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Jets Work Out Hayden Smith

WATFORD ENGLAND - JANUARY 21:  Hayden Smith of Saracens is tackled by Vincent Debaty (L) and Lionel Faure (R) of ASM Clermont Auvergne during the Heineken Cup sixth round match between Saracens and ASM Clermont Auvergne at Vicarage Road on January 21 2011 in Watford England.  (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

There are reports from Jake Steinberg that the Jets have worked out Hayden Smith, a rugby player, as a tight end. Smith is 6'7", 240 pounds, which would make him the second tallest player on the team after 6'8" Ropati Pitoitua. Smith was first noticed, before rugby, as a basketball player.

There isn't a lot of information on Smith or this workout, but I do like the concept. People have been clamoring for a physical, size mismatching player ala Rob Gronkowski. Smith's an athlete and a physical freak at that. It also raises an important question on what the Jets are planning on doing with Dustin Keller. They already have two pass-catching, blocking-deficient TEs. The problems with Matt Mulligan are well documented. It seems unlikely they would keep looking at these pass-catching TEs (like they were at the Senior Bowl) unless they were planning to dump one of the main two. Then again, they may just be doing their due diligence and have no intention of dumping Keller.

In any case, let us know what you think in the comments below.

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I think Rex is a little jealous of New England's 2 TE sets

I don’t blame him. I am too. Who said Sanchez was the only person on this team that needed to be pushed? Keller needs that competition also.

Get busy winning or get busy losing.

by GangGreenMag on Feb 1, 2012 10:49 AM EST reply actions  

i like it

But I can already imagine he’s probably slow.

by itsjat on Feb 1, 2012 10:52 AM EST reply actions  

I think this is Sparano getting his TE group

IMO is looking for physical TE’s for his offense. This may be a further indicator that Keller is on the block. Would recommend that we all reread CervezaVerde’s outstanding post" The Inbred World of NFL Coaches and Our New Old Offense" demonstrates the need for physical TE’s. Keller IMO will wind up with Schotty in St. Louis, to assist in installing his offense, the Jets receiving St. Louis’s 4th round pick and a conditional 6th in 2013

by JetOrange on Feb 1, 2012 11:13 AM EST reply actions  

If that’s all we get for Keller, I’d be pissed.

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by bobdolethesnapplelady on Feb 1, 2012 11:19 AM EST up reply actions  

That’s probably market value, which is why I think we should keep him.

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by John B on Feb 1, 2012 11:34 AM EST up reply actions  

Just seems low to me. He had what, 65 catches? with a terrible quarterback this year and an even worse offense. He’d be a beast in a system that actually works to his advantages. Feels like he is worth more than that.

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by bobdolethesnapplelady on Feb 1, 2012 11:42 AM EST up reply actions  

Nobody except the Raiders gives up first rounders. Second rounders tend to go to top flight talent, which Keller isn’t. Maybe a late or conditional third if we’re lucky (?). IDK…you just seldom get equal value in trades in the NFL.

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by John B on Feb 1, 2012 11:54 AM EST up reply actions  

With that said...

I’d find it an incredible value if we traded Eric Smith for pack of Juicy Fruit and a Pepsi.

by Re1gn on Feb 1, 2012 12:02 PM EST up reply actions  

you wouldn't get a bottle of piss and chewing gum stuck to someone's shoe for smith

follow me on TWITTER @tinley24
i want jeffery in green at pick 16

Notre Dame vs. Navy: The Emerald Isle Classic
Date:Sept. 1, 2012
Location:Dublin, Ireland

by tinley24 on Feb 1, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions  

I really hope Sparano doesn't have a set system.

A set system won’t work out because he needs to see what he can do with the players already on the roster. If he has his mind set on a TE that will be a physical blocker, he may end up under-utilizing DK, our leading receiver this year (who can have 1,000 yard seasons in the future IMO). I think it would be best to get a dual threat TE, hopefully in the form of Jeff Cumberland, instead of getting rid of DK. It will both strengthen the running game and give us two match-up problems for defenses, a la Gronk and Hernandez.

by MassiveSmith on Feb 1, 2012 11:39 AM EST reply actions  

i watch a lot of rugby so i know this guy well

the guy was also a basketball player before he took up rugby . i have watched him live numerous times and is a standout player on the U.S national team . not many guys move from the U.S to play abroad so his talent is there ,certainly on the rugby field .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0iHjKGYyI0

follow me on TWITTER @tinley24
i want jeffery in green at pick 16

Notre Dame vs. Navy: The Emerald Isle Classic
Date:Sept. 1, 2012
Location:Dublin, Ireland

by tinley24 on Feb 1, 2012 11:58 AM EST reply actions  

Catch, yes.

Block, maybe not. There’s no blocking in rugby. He plays lock, though, which should mean he should be able to keep his feet when he goes to drive someone.

by psuwxman on Feb 1, 2012 2:03 PM EST up reply actions  

them rugby guys are fairly tough

he can certainly catch as that is the main thing he is used for in rugby . he is mainly used as a lineout jumper but would also have to be very strong for set formations like rucks, mauls and scrums .
he will just need work on fooball technique is he is to be successful as i think he has all the physical attributes to be a very good player

follow me on TWITTER @tinley24
i want jeffery in green at pick 16

Notre Dame vs. Navy: The Emerald Isle Classic
Date:Sept. 1, 2012
Location:Dublin, Ireland

by tinley24 on Feb 2, 2012 9:10 AM EST up reply actions  

And the obsession with Gronk begins...

Rob’s frame and body type are not easy to come by in the college football ranks when your looking for TE’s.
A lot of pro Rugby guys are blessed with unnatural height, muscle mass and great ball skills.
This should be interesting.
It does seem like this kid is an all natural talent. He’s only been playing Rugby for a few years and that was only after the basketball team he was going to play for folded. He picked up rugby as little more than a hobby and grew to be great at it.
It looks like he chose to play for the American rugby teams over his native Aussie team.
Maybe he has a little infatuation with american sports and all the attention that come along with them.
Who is to say he can’t be great at american football as well?

by Can'tWait on Feb 1, 2012 12:01 PM EST reply actions  

And the obsession with Gronk begins…

Brings me back to the years after Antonio Gates broke out when every team started signing college basketball players to try out at tight end.

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by John B on Feb 1, 2012 12:05 PM EST up reply actions  

You are soo right.

The league is soo fickle. One player can change teams obsessions in the blink of an eye.

The reality of the situation is probably that offensive trends are really only dictated by the great QB’s in this league. Gronk wouldn’t be half of what he is with another QB let alone one like Mark Sanchez. But that doesn’t stop the rest of the league from watching one of the greats do his thing and then trying to fit their average QB’s with the same kinds of talent that guys like Brady excel with.

by Can'tWait on Feb 1, 2012 12:12 PM EST up reply actions  

Please...

…get off your knees and stop blowing Brady. He gets that enough from…well, EVERYWHERE!

And if you think Gronk wouldn’t be good elsewhere you’re utterly insane. A guy who is 6’7", weighs 270, can run, block, and has great hands is a stud anywhere. And I can’t stand the guy!

by struckanerve9 on Feb 1, 2012 1:17 PM EST up reply actions  

your name is fitting...

GANG GREEN ALL DAY!
"We’re on a 10-0 run! This other team is panicking, the crowd is roaring… oh yeah… time for a heat check… make that 3 heat checks in a row." -StarksMiddleFinger on Knicks Basketball.

by King A! on Feb 1, 2012 2:38 PM EST up reply actions  

Eat shit asshole.

I said good QB’s set trends for the league and make good players better.
Your the one who actually sucking somebody off by saying Gronk would be a “stud” on any team.

by Can'tWait on Feb 1, 2012 4:21 PM EST up reply actions  

Both of you, calm down. There’s no need to make this a personal thing.

Staff Writer
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by bobdolethesnapplelady on Feb 1, 2012 5:09 PM EST up reply actions  

with this guy...

I can see alot of penaltys already, hes a Rugby player and thier rules are alot different than ours, just imagine this big doof is one on one with a Safety and here comes the ball…he looks at the Safety and then forearms him under the chin and turns around to make the catch and runs in for a TD only to have it brought back because of Illegal Hands to the face :(

"The message to the rest of the league is, hey, the Jets are coming, and we're going to give you everything we got. And I think that's going to be more than you can handle"

by AFCxxBEAST on Feb 1, 2012 12:08 PM EST reply actions  

There's more rules regarding contact that you might think in rugby.

And it’s a pretty heady game. I’m sure he can handle it. You’re only allowed to stiff arm with an open hand in rugby and without pushing off (i.e., keeping a literal stiff arm).

by psuwxman on Feb 1, 2012 2:06 PM EST up reply actions  

kinda like Danny Zuko in the movie Grease when he tried out for Basketball

"The message to the rest of the league is, hey, the Jets are coming, and we're going to give you everything we got. And I think that's going to be more than you can handle"

by AFCxxBEAST on Feb 1, 2012 12:10 PM EST reply actions  

LOL

when he punches the guy in the stomach. i see what you mean but i think with the rules protecting offensive players more he would be fine. maybe his size would cause DB to grab him before he gets a chance for the ball? you never know until he tries.

by np3 on Feb 1, 2012 1:15 PM EST up reply actions  

Interesting

Maybe the team is thinking outside the box. I’m interested on seeing where this goes. Still i don’t want the team to trade away DK.

bleed green and white

by greenandwhite4ever on Feb 1, 2012 12:26 PM EST reply actions  

So Brandon Jacobs said Plexico won't be back

He wanted to sign with the giants before the season

"We're not there yet, but we're going somewhere," Johnson said. "And we're going to Brooklyn. We're not going to contract. We're going to Brooklyn."

by Atronic on Feb 1, 2012 12:36 PM EST via Android app reply actions  

Really...

then why didn’t he?

Frankly, I don’t care what Plax does. He was a one-trick pony for us all year. He was so easy to cover between the 20s that I doubt the CBs on him ever broke a sweat!

by struckanerve9 on Feb 1, 2012 1:18 PM EST up reply actions  

agreed

personally i hate plax and wish the Jets never signed him, i find it funny that Brandon Jacobs says that Plax doesnt want any part of whats going on with the Jets, I think Plax might have been a big part of the problem

"The message to the rest of the league is, hey, the Jets are coming, and we're going to give you everything we got. And I think that's going to be more than you can handle"

by AFCxxBEAST on Feb 1, 2012 1:20 PM EST up reply actions  

Jeez... the dude never even played football?

Why waste ur time on the guy? Not only will he have to learn to play the sport, he’ll have to learn to play it at a world class level.

Can’t we just stick to chasing actual football players? Can’t we focus on finding the next “Gronkowski” at OLB?

by Crackback on Feb 1, 2012 1:40 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

You never know where you will find a gem

It’s not like we can sign free agents, or draft prospects right now anyway, so what’s the harm?

Get busy winning or get busy losing.

by GangGreenMag on Feb 1, 2012 2:28 PM EST up reply actions  

If that’s the case, its probably not a good idea to be shopping ur already pretty decent TE. If the guy can’t play OLB or safety, then what purpose does he serve really?

by Crackback on Feb 1, 2012 3:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

Hey Graham

neither did Graham on NO till the last minute and look at him

by sledor on Feb 1, 2012 9:46 PM EST up reply actions  

He played in his early years, then moved to a HS that didn’t offer it. It wasn’t completely foreign to him.

Plus he played Madden. ;)

by Crackback on Feb 1, 2012 9:59 PM EST up reply actions  

If Keller could play Hernandez to this guy's Gronkowski we might have something.

Unfortunately I’m not as sold on Keller as a lot of you seem to be. He drops too many balls, and for a speed tight end he has a tough time getting separation from LB’s, let alone safeties. If we could trade him for a 3rd or some other combination of picks I would do it in a moment. He is not the TE you want for a ground and pound offense, and if you use him only in passing downs you might as well just get a megaphone and announce the play in advance. We need an all-around TE, and that is not Keller, since he couldn’t block himself in a mirror.

by Traveling Man on Feb 1, 2012 1:41 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

I'm with you on this traveling man

It’s funny, he led the team in receptions, but really what’s the point of a tight end who can’t block? He’s just a slow wideout.

by Clarke W. Griswald on Feb 1, 2012 5:03 PM EST up reply actions  

I agree too

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by Judgegavel on Feb 1, 2012 7:28 PM EST up reply actions  

Face hits

He got hit in the face at least twice without looking at the ball no excuse for that

by sledor on Feb 1, 2012 9:47 PM EST up reply actions  

could become a decent movie.

Something like, invincible or even air bud. Disney is already salivating.

by nyj-nyy-nyk on Feb 1, 2012 2:13 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

Interesting move

I dunno if this is actually gonna go anywhere, but it’s nice to see that the FO is trying to do something regarding the roster. I’m still not sure if i want Keller gone though.

by darshv3 on Feb 1, 2012 6:15 PM EST reply actions  

Just the kind of crazy BS the Jets would do.

Examine a potential developmental player?

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by John B on Feb 1, 2012 7:55 PM EST up reply actions  

So we got

Usain Bolt at one wide out, Hayden Smith at one TE and maybe we could get some MMA guys for OLBs and Unger “The blood of the guards is gonna flow like the rivers of ancient Babylon!” from the original Longest Yard movie as the guy that breaks anybody’s freakin’ nose that tries to sack Mark Sanchez—what am i missing?

by knucklehead62 on Feb 1, 2012 10:32 PM EST reply actions  

Y not

Hey no harm in working him out, hey u never know. I need a TE who is physical and can take hits.

by overloadblitz on Feb 2, 2012 12:26 AM EST reply actions  

More importantly, it’d be fun to see this guy DELIVER a hit.

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by bobdolethesnapplelady on Feb 2, 2012 10:11 AM EST up reply actions  

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