Arizona Cardinals’ Lecitus Smith hoping for ‘fighting chance’ at playing time

TEMPE — New Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Lecitus Smith was brutally honest on Saturday.

Not thinking Arizona was going to be the team he landed with, Smith didn’t beat around the bush: He’s not all that familiar with the franchise or the state for that matter, save for quarterback Kyler Murray.

What he does know is that he wants to have an opportunity to compete. And with how the Cardinals’ current roster is constructed, he very well could.

“I’m fully willing to work but I want to know that I have a chance,” Smith said after getting drafted.

“I want to know that I’m coming in and even though they already have that starting offensive line up on the board, I can still have a fighting chance to win a spot. That’s something that’s pretty cool to me.”

Smith heads to the Valley after starting 38 games over four seasons at Virginia Tech. He was awarded for his efforts in 2020 with an All-ACC honorable mention. This past season, he worked primarily as a left guard but also got some work as a left tackle.

While some consider him a better pass protector, Smith believes his run-blocking abilities are superior.

That could bode well in an offense looking to run the rock with success like they did for most of last season behind James Conner’s 15-touchdown effort on the ground.

“I pack a punch in the run game, I feel like I come off the ball with a lot of power,” Smith said. “Another one of my strengths is I feel I can set a second-level (block) really well as far as working on those combo blocks and getting to that second level.

“As far as things I need to work on, I’d probably say hand placement in the passing game and I’d say the angle I take to get to the second level.”

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