It's too early to discount Smothers as a passer. Crouch was not a very good passer when he took over the reins at QB, but developed into one. Smothers is a little bigger than Crouch and probably just as fast. You've got to give him the back-up role for AM at this time just to see how he performs in game action. He's too talented a runner not to, and he knows the offense better than HH. To pass over him, without giving him a chance, would sour his feelings about being here and cause him to move on.
Also, there's no QB in the portal that would necessarily be an upgrade over Smothers when you consider familiarity with the offense. This year LS should be second on the depth chart starting the season and the first to take over in a game if AM goes down.
Didn't Crouch have more INT's than TD's when he won the Heisman?? Never considered him much of a passer personally and todays game dictates you have to be able to throw it around a bit.