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New Jersey – No question these guys are long-shots, but they are definitely two players worth taking a flyer on. Also some Petty stuff .. .
The Jets signed offensive lineman Sean Hickey and running back Dominique Williams today.
You will see Sean Hickey listed at 6-6, but he’s actually 6-5. College programs tend to embellish heights.
He played left tackle at Syracuse, but isn’t athletic enough to play that position on the NFL level, so he will have to make it at guard or center.
He’s very strong. He had 35 reps of 225 at the 2015 combine. That is excellent.
He’s also very smart. He was a fixture on the All-ACC academic honors lists.
And he was a captain at Syracuse.
Transaction patterns can tell you a lot about a prospect. Hickey signed as an undrafted free against with the New Orleans Saints, and worked as a second-team guard throughout camp. He was one of their final cuts to get down to 53, and was immediately re-signed to the Saints’ practice squad.
Right there, that tells you something. Second-team as a rookie free agent, a final cut and immediately back on the practice squad. All positives.
When he was released from the practice squad after a month, he was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad where he spent some time. Before signing with New England, Tampa Bay was also interested in him.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s going to be an uphill battle for the Murrysville, PA-native, but the transaction activity pattern shows you this is a guy worth kicking the tires on.
Same applies to former Wagner running back Dominique Williams.
He put up monster numbers at 1-AA Wagner (which is waht scouts want to see from a lower level prospects –dominate the level of competition). The three-time captain had 42 career touchdowns.
He had two good training camps for the Minnesota Vikings. His work the first summer landed him on the team’s practice squad. The second summer he was just the odd-man out in a number’s game. Adrian Peterson, Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata weren’t going anywhere. So despite leading the Vikings in rushing in the summer of 2015, Williams was cut.
So once again, this was a good pattern.
He made the practice squad his first year after coming in as a mini-camp tryout player. And then came back the following summer, and had a good preseason, including a two touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys.
Once again, he’s long-shot, but the Bridgeton, New Jersey-native is a guy worth taking a flyer on . . .
A lot of Jets fans are excited about the future of QB Bryce Petty.
He’s got nice size for the NFL (6-3, 230), a terrific arm and pretty good wheels.
But like the man he replaced by Baylor, Robert Griffin, he’s found out the transition from that rudimentary college system to the NFL is a quantum leap.
“Bryce has made a lot of progress, we’re kind of excited to have another offseason with him,” said Mike Maccagnan.
While the off-season is important, we really won’t know much about Petty’s progress until the preseason games – real football.
I think he needs another NFL red-shirt year. Going from that Baylor offense to an NFL offense, is almost like going from one sport to a different sport.
When you think of Baylor, think of how you used to play football in the street – go to the fire hydrant, and cut across the street and I’ll throw you the ball.
Petty still has a lot of work to do.
I understand RG III was a high first round pick and Petty went in the fourth, but the Jets should learn from the Griffin situation in Washington.
With Baylor QB prospects, take your time.
January 19, 2016
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