I think that Brad Smith is going to continue to disappoint as a WR this year. I know that there's an argument that he was a QB in college and that we need to allow time for the learning curve- yada yada yada. Unfortunately, in alot of plays last year his hands were "Becht-esque" and I don't know if teaching a WR how to better handle the ball is something you can really do. Route running, sure. Separation from the DB- ok. Timing for a jump- most likely. Based upon his play thus far, Brad Smith would be nothing more than a #5 or #4, at best, WR on any other team's depth chart. It's just that our depth is really so poor that he's the incumbent @ #3. Brad Smith on ST's however is another story. He's an ace. Along with Wallace Wright, Smith is the other standout on that side of the ball.
Well, I think we have more holes than you seem to, but against my better judgment I am more optimistic about the team than I have been in a long time. The defense is going to be the best part if we stay relatively healthy. I think he could if they make him concentrate him on wideout and quit putting the red jersey on him in camp. He disappointed last season but showed flashes of some special talent and although people who pay half-attention to the game think his hands are worthless, he made some excellent grabs on occasion last season after splitting time between QB and WR in camp. I would cite the Browns game as an example. I'm not saying he is going to break out, but he will probably improve a lot if they keep him split wide.
A lot of the no respect stuff comes from the combination of the last 3 seasons: 4-12, 10-6, and 4-12. I think the Jets just have to come out of the gates gunning and playing like a hard-working, well-coached, football team and a lot of this speculation will correct itself.
As someone who pays "half-attention" to games I can say that Smith's miscues far outweighed his highlight reel material for the 2007 season. He did show some good hands on occasion, but it was not to the point where you'd be comfortable with him being your #3 WR.
I never said that you were. I'm not completely studying every play as it develops and rewinding it 2 or 3 times after the fact, but given the play I did see of Smith last year, the good was far outweighed by the bad in terms of WR consistency. Again, on any other team, he's a #4 or #5 WR.
After his performance last season I believe you are right. I have to take into account that he was a project that hasn't been given an entire offseason to develop as a WR though.
This type of article is to be expected. History has shown time and time again that the writer has a much better than even chance of being accurate by denigrating the Jets. Perhaps if the QB situation was REALLY settled, overall media projections/expectations would be much higher.
I was gonna write the same thing. I think the crux of the matter is that he is a project and throwing in the QB special plays only worsen his efforts as a true WR. Someone needs to step in and say your not a QB in the NFL period. Give a 100% to training as a WR. Sometimes I wonder if he thinks he still has a shot a being a QB and feels being a WR is temporary. I think if Mangini still tries to gimmck Smith again this year he is hurting Brad and the team. I think Matt Jones is a good model of how this should work. Their numbers for last year are comparable and Matt gets a lot of recognition for what he does and for the success right from the start. Of course he was a first rounder and was worth it. He is also very dedicated to being a really good WR. That's what Brad has to do. If not he will just fade away. I think he has the skills just need to add dedication to it and he could have a future.
Who cares about respect? Nobody respecting the Patriots before 2001. Nobody respected the Giants until the end of the season. Let's just go play hard. If the players want it, the rest will follow.
i think Smith has the potential to be a #3 if they're teaching him to be a WR and a WR only. should Smith learn to catch the ball consistently and improve his route-running, there's no doubt he's dangerous after the catch. just for the record, Smith had the same number of TD's as Cotchery (2), half the yards and receptions of Coles (325 to Coles' 646 and 32 to 55 respectively), and a slightly less APR than both of them. if he's as bad as he's made out to be around here, then he wouldn't even produce the little that he has so far. i believe if his game does improve, he'll be a solid #3; and i think that will happen.
Chansi Stuckey will be the # 3 guy or that Wr Hybrid we drafted! Brad Smith Can't catch and you can coach that. He is a special Teams player. IF the Cs wants to do him a service they shoul try and teach him to play Cb so he could batt the ball down and give us some depth.
True enough. If Clemens cannot beat Chad out, I would not be the least bit surprised to see the Jets fail, despite the easy schedule.
i don't understand how catching can't be taught/learned. what's the point of those machines that spit the ball out? how do RB's improve upon their pass-catching ability?
