I know this is a stretch, but what about converting Brad Smith to RB? He's 6-2, 210 and looks fairly strong. I've seen him take some mad hits at the line, and bounce off for a 60yd TD. The kid has incredible speed and acceleration. Actually reminds me a little of OJ Simpson with his cut backs.
I mentioned this in another thread as well. I bet we see it, but it will be situational. Certain trick plays/packages, I would bet he gets more snaps at WR than in the backfield. If he is as talented and exciting as his reviews lead us to believe, Mangini will do what he has to get him on the field.
That was my thinking as far as the staff getting the most out of this kid. If Chad's as sharp as he appears to be getting, we may have an explosive weapon on some short screens out of the backfield. Its kind of of exciting. Hope he plays Fri night, dying to see him in action.
I think the Mangini mentality is, this is the kind of athletic kid you want on your team, period. Then we go from there. I envision all kinds of plays for this kid in years to come. Imagine him on a reverse, becoming the QB ala the "Lamont Jordan play." I'll be shocked if he doesn't make the team. Can't wait to watch him and my man, Joel Dreessen. Dreessen had a nice writeup in thepapers this morning... said he's been having a great camp with his catches and his blocking looks better than Doug Jolley's. I'm optimistic about our Offense this year.
I'll second that about Dressen if its legit. I missed the article about him, but I'll take your word. Jolley's been a serious disappointment, and we REALLY need to get production from that spot this year.
I think we have enough unproven running backs to play musical chairs with in the backfield for this season.
I do too. Ufortunately, I don't see us getting into the playoffs this year anyway. Hope I'm disappointed... not trying to be negative, but just trying to keep my sense of reality. That being said, I really don't care if Martin gets on the field or not. I want to really showcase Blaylock, Houston and now Washington. BJ Askew needs to step up too. He was always in Sowell's shadow, now it's his time to kick it up a notch. Maybe we'll get lucky and pick up someone who gets cut, just for depth (if Martin is a no-go). But I wouldn't want us to have to trade anything for another RB at this point. Let's just chill and see what happens.
The guy is a great athlete and being a former QB he probably is pretty sharp. Perhaps he will be the Jets Troy Brown and do a bit of everything?
On a related topic. I was thinking the other day about the potential for Michael Vick being transformed into an RB. That way the Falcons could have Shaub and Vick in the backfield. Sounds pretty potent to me. As far as Brad Smith though, as long as he is on the field and put in a position to make plays I don't care. This offense really has the potential to stink, big time! The Jets season hinges on the offensive side of the ball. Because without moving the chains the D is going to get pretty tired pretty fast....
I would prefer that we hold off on such a major "experiment" with only 5 weeks before the season starts. No thanks. Maybe as a fluke play every now and then, but not for anything more than that.
Exactly, Brad Smith doesn't really have the frame to be a RB. Look at the other RB's who are around the same height as him Larry Johnson - 6'1, 230 lbs. Steven Jackson - 6'2, 230 lbs. Even Chris Brown (who I consider very lean for a RB, and who has had injury problems) has an extra 10 pounds on Smith. And besides, I think Smith is going to be much more valuable as a home-run threat to stretch the field than he is as another runner in a RBBC that already has some decent runners (and he would probably only be helpful for a year, since I think we will get a franchinse RB next offseason).
He's too thin, and especially with his height he'd get killed by NFL linebackers. Someone like him can make those cuts because he runs upright in the open field. He could never hit a hole and cutback at those speeds without being snapped in half.
Michael Vick would never stand up to the pounding that an NFL tailback takes. He can barely stay on the field as a QB.
Find the highlight clip of him. They used him to run the ball alot in college. I bet they let him make plays on the ground even if its not from the backfield. He will prob run the screen and quick passes
Exactly, great point. The option gives the QB a better opportunity at a big run because the defense is worried about the RB. That being said, im sure we'll see him all over the place. Both at WR and RB.
