Was this the NFL scouting combine or a trial? By the look on Troy Smith's face, he wasn't so sure.

Guilty of being a 6-foot quarterback whose skills might not translate onto the NFL level, the Heisman Trophy winner actually fielded this question from a reporter:

"Can you play taller?"Well," Troy Smith said, "I don't think you can play taller than what you are. ... But even if I were 6-5, I would still be scrutinized for something."

So goes the life of the former Ohio State quarterback. Despite leading the Buckeyes to last season's national title game, completing 65.3 percent of his passes and throwing 30 touchdowns and only six interceptions, Troy Smith has been picked to the bone as much as any player in the draft.

"Troy Smith has been all over the place in people's opinion," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "But I think he's a pretty easy evaluation. ... I think he's probably a third-round quarterback. And I think the reason is that he makes about 80 to 90 percent of his plays outside the tackle box."

Troy Smith has good arm strength and a .627 career completion percentage at Ohio State. And he was considered a big-game performer until the 41-14 loss to Florida in the national title game. Under constant pressure, Troy Smith completed four of 14 passes for 35 yards, with an interception and a fumble.

Troy Smith's college career also was marked by a two-game suspension for accepting an illegal payment from a booster and a no-contest plea in a disorderly-conduct charge.

But it's his height -- or lack thereof -- that has most of his critics doubting his future in the NFL. Scouts Inc. ranks him as the fourth-best quarterback in the draft.

Reminded that New Orleans Saints' Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees is a fellow 6-footer who managed to succeed in the NFL, Troy Smith laughed and said, "You make it seem like being 6 feet is a disease or something."

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