Gene Smith Draft evaluation

Grading genes drafts taking into account performance on the field with where they were drafted. Injuries are factored into their performance if someone is often injured and cant stay on the field their grade will be lower. No fault to gene or the player but just the way the nfl works.

also “2012 status” is where the player would be slotted next year (whether on the team or off) if the player did not improve or get worse during the offseason, training camp, etc. just strictly from their play this year.

2009 draft

Eugene Monroe (1st)-solid left tackle struggled early in his career with consistency but seemed to put it all together this year becoming one of the better pass blocking left tackle in the league along with a solid run blocker. Best tackle in the draft also helps his grade.

2012 status-Starting LT

Grade-A

Eben Britton (2nd)-an often hurt right tackle that wasn’t that good when he played. Being talked to move to guard due to lack of success at right tackle and a better skill set as a guard. Whether he can stay healthy and make the transition to guard is yet to be determined but after three years we are talking about Right tackle being a hole that needs to be filled which isn’t what you want to happen after drafting one in the second round

2012 status-starting RG

Grade-C-

Terrance Knighton (3rd)-best selection by gene smith BY FAR. A DT that came from “who even knew they existed state” and is now a cornerstone in our defense and shown to be a very good player. Couldn’t ask for more from a third round pick.

2012 Status-starting DT

Grade-A+

Derek Cox(2nd, trade)-another often injured player for the jags but unlike Britton he has shown the flashes that lead you to believe that he could be a very solid cover corner. He struggles occasionally but seemed to put it together this year before he got hurt, again. His injuries and the fact that he was technically a second round pick is why he does not have an A grade

2012 status-starting CB

Grade-B+

Mike Thomas (4th)-after he got a contract he gave up and started being lazy. Looked promising but his lack of effort is holding him back. Don’t have many good things to say about him. Can’t really respect a guy who doesn’t try at his job. Should be released if he shows the same laziness next training camp

2012 status-released or bottom of the depth chart for wr

Grade-C-

Jarrett Dillard (5th)-promising young receiver. Needs some work but has missed two years so the lack of polish after several years is understandable. Best receiver on the team deserves a roster spot next year.

2012 status-4th or 5th string WR

Grade-B

Zach miller (6th)-always injured never produces but has “potential.” Would be a wash for a grade but he has taken up a roster spot for three years which is a year too long considering he is a 6th round pick and has contributed nothing of note on the field.

2012 status-released

Grade-D

Rashad Jennings (7th)-good backup rb. Not an amazing player but solid

2012 status-backup RB

Grade-A

Tiquan Underwood (7th)-dropped everything but made the roster a couple years

2012 status-previously released

Grade-C

2010 Draft

Tyson Alualu (1st)-Im not a fan of alualu. He is a hard working player who gives 100 percent every play but gets pushed off the ball too much and makes more plays with his back to the ball(never seen a player like that before) than with his face to the LOS. He would have been a great second round pick or a solid late first round pick. But in the top ten he has been a phenomenally underwhelming player. He’s just a guy and with a top ten pick you should draft more than just a guy. Has been injured so next year will show what he is really made of but up until this point he has been average.

2012 status-Starting DT

Grade-C

D’Anthony Smith(3rd)-tore his Achilles and has not been able to get on the field. Not gene smiths fault but evaluation of a pick and his performance I have to give this grade due to his lack of even seeing the field.

2012 status-released

Grade-F

Larry Hart(5th)-showed promise but came to camp out of shape and couldn’t play. But because he showed promise before the lockout he doesn’t receive an F

2012 status-previously released

Grade-D

Austin Lane(5th)-Solid DE. Plays like derrick Harvey but wasn’t a first round pick. Could be on the roster for several years or be released next year. Solid run stuffing player though

2012 status-bottom of depth chart or released

Grade-C+

Deji Karim(6th)-was brought in to be a great return man. Also hopefully a playmaker on offense who could contribute with about 5 to7 plays a game. Hasn’t been either with dejuan harris showing loads more potential and skill. Receives such a low grade due to him being brought in for returning kicks. Finding a decent returner in later rounds isn’t particularly difficult with the lack of skill set needed(run forward fast and cut), karim was that on paper but never translated to field.

2012 status-released

Grade-D

Scotty Mcgee(6th)-bad returner if he was brought in as a positional player he would have a C grade due to 6th round he was picked in but since he was drafted to only return punts and he couldn’t do that he gets an F.

2012 status-previously released

Grade-F

2011 draft

To early to tell but this is based on their performance this year. Not projecting potential (besides gabbert) just strictly on play this year.

Blaine Gabbert (1st and 2nd)a lot of talk on him but it comes down to a simple fact: If gabbert works out gene will stay and be viewed as a very good gm, if he doesn’t Gene will be released and viewed as a bad gm. No more need to talk about him.

2012 status-Starting Qb

Grade-A or F

Will Rackley(3rd and 6th)-traded a 6th round pick to trade up 4 slots to draft what was a bottom 5 guard in the nfl. For most of the year he was rated the worst guard in the nfl. Never really showed any promise in either pass blocking or run blocking. Would be a decent grade if we didn’t trade a 6th round pick to get a bad backup guard(so far)

2012 status-backup Guard

Grade-D-

Cecil Short(4th)-didn’t get on the field that much and when he did didn’t do anything. At one point in the middle of the year he had more interceptions thrown in his direction than reception. Needs to show something in training camp to stay on the roster.

2012 status-released or bottom of depth chart

Grade-D+

Chris Prosinski(4th)-a player who has the athleticism to be a good backup safety but was torched often and missed several tackles. Will probably be on the roster next year but must improve drastically before he can be viewed as a solid backup, which what he was drafted for.

2012 status-bottom of depth chart

Grade-D+

Rod Issac(6th)-brought in to be corner couldn’t play there so was moved to safety. Was thought to be a reach at the spot they were drafting but if he makes the roster next year it would be a positive. Didn’t see the field hardly any this year.

2012 status-released or bottom of depth chart

Grade-D

So out of 20 picks(3 picks were traded away)

4-A+to B+

4-B to C

11-C- to F

Interesting look at gene. It is my opinion though