Bengals RT Andre Smith fit the bill of a first-round bust perfectly. The sixth pick in the 2009 draft showcased every symptom. He held out his rookie season. He endured a string of injuries. He battled immaturity and fitness. And, of course, there was the infamous shirtless 40-yard dash video.
If it looks like a bust, walks like a bust and jiggles like a bust …
Only, in the case of the Bengals right tackle, the bust label busted in 2011. The immature kid with puffy cheeks and glasses holding out on Hard Knocks gave way to the slimmed-down professional Marvin Lewis envisioned when dedicating his top pick to the Alabama product.
“He really has taken a lot of steps in maturity,” Marvin Lewis said. “You just saw the personality come out of a guy that was picked where he was picked in the draft. The total man, all the qualities of a first-round pick, particularly a high first-round pick, they began to emerge throughout last year.”
Smith enjoyed his first healthy training camp last season and played in 15 of the 17 games. His breakout came in Week 6 against Indianapolis when he shut down Robert Mathis in a game plan designed to leave him one-on-one with the premier pass rusher. He finished the year ranked in the top 20 overall among tackles who played at least 75 percent of their teams snaps, according to ProFootballFocus.com.
The 2012 training camp has seen Smith pick up where he left off. His pass protection shined last year, but he recognizes the need to improve in the run game. At 335 pounds, he feels he's yet to live up to the run-blocking reputation built with the Crimson Tide.
“I didn't do as well as think I should do in run blocking,” he said. “I think I can be much better than I was last year.”
If Smith's run-blocking improves the Bengals will face a delightful dilemma. The contract of their former top pick runs out at season's end. Smith understands what's at stake and nothing motivates quite the prospect of breaking the bank.
“Sure, it is an incentive,” Smith said. “It is a big deal for you, your family. I look at it as a year of showing my dominance in the league. That's what I look at it as. Me being a dominant right tackle.”
Conversations don't end there, though. With Andrew Whitworth holding down the left tackle position, the two understand the possibilities at their fingertips. They allowed a combined total of six sacks last season. Of starting tackle combos last year, only Michael Roos and David Stewart in Tennessee allowed fewer (5).
On an regular basis Smith and Whitworth discuss being known as the best tackle combo in the league. In the new, passing age of the NFL holding such a distinction could lead much more than a payday or ditching of a bust label.
“We actually take pride in that,” Smith said. “Him being the dominant left tackle he is and me being the right tackle that I am. We want to be the best we possibly can be. Big things are put on our shoulders to be the best.”
For news and notes on the Bengals, follow Paul Dehner Jr. on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLCIN.