Denver Broncos trade up in 2nd Round, Select DB Alphonso Smith
by John Bena on Apr 25, 2009 6:12 PM MDT
in 2009 NFL Draft - Denver Broncos
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The Denver Broncos made a trade in the 2nd Round, moving up to #37 to select DB Alphonso Smith out of Wake Forest. The Broncos traded their 1st Round selection in the 2010 draft. The Broncos had two First Rounders next season from the Jay Cutler trade.
Smith is just the third player this century to amass 20 or more interceptions in a career, only the second ever in the ACC(Dre Bly). Only nine other players in the history of college football(all levels) have produced more INTs in a career than Smith. In short, this guy is a ball hawk.
Smith was a quarterback in high school, so he knows how to handle a football and could be a factor in the return game. During his career at Wake, Smith averaged 20.7 yards per kick-off return.
Smith was a consensus All-American in 2008 when he intercepted 8 passes, had 13 deflections. Smith also blocked a kick and forced 2 fumbles.
Sure, there might be some talk about the Broncos giving up a 1st Round pick to get him, but the Smith move gives the Broncos 6 picks in the Top-84. Add that to the fact that the Broncos still have a first rounder next year, it was a worthy move to get a player they obviously wanted.
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That doesn't sound like fair value
I’m liking this draft less and less.
We don't devote nearly enough scientific research to finding a cure for jerks. - Calvin
ours
The Ralphie Report - Go Buffs!...All Colorado Buffaloes on SBNation - http://www.ralphiereport.com/
We just gave away our leverage to get a top quarterback next year
for alphonso smith???
The Ralphie Report - Go Buffs!...All Colorado Buffaloes on SBNation - http://www.ralphiereport.com/
Had the same exact thought
I like Smith just fine but unless he’s starting in 2011, this doesn’t make much sense.
by Hobnail_Boot on Apr 25, 2009 6:09 PM MDT up reply actions
and cincy rubs it in by taking Maualuga
The Ralphie Report - Go Buffs!...All Colorado Buffaloes on SBNation - http://www.ralphiereport.com/
let's hope it works out to be
The #32 pick for #37. Otherwise, I don’t get it.
"My job description is to win football games. I'm a hard worker. I'm not flashy by any means, but my job is to play football and win and I plan to do that." Kyle Orton
there was a great radio report
LA’s Fox Radio broadcast team gave a very complimentary summary of Denver’s first round choices and in response to listener comments pointed out that typically there is very little skill/value difference between the last 15 picks of round 1 and the first 15 of round 2.
It will save cap room - remember the league is a BUSINESS!
My roots are in Denver and my branches in Nebraska.
by Blackshirt4Broncos on Apr 25, 2009 6:02 PM MDT reply actions
just a 2010 first rounder
we still have our original 2nd round pick this year
My roots are in Denver and my branches in Nebraska.
by Blackshirt4Broncos on Apr 25, 2009 6:05 PM MDT up reply actions
Seahawks fan here
I won’t heckle or anything, but Seattle just got away with robbery. Why Denver did this is beyond me.
Fun Fact: If Patrick Chung and Marcus Trufant were to have a helmet-to-helmet collision, the world would explode.
and it's only robbery if:
Smith doesn’t pan out this year, and the Broncos do so horribly that they have a top 5 pick in the 1st round in 2010
by Brian Shrout on Apr 25, 2009 6:06 PM MDT up reply actions
Considering the events that have unfolded with your team over the last few months
I’d be concerned. But what am I to know? I, like TheSportsrGuru…..am a lowly blogger. ;-)
Fun Fact: If Patrick Chung and Marcus Trufant were to have a helmet-to-helmet collision, the world would explode.
and why gamble against next year
If you see a chance to improve this year, why gamble that there will be someone great next year. After all, let’s pretend for a moment that a La La Land type season actually DOES occur in 2009, and that Chicago also does well, then our 2010 first round picks will be very late in the 1st round . . . how often do top qb’s fall very low. And, given McD’s history, I can easily see him picking up a project quarterback in the late rounds this year.
Unless you are giving multiple picks I don’t think it makes sense to bet on next year over a guy you like now. The drop off between the first round and the top of the 2nd is low.
and the 2nd rounder costs less!
My roots are in Denver and my branches in Nebraska.
by Blackshirt4Broncos on Apr 25, 2009 6:12 PM MDT up reply actions
At least it shows confidence that our pick will be worth less than the one we got from the Bears.
"My job description is to win football games. I'm a hard worker. I'm not flashy by any means, but my job is to play football and win and I plan to do that." Kyle Orton
by odarol on Apr 25, 2009 6:10 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Maybe worth noting?
styg50 suggests that smith will be a starting nickle back right out of the gate. If i remember the analysis of the defensive system McD and Nolan are putting in, there are a lot of nickle sets in it.
I believe that Ted suggested that
however, I don’t disagree. In my mind we just reacquired Dre Bly, at a significantly cheaper cost. On all the prospects that I included in my rankings, I have completed a certain number of “levels” of analysis. My top 140 or so players are at “5 layers” or better (I have looked at more than twice as much Knowshon as anyone I have ever watched, looking for the weakspots…didn’t find them). Alphonso topped out at “Level 3” with me, once I hit a certain number of redflags. I have to do this as part of a triage system to help me focus on the BEST possible prospects, as far as i can guess the parameters needed.
Smith’s flags were: hesitant tackler, more of a dragdown guy than a hitter. Questionable emotional makeup, may not have the mental recovery time needed to maintain an elite level of play int he NFL. And last, not consistently physical from one play to the next. He does however have an elite level of talent, so he is a bit of a steal in the 2nd round. Lets look at the flags a little more closely:
Not consistently physical. This is an easy solution, just get into the weightroom and work with the coaches to increase his upper body strength. No problem.
Emotional makeup. Tougher to fix, if he is unwilling to work on it, but simplest thing int he world if he wants to fix it. Jury is out on this.
Tackling issues. This was the clincher that turned me off of him, and he is going to need to win me over before I am 100% behind him.
All that said, he is very versatile, and can play man or zone with about the same amount of effectiveness. I look forward to seeing him competing for a job.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on Apr 25, 2009 6:45 PM MDT up reply actions
And lets not forget return ability
that ultimately should be the most significant consideration here….
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on Apr 25, 2009 6:48 PM MDT up reply actions
Which prevents Royal from...
having to take a couple of plays on an offensive drive off after a monstrous return…..
I’m OK with this pick. I think it says alot about McD. He believes we have the parts in place to go far. Our draft pick next year could be in the mid 20’s….
where is hoosier daddy...
i want to hear him talk up his head coach now.. I’d love to hear him talk aboout how this trade was a great thing for our future.
maybe its a money issue
we would have had to sign 4 1st rounders in 2 years. that could kill our cap number in a few years. plus this kid smith is a ball hawk. 15 ints in the last 2 seasons? come on.. thats not drafting on athletisism its on skills
the more I think about this..
The more I like it. Coming in to the draft I wanted the Broncos to use #12 on the BAP, then use their next 4-5 picks on guys they think can start on D by 2011. I think they’ve accomplished that so far with their first 3 picks.
don't forget his return skills
when was the last time we had a returner who averaged over 20 yards a return?
last year
21.8 ypr as a team. Royal, Hall, Young, and Jackson all averaged over 20 per.
by Hobnail_Boot on Apr 25, 2009 6:34 PM MDT up reply actions
as far as punt returns..
You’ve got me.
by Hobnail_Boot on Apr 25, 2009 6:35 PM MDT up reply actions
It's a two for one...
we get the 2nd or 3rd best CB in this draft and a dangerous punt returner that can contribute to field positions this year
Consider Royal
We need to keep him off the field on returns. He’s rapidly becoming one of the top WRs in the game. I suspect that McD sees that and wants to keep his return skills on either punts or K/Os, but sees that he needs a second return man that we didn’t have. Now we do, and he can double as a nickel back. Not bad at all.
Hillis in '09
Its the day of the draft
How does ANYONE know how this is going to pan out. I will side on the side of the coaches over gut reactions of our fans here. Lets calm down and let time take its course. Not all first round picks are great. I will name a few busts: Couch, Trev Alberts, MAndarch.
somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong
by broncfanstuckinsd on Apr 25, 2009 6:43 PM MDT reply actions
McBath at Safety had 7 ints
A deep safety is a welcome addition, wish the old regime had drafted Safetys more often
I agree, Larsen shouldn’t get any bigger. I am getting tired of his bone crushing hits knocking the pixels off my TV, once they fall to the floor they are very hard to find.
The one thing I don't understand is....
why we couldn’t have traded down instead of up. Why not trade a 3rd, among others???
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