Geno Smith Combine: West Virginia QB's Mobility Will Be Watched Closely in Indy

Given the play of Robert Griffin III, Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson in 2012, more attention is being paid to dual-threat quarterbacks these days.

West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith figures to reap the rewards of a slight shift in the NFL's landscape at the 2013 combine.

Keep in mind, scouts aren't just looking at speedy quarterbacks and saying, "That's the next RG3." Teams know better than that. We've seen quarterbacks throughout the years who pose as "dual-threats" but don't exhibit the pocket passing to make it in the pros. In other words, Denard Robinson will not be a quarterback in the NFL.

However, Smith has displayed the arm and accuracy to go along with his mobility, which makes him a very intriguing participant in the NFL combine this year.

The 6'3", 214-pounder from Miami isn't going to exactly wow anyone with his legs like Griffin or Kaepernick, but his athleticism allows him to escape the pocket and either find receivers downfield or scamper for extra yards. That does make a difference in the pros.

The dual-threat certainly isn't a perfect prospect, which makes his athleticism even more important for his draft stock. Mike Mayock of the NFL Network said on the Rich Eisen Podcast that he wasn't even sure if Smith was a first-round prospect, citing inconsistency and troubles making a second or third read.

The 22-year-old will likely be a top-10 pick, but there are still some folks who believe the Kansas City Chiefs could select him at No. 1 overall this year, given their woes at the quarterback position and the hiring of former Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid.

In a strong quarterback class, Smith could be a second-round pick like Kaepernick. However, who knows where he could land if he shows a nice blend of pocket passing and athleticism at the combine this year?

Of course, it's a two-edged sword. More will be expected from Smith based on the recent work of Griffin, Kaepernick and Wilson, and that's simply not fair.

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