SB Nation Blog: noava22

Draft Report: Steve Smith, WR (USC)

noava22 — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 19:35:15 -0000

[EDITOR'S NOTE] - Noava22 went to USC and offered to put together a Steve Smith scouting report, since this is a guy who could very well end up in San Francisco. I've got one from Conquest Chronicles I'll post later this weekend, but in the meantime, here's what Noava22 has to say about Smith.

While everyone is focused on the SBNation Mock draft, and even though we've drafted Sidney Rice from U.S.C. in the 2nd round, Fooch and I both think it'd be a good idea to take an in depth look at Steve Smith and his potential. I'll be contributing a writeup on Steve, commenting on his collegiate performance and my prediction of where he will head in his NFL career. Conquest Chronicles will also be chipping in their own report at a later date, possibly this weekend.

Steve Smith: NFL Draft Preview

Steve comes from the land of sunshine and smog pollution, the city of angels - a place I confidently called home for the last four years. While he amassed gaudy numbers in his senior season, many people question his heart and his ability to be a playmaker. The entirety of his collegiate career, he was overshadowed: at first, by the Man-Child Mike Williams. Once Mike left USC, Dwayne Jarrett was pedigreed to be the star wideout, once again leaving Steve to be the team's #2 receiver.

Coming out of high school, Smith was the 6th best wide receiver prospect in the nation. Known for being able to play both WR and CB, he was seen as a burner with great skills. Upon arriving at USC, he proved himself to be valuable in his freshman season and played a very solid 4 years for the Trojans. He struggled with some injuries his Junior season, but was healthy for the rest of the time he played in the cardinal and gold.

Strengths

Like most other offensive players that come out of USC, Smith has seen extensive time in an NFL-style/quality offense. Over his four years there, he became known as the go-to and possession receiver, as DJ occasionally got a case of the dropsies. Smith always ran very precise routes and found ways to get himself open, and he caught everything thrown at him. He's a good blocking receiver, which would fit in quite well with what Nolan is looking for.

Smith also plays very smart. He protects the ball well after catches, and knows how to get around the disadvantages of being small. He's calm, experienced and confident, and could be used on special teams in a pinch.

Weaknesses

Smith is only 5' 11.75' tall - at under six feet, his height is a liability against even some of the regular sized corners in the NFL. While his elusiveness works to his advantage, this clearly makes him a possession receiver as he cannot fight for jump balls. Also, given his small frame, some scouts are surprised at his lack of speed - they say he plays slow, and depending on who you ask, some say he can separate and some cannot. This very well might end up being a case of the stopwatch vs. the film, where the clock says he can't do it but the film says he can. I'm biased, but I'll trust what I saw on the field.

Another knock on Smith is that he never served as the #1 receiver at USC and thus never played against the top corners of the Pac10. While this is somewhat true, Smith had to take on the role of primary receiver this past season for one game while DJ was out. In this game (against Washington State), Smith had 11 catches for 186 yards and 2 td's - sounds like to me he knows how to play as a primary receiver.

But yes, he's small, and he's not that quick. But wasn't that said about a certain #80 before?

NFL Projection

When I project a player, I like to think of three scenarios: the player's ceiling potential, the player's probable potential and the player's lowest potential. With Smith, I see his potential as follows:

Ceiling Potential: A poor man's Javon Walker

I think you could also say his top potential is that of a poor man's Steve Smith (the one who's already in the NFL) - a possession receiver who can be a #1. The "poor man" means he'll never be a superstar - but he can be very, very good in the right system. I'd say the probability of Smith reaching this potential is 10%

Probable Potential: A poor man's Amani Toomer

Probability of this happening? about 65%

Lowest Potential: Tai Street's best production.

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So, Smith has the potential to be a very good #3, a good #2 or a good slot receiver in the right system. I also think he has the potential to slide in the draft, because USC players tend to be overvalued in pre-drafts. So he could be there in the 3rd round.

DLD 3/26/07: I couldn't sleep

noava22 — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 13:15:30 -0000

Oh man, for some reason I haven't been able to sleep tonight. Apparently the beer I had at late night happy hour didn't sit well with my stomach. Oh well, on we go...

SO CAL AN

noava22 — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 05:44:57 -0000

Where do you guys want to watch us (attempt to) clinch tomorrow? I CANNOT watch this alone. I mean...I just can't watch this by myself. It's a time to (potentially) CELEBRATE! Erik being Erik, in the game thread, is suggesting downtown Long Beach. I'm suggesting Downtown LA, at Casey's Bar and Grille. Anyone else?

Wow, I can't believe this. LET'S GO OAKLAND!!!!!

DLD: Street to 15 day DL

noava22 — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 16:41:35 -0000

And we've called up Ron Flores. Enter our new closer, Chad Gaudin?

link

Reds can't get no satisfaction at the end of the game either, as Unsteady Eddy Guardado is also placed on the 15 day DL: link

Vernon Wells will apparently be on the block at the end of the season, we're mentioned as possible suitors (as is the rest of the AL west): link

Tom Glavine might be out for the year with a blood clot, sending the Mets' world series aspirations spiraling down

Sidney Ponson can't even cut it with the lowly yanks

And our own Susanne Slusser discusses how Bobby Crosby showed up one Mr. Redman after the same pitcher showed disgust at Bobby booting a ball a mere two years earlier

And finally, GASP, an article from Boston praising the genius of one Billy Beane? Read on:

He was killing time at the airport waiting for his usual flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles, where he spends weekends with his family. This is one major reason why Billy Beane decided not to accept a lucrative offer to be Boston's general manager in November of 2002. The proximity of the Bay area to Los Angeles allows him time for the family life he cherishes.
And things have worked out well for him. Beane's Oakland A's keep finding a way to stay atop in the AL West, sometimes defying logic, often flying under the radar. In some ways, the current team might represent Beane's best work.

Enjoy dumping.

AN Invades Anaheim: Card Stunts!

noava22 — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 18:37:32 -0000

Ok AN, baseballgirl has done a wonderful job of coordinating an AN lovefest in Anaheim the last weekend of the season, and yours truly will be present at the Thursday game. All plesantries aside, I think this is our chance to make a mark, get noticed and have a good time doing it.

Card stunts, and moving card stunts, are hella old school. You see them now at Cal, among other schools, and it's a fun way to razz the opponents or get noticed. Well, I looked at our sections and the diagram of seats for Thursday is way too small to work with, so peeps on Saturday - this dream all falls on your heads!

Today I got bored and designed some preliminary stunts that you who go on Saturday can do. If this is something the community as a whole is interested in, I'll talk to Blez and BBG and see if we can coordinate purchase of some cards for the stunts. This can only happen, though, if everyone is willing to participate. It's going to be weird enough that we're missing a row...

Anyways, take a look at the designs and let me know if this is something that interests the AN community!

diagram link

PS - Rickeyfan has also shown interest in pursuing this idea, and perhaps you can post some ideas and/or diagrams on here, Rickyfan?

PPS - by no means am I an art major, so if you see something that can be improved, by all means, please let me know! Feel free to design your own, too. If you want the excel file, just let me know and I'll email it to you.

Ted Lilly wants to come back

noava22 — Thu, 11 May 2006 20:23:20 -0000

According to the SF Chronicle, Lilly wants to come back to the Bay Area because his wife is in grad school at UC Davis and, well, he likes it here. Says he's looking at the Giants and the A's...Giants are more probable, but who knows what happens? Anyways, here's linkage:

link

(Also, thanks to mlbtraderumors.com for the tip).

Thoughts? Possibly a good replacement for Zito in the rotation? Just a thought.

OT: An old friend comes back to haunt...

noava22 — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 23:56:22 -0000

Arturs Irbe, the WALL, the former star for Los Tiburones, stopped 48 (that's forty eight) shots against the US while playing for Latvia, to maintain a 3-3 tie in the first game of the round robin tournament for the Olympics. Talk about impressive...his US counterpart in net only FACED 28 shots today. Granted, thats probably indicative of the quality of defense for each team...but it looks like the wall still has a little left in the tank...

link here

PS- Former Shark Sandis Ozolinsh also assisted on a goal for Latvia, and current Shark Joe Thornton scored a goal for Team Canada in their 7-2 dismantling of Italy.

Kearns a viable option?

noava22 — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 09:06:14 -0000

According to mlbrumors.com, kearns is about to be shipped to Chicago for Jerome Williams. If we are really interested in Kearns, then the price for him has really dropped...we might be able to get him for Cruz/Kennedy, or Rhino, or something. Seems pretty cheap. Add this to the Milton Bradley rumor, and then, voila, we have a new OF and Payton is as good as gone for prospects. Check this new lineup out

Ellis 2B
Kotsay CF
Bradley RF
Chavez 3B
Kearns LF
Johnson DH
Crosby SS
Swisher 1B
Kendall C

I'm as sick of hearing Austin Kearns rumors as the next person; BUT, if he's coming as cheap as Jerome Williams now...

Off topic: Sharks Acquire Joe Thornton

noava22 — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 03:25:40 -0000

Sharks traded with the Boston Bruins and got Joe Thornton for Wayne Primeau, Brad Stuart and Marco Sturm. Pretty big deal if you ask me...Sharks doing something to try and save their season. Pick up a franchise player for what seems to be spare parts. VIVA LOS TIBURONES...BRING LORD STANLEY HOME TO THE BAY!!!

sorry for the caps and the off topicness of this topic

DLD 11/24: Happy Thanksgiving

noava22 — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:54:56 -0000

Lots going on in the baseball world:

The Mets and the White Sox can be thankful for their new Holiday bounty, in sluggers Carlos Delgado and Jim Thome, respectively.

We, as A's fans, can be thankful that the deal sending Thome to the ChiSox sends Aaron Rowand to the Phillies, leaving those dastardly Yankees searching for someone else in Center. Who could that be? Brian Giles and Jason Michaels are mentioned.

Relief pitchers everywhere can be thankful for Jim Hendry and the Cubs, as they continuously overspend on relief pitching, signing Bobby Howry to a 3 year, $12 MM deal, and he's not even left handed!!!

Brian Giles appears to be thankful to have Joe Bick as his agent, as he's passing on San Diego's 3 year/ $30MM contract offer to become a free agent.

Free Agents everywhere also have Omar Minaya to be thankful for, as he continues to overspend and thus has made the bidding war for Billy Wagner a "one horse race". Burn goes to Ed Wade. Wagner wants more money than Rivera. ??

The Rangers are thankful for their new GM and his intelligence, as he pursues pitching for the team. Mentioned are Matt Morris, Paul Byrd, Adam Eaton and Oliver Perez.

The Dodgers and all the Bill Plaschke honks are thankful that they're getting involved in the Rafael Furcal sweepstakes. Maybe he'll magically become younger again when he comes to LA??

Dodgers and Angels also interested in Toby Hall and Joey Gathright.

And we, at AN, have Billy Beane to be continually thankful for.

And this year, I think we're ever so grateful for the service Bill King provided us for so many years.

And his Wiki, too.