NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS. May 10, 2015 Table of Contents

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1 NEW YORK JETS DAILY CLIPS May 10, 2015 Table of Contents ASSOCIATED PRESS... 1 Jets rookie Smith had Beckham-like catch before Beckham (Dennis Waszak)... 1 NEWSDAY... 3 Jets hold Town Hall meeting at Hofstra (Kimberley A. Martin)... 3 Jets receiver Devin Smith believes he can provide deep threat like Giants Odell Beckham (Kimberley A. Martin) 4 THE RECORD... 5 Jets rookie can catch like Odell Beckham Jr. (J.P. Pelzman)... 5 ESPN NEW YORK... 6 Sunday notes: Geno Smith, Brandon Marshall try the buddy system (Rich Cimini)... 6 What we learned on Day 2 of New York Jets rookie camp (Rich Cimini)... 8 Jets rookie Devin Smith recalls his Beckham catch, claims his was better (Rich Cimini)... 9 NEW YORK POST Tremendous, speedy WR fights daunting history of Jets busts (Brian Costello) Jets may have big steal in snubbed LB from Mich. St. (George Willis) NJ.COM Mailbag: What is Muhammad Wilkerson s future with Jets? (Dom Cosentino) Jets receiver Devin Smith insists he is more than just a deep threat: I know how good I am (Darryl Slater) observations from Day 2 of Jets rookie minicamp, featuring Leonard Williams and Bryce Petty (Dom Cosentino) Dante Fowler injury: Jets Leonard Williams reaches out to express his sorrow (Dom Cosentino) Jets Devin Smith thinks his Odell Becham Jr.-style catch is better than Odell Beckham Jr. s (Dom Cosentino) Which undrafted dree agent did Jets target most? (Dom Cosentino) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Bryce Petty a real steal at QB for Jets, say former coaches (Manish Mehta) SATURDAY S SPORTS TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS Jets rookie Smith had Beckham-like catch before Beckham (Dennis Waszak) Associated Press FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) A jaw-dropping, one-handed, leaping touchdown grab that sent Twitter buzzing and instantly became a staple of the highlight reels. 1 P a g e

2 Devin Smith did it long before Odell Beckham Jr. And the New York Jets' rookie wide receiver thinks his catch was even better. He might be a bit biased, of course. But back in 2012, Smith's ridiculous reception for Ohio State was all over the place. He went on a go-route against Miami of Ohio, took off for the end zone and Braxton Miller launched the football. "At first, when the ball was in the air, I was like, 'Oh, man, it's about to go over my head,'" Smith recalled Saturday before rookie minicamp practice. "Once it started getting a little closer, I was thinking that maybe I could go get it. The only thing I could do was throw up that one hand. "And I caught it." He sure did. Smith jumped, put up his right arm and was able to somehow snag the ball, then spun and fell to the turf in the end zone before he popped back up to celebrate the 23-yard TD play. "I hope I make SportsCenter's Top 10," he recalled thinking at the time. Even better, Smith's catch became a YouTube sensation, with tens of thousands clicking on the various versions posted by fans. Two years later, people were checking it out again after Beckham made his acrobatic one-handed TD catch for the Giants during a Sunday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys last November. "I was at a friend's house when I saw that," Smith said. "Everyone started tweeting me, like, 'Oh, Devin did it first.' So it kind of reminded me a little bit of what I did." As a connoisseur of fine catches, what did Smith think? "I thought it was great," he said. "It was nice." But whose grab was better? "Probably mine," a smiling Smith said. The guy certainly doesn't lack confidence, just one of the qualities that made him so appealing to the Jets, who took him with the fifth pick in the second round and 37th overall. "They were both about the same, I guess, depending on who was on what team and who won the game," Jets coach Todd Bowles said of Smith and Beckham. "They were both great one-handed catches, and there will probably be many more." For New York, big plays are exactly what they're hoping for from Smith. Brandon Marshall was added in the offseason to team with Eric Decker and Jeremy Kerley, but New York entered the draft with a need for speed so they pounced on Smith. "Obviously, I can go deep," Smith said of what he brings to the team. "I can stretch the field. My big-play ability, not just on offense but on special teams, too." In four seasons at Ohio State, the 6-foot-1, 199-pound Smith had 121 receptions for 2,503 yards and 30 touchdowns, a mark that stands second in school history only four behind Hall of Famer Cris Carter. As a senior, a whopping 12 of his 33 receptions in 15 games for the national champions went for scores. His mark of 28.2 yards per catch was a school record and led NCAA receivers. Still, there were some critics entering the draft who labeled Smith a "one-trick pony," a fast guy who can outrun defensive backs but might struggle against press coverages in the pros and needs work on route running and playing in the middle of the field. 2 P a g e

3 "I really don't worry about it because I know how good I am," Smith said. "I wouldn't be here, obviously, if I couldn't do anything. I really don't worry about it. I just keep playing my game, doing what I do, keep making plays and just have fun." He insisted he can play underneath in coverage if he needs to, and that he did it "plenty of times" for coach Urban Meyer's Ohio State team. "The offense we were in, though, we wanted to take our shots and go deep," Smith said. "So that's what we did." Ten of Smith's touchdowns last season were for 30 yards or more, and seven of his career scores were of at least 50 yards. He drew comparisons to DeSean Jackson for his playmaking abilities, and that's the kind of vertical threat the Jets haven't had in several years. Smith showed a little of that during his first practice Friday when he caught a deep pass from Jake Heaps, a non-roster tryout from Miami. "He's a tough kid, he's smart," Bowles said of Smith. "He's a hard worker, and that's what I like about him. We'll see going forward what he does." NEWSDAY Jets hold Town Hall meeting at Hofstra (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - The Jets are bringing their third annual town hall meeting to Long Island. The free behind-the-scenes event -- which is open only to season ticket-holders -- will be at Hofstra's John Cranford Adams Playhouse on Wednesday from 6:30-8:15 p.m. "The team has significant roots in Long Island and Queens and it's important for us to try and do things there regularly," Jets president Neil Glat told Newsday. "Obviously, a lot of Long Island fans come out to games and we thought this would be an opportunity to do something where we come out to them." General manager Mike Maccagnan will break down video for fans, coach Todd Bowles will share his thoughts on his new team and radio announcer Bob Wischusen and former Jets defensive lineman Marty Lyons will host a "hot topics" segment. Owner Woody Johnson also will be in attendance. Glat will be on hand to discuss future Jets fan-engagement events, but he stressed the focus will primarily be on football. The Jets hosted their first town hall in 2013 at their New Jersey facility and held the event in Manhattan last offseason. According to Glat, Long Island "was kind of a logical progression" for this year. But he did note that Wednesday's town hall meeting is open to all season ticket-holders, not just residents of Queens and Nassau and Suffolk Counties. "We wanted to do it on Long Island, just with the size of the fan base out there," Glat said, adding that the Jets also expect to have another "Family Fun Day" event at Hofstra sometime in August. 3 P a g e

4 "When we did the first one here, the fans just couldn't believe the access. It's just an opportunity to connect with the fans directly, so it's a great event." Jets receiver Devin Smith believes he can provide deep threat like Giants Odell Beckham (Kimberley A. Martin) Newsday FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Odell Beckham's one-handed catch last season against the Cowboys was something special. But Devin Smith knows of an even better one: his own. "I was at a friend's house when I saw that and everyone started tweeting me like, 'Devin did it first! Devin did it first!' So it kind of reminded me a little bit of what I did," the Jets' rookie wide receiver said Saturday. "I thought it was great. It was nice." Two years before the Giants' Beckham almost broke the Internet with "The Catch," Smith made his own eye-popping end-zone grab in Sept 2012 against Miami (Ohio). The former Ohio State receiver can still visualize it: Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller launching the throw from the 28-yard line; the high trajectory of the ball; and the defensive back tracking it in vain. "It was just a simple go-route," Smith said of his 23-yard touchdown catch, which put Ohio State ahead in the second quarter. "At first, when the ball was in the air, I was like, 'Aw man, this is about to go over my head.' And once it started getting a little closer, I thought maybe I could go get it. And the only thing I could do was just throw up that one hand and I caught it." The speedy Smith made it look easy -- plucking the ball in midair with his right hand before he fell to the ground in the back of the end zone. And when he finally got to his feet, he could think of only one thing: "I hope I make Sportscenter's Top 10," he said with a laugh. So whose one-handed grab was better -- his or Beckham's? "Probably mine," Smith said, smiling. And just like in college, Smith is "absolutely" certain he can be a home run threat for the Jets. "Obviously, I can do deep. I can stretch the field. [I have] big-play ability, not just on offense but on special teams as well," said the second-round pick. "... I felt whatever team picked me I was going to be able to fill that role. So I'm looking forward to it." Some draft experts have likened him to Redskins receiver DeSean Jackson. But others have labeled him a one-trick pony, citing his vertical speed as his only asset. Smith's current jersey choice -- No. 84, which previously was worn by Jets' draft-bust Stephen Hill -- also has conjured up bad memories among Jets fans. But he said he isn't worried about the naysayers or his ability to be a complete receiver in the NFL. "I really don't worry about it cause I know how good I am," said Smith, who signed his rookie contract on Friday. "I wouldn't be here, obviously, if I couldn't do anything... The offense that we ran [at Ohio State], we wanted to take our shots and go deep so that's what we did." Jets coach Todd Bowles said on Friday that Smith "needs some route work," as do most of their young pass-catchers. But it's far too early to assess the rookie's progress. 4 P a g e

5 "It's about understanding the offense right now. And they're not going to get it in two days," Bowles said Saturday, following their second rookie minicamp practice. "But he's a tough kid, he's smart, he's a hardworker, which is what I like about him. And we'll see going forward what he does." Smith isn't yet sure how he'll be used on offense or how much. But he's confident his game will improve after spending time with veteran receivers Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker and Jeremy Kerley. "It makes it a lot easier when you have guys like that," he said. "They can tell you everything that's helped them be successful and how to beat press coverage and how to get open. So I'm looking forward to just learning from those guys." THE RECORD Jets rookie can catch like Odell Beckham Jr. (J.P. Pelzman) The Record May 10, FLORHAM PARK Opposing defensive backs knew, or at least had a very good idea of, what Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith was likely to do when he lined up against them last season. The speedy Smith, who once ran a yard dash in college, was the Buckeyes deep threat. But despite that reputation, he still beat opponents deep for 33 receptions and a 28.2-yard average a school record. How did he do it? It was "really just speed," the Jets second-round draft pick said Saturday before practice on the second day of rookie minicamp. "I [would] threaten them, make them think I was going one way when I was going deep. Most of the time they played off me. I really didn t get much press coverage in college, so it made it kind of easy." Unlike some speed-oriented wideouts, Smith also possesses a good pair of hands. Although it took only one hand to make perhaps the most famous catch of his college career. Smith made what these days would be called an Odell Beckham Jr. catch. However, he did it over two years before Beckham s incredible touchdown catch for the Giants in a loss to Dallas in November. In a game against Miami (Ohio) in September 2012, Smith reached up with his right hand and plucked a Braxton Miller pass out of the air for a 23-yard score that immediately went viral. "At first, when the ball was in the air, I was like, Oh, man, it s about to go over my head, " Smith remembered. "Once it started getting a little closer, I was thinking that maybe I could go get it. The only thing I could do was throw up that one hand. And I caught it." He brought the ball down and secured it against his stomach, still using only the right hand, before falling to the turf. So Beckham s catch certainly brought back memories for Smith. "I was at a friend s house when I saw that," Smith said. "Everyone started tweeting me, like, Oh, Devin did it first. So it kind of reminded me a little bit of what I did. I thought it was great. It was nice." Whose catch was better? "Probably mine," he said with a smile. 5 P a g e

6 Smith later was asked if it bothers him that some see him as only a speed receiver. His ability to run underneath routes has been questioned. "I really don t worry about it, because I know how good I am," he said. "I wouldn t be here, obviously, if I couldn t do anything. I just keep playing my game, keep doing what I do. I make plays and just have fun. "I ve done [shorter routes] in college, plenty of times," he added. "[With] the offense that we were in, we wanted to take our shots and go deep so that s what we did." BRIEFS: First-round pick Leonard Williams expressed his sympathy for fellow Florida native Dante Fowler Jr., whose rookie season with Jacksonville ended before it started when he suffered a torn ACL on Friday. "I felt bad for him," said Williams, a defensive end from USC. "I hit him up and I gave him my sorrows. He s a strong dude, and I know he s going to get better from it. It s unfortunate." Williams signed his rookie contract, a four-year, $18.6 million deal, Friday night. "I wanted to hurry up and get it out of the way," he said, "so it s one less thing to think about or worry about." Former Rutgers C Betim Bujari, a non-roster tryout, said he "did some good things and some not-too-good things" in his first practice Friday. "I m just trying to get better and compete." The three-day minicamp ends today. ESPN NEW YORK Sunday notes: Geno Smith, Brandon Marshall try the buddy system (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York A look at what's happening around the New York Jets, who wrap up their rookie minicamp on Sunday: 1. The new odd couple: Brandon Marshall and Geno Smith started working out together soon after Marshall was traded to the Jets in March, and now they've taken their wide receiver-quarterback relationship to the next level. Marshall is living with Smith near the Jets' facility, giving them a chance to bond over Xs and Os. Marshall plans to stay until late June, when he moves into his own place. "Twenty-four hours a day, we're getting after it," Marshall told ESPN radio in Chicago. "Go home, walk through plays." A couple of thoughts: Marshall, known for being a locker-room diva, seems to making a sincere effort with his new team. It's also ironic because he has a reputation for being hard on quarterbacks. In Chicago, his relationship with Jay Cutler, which alternated between bromance and big chill, generated as much media buzz as the Bruce Jenner divorce. The Marshall-Smith rapport is vital because, let's face it, Marshall is the MIA on offense -- most important addition. For all their offseason activity, the Jets might go into the season with only two new starters on offense -- Marshall and left guard James Carpenter. They need the 2013 version of Marshall and a vastly improved Smith (if he's the starter) to raise the offense from the depths of the NFL. "It's cool because he's a guy, he can make all the throws," Marshall said of Smith. "He's super-duper smart. There are some things he just doesn't know yet." Presumably, he's learning from Marshall. Folks in the Bears organization probably are rolling their eyes. 2. No wrong answer: So, Jets fans, what has been your favorite part of the offseason? 6 P a g e

7 A. Signing one of the top free agents, Darrelle Revis. B. Picking arguably the best player in the draft, Leonard Williams. C. Watching Tom Brady and the New England Patriots squirm in the anticipation of DeflateGate sanctions. Tough call, but I have a feeling your answer might be C. 3. Brandon on Brady: In the same ESPN radio interview, Marshall strongly suggested that Brady deserves to be suspended. "I absolutely love Tom Brady," he said. "Hey, there are a lot of things that go on in sports, a lot of things that go on in life and he got caught. He has to deal with the consequences, and I do think the commissioner has to really look at this and make a tough decision. I don't even think it's a tough decision. But, hey, Brady got caught. He got caught." Marshall said the Patriots received only a "slap on the wrist" for their past transgressions (i.e. SpyGate), so the league "may have to come down a little harder." We should know in a matter of days. 4. Making mo than 'Mo: The NFL and its players have created a system in which highly-drafted, young players will make more money before they step on the field than established veterans. Such is the case with Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson. As part of his four-year, $18.6 million contract, which he signed Friday night, Williams made more money with his signing bonus ($11.8 million) than Wilkerson received in his first four years combined ($7.65 million). That doesn't seem fair, but it's the system that was agreed upon by players and management. Wilkerson will leave Williams in the dust when he signs his next deal, but who knows when that will happen? Probably not anytime soon. Wilkerson has one year left on his deal and he's sitting out voluntary workouts. 5. Three's company, four's a crowd: If Todd Bowles uses more 4-3 looks than usual to accommodate his loaded defensive line, bolstered by the addition of Williams, it would mark a philosophical departure. It's just not his thing. He's a 3-4 coach, and he said after the draft he intends to remain a 3-4 coach. Let's take a look at how he ran the defense last season as the Arizona Cardinals' coordinator. He used a 4-3 front on only 52 plays, a mere 5.1 percent of their total defensive snaps, according to ESPN research -- and many of those came in one game against the Dallas Cowboys. He used his bread and butter -- the on nearly five times as many defensive snaps. A breakdown of Arizona's most popular fronts (note the heavy use of the dime package, employed with the 3-2, 4-1 and 2-3 fronts): 3-2: 337 plays 3-4: 241 plays 4-1: 125 plays 2-3: 105 plays 4-3: 52 plays Get the picture? 6. What a scout says about Simon: Nose tackle Deon Simon hasn't generated much buzz because... well, he's a seventh-round pick, but I talked to an NFC scout who called Simon "a steal" for the Jets. He's a sleeper out of Northwestern State (Louisiana), a 6-foot-4, 332-pound mountain with some athleticism. The knock on Simon is that he's "not a real ferocious kid," according to the scout, but he demonstrates a 7 P a g e

8 willingness to improve as a player. It's always a crapshoot in the late rounds, but you have a chance if the player has some skill and a desire to get better. 7. A pain in the you-know-what: The draft pick with the most boom-or-bust potential is guard Jarvis Harrison, who slipped to the fifth round because of questions about his work ethic and commitment to football. Bob McGinn, the plugged-in NFL writer for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, provided an interesting picture of Harrison in his pre-draft rankings. McGinn wrote: Labeled a "knucklehead" by three scouts. "He played really well in 2013, but this year he just kind of did his own thing and it showed," one scout said. "The trainer will tell the offensive linemen when they come into the locker room to cut the tape off their shoes and put it in a specific pile. Everybody follows that to the letter, but he'll do something completely opposite. Not very highly regarded at the school. He's smart enough to know to stay out of the police blotter type of thing. Just a pain in the [expletive]." Bowles didn't try to sugar-coat the perception of Harrison, admitting it was a "gamble" to pick him. But the Jets felt there was enough upside to justify the risk-reward in the fifth round. 8. If at first you don't succeed...: The Jets have adopted this approach when it comes to picking quarterbacks. They've chosen a quarterback in each of the last three drafts -- Smith (second round), Tajh Boyd (sixth) and Bryce Petty (fourth). The last time they went back-to-back-to-back at quarterback was 1990 to Troy Taylor (fourth), Browning Nagle (second) and Jeff Blake (sixth). Blake was the best of the bunch, lasting 15 years in the league -- but only two with the Jets. 9. Camping with Decker: Eric Decker will hold his second youth football ProCamp camp on June 6 at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. The clinic is open to boys and girls, all skill levels, from grades one to eight. The cost is $99. Decker will be in attendance, along with youth and high school coaches. What we learned on Day 2 of New York Jets rookie camp (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- A few takeaways from Saturday at the New York Jets' rookie camp: 1. The Leonard Show: Leonard Williams, the freshly-minted millionaire, was the best player on the field - - hardly a surprise. He was the sixth pick in the draft and he was facing offensive linemen that may not make it to training camp, let alone the regular season. Also remember: These are padless practices, a disadvantage for offensive linemen because there's nothing to grab. That said, Williams displayed an excellent first step, stuffing a run and recording two quarterback pressures in one series. Clearly, he reported to camp in shape. "Right now, for two-hand touch, he's playing pretty good," said Todd Bowles, keeping it in perspective. Bowles said it's too early to say how he will deploy his three top defensive ends, Williams, Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson. You can bet he's starting to brainstorm ideas. 2. Williams has a heart: The former USC star said he reached out to Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Dante Fowler Jr., who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Friday's drills. Williams said he wanted to express his "sorrow" to Fowler, whom he considers a friend. They're both from Florida, and they became acquainted before college. Williams said Fowler's injury had no impact on his decision to sign his contract Friday night -- a four-year, $18.6 million deal, fully guaranteed. Fowler hasn't signed his contract yet, but he'll receive the full amount because of an injury waiver. 8 P a g e

9 3. Back to reality: After a promising debut Friday, quarterback Bryce Petty struggled a bit, throwing one interception and a couple of near-picks. He wasn't alone. The entire practice was sloppy, as Bowles noted afterward. This was typical of a rookie camp. Here's what usually happens: On Day 1, the coaches give the players the most basic stuff to run and the result is a crisp practice. On Day 2, they hit them with a lot of new material, and things go sideways. There were "a lot of mental errors," Bowles said. The trick is maintaining a proper balance. You don't want to slow down the players to the point where they're thinking too much and not playing fast. That prevents a true evaluation of their skills. 3. Day 2 standouts: It wasn't all bad. A few players jumped out, including a couple of undrafted free agents -- linebacker Deion Barnes (Penn State) and cornerback Greg Henderson (Colorado). Barnes recorded a "sack" and Henderson made an interception on a long pass by Petty. It wasn't a great day for the receivers, but a familiar name made a few plays -- Quincy Enunwa. He was a sixth-round pick last year (a member of the Idzik 12) and spent 15 games on the practice squad. With the additions at receiver, Enunwa faces an uphill battle to make the team. He'll need many more good days to climb the depth chart. 4. An eye on the O: It's unusual to see a Jets head coach on the offensive side of the practice field, but Bowles spent a lot of time there. He's a defensive-minded coach, but he feels an obligation to know what's happening on both sides of the ball. As Bowles said, he's "looking, learning, watching and correcting when need be." Bowles said he can teach the defense "with my eyes closed," so he's using this time to familiarize himself with Chan Gailey's system and the offensive personnel. This, of course, is a departure from the Rex Ryan way. Ryan was all about the defense, leaving the offense to his assistants. It'll be interesting to see if Bowles sticks with his hands-off philosophy in training camp and during the season. 5. Clues about the offense: Bowles hasn't provided too many details about Gailey's scheme, but one theme has emerged in his comments: Balance. Bowles used the word several times while discussing the reasons why he hired Gailey as his coordinator. He said he was attracted to Gailey because of the effectiveness of the Pittsburgh Steelers' running game during his tenure as the coordinator. That was , practically ancient history in NFL terms. 6. Mr. Coffee: General manager Mike Maccagnan always seems to be holding a cup of coffee, even when he's standing on the sideline at practice. He needs to work on finding an endorsement deal. Jets rookie Devin Smith recalls his Beckham catch, claims his was better (Rich Cimini) ESPN New York FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Devin Smith pulled a Beckham before Beckham. He's biased, of course, but Smith thinks his catch was better. The New York Jets' rookie was watching on TV at a friend's house last Nov. 23 when Odell Beckham Jr. made his legendary catch against the Dallas Cowboys. Two years earlier, Smith made a similar catch for Ohio State, a leaping, one-handed grab in the back of the end zone against Miami of Ohio. It was a 23- yard scoring pass from Braxton Miller, making Smith an instant YouTube sensation. "I hope I make SportsCenter's Top 10," Smith said Saturday at the Jets' rookie camp, recalling his first thoughts after the sensational catch. When Beckham made his remarkable play, it sparked a social-media response from people (no doubt, Ohio State fans) who recalled Smith's catch. 9 P a g e

10 "Everybody started tweeting, 'Devin did it first, Devin did it first,'" the Jets' second-round pick said. "That kind of reminded me a little bit of what I did." Smith said Beckham's catch was "great," but when asked whose was better, he replied, "Probably mine." Smith made a lot of big plays for the Buckeyes, including 10 touchdowns of 20-plus yards last season. The Jets love that about him, but they also want him to become an all-around receiver. He has to refine his route-running, especially on short and intermediate routes. He also has to learn how to beat press coverage. He acknowledged he didn't see too much press coverage in college, allowing him free releases. The perception of Smith is that he's a one-trick pony. "I don't worry about it because I know how good I am," he said. "I wouldn't be here, obviously, if I couldn't do anything.... I just keep doing what I do. I make plays." Smith demonstrated his ability to stretch the field on Friday, hauling in a deep ball from non-roster quarterback Jake Heaps. It was a pretty, over-the-shoulder grab, something the Jets' receivers haven't done too often in recent years. That's one of the reasons why they chose him with the 37th overall pick; they wanted a vertical threat to complement Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. So far, so good, but he still hasn't faced Darrelle Revis or Antonio Cromartie on the practice field. If he can make highlight-film plays against them, it will be worth tweeting about. NEW YORK POST Tremendous, speedy WR fights daunting history of Jets busts (Brian Costello) New York Post Devin Smith has heard the criticism. The wide receiver the Jets selected in the second round of the NFL draft is a one-trick pony, the critics say. Smith has blazing speed and can be a deep threat, but that s it. I really don t worry about it, Smith said Saturday on the Jets second day of rookie minicamp. I know how good I am. I wouldn t be here if I couldn t do anything. I really don t worry about it and just keep playing my game. Keep doing what I do and make plays and have fun. The Jets hope he keeps making plays like he did at Ohio State. He averaged 28.2 yards per catch last year, the most in the country. He scored 12 touchdowns on 33 receptions and showed an uncanny knack for tracking the football. If Smith pans out, he could give the Jets a big-play dimension they have lacked for years at wide receiver. He s a tremendous player, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said on Friday at Yankee Stadium, the best deep-ball player I ve ever had, and we ve had some great ones. He adjusts to it well, dynamic speed, a very good kid and he s a difference maker. Smith is the latest wide receiver the Jets have taken in the second round of the draft. It s a list of forgettable names that does not bode well for Smith including Stephen Hill (2012), Alex Van Dyke (1996), Ryan Yarborough (1994) and Reggie Rembert (1990). The last time a second-round receiver worked out for the Jets was Wesley Walker, taken in P a g e

11 Smith will draw some comparisons to Hill, who was released by the Jets last year and spent last season on the Panthers practice squad. Smith is wearing Hill s old jersey number, 84, this weekend. Smith was asked about the comparison Saturday, but said the only parallel he has heard is much more favorable DeSean Jackson of the Redskins. Though Hill and Smith are similar in that their best quality is their speed, Smith had a much better college career than Hill and comes from an offense that actually threw the ball. Hill was much more raw. For Smith, the biggest challenge will be getting used to running a full array of routes well. During the rookie minicamp, Smith showed his deep-ball ability on a long pass down the sideline from non-roster quarterback Jake Heaps on Friday. I think he s an all-around receiver going in, and I think he needs some route work, obviously, as do all of our guys, Jets coach Todd Bowles said. We ll get him some route work. He s got to learn some new defenses to read, and he s got to learn some new offensive routes so that will take a little time for him, but he s a determined guy, I m sure he ll get it. Smith already can be compared with Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in one regard. He made a one-handed, acrobatic touchdown catch in 2012 against Miami of Ohio that made him a YouTube star. When Beckham made his famous catch against the Cowboys last year, Smith said he heard from a lot of people who told him he did it first. When he was asked whose catch was better, the confident Smith said, Probably mine. Jets may have big steal in snubbed LB from Mich. St. (George Willis) New York Post Taiwan Jones was at his home in New Baltimore, Mich., last weekend surrounded by family and friends expecting to be selected in the fourth or fifth round of the NFL draft. That s where the Michigan State linebacker was projected to be taken after playing in every game of his four-year career with the Spartans and having by all accounts a good showing at the East-West Shrine Game. Card-carrying tough guy with take-on traits, is how NFL.com described the prospect. But the fourth round came and went without his name being called, as did the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds. It was a devastating experience, Jones told The Post on Saturday at the Jets practice facility in Florham Park, N.J. But at the same time, I knew what I had to do. I wasn t going to get down about it. I just have to go out there and prove myself the same way I would have had to prove myself if I had been drafted in the fourth round. Jones signed a free-agent deal with the Jets and is getting his first chance to prove himself during this weekend s minicamp for drafted rookies, free agents and tryouts. If there s someone in this bunch of long shots who can make the team, Jones might be it. He already has been singled out by new head coach Todd Bowles, who was among those surprised Jones wasn t drafted. He s a thumper, Bowles said. I was happy to have him when I saw him just because I thought he was getting drafted. No knock against the rest of them, but that s what I saw. He s one of the guys I looked at. 11 P a g e

12 Jones has no idea why he wasn t drafted. He declined an invite to the Senior Bowl after the 6-foot-3, 252- pound run-stopper gave his all, physically and mentally, during the practices sessions leading up to the East-West game. I think I had a pretty good showing, he said. I showed some good things and did well on one-on-ones as well. After that long week of padded practices at the East-West Game and going into another game [Senior Bowl] where those guys would be fresh and I m not, I decided to try to protect my body and protect myself from injury as well. There was also a disappointing 4.95 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, which improved to 4.82 during his pro day. It s nerves, Jones said. All the scouts are watching you. You re basically running track, which I don t do. At the end of the day, it s all about football. I m fast at football. That s why I m glad I m here to prove I can play football. The chip on his shoulder is massive. Three inside linebackers in the East-West Game were drafted: Ben Heeney from Kansas was taken in the fifth round by the Raiders; Bryce Hager from Baylor was grabbed in the seventh round by the Rams, and Amarlo Herrera from Georgia was selected by the Colts in the sixth round. It gives me added motivation, Jones said. It makes me walk around with a huge chip on my shoulder knowing that I need to prove myself, knowing I can play at this level and knowing I can play a long time at this level. I have the confidence to compete each day. Pre-draft scouting reports suggest Jones might be a liability in pass coverage and could have trouble shedding offensive linemen, though there was no hint of that during Saturday s practice session. There also is a notation that he lacks instincts. Jones begs to differ. I m a hard hitter, tough, smart and I go out there and lead, he said. I have good pursuit to the football and good instincts. I m a smart football player. He also is a winner, having been central to the resurgence of the Michigan State football program. I just know I m ready to prove myself and give my all to this team, he said. He already has gotten Bowles attention. NJ.COM Mailbag: What is Muhammad Wilkerson s future with Jets? (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media May 10, Jets mailbag, everyone. You ask the questions, I do my best to try to answer 'em. Shall we? The obvious hang-up is that the Jets likely won't be able to keep Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, and Leonard Williams long-term; that would be a lot of money to tie up in their defensive ends. But they've got some time to work with here: Yes, Wilkerson's in a contract year, but they can franchise him in Richardson still has three more years of team control, plus a fourth if you count a possible franchise season after that. And Williams now has four to five seasons on a rookie contract. So they could work out an extension with Wilkerson while front-loading a lot of his guaranteed money, especially since the Jets likely 12 P a g e

13 won't have a franchise quarterback commanding a contract in the years ahead, either. Trading Wilkerson, even if it's sometime after the Jets franchise him next season, would allow the Jets to get something in return for letting him get his big payday elsewhere. I'll be looking to see if a Wilkerson deal gets done before the start of this season. If it does, you have your answer. If it doesn't, how things play out this season with Williams in the mix may well determine Wilkerson's fate. First-round pick Leonard Williams, and I'm not sure there was even a close second. Williams was matched up against players inferior to what he'll play against when things get real, but his hand speed and quick burst off the ball was obvious to see. The Jets' D-line is going to be something to see this season. It's unlikely, mostly because there aren't really any great options available at this point. Joe Barksdale, to name one right tackle who's still a free agent, wouldn't be much of an upgrade over Breno Giacomini. Even before Hilliard's retirement, the plan had been for Giacomini to be the starter this season. Tom Brady hasn't yet been suspended, let alone for Week 2, when the Pats play the Bills. But I'm not sure I'd put that game into the win column for the Bills if Brady were out. Remember: When Brady missed the duration of the 2008 season after tearing his ACL in Week 1, the Pats still finished And that was with Matt Cassel at quarterback. The same Matt Cassel who will soon be throwing interceptions for the Bills. Tough to say, since linemen can't really be evaluated until contact is permitted, which won't happen until training camp. But it's mainly the same unit as last year, which often struggled. James Carpenter, their big free agent acquisition on the O-line, was something of a disappointment with the Seahawks. And Jarvis Harrison, their fifth-round pick, has some talent, but just doesn't always play hard. On paper, this figures to be a very shaky group. But one advantage the line has over last season is that it's deeper. Doubt it. Wilkerson is under contract for this year, and the league's collective bargaining agreement mandates that he be fined $30,000 per day if he were to hold out in training camp, plus one week's regular-season pay for any preseason games missed. And the Jets can begin fining him if he were to miss any part of next month's mandatory minicamp. It's one thing for Wilkerson to skip the voluntary stuff, as he's done. But he has much more to lose (and almost nothing to gain) by staying away from training camp. Via , Ira from Staten Island: "Even though Bowles has said he will stick to a base 3-4, how do you see him getting Leonard Williams on the field along with Richardson, Wilkerson, and Damon Harrison?" Bowles was asked about this Saturday, and he said it's too soon to tell how he might do it. He did say it would depend on the opponent, or even on the situation against a particular opponent. But Williams has experience playing inside, so it wouldn't surprise me to sometimes see him on the field along with Wilkerson and Richardson on passing downs. Via , Adam Cohen: "Curious if you think Bowles will dial-down his propensity for blitzing, given the strength of the D-line. Common sense would suggest that if you can trot out the four 1st rounders (and/or Babin) in passing situations, it doesn't seem necessary to send help (as much as he's known to). Can we get a breakdown of how he blitzed last year and a prediction for this year?" Pro Football Focus had the Cardinals, whose defense Bowles coordinated the last two years, leading the league in blitzes in 2013, and ranked second last year. But the Cardinals also had to deal with several injuries on defense. Assuming the Jets are at full-strength, I'm not sure Bowles will blitz as much, especially with a secondary that now figures to help generate more coverage sacs. But, if I may punt just a bit on the question, I'd still like to see what Quinton Coples can bring now that he sounds like he'll be rushing the passer more. 13 P a g e

14 Jets receiver Devin Smith insists he is more than just a deep threat: I know how good I am (Darryl Slater) NJ Advance Media May 10, FLORHAM PARK Wide receiver Devin Smith, the Jets' second-round draft pick, developed a reputation at Ohio State for being a dangerous depth threat. But can he be more than that in the NFL? Smith, of course, thinks so. He rejects the notion that he is a one-dimensional player who can only run deep routes. "I really don't worry about it, because I know how good I am," Smith said of doubts that he can be more than a deep-ball guy. "I wouldn't be here, obviously, if I couldn't do anything." The Jets already have three veteran receivers Eric Decker, Brandon Marshall and Jeremy Kerley. What they needed was a deep threat to stretch the field and make defenses play more honest coverages against that trio. Smith could give the Jets that threat. So even if he's just a deep-route guy in Year 1, that isn't such a bad thing. Smith said he "absolutely" believes he will be able to fill a deep-threat role for the Jets. "I felt whatever team picked me up, I was going to be able to fill that role," he said. "So I'm looking forward to it." There have been a lot of (extremely premature) comparisons between Smith and former Jets receiver Stephen Hill. Smith is actually wearing Hill's old jersey number, 84, during this weekend's rookie minicamp. Hill, of course, was a massive disappointment for the Jets a great athlete who could run deep, but couldn't do much else, including catch the ball. The Jets picked Hill in the second round in 2012, and then cut him before last season began. But here's the thing: Smith's rookie situation is entirely different than Hill's was. With the presence of Decker, Marshall and Kerley presuming they all stay healthy the Jets don't need Smith to be a primary target. He can be a situational deep-threat receiver. In 2012, the Jets' receiver position was much more unstable. Kerley was the Jets' leading receiver, as a declining Santonio Holmes played in just four games because of a foot fracture. Hill in 2012 was forced into taking on a bigger role than he was ready for, especially considering he was so minimally involved in actual receiving duties during his college days at Georgia Tech, which used a run-focused option offense. Despite Smith being under less pressure to perform immediately, and Smith's own confidence that he can be a complete NFL receiver, there are clearly things he needs to work on. Jets coach Todd Bowles mentioned route running as one of those areas. Bowles also said Saturday, the second day of the Jets' three-day rookie minicamp, that it was far too early for him to make any major conclusions about Smith as a player. "It's two days, man," Bowles said with a smile. "He's fast, all the things that we've seen on film in college. It's about understanding the offense right now. They're not going to get it in two days. But he's a tough kid. He's smart. He's a hard worker, is what I like about him. We'll see going forward what he does." For his part, Smith acknowledged that he needs to continue honing his route-running technique, but believes he has a good base in this area from his Ohio State experience. 14 P a g e

15 "My college coach was Urban Meyer and he's pretty good at knowing what a receiver does, so he taught me a lot," Smith said. "Coming in here, everything is kind of the same, and some of the terminology that [receivers coach Karl Dorrell] uses is kind of the same, so it's not really anything new to me, besides the plays." One big difference for Smith in the NFL: He will see a lot more press coverage than he did at Ohio State. The cornerbacks Smith played in college often played off coverage, because they didn't want to challenge his speed. Smith expects to face more press coverage now. But he's not stressing about it. "I think I'll be fine," he said. "I think as long as I just learn it and know what the corner does, his tendencies, once I figure that out, I think I'll be fine." 6 observations from Day 2 of Jets rookie minicamp, featuring Leonard Williams and Bryce Petty (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media l FLORHAM PARK Saturday was the second day of the Jets' three-day rookie minicamp, and the last of the three days that was open to the media. Here, once more, is a list identifying the 47 players who took part. Hang onto it. Most of those players won't be here when the Jets are back here for organized team activities on May 19. There was a light rain, so conditions weren't ideal. Some things we saw: 1. Leonard Williams dominated again. Granted, it's May. Granted, it wasn't like Jason Peters was matched up against him on the other side. And granted, there's no contact, so the offensive linemen are getting too physical with him. But Williams, the defensive end the Jets took with the No. 6 overall pick in last week's draft, has owned the competition these last two days. His quickness, both with his hands and his feet, has been readily apparent. "Right now," head coach Todd Bowles said, "for two-hand touch, he's playing pretty well." 2. Back to earth for Bryce Petty. Yeah, so, about those plans for Petty to take over for Geno Smith, win six Super Bowls, and be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. After looking sharp on Friday, Petty wasn't quite as crisp on Saturday, missing some throws, and badly underthrowing a deep ball that was picked off by undrafted free agent Greg Henderson. All of which is fine. Petty is a project. He's got a lot to learn. And there's no rush. Nor is there any reason to freak out. 3. Any tryout guys stand out? Bowles couldn't (or maybe wouldn't) identify any tryout players who caught his attention. He added that he'd have to look at the film to make sure there was nothing he might have overlooked, but he also said "it's very possible" none of the 24 tryout guys would get to stay on after the rookie minicamp concludes on Sunday. All told, Bowles said things were a "little slower" than they were on Friday, and that there were more "mental errors" on Saturday. 4. Quincy Enunwa doing OK. Enunwa, a wide receiver taken last year in the sixth round who spent all of 2014 on the practice squad, caught pretty much everything thrown his way. It'll be a crowded group of receivers this summer, but Enunwa doesn't figure to go quietly. 5. Bowles is not Rex Ryan. His background is on the defensive side of the ball, but Bowles doesn't want to be completely hands-off with the offense, as Ryan, his predecessor, was. As he did at last weekend's 15 P a g e

16 voluntary veteran minicamp, Bowles spent a good portion of practice watching the offense while standing next to coordinator Chan Gailey. "I know what the defense is doing," Bowles said. 6. How to organize a rookie minicamp. Here's Bowles, on the balance between giving a group of untested players enough of the playbook to get a proper evaluation: "It's a fine line. You want them to play fast. The first thing I told the coaches was that I want them to play fast. We want to see who can play and who can't, but at the same time, you have to put a little bit in - enough to make them think to see if they can develop, but not too much where they can't learn it. It's a fine line. For some it's easy, for some it's hard. We have to see in between the lines what's what." Dante Fowler injury: Jets Leonard Williams reaches out to express his sorrow (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advanced Media FLORHAM PARK Defensive ends Leonard Williams of the Jets and Dante Fowler Jr. of the Jaguars were both taken in the top 10 of this year's draft, but they have far more tying them together than just that. "Me and him are actually boys for a while because we both are from Florida, so we've been to a lot of camps [together]," Williams said Saturday. "We're both with the same agency." When Williams, the No. 6 overall draft pick, heard Fowler, taken at No. 3, had torn his ACL on Friday, in the first few minutes of his first on-field workout at the Jaguars' rookie minicamp, he made a point of reaching out to him. Fowler is out for the 2015 season. "I felt bad for him," said Williams. "I hit him up and I gave him my sorrows. He's a strong dude, and I know he's going to get better from it. It's unfortunate." Williams, like Fowler, hadn't yet signed his rookie contract when he took the field for the first of the Jets' three-day rookie minicamp. According to the Florida Times-Union and ESPN, Fowler had signed an injury waiver that binds the Jaguars to the terms of his rookie deal, since the figures and slotted and couldn't be negotiated anyway. Williams wound up putting pen to paper later Friday night; he and second-round pick Devin Smith were the last of the Jets' six draft picks to sign. But Williams said Fowler's injury did nothing to prompt his agreement. "No, him getting injured really didn't have anything to do with me or what I was thinking about, or anything like that," Williams said. "The only reason why I wanted to hurry up and get it out of the way was so it's one less thing to think about or worry about. I just wanted to keep thinking about my install and getting better on the field." Jets Devin Smith thinks his Odell Beckham Jr.-style catch is better than Odell Beckham Jr. s (Dom Cosentino) NJ Advance Media 16 P a g e