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StitchA's Personal Scouting Report: Roquan Smith (LB, Georgia)

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Roquan Smith (Georgia): 6’1", 236 lbs – JR

Vs Missouri:

  • On first impression, he looks pretty thin. May not be able to handle the power of blockers, so his hand technique and "slipperiness" will be important things to look for.
  • Nice job bouncing off blocker and delivering a blow to stop the RB in his tracks.
  • Almost playing a spy role this game – it’s man to man and he’s assigned to the RB, who has to stay in and help block. This makes it to where Smith has to kind of wait around the line of scrimmage (LOS) to see what the RB will do and then try to rush a little.
  • Missou is running mostly up the middle, which means he’s having to go straight through blockers, as opposed to running past them sideline to sideline. I do see him getting pushed back a bit on most snaps, but he does work hard to shed the block.

4 Tackles, 3 Tackle Assists

Honestly could not tell much from this game. The way the Missou offense played limited Smith’s ability to get involved on a lot of the plays (play action fakes with the RB staying in to block, leaving Smith to loiter around the LOS). Almost all the runs were up the middle, which doesn’t seem like a strong suit for him. From what little I did notice, he seemed like a fine tackler, and comfortable in zone coverage. Need to watch much more to understand his game.

Vs Auburn:

  • Makes a nice TFL on a sweep to the left, reads it early and beats the ball-carrier to the edge, then brings him down.
  • Bites on a playaction and lets the TE get open in his zone – catch and 1st down.
  • Very good job reading the reverse and coming around on the backside of the play to throw the timing of the play off.
  • Nice job getting off a TE block to get to a short catch in the flat and limit the gain.
  • Fantastic play in the endzone, it’s a deep pass and Smith tracks the receiver very well and swats the ball away at the last minute. Very impressive for a LB.
  • Nice open field tackle in the flat for a loss.
  • Pretty solid against the pass when I’ve seen him in zone so far. Tracks both the QB and the receiver well.
  • Pretty good at shedding blocks for a guy of his size. He will get pushed back from time to time, but has generally shown the ability to recover when that happens.
  • Great job, made a tackle with one hand while he was still blocked.

6 Tackles, 1 Tackle Assist, 2 Tackles for Loss, 2 Pressures, 1 Pass Defended

Good game from him – seems above average to good vs both the run and pass. Typically shows good instincts. Light, so he gets pushed back some, but good at working through and out of blocks. Has the slipperiness to get around blockers as well and can squeeze through small holes in the line. Saw great closing speed in a handful of snaps. Fast for a LB and can cover sideline to sideline. All around, I liked what I saw this game.

Vs Oklahoma:

  • Partially due to him being off balance as well as being light, but the LT is able to lay Smith out on a run play. Like his fight though, to get right back up and chase after the RB.
  • Good at attacking plays in the flat and very disciplined overall – I like that.
  • Could stand to take better angles on runners, is a little to acute sometimes.
  • Very nice goal line tackle, doesn’t over pursue and is there to stop the RB in his tracks as he cuts back.
  • Good tackler, but not the best. I feel like he needs a second defender to come help him bring the ballcarrier down after he makes contact.
  • Very nice blitz, sheds the RB easily and pressures Mayfield into his teammates for a team sack.
  • I think he has a very good understanding of spacing when in pass coverage.
  • Damn, great tackle to get through two blockers and take down the RB. Looks like a little pinball machine there.
  • Gives up a TD catch in the redzone. Honestly, the play starts off really well and he does a great job to switch his man and stays close. He starts to look back at the QB to see what’s going on and the TE is able to get some separation then.
  • Nice sideline run to stop a first down on a third and short. Covers a lot of space really quickly.

6 Tackles, 3 Tackle Assists, 1 Tackle for Loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 Pressure, 1 TD Reception Allowed

Good game from Smith, he had a couple of bad moments, but overall was very consistent. I love the disciple that he plays with – he doesn’t over pursue, he is very aware of his zones vs the pass, never lets anyone sneak out into the flats. It’s nice to see an athletic LB play refined like he does. He is impactful, but not a game changer. Only real downside is that size, but I do think he’s found ways to overcome it sometimes. He is just very consistent in his performance – very little negatives and a good amount of positives.

Vs Mississippi State:

  • Nice job vs the screen, sheds his blocker and helps make a tackle.
  • OH MY GOD. Goes on a delayed blitz, unblocked and absolutely destroys the QB (who just gets his arm going forward for an incompletion). Crunching.
  • Nice job on an outside run, moves well laterally and attacks when he sees the hole to meet the RB at the LOS and give up minimal yardage.
  • Nice job diagnosing the play and stopping the QB run on a third and short. One caveat, I’ve seen this a couple of times now (and in other games), but when Smith has to make a solo tackle, the ballcarrier always seems to get an extra yard or two before going down. Don’t think it’s because of bad form, I feel like it may be due to him being so light.
  • Reads another third down run so well. Patient, watches where the RB goes and attacks that hole. Able to hold him in the backfield long enough for his teammates to rally to him to bring the ballcarrier down.
  • Nice, easy tackle on third down. QB is getting pressured so he dumps off to the WR on the shallow crossing route. This is in Roquan’s zone; he sees it coming and is able to run up and bring the WR down.
  • Reads the quick pass to the slot WR all the away and charges immediately, which helps him close down on the play quickly and tackle the WR for a short gain.

6 Tackles, 3 Tackle Assists, 1 Pressure

Really good game from Smith. Apart from a few tackles where he let the ball carrier get a couple more yards after first contact, he was consistently good this game. I’m sure his life is made easier by the overall quality of Georgia’s defense, but Smith’s instincts really stood out this game. I felt from the earlier games that he was a pretty smart player, but I feel comfortable with that assessment after this game. He is all over wide, outside runs, and fills well against inside runs, where his weight doesn’t allow him to assert himself as much.

OVERALL: I wasn’t the biggest fan right off the bat, but Roquan Smith really grew on me and he is a tremendously well rounded, instinctive outside LB. While his weight inhibits his ability to fight through blockers and bring ballcarriers down easily, he shows a fantastic ability to diagnose plays. Patient in his approach, he sees what’s going on in front of him well, and can explode when he spots a hole or a weakness. Not as fast as he is quick, which translates to really impressive closing speed. Very solid in pass coverage for an LB and manages his zones well. Doesn’t over-pursue or leave his assignment unattended. While he can’t drive through blockers, he is effective at disengaging and getting around. Good tackling form, but gives up a few yards before taking his man to ground.

  • Just an all around good LB who shows the smarts to help him be effective in the NFL – I’d give him a mid teens grade. His size/weight and watching him get pushed back is my only gripe and does limit my grade a little, but that’s something at an NFL strength coach can work with him on. Another reason I don’t give him a top pick 10 grade is that I don’t see a dynamic playmaker in him, but that doesn’t mean I think he won’t be an impactful pro and I consider him amongst the back handful of the blue chip players in this draft as a top pick 15.

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