Tanzel Smart

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  • April 29, 2017 at 6:20 pm #68074
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    Round 6, Pick 5 (189) Tanzel Smart DT 6’1″ 296 Tulane 5.4

    Pick Analysis: Smart fits the mold of a Wade Phillips penetrating 3 technique tackle. He’s an ascending player but size limitations likely limit his ceiling to a rotational role. –Mark Dulgerian

    April 29, 2017 at 6:22 pm #68075
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    OVERVIEW
    Even though Smart grew up in Baton Rouge and was a first-team all-state pick, he did not get a chance to play SEC football, so he went to nearby Tulane to show his wares. Playing in every game as a freshman, he was credited with 14 tackles. Then he was rewarded with a starting role each of the next three seasons, increasing his production from his sophomore (47 tackles, 6.5 for loss, two sacks), junior (62 stops, 15 for loss, two sacks), and senior (67 tackles, 18.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks) seasons. He was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference pick in both 2015 and 2016 for his efforts.

    ANALYSIS

    STRENGTHS Excited to play football on every single rep. Times up snap and is quick into the neutral zone. Always searching for the ball. Uses hand quickness to disengage and tackle on time. Good football instincts and quick to recognize and react to screens. Plays with quick hands and quick feet that get him in position to make plays. Gets to blocker’s edge with low center of gravity to drive up the field and disrupt. Able to fill a stat sheet up against both run and pass. Feet and hands are a whirlwind of action that never stop looking for improved positioning. Catches blockers under their pads and has the leg drive to bull them back into the pocket.

    WEAKNESSES Short and squatty frame. Matched up against below average competition on most weeks. Plays straight-legged which limits his change of direction. Lack of length causes him to swing and miss in tackle attempts against shifty runners. May not have enough raw power to make up for his lack of size. Long-armed guards can stab his chest and stick him in neutral.

    DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 5-6

    NFL COMPARISON Rakeem Nunez-Roches

    BOTTOM LINE He’s a three-technique only who lacks desired size and length, but his quickness and disruptive nature lead to consistent production week in and week out. Smart needs to be in an upfield scheme that takes advantage of his ability to play in the gaps. His draft stock will take a hit due to his lack of measurables, but he has NFL backup potential thanks to his ability to rush the passer.

    -Lance Zierlein

    http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/tanzel-smart?id=2558199

    April 29, 2017 at 8:05 pm #68096
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    Ourlads

    Three-year starter from Baton Rouge, LA. Played in 48 career games. Finished his career with 40.5 tackles for loss. Two-time first -team All-AAC selection. Bowling ball frame with upper tier explosion off the snap. Combine that with natural low centre of gravity and he can be a terror off the ball. Powerful calves and feet. Gets from point A to point B in a blink. Very quick twitched, can make a difference in a phone booth. At his size, his potential is simply limited. Struggles to push blockers back and can be locked onto by a bigger longer blocker. Upper body strength is average and his hand game doesn’t make much of a difference. Overmatched against double teams. Can use his low to the ground frame and initial quickness to his advantage consistently against blockers who have a hard time bending well. He may not be the most physically imposing player on the field, but he can make a difference as a rotational tackle. A hard guy to lock up at times and knows what to do when he is free within the tackle box. 2016 stats: 67 T, 18.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 2 QBH, 1 FF. seventh round/PFA

    • This reply was modified 7 years, 7 months ago by Avatar photocanadaram.
    April 29, 2017 at 8:11 pm #68098
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    Dane Brugler

    TANZEL SMART | Tulane
    6005|296 lbs|4SR Baton Rouge, La. (Scotlandville Magnet) 11/6/1994 (age 22) #77

    Grade: 5th round

    BACKGROUND: A three-star defensive tackle recruit out of high school, Smart grew up just a few miles from LSU’s campus and despite all-state honors at Scotlandville Magnet, an offer from the Tigers never arrived. He received mostly FCS-level attention and eventually committed to Tulane over Texas-San Antonio, two of his only FBS-level offers. He found the field as a true freshman rotational player on the defensive line, posting 14 tackles in 2013. Smart moved to the starting line- up in 2014 as a sophomore (12 starts) and posted 47 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and one forced fumble. He started all 12 games as a junior and led the team with 15.0 tackles for loss, adding 62 tackles, 2.0 sacks and one forced fumble to earn First Team All-AAC honors. For the third straight season, Smart started all 12 games in 2016 and set career-bests with 67 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble to again earn First Team All-AAC honors. He accepted his invitation to the 2017 Senior Bowl.

    STRENGTHS: Built low to the ground…frequently the first defender to move off the ball with the snap anticipation and initial quickness to fire out of his stance…uses his hands effectively to fend off jabs and keep himself clean…moving target and makes it tough on blockers to snatch him…sets up his pass rush moves and keeps offensive linemen guessing…quickly resets to answer counters and develop a new rush plan…instinctive player with a GPS for the football…anticipates misdirection and sees the play unfold…cleans up plays due to his nonstop hustle and effort…endures and doesn’t wear down on long drives or late in games – keeps his body in top shape…improved production each season, finishing with 40.5 tackles for loss in 36 career starts…durable and didn’t miss a game the past four seasons (final three seasons as a starter)…reliable football character with the work ethic that will win over coaches and make other players want to be better.

    WEAKNESSES: Core strength issues and can be knocked on his heels…falls just shy of the size measurements desired for the position…liability at times vs. the run when his technique breaks down, allowing his base to narrow and opening his chest to blockers…caught up in congestion and easily moved by angle blocks…lack of length shows, struggling to keep longer-limbed blockers from entering his frame…determined chaser, but not a rangy player, lacking the sustained speed to routinely make plays outside the hashes…tight-hipped and struggles when asked to redirect in the backfield and finish…maxed out and not getting any bigger/stronger…lacks ideal experience against top-tier competition.

    April 30, 2017 at 6:02 pm #68186
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    We were wondering where Smart would line up. DL coach Johnson (vid link below) sheds some light on that. He says that in spite of being short, Smart has nice long arms and good leverage, so they can see him at DT (Donald’s spot), NT, and even DE. Obviously we don’t know if that will pan out, but they are thinking of him as someone who can play anywhere on the line.

    ***

    D-Line Coach Bill Johnson Comments on Smart

    Los Angeles Rams defensive line coach Bill Johnson discusses the Rams’ sixth round draft pick of Tulane defensive tackle Tanzel Smart.

    http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/D-Line-Coach-Bill-Johnson-Comments-on-Smart/5354057e-491f-4546-868e-6823bdc6479f

    May 2, 2017 at 10:03 pm #68302
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    PFF sez: Smart ranked 16th in the nation with a grade of 86.7 against the run, and his 87.4 pass-rush grade ranked fourth (seven sacks, seven QB hits, and 33 hurries on 400 rushes) in 2016

    link: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/reporters-on-the-rams-draft/#post-68301

    May 10, 2017 at 11:11 am #68593
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    LMU93 wrote:

    Tanzel Smart (from a PFF piece)

    https://www.profootballfocus.com/draft-10-prospects-were-higher-on-than-most/

    10 draft prospects we’re higher on than most

    9. Tanzel Smart, DT, Tulane

    As it stands, this defensive tackle class leaves a lot to be desired. There are a handful of guys in the Day 2 mix, with only “tweeners” like Jonathan Allen and Solomon Thomas getting first-round hype. One guy who we believe should be firmly in that Day 2 mix is the ultra-productive Tulane defensive tackle, Tanzel Smart. Smart was an iron man, playing 100 snaps in a game against Louisiana-Lafayette this season. Even though he rarely came off the field, Smart was still PFF’s ninth-highest-graded interior defender last season.

    LMU says: This could be the kind of 6th round pick that sticks around this team for years (ie Eugene Sims). With the durability, work ethic and leadership he has and a quick first step he could become a decent rotational player. The Rams signed Tyrunn Walker as a backup DT in free agency but this kid is going to be right on his heels. PFF had him as their 81st best player in the Draft.

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