Buzz: Brad Smith Holding on Kicks?
Newspapers reported last week that Brad Smith has been practicing holding on kicks, something which would lead me to think a few things:
- The Jets sound like they are very serious about having a competition for punter, between Jeremy Kapinos and Ben Graham. Graham didn’t come into the league young and his numbers weren’t great last season. The team might be wondering if he’s seen his best days.
- Smith could add an excellent dimension to the FG unit in terms of botched snaps, or designed fakes over Ben Graham. We know Smith isn’t a great passer, but he’s got to be good enough to hit an open Tight End in the End Zone
- With the addition of Dustin Keller, it’s possible Smith might see less time on the field, so the team is trying to find another way for him to get involved.
19 Responses to Buzz: Brad Smith Holding on Kicks?
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Bent says: Brad Smith is becoming our version of Jim Jensen. This is a great idea because it still preserves the roster spot for the backup QB.
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P in CO says:
“We know Smith isn’t a great passer”
Not true… the system doesn’t fit him. He’s not a pure drop back passer. Just ask anyone who seen him play in Big 12 country especially the Colorado Buffs fans.
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Bent says:
I think what Bassett means is that he doesn’t have a very strong or accurate arm by NFL standards, which I agree with, but he played the heck out of the QB position at Missouri, I don’t think anyone can argue with that.
Compared with most NFL holders, he IS a good passer.
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I think you’re dead-on on all three counts. But #2 intrigues me the most. They only have to try a fake once in the pre-season for every opponent to have to game plan against it.
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I’m just thinking that it seems like good idea to have him there just so that fakes always are a possibility. The more the other team has to worry, the better. Not sure if this means much for Ben Graham.
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SackDance99 says:
This comment looks familiar (but I have no pride in authorship):
SackDance99, on May 15th, 2008 at 4:50 pm Said:
One thing that Cimini said and is a pet peeve of mine: Brad Smith was holding on kicks. IMO, a back up QB should always hold on kicks, it gives the defense something to think about and makes fakes easier. You just don’t want the starting QB doing it, which is what got Dallas in trouble with Romo. That’s why Brad Smith would be a great choice, he’ll never be more than an emergency QB and because he’s such a good runner, he allows a run/pass option on fakes. I hope that he ends up as the holder and this just wasn’t a tease. -
Harlan Lachman says:
SD is correct about the need for QBs to hold on FG. OTOH, Brad Smith has been completely misused by this coaching staff. He is not a QB.
So far, his presence in a game detracts from our regular offense and alerts the D that it is trick-play-time. The only ones who get fooled, at least last year, was our team.
Either Brad Smith has the talent to be an every down WR or he doesn’t. If he does, the more time he practices the position without distraction, the more likely he will learn to be a good WR.
Lining up at QB, practicing running plays and throws, punt returning, et. al. have all detracted from his development as a WR. Frankly, based on his performance so far, either because of ability or misuse, I think Wallace, Chansi and Henry all have more potential at WR.
Let the guy fish or cut bait. No one needs a player who does a lot of things almost adequately.
harlan
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I was totally going to suggest this! But, I try not to encourage Bassett’s man crush, so I kept quiet…
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Harvlis says:
Harlan,
You are way off. Brad Smith is a very dangerous player. He is recieving snaps because of his multi-dimensional game. Whereas, many WR’s are used for an end-around, to take advantage of their speed and elusiveness – Brad gives the additional advantage of being able to launch an accurate pass. Mixing things up is what keeps the opposition on their heels. Although, I would like to see him blossom into a starting receiver, as you are requesting — he might serve us best, by being that all-around threat. This being his third year in the league, I think we will see a big year from him.
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Reprocity says:
By drafting a WR and a QB this year it kind of defeated the purpose of having a multi position player like Brad. I think Brad does deserve more credit than he gets because as some one pointed out the defence KNEW it was a trick play and he did pull it off quite a bit. I thought he bas better than Barlow and Blaylock when they lined him up at RB and he was more consistent the McCariens (Dont really care how his name was spelled). He makes plays and has talent where as our other recievers haven’t made plays and might have talent. Not a NFL QB is all.
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Would he be as good as Ray Lucas I wonder out loud?
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ramble914 says:
I agree with Harlan.
The guy is either a WR or not. Every time he came into a game last year I would roll my eyes, and expect another Bull Sh_t play. The gimmick plays with him never work , and we just wind up wasting a down.
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pat d says:
i agree. the gimmick plays worked at first. but if every time Brad Smith comes into a game and its going to be a gimmick play it won’t fool anyone except the jets coaching staff.
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The gimmick plays will only work: (i) if Smith ever passes, and (ii) if he’s in all the time (or lots of the time), so the element of surprise is there. I also don’t mind him in there as a short-yardage QB because both KC and Chad have been injury-prone the last couple of years and Brad’s a good runner. And, he’s also a good special-teamer. But, he has to develop as a WR or he doesn’t belong in the NFL. If Brad becomes as good a special-teamer as Wallace Wright, I’d keep Smith because he has more upside as a dynamic open field runner.
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I think it’s great seeing Brad back there. Honestly the gimmick thing is only 1/2 the battle here. True, he might get a few carries off fakes but it’s the FEAR of the gimmich that will keep the defensive rush off the field goal kicker. Great move Jets …
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Bent says:
Brad just needs to work on getting separation because he is awesome in space, but hasn’t had many chances to show it. The other stuff he does will be so much more valuable if he can become a more consistent threat as a wideout.
Posted this before…
“…it is not out of the question for Smith to put up excellent numbers this year…
Year 1 – 9-61
Year 2 – 32-325-2TD
Year 3 – ???Compare with Cotchery’s numbers:
Year 1 – 6-60
Year 2 – 19-251
Year 3 – 82-961-6TD “ -
For Brad to have the breakout year that Cotch had, Mangini will have to make him a go-to option. If he is used for occasional trick plays – his talent will be wasted. I agree with Bent, if he gets some separation, it is tough to bring him down. I like him alot. I hope he isn’t one of those players that ends up becoming a star on another team because we didn’t recognize his talent.
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JetInPhilly says:
We’re forgetting one MAJOR thing here. Every team knows that when Brad Smith is on the field…look for the gadget play. It’s so obvious, even the announcers call it from the booth. Brad Smith never fit in for the Jets and I would not be upset if he was cut loose.
I seem to remember Brad Smith not being to hit a wide open Chris Baker last year (I believe at the Patriots) on a four yard roll out that would have pronlonged our drive.