defensive backs that bigger and faster than many of the guys you were matched up against in college.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
yeah I see people trying to compare him to Ginn based on the fact that they went to Ohio St and are both fast, but that's about all that's similar.

Like you said Ginn was hesitant, isn't physical at all, can't track and adjust to the long ball, and avoids contact....Smith is the exact opposite.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/131740/devin-smith

Ohio State WR Devin Smith "has a chance to run in the 4.2 range," writes ESPN's Todd McShay.


"He's a track guy, participating in the high jump and 4x100-meter relay for the Buckeyes, and his speed translates well to the football field," McShay wrote. "I think he was a bit overlooked in terms of how important he was to OSU's success this season, as he was the best downfield threat in college football." Smith has run a reported 4.33 forty. He was Ohio's high school long jumping champion and also ran a 10.56 100-meter dash. Smith is a potential Round 1 pick if he singes the track in Indy.

He will shoot up the boards if he runs a 4.3 or better, honestly I won't mind taking him at 15, but I don't see Baalke doing that.

He's not nearly complete enough as a receiver to take at 15, people fawning over him reminds me of the hype over Darius-Heyward-Bey in all honesty. People focus so much on the athleticism and not enough on the football skills.


The guy is limited as a route runner, mostly one-dimensional, similar to a Mike Wallace, there's nothing wrong with that but you don't take that guy with the 15th pick, you take a guy like Beckham who was eons more developed in terms of being a route runner that early. I've seen him compared to a shorter Martavis Bryant in terms of their overall game and I think that description is apt. He's there to go deep, but if that is the only qualification you're looking for from a WR, I think Dorsett in the 2nd or Lockett in the 3rd would be better value.


I think if you take a wide receiver early, you want the most complete player you can get. I don't think Smith really fits that description compared to guys like Cooper and Parker who are far more developed in terms of overall WR skills.

Boy I wouldn't compare him to DHB Smith can actually catch balls, but I get your point on being hyped up. He isn't worth a top 15 pick, but he does fill a big need with this team. I think he can be more than just a deep threat. I can see some quick slants or pick plays, really anything to get him in space.

We know that they are gonna run the ball this year, which isn't really anything new...but I think he opens up the field and will require some safety help. Dorsett while fast is very very small and I don't see him being a WR that can block, smith can. Ideally a trade would be best, but it's hard to plan for that.

This draft will be very interesting

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by NinerSickness:

Originally posted by birdie2bogey:
Its hard not to like a guy who who is not just a deep threat but incredibly good with his body control and tracking the deep ball. That makes him a possible great deep threat. If that's all he can do in the NFL, that may be good enough for this team. He wasn't fully utilized at Ohio State until a strong armed QB was in and in 2012 Kap was great at throwing the deep ball. This team can use his talents to complement the current passing game, but can possibly continue to improve on running a full route tree.

I have been back and forth on this guy, but I think he is better than Ted Ginn at tracking the deep ball, and this team was pretty solid in 2012 when we had a deep threat. I tend to think he is worth a 2nd rounder but not as a first.

Tedd Ginn was really skinny and hesitant on in routes. He wasn't nearly as agile as other fast receivers like Desean Jackson. He also wasn't great at locating the ball & had below-average hands.

Devin's a guy who's going to catch the ball in traffic because of his great concentration, leaping, coordination and timing IMO. Hope GMs sleep on this guy. He should at least get drafted in the top 25, and I think he might even go 15th to the Niners.

I think the lowest he goes is 22 to Pittsburgh. But that's just my guess.

yeah I see people trying to compare him to Ginn based on the fact that they went to Ohio St and are both fast, but that's about all that's similar.

Like you said Ginn was hesitant, isn't physical at all, can't track and adjust to the long ball, and avoids contact....Smith is the exact opposite.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/131740/devin-smith

Ohio State WR Devin Smith "has a chance to run in the 4.2 range," writes ESPN's Todd McShay.


"He's a track guy, participating in the high jump and 4x100-meter relay for the Buckeyes, and his speed translates well to the football field," McShay wrote. "I think he was a bit overlooked in terms of how important he was to OSU's success this season, as he was the best downfield threat in college football." Smith has run a reported 4.33 forty. He was Ohio's high school long jumping champion and also ran a 10.56 100-meter dash. Smith is a potential Round 1 pick if he singes the track in Indy.

He will shoot up the boards if he runs a 4.3 or better, honestly I won't mind taking him at 15, but I don't see Baalke doing that.

If he can show at the combine/private workouts that he has the capacity to learn the routes and run with suddenness into and out of his breaks, I'd be happy taking him at 15. That's a big IF, though. He's already shown he's a deep threat with hands, agility, crazy speed, and great ability tracking the ball. He's already a physical and enthusiastic blocker. If he can develop a more diverse library of routes, he'd be even more dangerous as a deep threat, and more useful as a receiver.

baalke at the combine:

"I think it's no mystery, we're looking for guys that can run, get down the field."

Translation:

I am taking Devin Smith at 15, and I don't give a f**k what anyone thinks.

Originally posted by sf_nicoya:
baalke at the combine:

"I think it's no mystery, we're looking for guys that can run, get down the field."

Translation:

I am taking Devin Smith at 15, and I don't give a f**k what anyone thinks.

Smokescreen Translation:

I'm Drafting a Defensive Tackle.