Two 3rd rounders? That's hardly an investment. I think this move solidifies the group. Probably shrinks the learning curve for the two second year players having a young established player along side of them.I'm a little surprised simply because of the draft investment the Pats made at the TE position last season; clearly I don't think BB sees much in Asasi or Keene as potential top options at TE. Something this team desperately needed post-Gronk was just a big body that could make contested grabs in the red zone, and Smith has shown the ability to do that.
Lol. Well, that was dumb.I told you not to tell him that
This bears repeating.Two 3rd rounders? That's hardly an investment. I think this move solidifies the group. Probably shrinks the learning curve for the two second year players having a young established player along side of them.
I'm irrationally optimistic about Keene breaking out in his 2nd year a la Damien Harris.And the odds of either Asiasi or Keene become players like Smith are essentially zero given Smith’s physical gifts. They aren’t fungible.
Same here. He resigned himself to the team losing Smith and Davis, but he was definitely bummed that Smith will likely explode elsewhere given how the Titans offense in terms of personnel and playcalling did not make getting him touches a priority.My buddy who's a HUGE Titans fan (they exist!) is pissed.
A reprise (in TE form) of the Welker story?Titans offense in terms of personnel and playcalling did not make getting him touches a priority.
Same b-day as me then! This day just gets better.Jonnu Smith's birthday and year is the same as my son. Pretty sure they were switched at birth.
Of more interest to all of you, Jonnu Smith has the same birthday as Carl Yastrzemski. What's not to love?
Why? You get some of his contract or something?Same b-day as me then! This day just gets better.
It admittedly doesn't take much nowadays.Why? You get some of his contract or something?
Ahh you beat me to it. Was just coming here to post similar snark. Unfortunately I am not optimistic in that regard.Maybe McDaniels can draw up some nice tight end screens, but do we have a QB who can throw them?
and about Smith last year:You put a big guy on him, he’s probably going to have a hard time matching up with Reece’s speed and quickness... Put a smaller guy on him, he might match up with his speed and quickness, but it would be hard to match up with his size. I’d say that’s a dilemma. Who do you have that has the same skill set as Reece?
I'm psyched about this signing.He’s just a really good tight end... He can do a lot of things: blocks well, runs well, is a good receiver. I mean, hell, they played him at tailback. He looked pretty good back there. So, he’s a very athletic player, hard to tackle, catches the ball well. He’s great after the catch — probably the best in the league. I mean, I can’t imagine anybody better than him after the catch. No, he looks like a tight end to me. And a good one.
I thought it was Joe-NewPressing question: is it Jon-UH, or Jon-NEW?
Looking up highlights the announcers use Jon-new, so that is presumably the right one since the teams give them pronunciation guides.I thought it was Joe-New
You mean UNselfishness?
Selflessness? And now a word becomes a sound. Shit.You mean UNselfishness?
Lol. In video they mentioned that he was "unselfish" and liked to block.Selflessness? And now a word becomes a sound. Shit.
I'm sorry, I was told the "Patriot Way" wasn't a thing, especially with Brady gone, and players don't buy into that nonsense."A lot of teams really don't lean on two-tight end sets the way the Patriots do. But the 'Patriot Way' and that's what they've been known for doing the past couple years, so we're going to get this thing going."
Indeed. Me no good at English.You mean UNselfishness?
They buy into what we, in the stands and on the internet, tell them to buy into. Now shut up and turn your hat inside out or we’ll never win again.I'm sorry, I was told the "Patriot Way" wasn't a thing, especially with Brady gone, and players don't buy into that nonsense.
But do it outside: The noise from all that crinkling tinfoil will drive us nutsThey buy into what we, in the stands and on the internet, tell them to buy into. Now shut up and turn your hat inside out or we’ll never win again.
If we tell them them ‘the Patriot Way’ is meaningless, then goddammit it’s meaningless! Smith’s tinfoil hat Patriots way prattle is nonsense!But do it outside: The noise from all that crinkling tinfoil will drive us nuts
It's amazing how much NFL players DON'T want to play for that awful Bill Belichick and his Tom Brady-less Patriots.
But they had Henry too. You think they wanted to play 3 TE? Or play 2 TE with Henry on the bench? I think they wanted to recreate the 2010-2012 offense, but it just didn’t work out.I thought it would be a good idea to bump this because the discussion in a lot of threads right now about Jonnu. He was one of my favorite signings in the off-season, but I think it's universally acknowledged that the team didn't scheme well for him. BB lauded his after catch / space abilities, but he was never given an opportunity to shine -- he was primarily used as a blocker. It got me thinking, but I wonder how much of Jonnu's usage was dictated by the lack of development from Keene and Asiasi. In my mind, if either one of them was able to take a step forward, he can run routes greater than 30% of the time / be lined up more creatively. He's similar in size to Jakob Johnson and his blocking is pretty good, so I wonder if he could have gotten more snaps out of the back field in either 21 or 22 groupings.
This offense isn't for everyone. Jonnu didn't get it, for one reason or another. To my untrained eye, he seemed to have a real problem getting separation. I'd like to see them try him as a Z or an RB or both. He had a whole season to sort out the inline TE thing and got absolutely nowhere, but he's a talented guy.But they had Henry too. You think they wanted to play 3 TE? Or play 2 TE with Henry on the bench? I think they wanted to recreate the 2010-2012 offense, but it just didn’t work out.
They could have Asiasi lined up on the left, Henry on the right, and then White (or Bolden) with Jonnu in the backfield. I envision it giving the option to be creative with screens to either option in the backfield, have both run routes, and just be more creative in general with having two very good running / catching options in the backfield.But they had Henry too. You think they wanted to play 3 TE? Or play 2 TE with Henry on the bench? I think they wanted to recreate the 2010-2012 offense, but it just didn’t work out.