Smith would NOT be a reasonable third wideout. He's a hell of a playmaker, but he's not even as good of a receiver as Kerley will be as a rookie. If there's a vet WR brought in, it's not going to be one of those guys...maybe Santana, but unlikely due to price. It'll be someone to man the slot if they don't feel Kerley can step right in. We don't go 4 wide very often because of Keller. This team isn't going to dump money on a high priced FA, but they could go after an experienced 3rd receiver for a season. Oh, and there's no way Clayton is signing anywhere but the Rams if they want him. Not after the instant chemistry he had with Bradford.
Our best bet for veteran receivers is to sign our own guys, if we sign both im ecstatic. If we only bring back one, then I think we run with what we have. J-Co when healthy, is a pretty damn good #2. Kerley will be a solid slot guy from the get go, but as you stated, if the Jets don't think he is ready, then they will go find a slot in FA. My hopes are we find a way to bring back both tone and Braylon, lose brad to FA, have J-co terrorize in the slot (now that he will theoretically be healthy again) and let the two DP's learn slowly and progress. I think the only way we can do that, is to let Cromartie walk meaning that K-Dub needs to step up and be the best player he can be. He made great strides the second half of last year, and into the playoffs. This offseason hopefully he can take it up a notch, and prove to be a great player on the outside for us.
I love how Sanchez said "you better have a good reason not to be here" if you are under contract. Just shows his leadership even more. I guess Holmes really did not a legit personal reason why he couldn't make it if he is trying to be there soon. Shonn Greene better have a real reason.
Someone mentioned that Nacho was going to be a team captain. I'm damn sure hes ready for it. Love his effort.
I agree that Brad Smith is a limited player, but he knows the playbook and that's going to be an issue if the off-season ends up being truncated like it looks like it may be. [I also think he's a better receiver than Kerley in 2011-it usually takes a while for WRs to adapt to the NFL game, and Smith has had a 30 reception season in the past- but they're both likely to be marginal receivers in 2011.] It's probably moot anyway. He probably ends up a free agent and the Jets replace him with Kerley.
Obviously everyone wants Santonio and Braylon to both return. I don't see anyone suggesting that we're better off without one of them. Cotchery, however, is not a slot receiver, which is why you frequently saw Holmes slide inside on 3 WR sets. J-Co doesn't terrorize in the slot.
I don't care that Smith had a 30 reception season. He hasn't had 30 in the COMBINED 3 seasons since, and had 4 last year despite our receiving corps being depleted for the first 4 games. As far as knowing the playbook, that's the biggest reason why Kerley is in Mission Viejo right now, isn't it? He's got his hands on a playbook, he's learning it via tape sessions and practice sessions with his QB. He won't be at a disadvantage compared to the normal rookie curve unless the lockout extends into July. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he relocates full time to Southern California to work with Scotty and Mark during this offseason. If his agent is smart, he'll get him into the same Irvine training facility that Athletes First uses. The fact is, for as much of a playmaker as he is, Sanchez has completed a total of 11 passes to Smith in his 2 seasons. If it came down to Kerley or Smith occupying the slot, it's a no-brainer for me.
It's a no-brainer for me as well, I just come out the other way. I certainly hope that Kerley is good enough to displace Smith, and he might be, but I just don't believe in fifth round draft picks until they prove otherwise in a game. Anyhow, as I said above, Smith is probably gone, and I suspect they add a veteran on the cheap to be the third wideout with Edwards/Cotch, with Kerley/Turner/McKnight getting only limited time unless there are a ton of injuries.
It's one thing to say a FA vet would be better than a 5th round rookie this season. I can understand that. However, to act like it would be difficult for ANYONE to replace 4 catches over the course of an entire season is laughable. Again, that's what we're talking about here. Not the WC, not the return game (although Kerley will make an attempt to take over there), but Smith in the receiving game. For the life of me, I can't understand why you'd rather have Smith as a receiver, in a position he doesn't fit as the #3, than a cheaper, ideal slot receiver.
I don't think Smith is that good, I just think (a) if we can keep him as a RFA he's an acceptable third receiver given his knowledge of the system and past experience at receiver, because you only have a finite amount of money to spend on any one position and (b) I suspect-but obviously don't know-that he'll be better than Kerley in 2011 because rookie receivers, and in particular rookie late round receivers, usually stink. If Kerley ends up being better than Smith or if the Jets are willing to spend the money to get someone better than Smith in addition to keeping Smith, great. EDIT: And it's all probably moot; I assume Smith and Holmes go, Edwards stay, we sign a cheap veteran to be the third wideout, Keller is the real third WR anyway, and the best of Kerley/Turner/McKnight only plays if there are a bunch of injuries.
Someone should probably tell 4th/5th round receivers from the past two seasons that they shouldn't have caught more than 4 balls in their first season. Smith's career high as a receiver is 32 receptions. Aside from that, he's never had more than 12. Some rookie wide receivers from the 4th and 5th rounds in the past 2 years: Mike Thomas, Brian Hartline, Austin Collie, Louis Murphy, Johnnie Knox, Mardy Gilyard, Jacoby Ford, Riley Cooper. Want to guess what they all have in common? They all had more receptions in their rookie seasons than Smith had last year, including Collie's 60 as a slot receiver! There are probably others I missed, too. The ONLY reason to keep Smith is for what he does in the WC and on ST. Your arguments about him automatically being a better receiver in a position HE DOES NOT FIT are just plain ignorant. The coaching staff and FO obviously love Kerley for the slot, and anyone looking at his ST resume can read the writing on the wall that they feel he can fill in for Smith just fine. Will he be as good on ST this season? Doubtful. Will he be a better receiver? Absolutely...and he fits the spot where we may need him.
Other than Knox they were all picked much higher than Kerley? Most of them were fourth round picks and many early fourth round picks; Kerley a late fifth. There's a big difference in the caliber of player that you get at those two spots. Gilyard was the 99th pick, Mike Thomas 107, Hartline 108, Collie 127, Murphy 124, Knox 140, Ford 108, and Cooper 159. Kerley was 153. Look, Kerley might be good. He seems like a fit. We all want him to be good. He could certainly be better than Brad Smith (also, I never said Smith would automatically be better, and Kerley is definitely a more natural fit for the slot receiver position). Lets just hope he actually is good.
They're not close enough to counter the "rookie receivers usually stink" argument that you threw out in support of Smith? Face it, we're not exactly setting high standards here with 7 receptions in 2009 and 4 in 2010, and rookie receivers quite frequently surpass them, ESPECIALLY when thrown into action. However, you'd rather continue to shift your intended argument about aimlessly than admit to being wrong. Poor production, poor fit, poor argument for Smith as a #3 receiver.
Nice report from Manish at Jets West. http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/je...rned-at-jets-west-camp-in-southern-california
