Brad Smith, heading into his third season, would seem to be in a now-or-never situation in terms of making it with the Jets as a receiver, but he said he's not to that point yet.
“I think every year is as big as the next one,” Smith told me earlier today at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens. “I always approach every game and every season as a big one.”
Smith, along with the Giants Justin Tuck and some 15 RCN volunteers, were hosting a sports camp – where they ran and participated in football drills and talked about the importance of physical fitness – put on by the Southern Queens Park Association, a partner agency of the United Way of New York City. [Smith had some success in getting the group of about 50 kids to partake in a J-E-T-S, JETS! JETS! JETS! chant].
Eric Mangini disclosed during minicamp that the reason for Smith’s limited participation in the minicamp and OTA practices was a sore back.
But, Smith said today, “I’m feeling really good right now and I’m ready to go.”
Most observers had Smith as the team’s third receiver going into the OTAs but many of those same observers – myself included – felt Chansi Stuckey passed Smith with his strong OTA and minicamp showing and Smith mostly relegated to the dreaded exercise bike. Smith, though competitive, had nothing but positive things to say about Stuckey.
“Chansi’s just a great guy,” the good-natured Smith said.
Later, talking about the competition between himself and Stuckey, Smith said: “The competition is going to be there between all the guys. I’m just out there to play my game.”
And what is that game?
Smith flashed another smile.
“Being a playmaker.”
I asked Smith how he has prepared this offseason to become that kind of player and he had an interesting answer. Smith, a quarterback in high school and then at Missouri and occasionally with the Jets, said it takes time to shake that position – more so physically – from the body’s system.
“I’ve seen development maybe even more [this offseason] than in the first two years as far as learning how to play the receiving spot, learning the offense and learning how to take care of my body,” Smith said.
He elaborated on the point.
“When you’ve been used to doing things a certain way and your body is used to dropping back or running in circles or whatever; when you get out at the receiving position, your body has to be able to move and react quickly," Smith said. "The work I’ve been able to do off the practice field on my own [this offseason] has been great.”
Smith, of course, didn't reveal any specifics, but from what we saw of his limited reps this offseason, none involved him lining up as anything other than receiver. I think the Smith option package has been shelved, but we'll see. I base that strictly on my own observation skills, the same ones that told you Jeremy Kapinos had pulled ahead of Ben Graham in the punter battle. About 25 minutes after I wrote that, Kapinos got cut.
Regardless, there’s a long list of intriguing stories to follow when training camp starts July 24 and Smith is certainly on of them.
And with that, feel free to continue to the spirited David Barrett discussion on the previous post, or this one, or wherever.
Comments (25)
Dear Erik,
I like Brad Smith.
He is yet to become an NFL receiver, and that's because the CS has been inconsistent in their expectations of him. They have made a mistake in not giving him a real channel to WR first -- allowing Brad Smith to make the transition successfully before they ask him to do anything else.
Now there's a question about whether he's going to stick with the team. But their dawdling with "Slash" stuff with Brad didn't buy them anything, and just increased his roster jeopardy.
Audio from Kerry Rhodes on Boomer and Carton guys... http://www.wfan.com/pages/870783.php
Erik,
Brad is a very gifted athlete who is trying to make that transition from college QB to WR. Its very difficult. I can't see him being the #3 WR and i love Stuckey from last summer. Too bad he got hurt. Brad like he said is a playmaker. Schotty has to figure a way to get him involved in the offense. Without all the gadget plays.
Getting back to Barrett he will battle for that last CB spot between Coleman,Woolfork and Lowery. I think there is a good chance Lowery will play both CB and safety and finally end up at the safety position.
About the WR spot nobody mentions David Clowney.He is probably the fastest player on the team. And if he has a good camp will give Wright a battle for that last WR spot. Wright is an excellent ST player and Clowney will have to show he could do the same. I would say the depth chart would look something like this now for the top 6.
LC
Cotchery
Stuckey
Smith
Henry
Wright/Clowney
Let's not forget that Dustin Keller will probably be more of a slot receiver than a tight end.
Erik, do you think Tannenbaum will sign Keller and Gholston by July 16, when rookies report to camp?
Ira,
I agree with you on the WR situation. That is exactly how I would list the WR's on our depth chart with one exception. My #6 is Clowney, not Wright/Clowney. I do not see Wallace Wright making the final roster.
I also agree with you that Clowney is a very intriguing and underrated player heading into camp. He ran in the 4.3's in the pre-draft process coming out of Virginia Tech and I think he has the talent to make things interesting. Let's see what develops...
are-tee, I asked Mike Tannenbaum about the contract negotiations at the Jets golf charity event in June and he told me for the most part, contract negotiations with the top picks don't really get going until the week after July 4th. So don't panic on this quite yet! The Revis negotiation aside, Tannenbaum's record of getting draft picks signed on time is still better than most.
I'm going to throw this out there; what exactly have we seen from Smith other than giving the defenses insight into what play was coming when he got on the field? Is Smith more than just a pawn for Mangini to use in his trickery? I have the feeling that he is only a pawn and will be set that way until he steps up and proves that he's not a QB/WR but is a WR.
Anyways, I'm really hoping that the Jets are talking with Detroit right now...they want to ship Roy Williams out and my god would I love to see that name in a Jets uniform. Plus, the Lions GM (forget his name, but he's an idiot), would probably give him up for a #2 pick. I'd love seeing Coles, Williams, Cotchery, Stuckey (considering the first two are a little injury prone, they'd give the offense a nice ability to spread it out). Just a thought...but a very very sensational thought if I do say so myself.
Am I the only person who noticed that Brad Smith, in his 3rd year as professional football player in the NFL is JUST realizing there is a difference in playing QB and WR? You've got to be kidding me! He's just getting to the fact that he doesn't drop back and run in circles anymore. What was his first clue? When he ran across the middle and dropped a pass and got clobbered?!!!!
I have never been a big fan of this guy. Every time he steps onto the field you know a trick play is coming. The defenses know it too. Then they tried to use him as a QB and that failed miserably. Why don't they just cut bait and call it a day with this guy? Don't give me the line of his potential. Hell, I had potential at his age and couldn't play a down in the league.
This team has a need for players with definitive roles. Not guys who might be able to do this or that. The Pats players all have a role and a time to play. Stop wasting time and money!
I agree that they have definitely telegraphed their intentions when he's been on the field. I blame the coordinator not the player. He was a very talented college player that dominated with the ball in the open field. The problem is there is no "option" QBs in the NFL for a reason and he is another one of the many Jet players that they aquire who has to be converted to a new position. He should have been signed to the practice squad or europe to develop and learn the position before they experimented on Sundays.
With that said, if he's close to another player on the depth chart I'ld give Brad the nod just to have the threat to have him lineup behind center and run the option. It's OK to get cute once in a while just not every other series.
Nice article and insight Eric.
Guess i was wrong about Farve. Still don't want him for the Jets. He will end up somewhere i can't see the Packers just giving him his release.
Tell me again why the Jets wouldn't want Favre for 1 or 2 seasons? Is it because we have the Veteran in Pennington that we need to win the big games, or is it that we have our QB of the future that is ready to be in there and win??? if either were the case we wouldn't have the QB controversy we have now - get Favre and the controversy is over.
One question about Favre. If you were him and had a year or two left, would you go to the JETS? Does having Favre help win games against NE? I don't think so.
The JETS are not just a QB away from a Super Bowl. I hate to tell you that. Buying a player for a year is never a good idea for a team. It's great for the player. I want to see the JETS go deep in the playoffs for a few years, not just one. Let someone else pay him and distract the whole team.
Tannenbaum, if you ever listen to fans, buyer beware and stay away from a guy who can't make up his mind about working or not.
About working or not? Try about which all-time records he wanted. He is has the most INTs and most TDs (for QBs, INTS matter). He's only got the latter of the two because of longevity...not because he was exceptionally good every year for a few seasons...its because hes been around forever. I hope he comes back because that'll give the Vikings their chance to claim a championship. Sorry to say it, guys, but we may be a playoff caliber team with the additions...but it'd take a lot more than what we've got to beat top tier teams.
mike, very well put! There are no quick fixes with the shape that the jets are in. It will take steady progress and the fruition of long term goals. The jets are on their way,but this Farve thing is funny, but only entertaining. It is not reality. Farve will not do anything for the jets. He is done. There are no shortcuts. The Jets must learn that success comes from keeping your talent, making the most out of your drafts, combined with prudent personnel decisions.
Lets knock off the fairytale and get real !
Forget the football aspect, it's about marketing. The Jets need a name like Favre to sell those PSLs.
The fact that most Jets fans, notorious for being, well, intellectually challenged, don't want Favre only increases my certainty that making a play for him would be absolutely correct.
Interesting that a guy named Artie would go ahead and say that we're notoriously unintelligent. Do me a favor, Artie, tell us why Favre would be a good move for the Jets to make? The last 4 years have been truly hit or miss and that was when he had a lot of receiving threats and he knew the offense.
For some reason, I get the feeling that Artie may not be as intelligent as he likes to think.
When we got Boomer, O'Donnell, Testeverde, those were all great moves. NOT!!! The only one that could be called a moderate success was testicle. We haven't had a decent QB since 1969. Favre is not the answer for this team!
I personally don't want Favre. He is a Packer, not a JET. Lets not play "rent-a-QB." Imagine if he came here and won a Super Bowl and then retired afterwards? It would feel like a one night stand, leaving Jets fans as the ones feeling USED.
I would gladly take the one night stand!
Anyway, I cant wait for camp to start so we can talk about reality and this upcoming Jet season as opposed to this Farve nonsense. He is done. We dont have the offense that he can utilize and our offense is very complicated and would take too much time for him to learn. He is not 28 years old!
Sorry for the unintelligent typical Jet fan comment.
I can't beleive someone said they wouldn't want to win the super bowl because they'd feel used. You've got to be kidding me.
I'm starting to read quite a few posts about the complexity and complication of our offense?
Does anybody else think that for the past 2, maybe 3 seasons, it hasn't been the level of complexity but lack of determining a definitive direction for how we should play? I understand that in order to win you have to be able to beat your opponent with multiple threats and multiple tactics, but it seems that the jets play hit-or-miss with these variations for 3 quarters then tend to always go back to the basics in order to get the job done, or not done, in order to finish the game. Why not get rid of all the inconsistent attempts at trickery and grind out a solid football performance?
Brad Smith is best utilized running the ball in the open field. Watch his college highlights on YouTube. He needs to be fully utilized to his skill set.