KC Laboratory Film Room: How Trey Smith excels in pass protection

Aggression fuels Smith in protecting the quarterback but it also can serve as his Achilles' heel

Continuing our Trey Smith film review series, today we focus on pass protection and how Smith excels in protecting the quarterback. Yesterday I reviewed Smith as a run blocker, and tomorrow I conclude with how Smith can fit into the Kansas City offense. I hope everyone finds the new accompanying videos entertaining and informational. The goal is to shine a light on the details I focus upon and find important in gauging a player's ability to perform at the next level.

Trey Smith Film Review: Pass Protection

Smith is a quality pass protector, but the Tennessee offense may have limited his ability to shine as much as he did in the run game. He carries the same level of aggression into the passing game as he does the run game which shows as a strength and a weakness at times. What Smith may lack in top-end foot speed, he more than makes up for in raw power and excellent hand technique. 

The same traits that define Smith as a run blocker also appear in his pass protection. He’s a powerful technician, and although I don’t think his athleticism jumps off the field as much in pass protection as it does in the run game, it’s still more than adequate when mirroring rushers.

Smith is at his best once he lands his hands on a defender and uses his mobility to track them while staying connected. His powerful punch here resets the defensive linemen, and then Smith quickly follows the defender by sliding his feet rather than chasing forward. This allows him to continue to keep his quarterback squarely behind his hips and force the defensive lineman to go all the way around him if he’s to pressure the quarterback.

There may be a little bit of a learning curve for Smith at the next level as defenders with better hand usage won’t allow him to gain control so easily. He does a good job working his feet behind his powerful punches, however, and he has the kind of power that translates well to the next level. His positioning is often superb, rarely giving up easy angles to the quarterback and constantly making defenders take the hardest path possible to make an impact. When you combine that level of technical soundness with the punching power, it’s easy to get excited about his ceiling.

If you are looking for where Smith dominates in pass protection, look no further than his jump quick sets. When he’s actively seeking out contact with a defender as the aggressor, he is able to impose his will. As the ball is snapped, Smith initially flashes a quick set — which means he stays relatively even with the original line of scrimmage rather than dropping behind it. Rather than settling directly in place, Smith jumps out to meet the defender and delivers a stout two-hand punch that generates a good amount of space between him and the defender

In this particular play, the defender ends up looping around the outside. Smith is tracking and looking to help, but in most instances he locks defenders in place. His hands are so accurate and powerful that once he lands them on defenders, they rarely get away from him. This aggression can come back to bite Smith occasionally as he’ll get out on his toes and defenders can anticipate it to pull him off balance. When he’s mixing in traditional quick sets and jump sets, he is incredibly effective as a pass protector on the inside.

There aren’t as many eye-popping, dominating plays from Smith in pass protection, and there are absolutely a few more examples of him struggling than there are in the run game. That doesn’t mean he’s a poor pass protector by any stretch of the imagination, though. There are clearly areas of pass protection at which Smith excels, and there are others that he’s still improving. The less space between Smith and the defender across from him, the more comfortable he feels and the more effective he is utilizing his power and technical ability.

— Matt Lane