Telvin Smith....what We Need As A Hybrid Lb-Safety

[egoprime II]

Runs a 4.52, is 6'3" weights 213 lbs. Plays LB, however....he could easily be what we need to play our fifth DB-3rd LB.

Player Overview

A three-star recruit out of high school, Smith chose Florida State over LSU and Georgia and played mostly special teams as a freshman in 2010.

He served as a sub-package linebacker as a sophomore and junior, sharing the middle linebacker position with Vince Williams before becoming a full-time starter as a senior, leading the Seminoles in tackles (90).

Smith has awesome closing burst and overall range to cover the entire field and is like a running back on defense, avoiding blocks with swivel hips and the exciting speed to explode with sharp angles.

His lack of bulk and growth potential are impossible to ignore and something that will always limit him, especially when trying to shed blocks. Smith is heady, competitive and always hustles, but likely his only fit as a starter will be as a weak-side linebacker in a 4-3 scheme.

Smith won't be as high on every board, but shouldn't get out of the top 100 picks.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737420/telvin-smith

[Molson]

Falcons need a speedy, cover guy (AKA a FS), not a hybrid-LB.

[falconstwopercentsized]

Kroy 2.0

[hjerry]

Actually, I agree with you. I've thought for some time, that Smith would work well in Bierman's role. He's neither a true LB nor a true S, and he likes to rush the passer on occasion. I also think that he has the right build and athleticism to play that role. The question is where he would go. I wouldn't take him in the 2nd, but he could fall b/c teams don't know what to do with him, so maybe 3rd, possibly later?

[B_ELLIS24]

as a lifelong Seminoles fan, I can say that Telvin Smith is a very good player. Whether he's a fit for what the Falcons are doing remains to be seen.

[rollo lawson]

That guy is a football player. Draft him and turn him loose. He will find the ball and thump somebody.

[MSalmon]

I've got him in my mock. I think he'd be great in nickel packages initially and either convert him to Safety FT or bulk him up a bit for LB.

Great range, fluid hips and a very solid hitter. Perfect rover

[MSalmon]

Actually, I agree with you. I've thought for some time, that Smith would work well in Bierman's role. He's neither a true LB nor a true S, and he likes to rush the passer on occasion. I also think that he has the right build and athleticism to play that role. The question is where he would go. I wouldn't take him in the 2nd, but he could fall b/c teams don't know what to do with him, so maybe 3rd, possibly later?

Some sites have him in 4th round.

[Thiccolas Cage]

^{Johnathan Cyprien would have been the man to take last year.}

[LookAboutFalcon]

So he doesn't have a true position? If so, he sounds like a 4th round project to me.

[dmo_dlo]

I like Smith as a safety but that would not address our need as a coverage safety. I want us to take Antone Exum and put him in FS as I think he can do real well as a safety in NFL.