Tag: Tyron Smith

Jets vs. Patriots: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 3

Jets vs. Patriots: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 3

The New York Jets will host the New England Patriots in their upcoming Week 3 matchup.

Even with it being a big, early season AFC East clash, it will still be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.

Here are three key matchups to watch during Thursday’s Jets (1-1) against the Patriots (1-1) matchup:

OL Tyron Smith vs. ED Keion White

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Early in 2024, White is the Patriots’ best defender coming off of the edge. Life without Matthew Judon has gone better than expected because of White and his four sacks in two games.

White will see plenty of Tyron Smith across from him. Pro Football Focus has graded Smith as the 15th best tackle in the NFL after two weeks and he needs to keep up that pace for the sake of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his team’s running backs behind him.

LB Jamien Sherwood vs. RB Rhamondre Stevenson

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Starting middle linebacker CJ Mosley is officially listed as questionable with a toe injury. On a short week, it seems unlikely that he will be fit to play.

Sherwood replaced him last week against the Titans and performed well. He led New York with 12 tackles and was PFF’s highest-graded Jets defender in the 24-17 win.

Sherwood will not be on his own trying to stop Stevenson but he will play a huge part in it. Stevenson is second in the NFL with 201 rushing yards.

WR Garrett Wilson vs. CB Jonathan Jones

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Wilson does lead the Jets in receiving yards with 117 through two games, but there’s more meat on that bone. It’s understandable as him and Rodgers are only two games into building their connection.

Jones will provide a tough matchup for Wilson. PFF has Jones at a solid 71.1 overall mark so far in 2024 and he’s clearly New England’s best defensive back. If Wilson causes him problems, there will be a ripple effect across the Patriots defense.

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Tyron Smith brings a quiet leadership to the New York Jets offensive line

Tyron Smith brings invaluable experience to the Jets offensive line.

For Tyron Smith, the coming together of the offensive line won’t happen in a flashy way. Instead, the New York Jets All-Pro offensive tackle says it comes in quiet moments where teaching and learning can take place.

Smith signed with the Jets this offseason and brings a wealth of experience to the roster. Eight times a Pro Bowl selection, he has been named an All-Pro five times in his career.

The 33-year old is expected to solidify the left side of the Jets offensive and protec a valuable asset in Aaron Rodgers.

Smith is one of several big moves that the Jets have made over the past two years to shore up an offensive line that had been among the worst in the league. The talent is there but what may not be there is time.

With the start of the season fast approaching, the Jets need to turn a corner quickly with the offensive line and collectively get on the same page.

“Anything we got going on as far as drills with the o-line, that’s the time to talk with your guys (and) try to tweak anything they got going on and helping them out,” Smith told reporters on Saturday.

“I’m not a guy who is rah rah type dude or yell or try to hype anybody up. I’m going to pull you to the side and show you how it is done or tweak anything you got going on if it needs to be done.”

Smith was a first-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2009 NFL draft. He signed a one-year deal with the Jets this offseason.

Last year, Smith missed four games due to injury. In 2022, he played in just four games due to a hamstring injury.

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“Just got to maintain it, stay healthy, stay in shape so I can be ready for my teammates,” Smith said.

The hardest position Cowboys have to replace in 2024 is…

It’s hard to envision any situation where the Cowboys LT play improves in 2024, and that’s going to make things very difficult. | From @ReidDHanson

The 2024 offseason will go down as an offseason of disappointment for many Cowboys fans. Not only did they fail to re-sign any of their major pieces on their roster, but they lost a handful of critical components as well. Replacing the lost players will be no simple task.

The cupboards are bare in the Cowboys running backroom. Tony Pollard left in free agency and Dallas decided to skip the position entirely in the draft. Johnathan Hankins departure left the Cowboys defensive tackle position in a sorry state. It was a position that performed poorly in 2023 and looks markedly worse here in 2024.

Receiver is also left in a worrisome state after Michael Gallup was let go. The Cowboys don’t have a clear replacement option ready and waiting and could be dangerously thin if CeeDee Lamb holds out for an extended period of time. None of those positions will be easy to replace this season but their difficulty pales in comparison to that of the left tackle position.

For over a decade, Tyron Smith was a fixture at LT for the Cowboys. He was an elite pass protector who was frequently left alone on an island, protecting Dak Prescott’s blindside from some of the most feared pass rushers on the planet. Reliability and diminishing play in the running game ultimately led to his departure. Now the Cowboys enter training camp with a rookie penciled as the eventual heir at LT.

Tyler Guyton, the Cowboys 2024 first-round pick, is the man the Cowboys hope to replace Smith with. Whether that happens on Day 1 or not is unknown at this time, what can be agreed on is whoever takes over at LT will have some pretty big shoes to fill.

Chuma Edoga, a player many expect to be the backup plan if Guyton isn’t up to the task, isn’t a great solution to the LT problem either. The five-year veteran has struggled throughout his career in pass protection, most recently allowing three sacks, 16 pressures and committing three penalties in 251 pass blocking situations.

Guyton himself enters as an abnormally raw first round pick. He’s athletically gifted but needs development time before he can be trusted in a way Smith was previously trusted. Unless Tyler Smith, the expected starting left guard, inexplicably moves to tackle, a step back at the LT position is expected.

Looking at the other positions, it’s not unrealistic to think someone will step up and do better than the man he replaces. Pollard’s 2023 season wasn’t terribly efficient so it’s perfectly possible Rico Dowdle and company could represent a mild improvement this year if the run blocking improves as expected.

Gallup struggled most the 2023 season so replacing him won’t be an impossible task for the Cowboys. Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks could both be up for the task, as could a handful of other unproven players waiting in the wings.

Hankins was a big loss but not because he was dominant by any means, but because the Cowboys did little to replace him. If either Mazi Smith or Justin Rogers can just rise up to average they would represent an improvement over Hankins.

It’s that LT position that’s going to be difficult to replace for the Cowboys. Even under a best-case scenario, Dallas will struggle to meet the level of play they got from Smith in 2023. It’s important the accept this because then they can scheme to minimize its impact on the offense

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New York Jets offensive tackle Tyron Smith says ‘I do’

Tyron Smith got married over the weekend.

With former teammates on the Dallas Cowboys looking on, Tyron Smith was married over the weekend. For Smith, who signed with the New York Jets this offseason, it was a weekend of massive celebrations with some of the biggest names in the NFL looking on.

Among those in attendance for Smith’s nuptials was Cowboys quarterback Dax Prescott. Prior to signing with the Jets this offseason, Smith had spent the previous 13 years of his NFL career in Dallas.

The eight-time Pro Bowl selection looked limber and lithe on the dance floor as he celebrated his weekend wedding. Could ‘Dancing with the Stars‘ be in the picture for Smith when his NFL career is done?

Certainly could be a possibility. Smith is one of his generation’s top offensive tackles with five All-Pro selections to his resume. Also on his resume? Having played for America’s team and now, with the Jets, in New York City.

That is ratings gold for television executives.

But back to Smith, it looked like a wonderful celebration featuring his new bride Holly.

 

A beautiful sunset and view there for the wedding celebration as the happy couple appears to have danced the night away.

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Contrary to rumors, during dinner when Prescott passed the rolls, he was not intercepted.

Panthers land Patrick Mahomes in ultimate 7-round NFL mock draft

Talk about a fantasy . . .

Quarterback problem solved . . . but not really.

For the third consecutive offseason, NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter built an ultimate seven-round mock draft—throwing all of the league’s players into one big pool to choose from with the objective being to “win now!” The exercise used 2023’s records for its snaked draft order, giving the 2-15 Panthers the No. 1 overall selection.

And with that pick, Reuter gets Carolina the best quarterback on the planet—Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes:

No surprise here. The strong-armed, mobile playmaker is the top pick in this exercise for the second straight year, fresh off his third Super Bowl title in six years as a starter.

The thrice-named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player is fresh off capturing the Chiefs their second Lombardi Trophy in the past three years. His list of accolades also include a pair of league MVPs, an Offensive Player of the Year award, two First-team All-Pro selections and six Pro Bowl nods.

Oh, and he’s turning 29 years old on Sept. 17—so get used to the success if you aren’t already.

Reuter rounds out Carolina’s haul with the following selections:

  • Round 2 (64th overall): WR Jaylen Waddle
  • Round 3 (65th overall): DE Danielle Hunter
  • Round 4 (128th overall): OT Tyron Smith
  • Round 5 (129th overall): DT Javon Hargrave
  • Round 6 (192nd overall): CB Kenny Moore
  • Round 7 (193rd overall): WR Rome Odunze

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Commanders coach Dan Quinn has a special nickname for C Tyler Biadasz

Quinn has the ultimate nickname for center Tyler Biadasz.

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn knows center Tyler Biadasz well. Quinn was the Cowboys defensive coordinator for the past three seasons while Biadasz started at center.

If anyone knew Biadasz’s strengths and weaknesses, it was Quinn. He saw him every day in practice. Quinn and general manager Adam Peters knew Washington needed a center this offseason. There were multiple options in free agency and the draft, but Quinn didn’t want to wait, striking a deal with Biadasz in the early moments of free agency.

With young quarterback Jayden Daniels, Biadasz has suddenly become one of Washington’s more important players. That’s one of the reasons Quinn trusted Biadasz to bring him to Washington.

Before Wednesday’s OTA practice, Quinn was asked about Biadasz so far. You’ll love his response.

“Yeah, I think having badass here working with him for three years, I knew, not only the ballplayer but the person under the helmet, I knew what was behind the ribcage for him,” Quinn said.

Did you notice the nickname?

“The toughness. I saw him with a bad ankle playing. I knew how tough this guy was, and what an important teammate he was. And for him to be around guys like Zack Martin and Tyron Smith who had incredible standards, guys like Nick Allegretti and Tyler to join into here, it’s fun to see new leaders emerge into different spots. And I think we’re seeing that with Tyler.”

Now we know why Quinn badly wanted Biadasz to be his center. You don’t get a nickname like that without having the respect of your coach.

Jets land two tackles in PFF’s top-32 rankings for 2024 season

Jets land two tackles in PFF’s top-32 rankings for 2024 season

The Jets knew they had to upgrade the offensive line in preparation for the 2024 season. They went out and did just that, bringing in Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses (via trade with Baltimore) during free agency and selected Olu Fashanu in the first round of the draft.

As a result, the Jets have two of the better offensive tackles in the NFL. Pro Football Focus also believes so as both Smith and Moses landed in the top 32 offensive tackles, as written by PFF’s Zoltan Buday.

Smith finds himself inside the top ten at No. 7, coming off a season in which he led all offensive tackles in pass-blocking grade.

Although he had to miss games due to injury, the 942 snaps he played in 2023 were the most he has played in a season since 2018. He was at his best in pass protection, earning a PFF pass-blocking grade of 89.3 that led all offensive tackles.

Moses also lands inside the top 20, at No. 18. So not just two top-32 tackles for the Jets, but two of the top 18.

The veteran played the best football of his career in his second season with the Ravens. His 80.4 PFF grade marked a career-high and led to the highest career ranking, as he finished 10th at the position. In addition, Moses also earned a career-high pass-blocking grade of 77.0, 21st among all offensive tackles.

The Athletic names most-liked move from Jets’ offseason

Which offseason move did The Athletic pick for the Jets as their favorite?

The Jets had another strong offseason in 2024, one they hope will actually result in a playoff run and maybe even a Super Bowl berth. But which move was the best?

Mike Sando of The Athletic recently shared his thoughts on his favorite offseason move from all 32 teams. Which move did he pick for the Jets? That would the Jets addressing the offensive tackle position, specifically the additions of Tyron Smith in free agency followed by the drafting of Olu Fashanu.

Signing former Cowboys mainstay tackle Tyron Smith and then using a first-round choice for Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu was solid work in addressing the offensive line for now and the future. It’s been easy to criticize the Jets for their short-sighted focus around Aaron Rodgers. Critics were waiting to pounce if the team used its first-round choice for tight end Brock Bowers. Instead, the Jets did what was sensible.

With all the problems and injuries across the offensive line in 2023, the Jets knew they had to upgrade up front. The Jets also traded for right tackle Morgan Moses from the Baltimore Ravens. This offseason was all about protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers while also upgrading his weapons. As Sando mentions, the Jets were sensible in drafting Fashanu instead of Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. Bowers would have helped in the passing game, but the Jets already have good pass-catching tight ends in Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert and the Jets needed an offensive tackle for the future.

Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton drafted No. 29 overall by the Dallas Cowboys

Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle Tyler Guyton taken No. 29 overall by the Dallas Cowboys.

The Oklahoma Sooners have another first round offensive tackle to tout. Former Oklahoma Sooner Tyler Guyton is headed to the Dallas Cowboys to play with former Sooner turned Cowboy [autotag]CeeDee Lamb[/autotag].

Guyton was selected with  29th overall by the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Guyton has been on NFL radars since his excellent showing against fellow first-round draft pick Jared Verse in the Cheez-It Bowl.

The Cowboys lost two starters on their offensive line when left tackle Tyron Smith and center Tyler Biadasz signed with the New York Jets and Washington Commanders. With Smith headed to the Jets, the opportunity to select a high-upside left tackle prospect was too much for the Cowboys to pass up.

Guyton, who is 6-foot-7 and 322 pounds, excels in pass protection. He needs to work on his hand placement and consistency as a run blocker, but he’s the type of player that Dallas has successfully developed in recent years.

With his first-round selection, Guyton becomes the fourth offensive lineman since 2010 to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft, joining [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag] (2023), [autotag]Lane Johnson[/autotag] (2013), and [autotag]Trent Williams[/autotag] (2010).

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on X @thatmanbryant.

Cowboys loss of Tyron Smith illustrates the need for salary cap exceptions

Should the NFL mimic the NBA in how they deal with veterans who have been with the club that drafted them for an extended period of time? | From @ReidDHanson

No one wants to remember Joe Montana finishing his career with Kansas City, or Joe Namath ending up in Los Angeles. Johnny Unitas was last seen as a Charger and even the great Emmitt Smith was last seen with a bird on his helmet. Those sights are affronts to rationality.

With the dawn of the NFL salary cap, situations such as these grew in prevalence. Would Tom Brady have left New England if money weren’t a factor? What about DeMarcus Ware leaving Dallas for the Broncos? What about Tyron Smith going to the Jets here in 2024? Jerry Jones recently mentioned Smith’s departure and likened it to Ware’s. He said the money was a problem.

“You know how highly he is thought of by us,” Jones said. “[But] We can’t afford that. We can’t afford that. If he makes all of those incentives and things like that, we would be really wrecked.”

While not directly blaming the NFL’s salary cap specifically in this situation, Jones has discussed the limits a hard salary cap places on the franchise many times previously. It’s been used to justify the Cowboys frugal spending habits in free agency and used as leverage against players negotiating new extensions.

It’s certainly possible the most valuable franchise in the world isn’t liquid enough to pay game incentives on a contract, but it’s more likely Jones was pointing to the cap health and not his pocketbook when he said the word “wrecked.”

While the salary cap is highly malleable and not as restrictive as some owners would have fans believe, it isn’t completely fake either. Players do count against the ledger and salaries eventually have to be accounted for in some way. If certain veteran exceptions were made, maybe more franchise cornerstones like Smith and Ware would be able to finish their career on the team they had always played for.

The NBA saw the issue in their league and added a thing called “bird rights” to certain veteran contracts. It’s to make it easier for teams to retain players over the cap and subsequently reduces the number of superstars bouncing around from team-to-team year after year. The NFL could do something similar.

Maybe a player who’s played “x” number of years for the team that drafted him no longer counts against the cap? Some owners probably wouldn’t like it because they wouldn’t have the cap excuse to fall on, but teams focused on maximizing the success of their roster would certainly profit. Fans would certainly like it.

If the number of years for this veteran exemption is set at 10, someone like Dak Prescott would come off the books in 2026. It would give a team like the Cowboys a major advantage having a franchise QB exist off the ledger.

Maybe each year under an exemption would come with a player option to hit unrestricted free agency? These legendary players would have the right to demand a good team around them or they could look for a better situation elsewhere. Of course, leaving would mean the exemption dissolves and whatever outside contract is signed would count against the cap of the new team.

At a time of the offseason when the NFL owners meet to discuss rules changes and other matters of business, it’s an interesting topic to think about. Such an exception would benefit teams strong in drafting and would keep legends with the same team in which they began their career.

Because no Cowboy should have to finish their career with a bird on his helmet.

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