DRAFT SHAFT
Troy Smith dropped everything but the Heisman Trophy on Monday night in University of Phoenix Stadium, and his performance might have dropped him out of the first round of the NFL Draft.
The Ohio state quarterback entered the BCS Championship Game against Florida as one of the most intriguing college players in recent years. He was part Michael Vick and part Vince Young.
Then he and the Buckeyes fell apart in a 41-14 loss to the Gators, who did what no team had been able to do: They forced Smith into a lousy performance in a big game.
“I have to say it’s a lack of execution on my part as a quarterback,” Smith said. “Simply because I am the one guy out there that, you know, pretty much can control everything. And I didn’t do a well enough job in controlling what was going on.
“Florida did do some great things defensively, but not nothing that we couldn’t have handled. And I have to take all the blame in the world for that.”
Smith, who was 10-1 as a starter against ranked teams and had thrown 30 touchdown passes and five interceptions all season, completed 4 of 14 passes for 35 yards with one pick and no touchdowns. He got no help from his stationary offensive line, which allowed five sacks against a swift and attacking Florida defense.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel – who earlier in the week made several statements in support of the 6-foot, 210-pound Smith playing quarterback at the next level – tried to excuse Smith’s performance.
“I think we at times put Troy in a situation that was tough, you know, from a scheme standpoint,” Tressel said.
That’s true, but perhaps no quarterback went into the bowl season needing to have a good game in the eyes of NFL talent evaluators more than Smith. He is 6 inches shorter than Young, the former Texas quarterback who was voted the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year, and a little slower than Vick, who remains an enigma.
But Smith’s record as a starter (25-2), combined with his uncanny ability to play his best in big games, established him as a mid-to-low first-round draft pick.
Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn and LSU’s JaMarcus Russell are projected as the top two quarterbacks in the draft. Smith was at the bottom of a group of second-tier candidates that includes Louisville’s Brian Brohm, Michigan State’s Drew Stanton and Hawaii’s Colt Brennan.
Brohm and Brennan are juniors who have yet to declare for the draft but are expected to do so. Both are about 4 inches taller than Smith, who also lost a fumble against Florida.
Before Monday night’s debacle, Smith was ranked 40th overall in the upcoming draft by Scouts Inc. on ESPN.com. With last year’s 40th overall pick, the Lions took Nebraska safety Daniel Bullocks. He reportedly signed a four-year deal worth $3.71 million.
“There have been plenty of guys who have played the game at 6-foot and done well,” Tressel said. “Is it one of the measurables? Yes. And so people put all the things they can measure – game film, vertical jump, height – all that.
“They think they can measure when they go out there and do all the throwing tests. But that’s a fact that he is 6-foot, and there will be some teams that shy away. But all he needs is the right team.”
