Tag: Jaylon Smith

Jaylon Smith: Opponents assigned spies to Giants’ Daniel Jones in 2022

Jaylon Smith said opponents began to assign spies to New York Giants QB Daniel Jones during the second half of the 2022 season.

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Many New York Giants fans rebut the criticism about quarterback Daniel Jones’ conservative style.

They contend that it’s the team’s strategy that is holding Jones back from becoming an elite quarterback, not the other way around.

Last year, his first under head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Jones logged in the most efficient season of his four-year career.

Former Giants linebacker Jaylon Smith said in a recent interview that Jones’ combination of rushing and passing had teams taking notice in 2022. In fact, they began to assign a spy on DJ toward the second half of the season.

This year, Jones will have more weapons to throw to and an offensive line that should protect him better. Daboll and Kafka have both stated the offense will be opened up a bit to accommodate the speedy receivers the team has added this offseason.

It is then we will truly know the full extent of Jones’ ability.

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Ex-Giant Jaylon Smith: Daniel Jones is a guy you want in your foxhole

Former New York Giants LB Jaylon Smith says QB Daniel Jones is a meticulous worker and a guy you’d want in your foxhole.

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Over the course of his seven-year NFL career, free agent linebacker Jaylon Smith has been around a lot of players. Some of them, such as quarterback Aaron Rodgers, are legitimate superstars.

Also among that group are Pro Bowlers, All-Pros and future Hall of Famers. He’s seen how some of the best work behind the scenes and he’s seen what ultimately leads to failure.

When it comes to New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, Smith has a high opinion.

“I was in the sauna with DJ every single morning and it was just talking a lot. He would ask a lot of questions — about games, about leadership, about what success feels like in the National Football League,” Smith said. “What I’ve learned from him is he’s a worker worker. He’s a guy that you want in your foxhole. He’s going to go to bat for you.”

Smith said he witnessed firsthand Jones’ growth and confidence in 2022 and believes that things will only get better from here.

“When he has confidence, man… He can light it up,” Smith said. “We nicknamed him ‘Vanilla Vick’ because he got to show off his feet a lot last year. I expect that to continue headed into this season, for sure.”

Although many public figures and fans are routinely critical of Jones, he continues to win over anyone who plays alongside him or sees him work behind the scenes. Smith is not the exception, he’s the rule.

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10 available free agents who can still help the Colts

These free agents could still help the Colts in 2023.

The Indianapolis Colts just kicked off OTAs and are now in preparation mode in the lead-up to the opening game.

During this time the coaching staff won’t only be getting their players ready for the season but the front office is still evaluating the roster and deciding on if they want to bring on a veteran to add some depth and competition.

Per OverTheCap, the Colts are sitting with $16.2 million in effective cap space so they have enough room to make some additions. But Chris Ballard will also have to factor in the potential extensions for running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and possibly other players that entering their final year of the contract.

There are a good number of notable veteran free agents available on the market but for Indianapolis, they have to consider where they are at as a state of a franchise.

With the team entering a rebuilding year and the development of Anthony Richardson, this season might not make much sense for them to spend money as if they are going after a Super Bowl. The focus should be on getting the younger players on the roster to get the snaps for their development for 2024 and beyond.

That doesn’t mean Ballard shouldn’t go sign some veterans to compete with this roster, there are some spots on the depth chart I believe could use some depth so here are some players that could help out the Colts this season:

Cole Kmet set to graduate from Notre Dame

Congrats, Cole!

It always is inspiring to see a professional athlete who left college early come back to finish their degree. Notre Dame football has had many of those in recent years, including [autotag]Jerome Bettis[/autotag], [autotag]Jaylon Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Stephon Tuitt[/autotag]. Now, it’s [autotag]Cole Kmet[/autotag]’s turn.

Ahead of commencement at Notre Dame this weekend, Eric Hansen of InsideNDSports wrote a piece about Kmet’s academic journey. With three years as a Chicago Bears tight end under his belt, he returned to South Bend in January and moved in with his brother, [autotag]Casey Kmet[/autotag], a starting infielder on the baseball team. One semester later, he will have his degree in political science.

The next former Irish player to join the delayed graduate club appears to be [autotag]Kyle Hamilton[/autotag], who began working towards that goal during the past semester after his rookie season with the Baltimore Ravens. It’s great to know so many current and former NFL players, no matter what university they went to, are going back to finish what they started. It certainly will do a lot to dispel the notion that college athletes who turn pro early don’t care about their studies.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Three-star recruit Teddy Rezac commits to Notre Dame

The Irish are getting a well-rounded athlete.

Notre Dame always is looking for the next [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] or [autotag]Jaylon Smith[/autotag]. But sometimes, you just need a linebacker who isn’t expected to be a star but otherwise can make many worthwhile contributions. That’s what the Irish hoping to get in three-star recruit [autotag]Teddy Rezac[/autotag], who is listed as an athlete from Omaha, Nebraska. Considering he was recruiting by [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag], there’s no doubt which side of the ball he’ll play on, which officially will be for the Irish after he made the announcement:

Rezac’s commitment is the 15th for the Irish’s 2024 recruiting class. Two Irish Illustrated insiders correctly predicted earlier this week that he would join that class. Those predictions came only a couple of days after the Irish offered him. Nebraska made a late offer to join the ranks of programs like Boston College and all three service academies, but once the Irish officially threw their hat in the ring, it seems all bets were off.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Former Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith to open restaurant on campus

Like Japanese food?

[autotag]Jaylon Smith[/autotag] made quite the impact in his three years at Notre Dame. He’s one of the program’s best linebackers from the past decade, and he has showcased why over the past six years in the NFL.

While he’s waiting for a team to pick him up via free agency, he’s venturing into the restaurant business. He’s going to allow his alma mater to share in that venture, too:

While I am not a fan of Japanese cuisine, it’s great to know that for those on the Notre Dame campus who are, they soon will have an option thanks to a man who won the Butkus Award and became an All-American there. As for Smith himself, his post-football life appears to be set, at least for the early part of that. Here’s hoping he does well with this venture, and here’s hoping his Notre Dame location is a rousing success.

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Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Notre Dame football: Down to 3 Former Domers in NFL Playoffs

Who wins this weekend?

Four teams remain in the NFL playoffs after this weekend’s divisional match-ups.  In the AFC it was the Chiefs getting by despite an injury to star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, as they knocked out the Jaguars.  In doing so, former Notre Dame wide receiver [autotag]Kevin Austin[/autotag], a practice squad member in Jacksonville, was knocked out as well.  The Chiefs will take on the Bengals for the AFC title for a second year in a row.

In the NFC it’ll be the 49ers traveling east to Philadelphia as three Notre Dame players will be dressed in that game.  Check out which former Domers advanced below.

The Eagles beating the Giants eliminated [autotag]Jaylon Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Julian Love[/autotag], and [autotag]Nick McCloud[/autotag] while [autotag]Zack Martin[/autotag] was knocked out with the Cowboys loss.

Irish fans can root for whichever NFC team wins Sunday to win it all as that would mark the 46th and perhaps 47th former Notre Dame players to win on Super Bowl Sunday.

4 former Golden Domers knocked out of NFL divisional playoffs on Saturday

Which former Notre Dame player(s) has the best shot at a ring this year?

For Notre Dame fans, eight former Golden Domers remained in the NFL playoffs when the divisional round kicked off on Saturday.  As the day has come and gone, just four players remain ahead of Sunday’s contests.

In the first game Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs were able to survive despite having to play without Patrick Mahomes for a decent amount of the game.  Their 27-20 win over the Jaguars means that the Chiefs are headed to the AFC championship game for the fifth-straight season.  As a result, former Notre Dame wide receiver [autotag]Kevin Austin[/autotag], a member of Jacksonville’s practice squad, saw his team eliminated.

The Saturday nightcap between the Eagles and Giants was over seemingly as soon as it got started.  Philadelphia moved the ball at will in the first half and played suffocating defense en-route to a 28-0 halftime lead.  The Eagles ultimately won 38-7 to advance to the NFC championship game that they’ll host next week.  Former Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book moves along with them while [autotag]Julian Love[/autotag], [autotag]Nick McCloud[/autotag], and [autotag]Jaylon Smith[/autotag] are done for the year with the Giants exit.

NEXT: Sunday’s Notre Dame representatives

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Giants fall to Eagles: Winners, losers and those in between

The New York Giants fell to the Eagles, 38-7, on Saturday and here’s a look at our winners and losers (and those in between) from the game.

The New York Giants’ postseason ride ended abruptly at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night after getting completely dominated by the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles, 38-7.

Here are the very few winners, multiple losers and in-betweens from the debacle.

8 former Notre Dame players advance to NFL divisional playoffs

Who do you have winning the Super Bowl this year?

The NFL’s extended wild card weekend came to an end Monday night as the Cowboys routed the Buccaneers 31-14 in Tampa.  Was it the final game for Tom Brady in the NFL?  Time will tell for the legend, but a highly anticipated divisional round now awaits football fans next weekend.

Related: Everyone who has caught an NFL touchdown pass from Tom Brady

For Notre Dame rooters, eight of the 18 players to make the postseason this year advance to the round of eight.  The Irish are guaranteed to be represented in the Super Bowl this year as they’ve got a former player on all four remaining NFC teams, but have only one practice squad player remaining in the AFC.

Here are the eight former Notre Dame players who advanced with their teams to the NFL divisional playoffs.