Can Jaylen Smith play safety? They mentioned he had experience playing in the secondary.

Just now, BBlink said:

Can Jaylen Smith play safety? They mentioned he had experience playing in the secondary.

In high school. He’s athletic enough, but idk at his size. 

A former walk-on who developed into a 100-tackle starter for the Mean Green, Smith is not quite fluid enough to play SAM but well-suited to play weak-side linebacker in the CFL after excelling over the slot in college. Even if the five-foot-11, 224-pounder never finds the consistency needed to become a starter, his history as an elite collegiate special teams player makes him one of the safest projections in the draft.

Just based on what everyone is saying, this seems like a bad reach... Yikes. 

Hmmm.  So....

Tony Jones (Am)
Kyrie Wilson (Am)
Michael Ayers (Am)
Jonathan Jones (Am)
Connor Shay (Nat)
Jaylen Smith (Nat)

...for 2 potential starting spots?
 

Not a reach for me, I’m just looking at need.  As a WIL it makes sense. 

It’s not the end of the world, strong value still but makes no sense over Findlay 

1 minute ago, M.O.A.B. said:

A former walk-on who developed into a 100-tackle starter for the Mean Green, Smith is not quite fluid enough to play SAM but well-suited to play weak-side linebacker in the CFL after excelling over the slot in college. Even if the five-foot-11, 224-pounder never finds the consistency needed to become a starter, his history as an elite collegiate special teams player makes him one of the safest projections in the draft.

Says who? Hodge? Ferguson? 

Just now, Jets said:

Hmmm.  So....

Tony Jones (Am)
Kyrie Wilson (Am)
Michael Ayers (Am)
Jonathan Jones (Am)
Connor Shay (Nat)
Jaylen Smith (Nat)

...for 2 potential starting spots?
 

We play 4-5 LB (MACK/WIL) on AR. 

1 minute ago, M.O.A.B. said:

A former walk-on who developed into a 100-tackle starter for the Mean Green, Smith is not quite fluid enough to play SAM but well-suited to play weak-side linebacker in the CFL after excelling over the slot in college. Even if the five-foot-11, 224-pounder never finds the consistency needed to become a starter, his history as an elite collegiate special teams player makes him one of the safest projections in the draft.

Honestly if we got both, I’d be fine with flipping the ratio to one ni lber starting and they rotate. The jones / ayers at the other lber spot. 

Just now, Goalie said:

Says who? Hodge? Ferguson? 

Quote it for his measurable 5.11 224.  

Just now, M.O.A.B. said:

We play 4-5 LB (MACK/WIL) on AR. 

Yes, but hopefully this means the end of Kyrie Injury Wilson and Shayne old man Gauthier on the depth chart.  We can't keep 8-9 LBers around

Just now, M.O.A.B. said:

We play 4-5 LB (MACK/WIL) on AR. 

That’s not counting two key ni lbers for teams though. 

4 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Just based on what everyone is saying, this seems like a bad reach... Yikes. 

It sounds more like he doesn't fit an immediate need. Or a perceived need. 

 

Thought they said Barker had him at like 5 or something.

Edited April 30, 2025Apr 30 by BBlink

1 minute ago, BBlink said:

It sounds more like he doesn't fit an immediate need. Or a perceived need 

I mean jones/ jones ayers/kyrie. But if we cut a jones and kyrie and pair ni and imp it works 

2 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Honestly if we got both, I’d be fine with flipping the ratio to one ni lber starting and they rotate. The jones / ayers at the other lber spot. 

If the draft picks are ready to play D can also open up a spot for another American DL and could open up availability to start 3 American OL without having to plug in another Canadian receiver necessarily.

Hard to believe the db going to school to be a dr has fallen. lol. 

Feels like both the first two kids are more ST guys and not going to start right away so it's not even about fitting at WIL or whatever right now...

Could Griffin II replaces Alexander on the Safety spot ? We have 4 Cdn DBs on roster for depth - Kelly, Hallett, Makonzo and Hagerty.

Edited April 30, 2025Apr 30 by M.O.A.B.

It’s the cfl draft. Are any of them day 1 starters? 

Just now, JuranBoldenRules said:

If the draft picks are ready to play D can also open up a spot for another American DL and could open up availability to start 3 American OL without having to plug in another Canadian receiver necessarily.

Yep which makes a lot of sense. If they both get here. I think the floor should be high. Wil or Mac isn’t the most demanding adjustment in the cfl 

1 minute ago, wbbfan said:

I mean jones/ jones ayers/kyrie. But if we cut a jones and kyrie and pair ni and imp it works 

Not a fan of cutting any of those guys. Jones from TO has too much upside to cut before he even plays for us imo. The other Jones fills a nice true MLB role that shores up the middle against the run if they go heavy Thomas rotation. Ayers again has too much upside....Wilson is one of my favorites but I could understand letting him go....but I'm not sold either guys drafted would be an upgrade

1 minute ago, Noeller said:

Feels like both the first two kids are more ST guys and not going to start right away so it's not even about fitting at WIL or whatever right now...

Think of how many reps Gauthier has been taking on D over the years, even last year.

Just now, Bigblue204 said:

Not a fan of cutting any of those guys. Jones from TO has too much upside to cut before he even plays for us imo. The other Jones fills a nice true MLB role that shores up the middle against the run if they go heavy Thomas rotation. Ayers again has too much upside....Wilson is one of my favorites but I could understand letting him go....but I'm not sold either guys drafted would be an upgrade

Nice to have a training camp to get the team ready to play and see how it all fits.

Just now, JuranBoldenRules said:

Think of how many reps Gauthier has been taking on D over the years, even last year.

I think it just makes jones and kyrie expendable. If that’s the plan it’s pretty good 

Yikes...drafted a guy just to run sneaks at 17.