"Scouting" On WR Brandon Smith

Brandon Smith, signed yesterday by the Seahawks, is a prototype of the profile Pete Carroll and John Schneider look for while they tool with the bottom of their depth charts and roster. Injury history. Good measureables. Tools, not production. In a nutshell, low-risk (no-risk) but high (that's generous... "some") potential.

That pretty much sums up Brandon Smith. At Arizona State, he missed his 2007 season, played one game in 2008, and missed 2009. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility in 2010 and appeared in seven games, making one catch for nine yards. So, not much to work with via cringe-worthy production in college. 

He does have the tools the Hawks love though, and is no doubt the reason he's here. At his Pro Day, he ran the 40 in 4.39 seconds. He has a 40" vert and stands 6'1, 200 pounds.  Put up 225 19 times, so he's not a weakling. 4.01 in the short shuttle, which would have been good for 3rd at the Combine among receivers. 6.71 in the 3-cone, good for a top-15 finish at the Combine for WRs. In other words, he's very fast and very quick. He can jump out of the building and he's strong. Tools, not production. 

99% chance he's a camp body, but I get the sense the Seahawks have a method to their roster churn madness and it includes a purposeful and systematic way of finding the most talent at every single roster spot down to the last man. I've said this before but part of that method includes bringing in athletic freaks of nature and hoping they are-- or could develop into-- good players.