Wake CB Alphonso Smith has faced the best
6:00 AM Fri, Mar 20, 2009 | Permalink
Rick Gosselin E-mail News tips

One of the questions I routinely ask cornerbacks at the NFL scouting combine is: Who's the best wide receiver you've ever faced? This year a few said Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech. Some said Hakeem Nicks of North Carolina. A couple said Kenny Britt of Rutgers.

Then there was Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith, who said Pro Bowler Anquan Boldin of the Arizona Cardinals.

"When I was a senior in high school, Anquan Boldin was coming off a Pro Bowl year," Smith said. "His brother D.J. and I grew up together. We were on the same team and we were both going to Wake Forest. So we were all on the field that summer doing one-on-ones and Anquan would say, `If I don't catch it with one hand, it doesn't count.' So I started talking back to him and he'd talk back to me. He'd say, `You have no idea...'"

Smith probably didn't then. But he learned quickly. Especially in subsequent summers when Santonio Holmes showed up for some of those throwing sessions as well. Smith and Boldin are both from Pahokee and Holmes from Belle Glade just down the road. In the Super Bowl last February, Boldin led the Cardinals with eight catches for 84 yards and Holmes led the Steelers with nine catches for 131 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

"Every summer I'd get a chance to face them when they come home," said Smith, a two-time All-ACC cornerback. "It's not a big deal for me. I'm a ball player. I do what I do -- and I do it very well."

Dude has mad ball skills. I read somewhere he's tied with Dre Bly as the all time DI INT leader with 21

But I cant get over allowing 11 catches to DHB when they played Maryland. Its like Justin King vs James Hardy all over again. Whats going to happen when he locks down with Braylon Edwards or Larry Fitzgerald, TJ House-a-vanilla, or Calvin Johnson.

I love his ability to play against shifty and/or speed guys like Santonio Holmes, Chad Javon Manuel Enrique Ocho Cinco, Steve Smith etc but I see the bigger frame guys always giving him fits.

Dude has mad ball skills. I read somewhere he's tied with Dre Bly as the all time DI INT leader with 21

But I cant get over allowing 11 catches to DHB when they played Maryland. Its like Justin King vs James Hardy all over again. Whats going to happen when he locks down with Braylon Edwards or Larry Fitzgerald, TJ House-a-vanilla, or Calvin Johnson.

I love his ability to play against shifty and/or speed guys like Santonio Holmes, Chad Javon Manuel Enrique Ocho Cinco, Steve Smith etc but I see the bigger frame guys always giving him fits.

I would also rather draft o or d line first, but I don't like reaching. It also seems like the blueprint for beating the steelers is simple spreading them out with 4 or 5 wr (like the pats or cards did out the end of the sb) I think we all cringe when we think off byrant and carter jotting onto the field.