While 2009 Draft Prospects Flop, Andre Smith Rises

by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 13, 2011 6:01 PM EDT in Analysis

What's more than interesting is the dynamics that's shifted in the past three years. Cincinnati selecting offensive tackle Andre Smith was met with concern, which was justified during a lengthy holdout, an injured foot, bad work ethic and just the overall lack of interest Smith appeared to give as a professional football player. Three years after being selected sixth overall during the 2009 NFL Draft, Smith has taken a serious approach to his professional career, lost considerable weight with a strengthening determination to prove someone like Andrew Whitworth that it's time to get serious. And that's around the same time that others within the 2009 Draft class are flopping (or have flopped).

What do Aaron Curry, Aaron Maybin and Tyson Jackson have in common? They were all drafted early during the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. Aaron Curry was recently traded by the team that selected him fourth overall to the Oakland Raiders for a seventh round pick in 2012 and a conditional mid-rounder in 2013.

Selected third overall, Tyson Jackson has posted one quarterback sack in 33 games with the Kansas City Chiefs. Aaron Maybin was selected 11th overall by the Buffalo Bills and failed to record a sack in 27 games with before being released after only two seasons. Ironically the Jets signed him and he posted a quarterback sack in his first game with New York; he's only played two games this year.

Now offensive lineman Jason Smith, selected second overall, is believed to be good trade bait for the St. Louis Rams, according to Yahoo Sports! Jason Cole, writing, "he’s a marginal right tackle who is suspect in passing situations." Cole continues: "Some people might argue that the Rams need to keep trying with Smith, but not at the expense of getting QB Sam Bradford(notes) hurt."

All of this while Andre Smith goes from a flop to a professional tackle that's finally beginning to take his art seriously. Marvin Lewis laid out the biggest praise for Lewis during a press conference that asked about Smith's upcoming battle against defensive end Robert Mathis:

"Over the first five weeks of the season, Andre has played more like he played in ’09 than he played a year ago. I attribute that to having been through training camp and going through the things that he’s been through. It’s been good for him. He really didn’t know what training camp and preparation for the season was all about. He’s a completely different guy. He’s what we expected, just like in drafting A.J. (Green). They can come in and have an immediate impact. Because of the injuries and the holdout and so forth, it’s taken longer than we expected, but we’re now reaping the benefits of that."

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Andre is who we thought he was...

Who goes into their third season and treats it like this?!? ANDRE is WHO WE THOUGHT HE WAS! And we let him off the hook!

by Ochocinco on Oct 13, 2011 6:06 PM EDT reply actions

LOL thats great

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Oct 13, 2011 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting that Jason Smith is on the trade block

With Aaron Curry being traded for a 7th round pick and Aaron Maybin being released this season, I’d be willing to trade a late round pick at a shot at a talent like Jason Smith. If he does nothing, we aren’t out much only trading a late round pick. If he turned into a stud G, then the reward would be huge.

by C1ncy4Life on Oct 13, 2011 6:55 PM EDT reply actions

As far as Andre Smith goes

A lot of people thought Andre could be the best player in the entire 09 draft(not that I was one of them though). I am glad to see him doing better and can finally picture him developing into a top RT for years to come.

If the Ravens had taken Andre Smith, ESPN and the “experts” would have raved how they were a draft genius.

by C1ncy4Life on Oct 13, 2011 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Michael Oher

was contributing from day 1. Big mistake

Joel, get off the babysitter

by LookingDeep on Oct 13, 2011 7:13 PM EDT reply actions

the "4th talented OT" in that draft was Eugene Monroe

who has been somewhat of a disappointment in Jax. As good as Oher is, I believe Andre can still turn out to be better. The Bengals couldn’t have foreseen his foot injuries, which also led to excessive weight gain.

Moisture is the essense of wetness, and wetness is the essense of beauty.

by Blue Steel on Oct 13, 2011 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Oher is overrated.

When I’ve watch the Ravens he’s been somewhat of a liability.

On top of that, he didn’t know who Steve Jobs was!!

by ddbumpus on Oct 13, 2011 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions

over rated or not

He’s been a quality starter on a playoff team for 2 years while smith wasn’t on the field.

by JCompton41 on Oct 13, 2011 10:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Oher is in the same place as Jason Smith

Both were drafted to be left tackles. Both have failed at left tackle. Ravens tried to move Oher to the left this preseason (they drafted Jah Reid to the the future right tackle), but his performance was poor enough that they went out and signed McKinnie.

The conventional wisdom is that 1st round picks at tackle are supposed to play the left side. While that might not be as true anymore, these guys are still performing under the level expected. Although Ravens and Rams fans that I have spoken with seem to be fine with their level of play at right tackle.

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue."

by ct17 on Oct 14, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

i agree

But if he keeps playing well, it will be forgiven. Bengals can’t know he’s going to break his root 2×. They took a risk on talent, and sometimes you need to do that.

by JCompton41 on Oct 13, 2011 8:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Interesting read

Does 2009 have more bust in the first round than other years or is it about the same?

by IllinoisBengal on Oct 13, 2011 8:10 PM EDT reply actions

One of this year's story lines

Is the emergence of talent from previous drafts. Simpson, Smith and Rey are finally becoming factors. The team has drafted well for several years now and some of these guys are maturing into solid pros. The core of this team is pretty good. They’ve avoided the busts and generally been lucky that players haven’t had career ending injuries or self destructed. We have to hope that Simpson’s legal speedbump (or is it a pothole) doesn’t blemish that recent record of success.

by K312 on Oct 13, 2011 10:35 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I have no sympathy for lazy people.

He held out. He showed up out of shape. Got hurt the first week of practice. He didn’t rehab like he was supposed to. Basically collected a check for two years for nothing. Now it is a contract year, and NOW he is serious about football. Glad we had to pay you for three years to get one out of you. He might have all of the talent in the world, but I have no respect for someone who does just enough to get by, while everyone else is busting their butts. That is low class. He is going to have to put together a few good years before my opinion of him changes.

by D-Day77 on Oct 13, 2011 11:31 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

While I can't really fault you for your views

I do want to point out that this isn’t Andre’s contract year. We signed him to a four year deal with a fifth year option. We declined to take that option, but Andre will still be here next year.
Paying him for four years and getting two good years is better than paying him for three and getting one good year.
Of course, he’ll need to give us a good year next year, too.

by Aether on Oct 14, 2011 3:58 AM EDT up reply actions