FanPost

De'veon Smith Scouting Report

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Overlook:

De'veon Smith is an agile, patient, tough running back out of the University of Michigan. Smith was a 3 year starter at the University of Michigan and consistently had a large number of carries per season. Smith is 5'11 and weighs in at 225 pounds. Amongst coach Harbaugh's running emphasis offense with the Wolverines, smith recorded 495 carries for 2,235 yards, rushing for 22 touchdowns, 38 receptions for 251 yards, and 1 touchdown reception in his 3 seasons out of 4 as a starter for the Wolverines. Smith have have recored low numbers per season with rushing, but was depended on mostly in the run game, despite sharing the ball with Jabrill Peppers. Smith overall is an impressive back that can be considered by the 49ers if Shanahan and Lych want a rookie running back that can provide insurance in case Hyde goes down again. smith is in reach, as he is projected anywhere between late 3rd round to late 5th round for being drafted.

Smith is Pretty Impressive with his Run Game

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A combination of both great instinctive, patient, fast running and poor tackling by BYU's defense. Smith's O line collapses where the open space for Smith to is, so he uses good awareness to find the open gap, slip through, then take off and break way in the clear. Smith is contested by one more defender, but the defender attacks too high on Smith and Smith easily shakes the defender off of him, giving Smith the open clear to run to the end zone.

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Smith is patience before rushing through the line of scrimmage as he follows his leading blocker #71 to block the final defender, then he accelerates through the clear but goes head up with another defender, breaks the tackle, continues his drive for the first down, and finally gets brought down right where the first down marker is.

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Smith on a half back screen play shown here. smith runs his screen route, then takes advantage of the clear space as he instantly takes off down field with the ball, but runs in to a few defenders and gets brought down in the red zone. Big gain by Smith and great speed moving down field shown off.

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Smith takes the hand off, hits the hole after nearly running in to a defender, shifts gears down field in traffic, then cuts to the outside making two defenders miss, hits a nice juke another defender for a cutback inside, finds the open space for the 1st down, then finally is taken down for about a 17 or 18 yard run.

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Smith takes the hand off, follows the clear space from his blocks, continues to drive down field, then engages with a defender only to drive himself more in to the end zone.

Can De'veon Smith Fit on to the 49ers new offense?

Smith is a very shifty, agile, runner that uses positions on the field to his advantage of picking up yards. Instinctive, patient runners like Smith can definitely be used on the 49ers offense. The only real question is what would Kyle Shanahan do with Smith? Toss runs, outside hand offs, halfback screens, routes? Smith can surely fit on to the 49ers offense, but it's how Shanahan would use him to his advantage for the offense.

Strengths:

Ample vision, very instinctive, very crafty runner. Smith can consistently easily find clear to break away and make botched plays from nothing in to something. Smith can use size as weapon with his muscular frame to shake off defenders. Smith possesses mobile hips which allow him to shift gears rushing down field, good foot work and coordination allow him to uses jukes, cutbacks, and cutting to the outside to his advantage. Smith is a very shaky runner that can be difficult to bring down if not fully wrapped up. High ceiling for Smith, can become a great weapon on an NFL offense.

Weaknesses:

Lacks correct acceleration after hand off, tends to less quick to hit the line of scrimmage and more patient which is good, but can allow Smith to be swallowed up by defenders if not quick enough to choose a move. Smith lacks the pursuit to escape linebackers and it will show once in the NFL. Smith can break tackles, but will be tested against NFL linebackers. Smith tends to be a bit too sluggish past the line of scrimmage which is never good, unless blocks are ahead of the ball carrier.

NFL Comparison

1. Alfred Morris RB Dallas Cowboys

Smith shows off great elusiveness like Morris at times. Both are very crafty runners, can shift gears, use foot work, and make cuts to make defenders miss. Alfred Morris and De'veon Smith are just about the same size as well, as Morris stands at 5'11 and weighs in at 222 pounds.

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