🏈 My thoughts on Andre...

[HIGHTIDES]

Well, he's not helping himself out any that's for sure... but I think this whole thing is getting blown out of proportion. He'll still be a top 10 pick IMO if not a top 5. When it all boils down, he's one of the best picks in this draft. He has some maturity issues but ability speaks louder... there's a reason the Cowboys still wanted to give Pacman a shot when we all knew he was a mess. I could be wrong, but I think when it comes down to it, these teams want a guy that can protect their qb... period. They'll work on character issues and decision making later.

 

[Bama Bard]

Totally agree. There is a lot of time between now and the draft for Andre to make his statements. And not every team is looking for Tackle in the first round anyway so he only has to attract the interest of select few. You can rest assured that those looking for one will be in Tuscaloosa for his Pro Day. Look at it this way right now he is by far the most talked about player in the draft. Like they say bad press is good press. All the front office guys have to do is watch the film. Andre is a monster and we all know it. He might not wow people in the weight room or provide ooohs and aaahs in the forty but his natural gifts of unnaturally good feet (for a big man), body control and raw power are things they don't teach in the NFL. He might not be the first overall pick but there is no way slides out of the top ten. Not with Mike Shula and the Jags sitting at pick number 7 and desperately need a LT. Personally, I think he goes number 2 to the Rams.

 

[reger60]

Personally, I think he goes number 2 to the Rams.

That's a pretty sharp prediction. I think the first three or four picks are already in the bag and I wouldn't be surprised if Andre goes to the Rams.

 

[TerryP]

Do the Rams have a history of taking a chance on players with questionable mental makeup?

 

[Bama Bard]

Do the Rams have a history of taking a chance on players with questionable mental makeup?

I would say Leonard Little fits that profile.

 

[shiloh]

Andre will go to the Raiders - - think he's praying that doesn't happen? The Raiders screwed up big picking Robert Gallery, and we need a left tackle tremedously. If not the Raiders will take Crabtree, but I guess it depends of Al Davis' medication that day.

 

[ghice]

Andre will go to the Raiders - - think he's praying that doesn't happen? The Raiders screwed up big picking Robert Gallery, and we need a left tackle tremedously. If not the Raiders will take Crabtree, but I guess it depends of Al Davis' medication that day.

Make fun of the man all you want, he did fire Kiffin.

 

[shiloh]

Combine pain is Raiders' gain
As one player after the next comes up limp or missing at the NFL Combine, that's one more top prospect who could be sliding his way to the Raiders at the No. 7 slot of the NFL draft.

The Raiders clearly need to pick either a left tackle or wide receiver in the first round -- at least they will if they're serious about building this team around quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

Suddenly, they could be looking at two players with top-five potential.

Start with Alabama left tackle Andre Smith, easily one of the best tackles in the draft. His stock is dropping after he showed up overweight and out of shape at the Combine, refused to work out, then went AWOL without telling anyone.

Sound like a problem child? Al Davis has never minded players with baggage and mood swings. As for being in shape, Russell was overweight at his Combine. Davis likened him to Ken Stabler, who wasn't exactly a workout freak.

At wide receiver, Texas Tech star Michael Crabtree needs surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot -- which (maybe, maybe, maybe) could be enough to drop him from a top-two pick to the Raiders' lap. High-rated wide receiver Jeremy Maclin of Missouri could also be there for the taking after hyperextending his knee at the Combine.

Remember, Davis isn't scared off by question marks. If an enormous talent is there, he'll almost always take it over the safer bet.

Russell's weight, work ethic and NFL readiness were questioned by experts. Last year, Darren McFadden was dogged by questions about multiple paternity suits and off-the-field fights. The last two teams Davis took a "sure thing" with a top-10 pick, he picked safety Michael Huff and left tackle Robert Gallery.

With that said, Davis will be hard-pressed to pass on Smith or Crabtree if they are there for the drafting.

 

[TideAlum05]

Smith is looking like the 3rd best OT in the draft even without the mental stuff. He was overrated coming out. The benefit of picking him is that if he can't play tackle, you know he can be a really good guard. He was overrated as a pass blocker at Bama.

 

[shiloh]

Make fun of the man all you want, he did fire Kiffin.

Yeah, no kidding. Just when I think a man who is coaching players and ignoring his head coach while grasping a walker (true story), he's pulls a good move and fires Kiffin.

For the record, I screamed bloody murder when we hired Kiffin. I knew he wasn't his daddy.

 

[reger60]

Andre will go to the Raiders - - think he's praying that doesn't happen? The Raiders screwed up big picking Robert Gallery, and we need a left tackle tremedously. If not the Raiders will take Crabtree, but I guess it depends of Al Davis' medication that day.

Make fun of the man all you want, he did fire Kiffin.

He hired him too. Right? :wink:

 

[ghice]

Andre will go to the Raiders - - think he's praying that doesn't happen? The Raiders screwed up big picking Robert Gallery, and we need a left tackle tremedously. If not the Raiders will take Crabtree, but I guess it depends of Al Davis' medication that day.

Make fun of the man all you want, he did fire Kiffin.

He hired him too. Right? :wink:

True, true :wink:

At least he rectified his mistake :lol:

 

[HIGHTIDES]

Smith is looking like the 3rd best OT in the draft even without the mental stuff. He was overrated coming out. The benefit of picking him is that if he can't play tackle, you know he can be a really good guard. He was overrated as a pass blocker at Bama.

I disagree. He gave up 1 sack his junior year (in the SEC), not sure how that makes him "overrated as a pass blocker". Not to mention he has been regarded as an elite LT since he was in high school... so you think everyone's been wrong all these years and are just getting it right this last couple weeks?

 

[gumboman]

Sounds to me like Andre is getting AWFUL advice from his "agent." Get a new agent first, Andre. Everything else will fall into place, once he gets someone in there that actually cares about his well-being, instead of lining his pocketbook. Please don't think for one minute that this wanna-be agent isn't the root of all of this bs...starting with the Sugar Bowl fiasco.

 

[TerryP]

Sounds to me like Andre is getting AWFUL advice from his "agent." Get a new agent first, Andre. Everything else will fall into place, once he gets someone in there that actually cares about his well-being, instead of lining his pocketbook. Please don't think for one minute that this wanna-be agent isn't the root of all of this bs...starting with the Sugar Bowl fiasco.

I know he's not the fan favorite when it come to agents, but Drew Rosenhaus seems like the perfect guy for Andre.

 

[reger60]

Sounds to me like Andre is getting AWFUL advice from his "agent." Get a new agent first, Andre. Everything else will fall into place, once he gets someone in there that actually cares about his well-being, instead of lining his pocketbook. Please don't think for one minute that this wanna-be agent isn't the root of all of this bs...starting with the Sugar Bowl fiasco.

I know he's not the fan favorite when it come to agents, but Drew Rosenhaus seems like the perfect guy for Andre.

He'd be my agent.

 

[TideAlum05]

Smith is looking like the 3rd best OT in the draft even without the mental stuff. He was overrated coming out. The benefit of picking him is that if he can't play tackle, you know he can be a really good guard. He was overrated as a pass blocker at Bama.

I disagree. He gave up 1 sack his junior year (in the SEC), not sure how that makes him "overrated as a pass blocker". Not to mention he has been regarded as an elite LT since he was in high school... so you think everyone's been wrong all these years and are just getting it right this last couple weeks?

He's a way better run blocker than pass blocker, that's no secret. He's a devasting run blocker and one announcer at the combine even said he's an all pro guard right now. Top 3 tackles is still elite, I just have my doubts that he can block the big time pass rushers in the NFL.

 

[thebutcher]

Andre who? Hello Mr. Fluker..... Just kidding, one of the greatest linemen ever at the Capstone. He will still go high. I can't even begin to understand what is going on with him. Wish him the best, but I'm a college (Bama) football fan 1st and foremost. Thank you Mr. Smith for what you've done for us, good luck at the next level ! NFL is what I watch when the bowl games are over. If we had a pro team I might watch a little more, but until Bham dresses itself up, puts on a little makeup, shows a little leg, the Tide is still gonna be the hottest ticket in the state.