I really hope that Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner are good enough to start this year, because I too have concerns about Shelly Smith. As AccordOn13z posted, if Thomas and Turner are the real deals, our offensive line will be good for a long time.
Shelly Smith is a journeyman player. He is not in their long term plans. He is just another guy with a shot to make this team. He is no lock.
I don't see why he'd be considered a journeyman player...I agree with some of what UK is saying, he's getting paid good backup money, fringe starter money at best. We're his second team...he's in his prime years hypothetically so he's in no way a journeyman. He has definite tools, I don't get why everyone has such a concrete opinion on a guy I doubt they've watched...especially when they're freaking out about his play in shorts against a top 10 DT on a new team in a new system...ridiculous.
Hahaha.... I was talking about Earl Mitchell, not Shelley Smith. Don't worry......Now I'll just sit here all night repeatedly face palming myself.
What has seemed ridiculous to me is those who have watched him play and thinks he has what it takes to upgrade our OL. The abuse he took from Starks was not Shelly being rusty, it is Shelly being Shelly. He just doesn't have the skill set to ever be a solid pass protector. Might be a good option on the GL as an extra TE, but not a starter at OG on a decent OL.
We are going to have to be patient with Billy Turner. He's the opposite of a plug and play guy. What do you expect from North Dakota State though. Hopefully he learns fast though. We may take some lumps with him early but I see a potentially high ceiling with him.
If Dallas Thomas can actually come through as a starting caliber NFL guard well then you've got a 5 year line.