Dustin Keller, speaking with reporters a few moments ago on a conference call after officially signing his new multi-year contract, sounded as if Thursday and the first day of training camp can't get here soon enough.
"I'm just happy to have everything done and officially be a New York Jet," Keller said. "It's good to get down to real football business."
Of course, he's been doing that to a degree already as rookies really don't get the time off veterans do. The time between the end of minicamp and training camp is when even coaches take vacations, but the Jets rookies spent most of that time studying and working out at Hofstra. But when the veterans report Thursday, Keller said, he'll feel "on par" with them in terms of knowledge.
"I feel pretty comfortable with the offense so far," Keller siad. "I'm feeling a lot more comfortable as far as the ins and outs of it."
Keller said in some ways it's as if minicamp never ended, meaning early mornings, meetings with coaches, weight room sessions and filmwork, with work days sometimes lasting 8-10 hours. Not that he was complaining.
"At first it seems overwhelming but you get used to it," he said. "You realize all these things are making you better."
As for the contract hammered out by his agent Eugene Parker, Keller said it was important for it to be done early.
"I didn’t want to miss out on anything," he said.
Now he won't. Not that Keller thought he would.
"There was never any doubt in my mind this would be done on time," he said.
*And Darrell, that now makes SEVEN posts in three days. I'd say it's time to hit the golf course this weekend, but John Z. might go Kendall on me if I suggest that. Oh, and JayM, I just saw your question about Gholston: no, he is not doing anything with the rookies now. He, by league rule, cannot report for camp until signing.
Comments (24)
Keller is the 1st athletic TE the Jets have had since J. Mitchell and T. Davis who was converted to TE by the Packers.
Erik-- Nice job---Hey Ira, Johnny Mitchell? What a waste of a #1 he was. Looking forward to hearing more about Keller in the near future!
J.Mitchell could have been an all-pro TE if his head was screwed on right. I will ask Boomer about him this week.
Boland, do you think Dustin Keller can, hopefully even this year, develop into a Dallas Clark-like seam busting tight end that is used primarily on passing downs? I know he's not much of a blocker, but after a year or two in the NFL, he'll get bigger and stronger and learn how to block from Bill Callahan. Your thoughts E.Bola.
Well hello! Boland, calm down, you're scaring me. We don't want you burnt out before camp starts!
Ira I thinkg your numbers are off. I see lc being a top ten wr this year. At least 1k yards and ten tds.
Ill post my other thoughts later, just thought I'd say hi and tell boland to relax, its a long season. And my god do blackberrys suck to write with.
Ciao!
Go all Pete Kendall on you???
What happens then, I get traded to the Giants blog or something?
Incidentally, Erik, are you having any meet and greets for your adoring public at camp?
By the way, I can't stand how every conversation about tight ends always seems to degenerate into some discussion of Johnny Mitchell. He was just proof you shouldn't pay rookies so much. As was Blair Thomas.
miked4222, I think there'll be plenty more to come on Keller. I wrote this before and will write it many more times I'm sure: Keller runs extremely fluid routes. There seemed to be a lot to like based on what we saw in the OTAs.
Bryan, the Jets didn't make the Dallas Clark comparison but that's clearly the kind of player they envisioned him as because that's how he was used at Purdue (and how Clark, remember, was used at Iowa).
As for the EBola thing, you better check with Bassett over at thejetsblog.com. I think he's trying to trademark that.
Cliff, to think you interrupted a trip to Italy in order to post something leaves me just wordless.
John Z, I thought you'd enjoy the comparison. And yes, one more golf crack (I shot 85 this morning which I know you were dying to know), and you'll be dealt to T-Rock's take on the Giants for future considerations. As for the meet and greet, details are still being worked out. Looking to get a private room at Chrebet's. I don't think they have a private room, but still.
Good job with Keller. Did they release the details of his contract?
Erik, I was interested in knowing whether you are allowed to sell your PSL? If I make the $10k per seat investment and the Jets finally win a Superbowl the demand would be high, can I make a profit?
Erik, Regarding your QB article today its a tuff call who will win the job. Clemens looked good all preseason last year and Chad didn't. And its hard to tell when teams are playing just straight up[i hate the vanilla tem] to determine if Kellen has taken that next step. So without seeing any of them play yet this year this is how i see it. The management would never admitt it but they have to be pulling for Kellen since he was their 2nd rd pick 3 years ago.If its even they will start with Kellen. But my gut tells me Chad's ankle did effect him lst year and he will win his job back.GO JETS!!!!
IRA CP's ankle was fine during the pre-season last year and I watched from the front row as he floated 2 balls to the sideline that were picked for TDs. He really doesn't have the arm that allows the Offensive coordinator to use the entire playbook. He limits the O and therefore is a liability. Hopefully they allow KC to get game experience and develop alla Eli. I loved CP but the surgeries have taken it's toll and this team deserves a true NFL caliber arm QB.
JETVET, it's a five year deal and Cimini in the News had it at 8.5 million, 6 guaranteed.
As for your PSL question, you are in control of your PSL once you buy it, provided you purchase the season tickets each year (you lose the PSL - and get nothing in return - if you don't buy tickets). Anyway, yes, you could try to max out your PSL and sell it after a great season if that's what you wanted to do. To use your example, you could sell your $10k PSL for whatever you could get for it.
IRA, QB competitions fascinate me because there's just so many facets to them. We had the OTAs and minicamp that I continually pointed out didn't mean as much because those practices are non-contact. But even when the pads come on this week, with the exhibition games to follow, it's STILL the preseason and even a casual football fan can tell you aspects of that can be misleading (meaning the preseason). But that's all we have to evaluate this thing because last year didn't lend much information to the discussion because the horrible offensive line play made both QB's job nearly impossible. Anyway, this preseason will be anything but boring!
The one thing Chad had that Kellen didn't was two relatively healthy receivers--LC and JC. He managed to get both of them beat up waiting for his slo-mo floaters. By the time Kellen got the starting chance he didn't have an o-line or two decent receivers. And some of his picks were Hail Mary passes. So, if anything, he did as well, if not better, than Chad at managing his minutes.
I agree with JETVET. It's KC time. Maybe the Jets can give out an annual Chad award -- for the nicest guy who displays the most courage and team-first attitude. It would combine his three virtues.
Turn the page. Like favre, trade Chad or make him the back-up.
Everyone has to make sure they have realistic expectations for Keller this season, a 40 reception 400 yard season is pretty much as good as it gets for a rookie TE, so expect that or less. Here are examples of rookie TE seasons for some of the best:
Dallas Clark - 29 rec, 340 yds
Gates - 24 rec, 389 yds
Tony G - 33 rec, 368 yds
Witten - 35 rec, 357 yds
Greg Olsen - 39 rec, 391 yds
Zack Miller - 44 rec, 444 yds
Heath Miller - 39 rec, 459 yds
Shockey was one of the few exceptions with 74 rec, 894 yds.
CP also had a defense that was horrific and rated dead last! The D didnt click until KC took over and he still couldnt capitlize with a D that made a huge leap.
I couldnt count the games that the D lost going into the second half with CP.
And don't kid yourself, if you ever had a high ankle sprain it greatly affects your throwing. Just look at the results in06 when CP didnt have this injury- a 10 win season and trip to the post season.
KC is still making the same mistakes, confusion , holding on to the ball too long ect. The experts were alarmed at his play.
He has years in the system, 8 games under his belt and he still showed NOTHING against the lowly chiefs the last game. Shouldnt he have showed something, anything? Lets be realistic here and not delusional.
He is not making any improvement or catching on.
If CP stayed close to him in the OTAs when it was just about the arm , when the real hitting starts and all the other qualities have to come into play , KC will be exposed and CP will pull away.
I believe with CPS ankle healed, the better supporting cast around him ,that he will lead this team. He has already proven that.
With the money spent , if KC dont step it up big time I would rather go with thre proven veteran even if he cant get us over the hump. That would be better than a tanked season that will throw the organization into a tail spin for years.
The former would be a better scenario while we continue building and find the future qb.
To sum it up, KC has shown nothing even while given the chance. To make a change of that magnitude I would need SOMETHING to go on, not just desperate change with no facts only for the sake of change!
Scott, the defense did seem to play better with Clemens at the helm, but that also sometimes had to do with Clemens putting together better drives. To add, the Oline played much better with Penny at the helm (also part of it had to do with Penny being much better in the pocket). The fact is, there were a ton of opportunites at the end of the game that Penny had to tie/win in which he failed miserably. While at the same time Clemens in many of those opportunities succeeded or would have succeeded had his WR's not dropped easy passes.
Last year, while both weren't good, the guy with no starting experience gave us a MUCH better chance to win a game than the guy with a ton of experience. And his ankle might have hurt him, but please, he was making terrible decisions, and making mistakes with the things that are normally his strengths.
How many game-sealing pick-sixes did Kellen throw? How many did ole' Noodlearm throw? When Noodlearm was Mr. Accuracy, there was some point to having him under center. When a QB's only positive is his accuracy, and then his accuracy goes out the window, it's time for a change. The Noodle is 32 this year, old dog with no new tricks left in him. It's time for the kid.
They were both at a huge disadvantage , but a horrible oline will effect a weaker armed qb more than a stronger armed one.
With the better oline and in turn running game and play action, CP will make a much greater leap than KC.
We dont have the burners to take advantage of KC arm and a healthy CP with a running game and play action is more savvy in the pocket and accurate for the short to intermediate offense.
With Keller, teams will fear loading the box b/c Keller can burn them. This will open up the running game and play action.
Getting back to the D, it just wasnt KC who made them better. Look at the stats. They improved in all D areas. When CP started, they were ranked dead last and that is a huge handicap for any qb.
Some qbs are not meant to always play catch up. If you just want to rely on the qb ,better get Brady or Manning ! It is a team sport and most qbs will lose that have a horrific D.
We can debate all day ,but when the real hitting starts CP will shine.
As I mentioned ,the experts were alarmed at KCs play. There are certain things you show from the beginning and he has not.
Dont get me wrong, I hope KC lights it up but to change qbs you must have some hard concrete facts.
I just wish after years in the system and 8 games under his belt that he would have shown SOMETHING. That last game against the pathetic chiefs burst my bubble.
With the money invested and more important KC not keeping his job, I have to go with the proven leader.
I hope I get a shock this training camp and KC goes wild, but it doesnt look that way.
No matter what the outcome ,the best qb will start.
My apologies, Boland, I did not realize your celebrity blog status warranted a trademark for one of your many clever nicknames.
dmb,
The reason i am figuring on Keller to catch 50 passes is because he will be used as a TE and WR. Which should mean he wll have more passes thrown his way.
RC Meany,
You make some good points. But if Kellen doesn't improve with his pocket presence,reading defense's and his WR progressions he will not beat out Chad. This team was built to run the ball and use lots of play action which is Chad's strengths. I really do believe the Jets can win with either QB and let the best man win. The defense will be the strength of this team.
GO JETS!!!!
Looks like Jason Taylor (DE-stupid fish) has been traded to Washington. See ya', Dancing Queen.
(you're gettin' scooped again, Boland)
: P
Darrell, I really thought you would have spent this time pregaming for the ESPYs....and no more to add on the QBs from you??? Well, there's plenty time for all of us I guess on that one.
There's nothing left to add, Boland...
Pennington starting = write off 2008
Clemens starting = see what the future holds.
Personally, I believe what Cimini wrote a while back. The Jets org. has to be pulling for Clemens to take the job. He's their guy, their pick. The Noodle isn't gettin' any younger. Like I've said before, every team on our schedule is hoping the Jets start Pennington this year.
"Pennington starting = write off 2008
Clemens starting = see what the future holds."
First off Darrell, let me start by saying I really want Clemens to win the job, or I want him to be the starter unless he gets completely absued by Penny in the competition.
To add, i'd even normally say Clemens should be the starter no matter what as we have to see if he can be our QB of the future or not. However, this FO approached the offseason in sort of a win now mode. You don't get guys like Faneca, Woody, and Jenkins (who are on their last legs) so we can potentially be great years down the road. That's the problem with saying we have to see what Clemens can do. We can't because we're built for a win now, so we have to give the job to the best QB. That being said, unless Penny is great, I think we have to be biased with our choice, and really almost say its Clemens' job to lose.