Gene's biggest problem was that he reached badly for players he wanted, specifically small school players.  He didn't really draft a disproportionate amount of small school players.  He was just playing the smartest man in the room role.  The board kind of latched on to the small school thing and railed every time he drafted a small school player.

 

Again, Mack is nothing like Alualu.  Mack, as proven, has value between 3-5.  He is not a reach.  A Gene Smith pick would be Bradley Roby at #3 and then a trade up to draft a player most people didn't even have on their boards in the 2nd or 3rd round.

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