DeAndre Smelter: The Most Complete WR in College Football

NebraskaJacket

NebraskaJacket

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Of course this year we've all seen DeAndre emerge as one of best (THE best imo) WR's in the ACC in the traditional sense of the position. Speed, strength, size, hands, everything. But what I love so much about him is something that doesn't show up in the stat sheet: BLOCKING. I've been watching him block intently over the course of the year and have honestly been blown away not only by his consistency and technique, but also his effort! This kid knows he's our best receiver but blocks like he's a walk on trying to impress CPJ. Great to see one of our best players set such a good example for the young guys!

I've attached a few stills from the UVA game to illustrate a couple of my points. If I had the time I'd go back to some of the earlier games when we had more possessions to really show him blowing people out of plays with his blocking. Anyways....


Touchdown on our first possession
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UVA is lined up in a traditional 4-3 defense. Smelter is assigned on this option to his side to pick up the safety. Great adjustment by CPJ to send Smelter to the safety with the CB playing inside technique btw

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Ball is snapped. UVA defensive assignments are highlighted in blue

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Dive is taken away. JT onto his next read. Notice Smelter positioning his body for the block; solid base, shoulders square. Perfect technique

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JT makes proper read pitching the ball. All blocks are made on assignment and Smelter ANNIHILATES the only defender with a chance to make a play. Touchdown jackets

Near long touchdown by Snoddy
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Great read by JT and good play call by CPJ opening a lane here for Snoddy. Notice Smelter on the outside stalking his man

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Shoestring away from a TD here. Smelter is still LOCKED into his assignment 25 yards down the field! If he breaks that one tackle the CB has no chance of catching Snoddy even if he gets off DeAndre's block. Outstanding effort by Smelter

Examples of the effort Smelter gives that is often unnoticed on TV
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This is what I love out of DeAndre. The play only went for 1 yard, yet he is 15 yards down the field and actually ended up getting his man on the ground with a cut block. He doesn't know what's going on behind him, and eventually Days will have a play where he springs through and be led for an additional 20+ yards with that last block on the outside by Smelter.

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Here again is a play most WR's half ass with their block, but not Smelter. Backside and he is still busting in to get in perfect position and take his man out of the play. What is huge here is that CBs get so used to him coming full speed to block even backside that he is able to get open on those deep play action calls in man-to-man. LOVE IT

Goal Line TE: ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
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He actually lined up at TE a few plays including on the goal line. What a pass catching weapon he would be, but he surely can't block down there, right?

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Think again. He's already locked up 3 yards deep in the endzone by the time Days gets to the line of scrimmage. This was the scoring play in the 3rd Q.


You the man DeAndre keep it up!! :hsdance:
 
Great post.

After Smelter retires from the NFL he should franchise some Pancake Houses.
 
Thanks for pulling this together. Having coaches kiddos for many years, the hardest thing to do was to get them to block away from the play, and in also right in the middle of the play for that matter! So it is nice to see someone who will put their head down and do it play after play.
 
coit said:
If you say so.

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When I moved into my previous home in Bartow, near Lake Allatoona, there was an old still back in the woods about 100 yards back from the house. All the copper was missing. It was pretty cool. I still don't see DeAndre in this pic, however.
 
JJacket said:
When I moved into my previous home in Bartow, near Lake Allatoona, there was an old still back in the woods about 100 yards back from the house.
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An old what still back in the woods?



I still don't see DeAndre in this pic, however.
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He's in the squad car, duh.

/moonshiner
 
I agree with the general premise of the thread, especially the blocking.

I think in the end what will keep Smelter from being a truly elite NFL WR, though, will be his speed. He's definitely fast, but the 4.55-4.6 he will throw up at the combine won't be enough for scout's to drool (he's almost like the opposite of Stephen Hill in that sense).

That said, I think he'd be a perfect slot receiver in the NFL if he works on his route running. Great hands, good height, and tremendous strength for YAC. I just don't see him being able to burn DBs deep in the NFL.
 
Legal Jacket said:
I agree with the general premise of the thread, especially the blocking.

I think in the end what will keep Smelter from being a truly elite NFL WR, though, will be his speed. He's definitely fast, but the 4.55-4.6 he will throw up at the combine won't be enough for scout's to drool (he's almost like the opposite of Stephen Hill in that sense).

That said, I think he'd be a perfect slot receiver in the NFL if he works on his route running. Great hands, good height, and tremendous strength for YAC. I just don't see him being able to burn DBs deep in the NFL.
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I think he might surprise people at the combine (or later?) with his speed. It is difficult to tell just how fast he is right now, imo. Plus, he will speed train like a mad man in the 3 months leading up to the combine.

I don't think anybody would have guessed that BayBay would run a 4.38 at one point. He got extremely fast in the months after the Orange Bowl.
 
I wish that guy would do the same thing, but on catching the ball and then making his first step in a direction which destroys the defender's angle. I've never seen a WR have more awareness of the pursuing defender while the ball is in the air. This leads to a ton of YAC
 
Great post - thanks

And Smelter vs Stephen Hill is a lot like Calvin Johnson vs me

Smelter has everything he needs - - more speed would be better but he has plenty enough to succeed
 
gte490v said:
I wish that guy would do the same thing, but on catching the ball and then making his first step in a direction which destroys the defender's angle. I've never seen a WR have more awareness of the pursuing defender while the ball is in the air. This leads to a ton of YAC
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He does take some crazy angles after the catch. Usually you'll see a WR just run up field, but DeAndre will plant his foot and cut across the backside of the defender turning him around and unable to put an angle on him.
 
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