Former Notre Dame Linebacker Reportedly Coming To Kansas City For Workout

by Chris Thorman on Mar 27, 2011 10:40 AM CDT in 2011 NFL Draft

Via his own Twitter feed, we have word that former Notre Dame linebacker Brian Smith is going to be in Kansas City on April 12th to work out with the Chiefs. We're still waiting to confirm if April 12th is going to be the date of the Chiefs' local prospect pro day. I mention this because Smith is a Kansas City area native.

Smith was an outside linebacker in the Irish's 3-4 defense during the 2010 season, the original position he played for Notre Dame as a freshman. Two sub-par seasons at middle and inside linebacker reportedly stunted Smith's growth during his sophomore and junior seasons but he bounced back last year.

Chris Smith. Brian's father, briefly played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the late 1980s as a fullback. After not doing much in the NFL, Chris Smith stuck around the Kansas City area to raise a family and run various businesses.

Brian Smith is rated the 47th best outside linebacker by NFL Draft Scout and is not projected to be drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft. Smith wasn't officially named a team captain in 2010 by his teammates but he was generally considered the emotional leader for the Irish during his tenure.

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Must be the Charlie Weis influence.

Oh wait…

Resign ≠ Re-sign

by Tarkus on Mar 27, 2011 11:30 AM CDT reply actions

Bring him in--sounds like a Justin Cole, Eric Bahktari type.

Above average athlete, some potential and some flaws….if he makes it, put him on ST and give him some time with the coaching staff.

I’m sure he’ll make it to someone’s camp in 2011 (if there is a training camp). Maybe it’ll be ours.

"You've only got 10 fingers to stick in the dike. Is there a breaking point that pushes you over the edge?...Where's the limit?"

-Marty Schottenheimer

by go_saleaumua on Mar 27, 2011 11:43 AM CDT reply actions

I played against Brian in HS and am a big Irish fan.

He is a very talented football player, not just an athlete, he plays with a lot of instinct and obviously he is a leader. Not to mention he changed his number in college to #58 for a very obvious homage to the late, great DT.

"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."

by bigbe on Mar 27, 2011 1:00 PM CDT reply actions

This is all fine and dandy.

Why visit with the 47th ranked LB in college, do we not have a LB now that’s better than that? I guess he would replace a couple of guys but if we draft one early why even bother. Like I’ve said before this is just another sign we don’t draft a OLB early.

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by CPT.Caveman on Mar 27, 2011 1:11 PM CDT reply actions

A potential undrafted free agent isn't going to change who we draft early

3-4 defense covets LBs, you can never have enough. If this guy can up the competition for other LBs, bring him in.

"Pro football is like nuclear warfare. There are no winners, only survivors" - Frank Gifford

by FalconMF27 on Mar 27, 2011 1:30 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

We have at least 11 LB on the roster now.

If they sucked wouldn’t they just be let go?

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by CPT.Caveman on Mar 27, 2011 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe they will be

And thats why we are looking at more LBs. Or we want to convert him, or we want better competition for some of the fringe players that could be replaced on the roster if they don’t step up their game. Too many options, no way of knowing for sure

"Pro football is like nuclear warfare. There are no winners, only survivors" - Frank Gifford

by FalconMF27 on Mar 27, 2011 2:50 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I know you are smarter than you just made yourself sound with that post

You usually leave some great comments so I’ll chalk this one up as a brain fart or something.

Since when does a players ranking by the NFL draft scout have anything to do with what they could bring to a team? Since when are these rankings even close to being correct?

There is a very specific reason that the Chiefs and Patriots are the only two NFL teams that DON’T use the shared scouting service. In other words they have their own list and as for what gets players on it? I think we’ve seen that a fast 40 isn’t always what the Chiefs are looking for. And frankly I couldn’t agree more. We aren’t building a team of great combine performers, we aren’t building a college all-star team. We are building an NFL football team, we need good football players, we need professionals, we need leaders…not the guy with the best draft rating.

Basically what I’m saying is take that stuff with a grain of salt because despite their research they are wrong…a lot. As Chiefs fans we should know the value of a good UDFA, Priest Holmes, Brian Waters, Deron Cherry, and Emmitt Thomas come to mind. We are just doing our diligence on the kid, you think its a coincidence that his dad played in the NFL and he’s getting looks? That is a piece of information that is always known to scouts, if your dad or relatives played in the league. In fact its one of the first things that scouts ask you after height, weight, speed etc… Don’t look at talent evaluation like it happens in a vacuum because it doesn’t.

"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."

by bigbe on Mar 28, 2011 2:19 AM CDT up reply actions

very cool

He was in my high school class at St. Thomas Aquinas. Probably a neat opportunity for him to try to make the Chiefs

by ChiefsWill on Mar 27, 2011 1:42 PM CDT reply actions

KU IS TOTALLY BLOWING IT........

MY GOD.

1) Phil Taylor NT 2) Sam Acho DE/OLB 3) Ricky Stanzi QB 4) Jake Kirkpatrick C 5a) Owen Marecic FB/ILB 5b) Shiloh Keo SS/PR 6a) Lawrence Guy DE/DT 6b) Mario Harvey ILB 7) Will Rackley OT

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."

by TheK-man on Mar 27, 2011 2:04 PM CDT reply actions

Correction:

KU HAS BLOWN THE BIG ONE.

Let the blame game begin.

1) Phil Taylor NT 2) Sam Acho DE/OLB 3) Ricky Stanzi QB 4) Jake Kirkpatrick C 5a) Owen Marecic FB/ILB 5b) Shiloh Keo SS/PR 6a) Lawrence Guy DE/DT 6b) Mario Harvey ILB 7) Will Rackley OT

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."

by TheK-man on Mar 27, 2011 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Anyone who picked this final four is full of sh*t

There's no dollar sign on a peace of mind, this I've come to know. So if you agree, have a drink with me, and raise your glasses for a toast.

- Zac Brown

by BJ Kissel on Mar 27, 2011 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL

Very true, you could have made a fortune if you’d have called this final 4.

by cowboyChief on Mar 27, 2011 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions

I would have to agree with that.

My bracket is up 40 bucks though. Better than nothing.

1) Phil Taylor NT 2) Sam Acho DE/OLB 3) Ricky Stanzi QB 4) Jake Kirkpatrick C 5a) Owen Marecic FB/ILB 5b) Shiloh Keo SS/PR 6a) Lawrence Guy DE/DT 6b) Mario Harvey ILB 7) Will Rackley OT

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."

by TheK-man on Mar 27, 2011 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions