#Mizzou Sophomore DE Aldon Smith will declare for the NFL Draft: http://ow.ly/3AeJT
The official Mizzou Athletics Twitter account makes official what we all should have been anticipating.
Farewell, sweet Agent Smith. May your reign of remorseless destruction continue on, this time with a large paycheck.
over 1 year ago
ghtd36
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* shakes fist at heavens *
"Smell the perfume but don't drink it because it might kill you." Erin Andrews recounting advise from Gary Pinkel
I'm surprised...
by the shock/despair from the instant (i.e. Twitter) reaction to Aldon leaving. It’s the less surprising of the two declarations, and Mizzou is by far deeper (as far as known game-action quality) at DE than QB.
This sums up my feelings about it, too.
It’s never a good thing to lose someone like Aldon Smith, but he’s going to be replaced by a sophomore who was second team All Big XII. That’s a neat little rabbit for the program to pull out of their hat.
just when I thought the misery of my week had ended
sigh
Respect and honor your opponent, unless that opponent is a fictional bird. In which case you hit him until he falls, kick him until dead and burn the remains.
I really appreciate Aldon, but
this is why it’s important to recruit students as well as athletes. It sure seems like Aldon had a lot to gain and give by sticking it out another year.
Not saying you specifically are doing this...
but you cannot, on one hand, ask for Mizzou to take the next step, and then on the other hand, make this sort of request. It is the natural evolution of a program. We have proven that we are able to develop talent over time which results in high draft picks (Ziggy, Spoon) and now we are showing we can recruit at an elite level where the athletes have a chance to go early (Maclin, Gabbert, Smith).
And while I am sure it has been said, without knowing the personal background of Aldon Smith and his family, it would be unfair to speculate about how much he truly had to “gain” by coming back another year.
Advocating for the "Spreadbone" since 2010
Rock M Nation
gabbert had a lot to gain by leaving.
smith, maybe had a lot to gain by staying. it only stands to reason. gabs is a sure-fire 1st-rounder. smith, maybe not. wuroyal’s point remains, imo.
"Football players, like prostitutes, are in the business of ruining their bodies for the pleasure of strangers" -Merle Kessler
by threadkiller on Jan 7, 2011 11:37 PM CST up reply actions
No doubt....
Smith had a GREAT deal to gain by staying at Missouri. Due to his injury, he didn’t dominate this season. I mean for Christ’s sake, the reason the NFL wants him is as a speed rusher and he only got 2 sacks this year according to MUTIGERS.COM. IMO, he needs 25lbs and more experience. Sure he might be a second round pick, but the money between the 1st and 2nd round is enormous. And what if he gets injured by massive NFL linemen and/or abused and released. I think an additional year would have served him well….
"the money between the 1st and 2nd round is enormous."
That’s very true, but with the new rookie wage scale likely to take place in the new CBA, the money divide between this year and next year is likely to be even more pronounced, right?
RockMNation.com (@rockmnation)
Fighting mob mentality since 2007
by RPT on Jan 8, 2011 8:08 AM CST up reply actions
Difference
Will be more pronounced between rounds next year, but unless he has two injury riddled years in a row, he’d be first round next year.
There is no difference between this year and next year.
"I'm a genius, but I'm a misunderstood genius."
"What's misunderstood about you?"
"Nobody thinks I'm a genius."
by Transmogrified Tiger on Jan 8, 2011 9:30 AM CST up reply actions
Meh, not necessarily
Injuries make it more reasonable to declare early. And one thing I think Kiper is 100% correct on is that it’s not the catastrophic injury, it’s the career-altering injury that’s the concern.
Also, sack artists typically have one dominant season in college, and it’s rarely their final season. Teams will scheme to limit what they can do. Add to that the fact that at least some pro teams will see him as an OLB in a 3-4, something he cannot do at Mizzou. That would limit his ability to improve his stock by coming back to school.
To me, Aldon Smith had a much tougher decision than Gabs. His case was very gray area. I could see him going either way. He may well be leaving money on the table by NOT coming back, but he also takes on substantial risk by returning. It’s also worth noting that the NFL advisory group is intentionally conservative. Smith might just as likely improve his draft stock at the combine as by coming back to school.
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
when does the bleeding end?!?!?!
by rockthenation on Jan 7, 2011 4:27 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Warm up the S.A.M.
He’s gonna be playing more.
Good luck to Aldon. It was fun watching him in a Mizzou uni.
Dr. Ausgiano schools me in the classroom and on the field of battle
by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jan 7, 2011 4:32 PM CST reply actions
It would be very interesting to know what was in Aldon's NFL evaluation?
I would be surprised if he is
A. slated to go in the first round
B. projected to be on the field as a rookie.
/saidthesametwothingsaboutFreeman
I love Aldon’s skills but he strikes me as a tweener in the NFL. Too big to be an OLB in a 3-4 and too small to go DE in a 4-3. I would also think run stoppage would be an issue as he has the pass rush down in spades. I hope I am wrong and he goes late first as a pass rush specialist.
"Anderson won't make substitutions. He'll change lines - Tiller, Taylor and English hit the bench while Denmon, Dixon and Paul hop the boards. Welcome to Hockey Night in Columbia. He won't take time outs. He'll take on fuel and tires. Welcome to the Hardwood 400." - Atch
Know who else was once thought of as too big to be an OLB and too small to be a DE?
DeMarcus Ware.
"Don’t want to spend my night waiting in line unless it’s for more beer."
--EssBee, on LoneStarBall, Jan. 21, 2010
and charles haley.
something about the cowboys.
"Football players, like prostitutes, are in the business of ruining their bodies for the pleasure of strangers" -Merle Kessler
He was projected 2nd round according to his interview with Gabe
It’s up on PowerMizzou. ($)
— They gave me a second round grade, but the Board is usually conservative and I’m only going to go up from there.
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
Actually
I don’t see him as too big to be an OLB at all. He’s taller than some, but his frame is almost perfect and he has more than enough athleticism. Put it this way, OU has basically converted Jeremy Beal to OLB to improve his draft prospects and Smith is similarly sized but taller.
As a Seahawks fan, Smith is almost perfect size for the stand up/LEO end that Pete Carroll seems to like.
Smith might be a little taller than Houston’s Brian Cushing, but I think they’re roughly the same size.
I don’t think he’s a tweener at all. The real question is whether a team wants to bulk him up to play DE in a 4-3. He’s built like Simeon Rice but would need to get bigger.
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
I hear you. Didn't Cushing play LB in college?
Agree on the bulk up for DE in the 4-3, hence the tweener label.
There is no doubt that Aldon is a tremendous athlete and could be a Tamba Hali type OLB in a 3-4 or a 4-3 DE with some added bulk. I think I would just like to see Aldon add in those skills and size at the college level. I think he is 2nd round or slips to third unless he puts up a sick 40 time at the combine. Another year and he is a first round talent IMO.
"Anderson won't make substitutions. He'll change lines - Tiller, Taylor and English hit the bench while Denmon, Dixon and Paul hop the boards. Welcome to Hockey Night in Columbia. He won't take time outs. He'll take on fuel and tires. Welcome to the Hardwood 400." - Atch
NAANAANAANAANAAANANANANANANNANANNNNANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
/can’t hear you it’s basketball season
"Football players, like prostitutes, are in the business of ruining their bodies for the pleasure of strangers" -Merle Kessler
great for the program to have another early declaree be a potential first rounder
we’ve got plenty of depth at end so I’m not worried about the void he will make, but I’ll miss seeing that 7 foot wingspan engulfing QB’s, that is for sure
It's Time.
good luck Aldon!
i hope you have a long and successful nfl career. thanks for the time and effort you gave to mizzou!
pinkel sez… move em over and ove em up
I always hoped aldon would be good enough to play on sundays
and it appears he is. good luck aldon!
You don't have to come and confess, we lookin' for you, we gon' find you, we gon' find you. So you can run and tell that, Homeboy.
Best of luck Agent Smith...
…may you be drafted by the Rams or Chiefs and wreck unholy damage
I dunno man...hockey?
saw a rumor on someones blog
earilier this week that he would go pro because…. he wouldn’t be academically elgible to play this year….
what ever the true reason is I am with Gaknar * shakes fist at heavens *
Fight Tigers Fight!
That is a pretty stupid rumor
considering how long he had between now and the start of next year in terms of time and potential classes to take.
Advocating for the "Spreadbone" since 2010
Rock M Nation
Honestly, at this point I'm expecting the next yellow box to look like this:
“Mizzou cuts all athletic programs, CEW still lacking friends.”
PTDsports.com
by CEW on Jan 7, 2011 5:32 PM CST up reply actions
Best of luck...
To Agent Smith at the next level. I’m sad to see him go, but I’m also excited to see what Ealy can do in the rotation with Jacquies, Madison, and Sam.
Fare thee well half of the agent smiths
One of my first photoshops, turned Smith Smith and Coulter LLC into the agent smiths. Only meme I can even claim to have been close to starting here.
It's a shame, especially since he explicitally told the Missourian he was coming back.
But I can’t blame him. Hopefully the Rams take him, but it’s doubtful. He’s an extremely gifted athlete and will be a great professional player.
Well shit.
So much for the high pre-season ranking next year…
"That guy mvhsbball is really an insufferable schmuck." - FuquaManuel
not a problem
though i would prefer to change it up and not have to play the disrespect card every year
it didn't work out that great for us
in 2008. bring on the DISRESPECT!!!!
"Football players, like prostitutes, are in the business of ruining their bodies for the pleasure of strangers" -Merle Kessler
I don't think defensive end was all that disconcerting for pollsters...
… especially in comparison to the other defection.
RockMNation.com (@rockmnation)
Fighting mob mentality since 2007
A high preseason ranking doesn't matter jack to me...
The first week of this season, ESPN had Auburn at #22 and Texas at #5. How did all that work out for them?
Including the Insight Bowl, I believe that we had a helluva good season this year. If Mizzou goes 10-3 for the rest of my life, I will be a happy man.
by A thru Zou on Jan 8, 2011 4:01 AM CST up reply actions 6 recs
this should be green
"I have CDO. It's like OCD, but the letters are in alphabetical order. Like they should be."
Thank you
Good way to wrap up football season just in time for bball conference play
by blackgoldorange on Jan 7, 2011 8:13 PM CST via mobile reply actions
not so bad
Blaine and Aldon leave Mizzou in good hands and the QB competition will produce one or two great QB’s. Plus there is another Smith in the works coming off the edge(even if his name isn’t Smith). Move ’em up. ZOU me.
by Earl Billings on Jan 7, 2011 10:30 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
So are you suggesting...
…that we rename the position Defensive Smith?
"Smell the perfume but don't drink it because it might kill you." Erin Andrews recounting advise from Gary Pinkel
by Gaknar on Jan 7, 2011 10:40 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
More like Left Smith and Right Smith...
…as our only special Smith on offense was the one and only Brad.
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