Tag: Zach Smith

Here’s what Jets hiring of Robert Saleh could mean for the Patriots

This could open up some huge opportunities for New England in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The New York Jets found their new head coach on Thursday in former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh.

The Jets fired Adam Gase after a 2-14 season in 2020 that followed a 7-9 year in 2019. Saleh’s been in the league since 2005 and he completely revamped the 49ers defense over the past four years. Saleh led the defensive unit that brought San Francisco to the Super Bowl a year ago and despite having a slew of major injuries this year, his unit still finished No. 5 overall in yards allowed per game.

Saleh is expected to bring his former 49ers colleague Mike LaFleur with him as the team’s offensive coordinator. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it would be surprising if the coaching duo doesn’t keep Sam Darnold in place as the starter for the 2021 season.

Schefter believes the Jets will entertain offers for the No. 2 pick, while looking for an offensive lineman or complimentary piece to build around Darnold. Initially, many believed the Jets would take Ohio State’s Justin Fields or one of the top prospects at quarterback with the No. 2 pick.

The New England Patriots sit at the No. 15 overall pick and they desperately need a quarterback for the future. With Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence sitting as nearly a surefire No. 1 pick, this opens up the window of opportunity for New England to snag Fields, BYU’s Zach Wilson, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance or Alabama’s Mac Jones.

There are seven potential teams who could draft quarterbacks before the Patriots have an opportunity, but it still opens a higher possibility for one to fall to No. 15.

The Patriots have a ton of huge decisions to make this offseason, but getting a franchise quarterback in the draft could help gain clarity in that process.

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Zach Smith goes low, tops PGA Tour players to win Scottsdale AZ Open

Zach Smith claimed the first-place prize of $20,000 and along the way, beat a handful of golfers who have tasted success on the PGA Tour.

This time last year, Zach Smith was a UC Santa Barbara Gaucho, battling for an NCAA title.

On Thursday, Smith won first tournament as a professional at the Scottsdale AZ Open at Talking Stick Golf Club.

“It’s hard to put into words right now,” Smith said, surrounded by a gaggle of media covering one of the few pro sports events taking place in the U.S. “I’m still in shock a little.”

Smith claimed the first-place prize of $20,000 and along the way, beat a handful of golfers who have tasted success on the PGA Tour, including Tour winners Kevin Streelman and Nate Lashley as well as Joel Dahmen.

SCOTTSDALE AZ OPEN: Leaderboard

How does he plan to soak it all in?

“I’m going to celebrate social distancing,” he joked.

Smith shot 63-67-62 this week, saving his best golf for the last day and making the most of the back nine, where he birdied five of those holes in the final round. A par-par finish got him to 18 under, three clear of runner up Carson Roberts.

Over 54 holes, Smith had 20 birdies and just two bogeys.

The key, he said, was “keeping the ball in play, get it on the green and just let the putter go to work.”

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Smith, who grew up in California but calls Mesa, Arizona, home now, has been able to keep his game sharp playing events on mini-tours like the Outlaw and Golden State tours. He has status on the Mackenzie Tour and plans to head north to play the first six events there, starting with the Canada Life Open on May 28 in Vancouver.

Brady Calkins and recently retired Tour player Colt Knost finished T-3, five shots back. Brandon Harkins, Brad Hopfinger and Matthew Liringis finished T-5 at 12 under.

And for all the talk of the PGA Tour players in field, the top finisher from that group was Joel Dahmen, who was T-8 with Mark Anguiano at 11 under.

Kevin Streelman was among three golfers to finish T-10 at 10 under. Nate Lashley (T-16) was 8 under. Scott Harrington (T-27) was 5 under.

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Zach Smith sentenced to 180 days in jail stemming from violation of Civil Protection Order

Former Ohio State assistant Zach Smith was sentenced to 180 days in jail Friday for violation of a Civil Protection Order.

Just when you thought this story was dead, it just keeps going. Former Ohio State and Urban Meyer assistant Zach Smith was sentenced to 180 days in jail Friday for violation of a Civil Protection Order back in December. This, according to The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach.

Though the sentence is set at 180 days, 160 of those will be suspended — meaning Smith will spend just 20 days in jail. As a part of those conditions, he will also have to take part in an anger management program, perform forty hours of community service, and will also receive three years of probation with “drugs and alcohol conditions.”

Smith was fired by Ohio Stae in the summer of 2018 for allegations of domestic abuse after Brett McMurphy broke the news of an alleged pattern of trouble stemming from his days at Florida and beyond.

The report was a polarizing one that resulted in the suspension of both Urban Meyer and athletic director Gene Smith. Myer would end up coming back from suspension, coaching the team through the remainder of the 2018 season before announcing his retirement after the Michigan game in late November.