How come Troy Smith was the 174th pick?

Question

doesn't winning the heisman trophy mean that you're the best college player? there were about 8 QB's picked before Troy Smith was picked. i did briefly hear that it's because he's too short (?), or something like that, but he's the same height as Mike Vick. can someone explain this? how a heisman trophy winner is the last pick in the 5th round?

Answer 1

1. There is a difference in being the best player in college and being the best choice for the NFL.
2. Smith did not help himself by not being in shape for the combine. All that did was to raise a lot of questions.
3. Not going in the first round is not that terrible. Lots of good QBs have gone in later rounds.
4. Remember too that Smith is of marginal size for a QB and that will scare off teams,
5. Bottom line for me (an I'm a Michigan fan) is that Smith is a great value pick for Baltimore they have the luxury of not having to start him immediately. I would have been happy for the Lions to take him in the 3rd or 4th round.

Answer 2

Troy Smith is another Mike Vick. Don't get me wrong, Vick is a good QB. At the same time, the Heismen Trophy does not equal out to be a good thing for the NFL.

Answer 3

Because he was exposed during the National Championship game as being unable to handle NFL quality defenders. He played for a fairly overrated team in a weak/overrated conference. And, being the alledged best college player doesn't mean you are NFL quality. See most of the last 10 Heisman QBs.

Answer 4

At this element, Oakland or Detroit could have the #a million regular %.. ... and Troy Smith may well be taken on the proper. the two group could persist with a reliable rookie QB to rebuild their group around, and Troy Smith could fit in the two scheme fairly nicely.

Answer 5

NFL scouts project players on physical, (height, weight, speed, hand, footwork, etc......) mental, (duh), etc

Because you're the "best" college player, doesn't translate into being a productive pro.

Jason White is a great example, great athlete, but not a pro quarterback.
How has Chris Weinke done as a pro?
How about Eric Crouch?

All these examples are other Quarterback that have won the Heisman, then stunk it up in thee pros. I'm not surprised at all that he fell to the 5th round

Answer 6

Smith is only 6 foot and unfortunately that is his biggest knock (Chris Leake suffered the same fate in the draft). His upside is Drew Brees ( a similar vertically challenged players). But short guys like Brees and Flutie that succeed as QB's at the pro level nowadays is infrequent.

Answer 7

This question is getting really old. Troy Smith has decent arm strength, mediocre accuracy, nowhere near good enough speed to be a running Qb and he is TOO SHORT. Hopefully Smith utilizes these years behind McNair to become a decent Qb but coaches see much more potential in other players.

Answer 8

He's lucky he went that High. Given the fact that he's under sized, doesn't have the tools or aptitude of an NFL Quarterback and doesn't seem to care now that he won the Heisman, he could and probably should have dropped much lower.

Answer 9

Troy Smith had one really good year and thats why he won the Heisman. the other quarterbacks were good all the years they played and they were consistant and good so they are better

Answer 10

The canned yet very true NFL Analyst response would be very similar to what you said about size.

Also his performance in the BCS game against Florida had a lot of effect on his draft status.

His accuracy is also flawed and he is more of a running quarterback. I think the love being shown to running quarterbacks is fading somewhat.