INDIANAPOLIS — At 6 feet tall, Troy Smith peered out Friday from behind a podium at the Indiana Convention Center.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State spoke eloquently. He displayed a sharp wit and the high-dosage confidence that any quarterback has to have to make the transition from college to the pro game.

But the feature most apparent in Troy Smith's 20-minute media conference stood some 5 feet, 3 inches off the floor. It was the man-sized chip on his shoulder.

Several questions surround Troy Smith's ability to succeed as an NFL quarterback. Top among them is his height.

"The height thing, I can't do anything about it," he said. "Whether I was 6-5, I would still be scrutinized for something. It's not going to end. You make it seem like being 6-feet is a disease or something."

Lack of height can limit a quarterback's vision. Some, like New Orleans' Drew Brees, have overcome it. Troy Smith's quick feet allow him to find open throwing lanes, and once he lets the ball go he has a high release point, scouts say, making him play taller than 6 feet.

"I don't think you can play taller than what you are," Troy Smith said.

Accuracy is a question on deep balls. He has been known to blame teammates when the game doesn't go according to plan. There are concerns, too, that he runs with the wrong crowd and could fall prey to the money and other trappings of NFL life.

Browns general manager Phil Savage has mentioned that he's interested in bringing Troy Smith back to hometown Cleveland in the draft. The Browns wouldn't have to invest a first-round pick on Troy Smith; most projections have him going in the second or third round.

But would the temptations be too great for a player whose off-field behavior has been called into question?

"The funny thing about it, life is life anywhere you go," Troy Smith said. "That question is kind of a loaded one to me because you make it seem if I go anywhere else, distractions aren't anywhere else. There are distractions everywhere. There's nothing I can do about something that goes on in the outside world. The only thing I can control is what I do on a daily basis that's football oriented. I can't control anything else that happens."

Troy Smith's combative attitude might be a reason he's known as a tough competitor. A person's weakness also can be a strength.

He handles pocket pressure well. He was 3-0 against Michigan. He's considered a magician of sorts, able to pull games out in crunch time.

Still, Troy Smith has to prove — more than the likes of Brady Quinn (6-3) and JaMarcus Russell (6-6) — that he can play quarterback in the NFL.

"I don't know," Troy Smith said when asked Friday why he continually has to prove himself. "I know as a player what I will try to improve myself as a man and as a quarterback."

Troy Smith will run for scouts March 10 in Columbus at the Ohio State pro day. He said he would throw Sunday at the combine.

Draft experts say Troy Smith improved more than any other quarterback in the draft in his final college season. He threw 30 touchdowns against just six interceptions for more than 2,500 yards. Ohio was 12-0 until losing to Florida in the BCS title game.

"It wasn't bittersweet at all. It was a sweet experience the whole way through," Troy Smith said when asked if the bowl loss tarnished an otherwise perfect season. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Just because we didn't get a chance to finish out on a note that we wanted to, that gives you no reason to say that the season to me was a letdown."

What Troy Smith perceived as a negative series of questions Friday wore on him. He expressed his frustration when the question was raised again that he tries too hard to prove he belongs.

"I think the only people who thought I was trying to prove myself are maybe the people who put it in the paper that I'm trying to prove myself," he said.

"I'm not trying to prove myself to anybody. I'm blessed to be in this situation, and I stand before you now wanting to talk about some of the positive things that go on, but yet still we keep on talking about the negatives. I don't understand."

See more at www.usatoday.com