Two years in the past, the Bucs appeared set at edge rusher. With Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul entrenched as starters and the lately drafted Joe Tryon-Shoyinka as a uncooked, gifted ball of clay behind them, the long run appeared vivid.
My, how the instances have modified. Pierre-Paul is gone following an injury-riddled 2021 marketing campaign. Barrett completed 2022 on injured reserve as a consequence of a torn Achilles. And Tryon-Shoyinka appeared allergic to bringing down quarterbacks in his sophomore season.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photograph by: USA Right now
Head coach Todd Bowles appeared to exit of his means following the season to name out the surface linebacker room for an absence of sack manufacturing. It stands to purpose that regardless of wants at cornerback, security, quarterback, defensive sort out and probably extra, the Bucs might have a look at an edge rusher with the nineteenth total decide within the upcoming 2023 NFL draft.
If that’s the route the Bucs need to go in, the highest 2-3 guys will more than likely be off the board by then. Will Anderson Jr., Lucas Van Ness and Tyree Wilson all stand to be top-15 picks. Which will work to the Bucs’ benefit. There may be an edge rusher who could also be extra gifted than some — or all — of them. His title is Nolan Smith, and he performed for the back-to-back nationwide champion Georgia Bulldogs.
Smith’s Faculty Manufacturing
Smith performed 4 years at Georgia and enters the NFL following his senior 12 months. For his profession, he performed 46 video games, logging 114 whole tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, 4 passes defensed, three compelled fumbles and an interception. His total manufacturing seems scant for his tenure in faculty, however that was due largely to 2 components.
First, Smith had the excellence and the misfortune of being part of an extremely deep Georgia move rush. And head coach Kirby Good leveraged that depth to the detriment of his gamers’ private prospects. Smith needed to share time over his collegiate profession with former NFL outdoors linebacker D’Andre Walker and present outdoors linebackers Azeez Ojulari and Travon Walker.
The second issue is a torn pectoral muscle Smith suffered in Week 8 in opposition to Florida. The damage would put Smith on the shelf for the rest of the 12 months. These two components restricted Smith to only 1,154 defensive snaps and simply 621 move rush snaps, per Professional Soccer Focus.
Whereas his 11.5 sacks over 4 years isn’t the quantity you need to see for a four-year participant at edge, it does clear the 10-sack threshold that sometimes belies a poor displaying within the NFL. Trying below the hood a bit additional, you’ll be able to see that Smith’s move dashing effectiveness remains to be on par together with his contemporaries. Right here is how Smith stacks up in opposition to the three different move rushers beforehand referenced.
Smith outpaces each Wilson and Van Ness in profession strain fee whereas rating above each Anderson and Van Ness this previous 12 months.
Smith’s Draft Profile
Smith packs a giant punch in a small package deal. A lot might be manufactured from Smith’s 6-foot-3, 236-pound body. Questions will persist about whether or not he’ll be capable of maintain up in opposition to the tall and weighty offensive tackles of the NFL. All eyes might be on Smith when he weighs in at Indianapolis subsequent week. If he can are available at 240-245 kilos whereas nonetheless hitting among the anticipated measurements within the pace, explosion and agility drills, it would go a protracted method to serving to his name.
Popping out of highschool, Smith posted the next instances: 4.51 40-yard sprint, 4.15 shuttle time and a 39.6″ vertical bounce. If Smith have been to only preserve these numbers at a 240 lb. weight, he’ll put up a Relative Athletic Rating of over 9.00.
Going past Smith’s manufacturing and dimension concern, there’s a lot to love in regards to the IMG Academy product. He has a strong, however not incredible go off the road. As soon as he will get underway, he can transfer up the arc shortly and end it off with spectacular bend.
Smith feels most snug making an attempt to transform his pace to energy, making an attempt to channel his quickness and naturally decrease pad degree into an impactful strike as he makes an attempt to work by his opponent. He pairs this outdoors pace risk with a enjoyable large outdoors step, fast pace inside counter. Smith rounds out his move rush arsenal with good use of his arms to forestall blockers from getting him tied up.
Smith Offers A Excessive Flooring As A Sturdy Run Defender
Bucs OLB Anthony Nelson – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Whereas Barrett and Tryon-Shoyinka are nonetheless on the Bucs roster, backups Carl Nassib and Anthony Nelson are set to grow to be free brokers. Nelson was a robust run defender for the Bucs regardless that he was restricted as a move rusher. If the crew is trying to exchange Nelson’s run defending ability set and are usually not proud of Tryon-Shoyinka’s growth in that space, Smith could also be a goal for the Bucs.
Very like when he’s making use of his move rush, Smith makes use of nice leverage from his shorter body to create penetration as a run defender. He has spectacular energy (not only for his dimension, the man is simply sturdy) that provides him the chance to set the sting.
Combining free hips that enable him to maneuver laterally as simply as he strikes vertically together with his leverage and energy provides Smith all the instruments he wants to have the ability to function on all three downs. It is a large differentiator between gifted edge rushers who’re first rounders versus guys who find yourself as day two picks. Smith has the instruments to play all three downs.
There are dangers with Smith. His lack of taking part in time goes to be a giant query mark that every crew must display screen. However the Bucs have proven a willingness to go after gifted move rushers with an absence of intensive play time. Tryon-Shoyinka solely had 851 snaps popping out of Washington and missed the whole 12 months previous to his draft 12 months as a consequence of Covid.
Groups may also more than likely fall in love with Smith’s character and work ethic. All experiences are that he’s a pure chief with an awesome persona.
Smith’s weight would be the lynchpin. If he can add 10 kilos (and he has the body to do it), he has the tape and the athleticism to be chosen within the first spherical. Even perhaps with the nineteenth decide.
