‘New Guys, New Faces’
Smith’s top target — WR Garrett Wilson — was the tone-setter last week in the Jets’ 17-12 victory over the Browns. He had 70 yards receiving on their opening drive including a dazzling 32-yard touchdown to get the Jets on the board. After his 11th career 100-yard receiving game, Wilson closed one chapter and turned the page.
“It’s just a new season, at the end of the day,” Wilson said. “We’re five games in, six games in. There’s a premium on this one because it is our first one. I don’t know how to exactly put it, but it’s a big-ass game. We’re going to be ready to play. I’m excited for it. I think it’s just a new season. We have new guys, new faces in here. Let’s go get a win because that’s the opponent.”
Always dug in where his feet are, Smith keeps a mental Rolodex of his opponents. The Patriots have a stingy defense and are ranked No. 5 overall (296.2 yds/g) and No. 4 in points allowed (18.8 pts/g).
“I think the multiplicity in what they do as far as a defense,” Smith said. “A lot of different fronts, a lot of different coverages on the back end. Really smart guys in the secondary, you’re talking about Kevin Byard, a guy who probably has the most interceptions since he has been in the league. Carlton Davis is a guy who’s a ballhawk as well. We all know what Christian Gonzalez can do — he can blanket guys out there, and they have a well-rounded group.”
Just like rolling through progressions, Smith worked through each level of the defense from the defensive backfield to the linebackers to the defensive line.
“[Robert] Spillane, who leads the defense as far as the Mike ‘backer goes and [Christian] Elliss does a great job,” he said. “The young rookie, I don’t know if he’s a rookie, but he’s a young guy, No. 91 [Elijah Ponder] has been flashing on tape, he’s got about five sacks, and we know Milton Williams up front. Just solid up front, Dre’Mont Jones, they got great players, they’re coached by Mike Vrabel, who [is a] defensive guy, so we know he wants to have that defense be at the forefront and they want to establish the run as well on offense.”