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TE Jonnu Smith, Miami (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter Biabreakable
- Start date
This thread needs more Jonnu analysis. From Barry Jackson of the Herald (Miami pounced on the domain name). I a little hyped about Smith now as a Miami fan. For fantasy, it still comes down to usage.
>>Smith’s addition will make the Dolphins’ passing game more dangerous in 12 personnel (which features one running back, two receivers, two tight ends at the same time) and likely compel them to use that package more often. Last season, the Dolphins used two tight-end sets on just 98 plays, per TruMedia. Only the Rams ran fewer plays out of 12 personnel (58). The Dolphins passed on 31 of those plays and those passing plays averaged just 6.6 yards per attempt, which tied for 23rd in the league.
The Dolphins’ two-tight end sets (usually Durham Smythe and Julian Hill) had success running the ball, averaging 6.4 yards per carry in 12 personnel, which was best in the NFL.
Because Miami ran so well out of 12 personnel last season, Miami’s 6.3 average yards per play out of 12 personnel tied with Tennessee for second best, behind only the 49ers’ 6.7 average per play. With a serviceable receiver in Smythe (35 catches in 43 catches for career-high 366 yards last season) and a very good one in Smith, there will be more motivation to use 12 personnel and less predictability when Miami uses it because neither player is deficient as a blocker or receiver. Smith pass blocked only 44 times for Atlanta last season, and he allowed no sacks and just three pressures, which is excellent. PFF rated him the 14th best pass blocking tight end among 74. PFF rated Smith and Julian Hill as below-average run blockers. But Hill had some very good moments as a run blocker last season, and Smith is very competent in that area. Per 3YardsPerCarry’s Chris Kouffman, Miami averaged just 2.1 yards per run and 5.1 yards per pass out of 12 personnel in 2022, when Mike Gesicki and Smythe were the primary tandem.
The difference now is that Smith is considered a better blocker than Gesicki and can line up in-line far more often (and more successfully) than Gesicki, creating a new wrinkle for defenses. Smith’s addition also lessens the need to pay significant money for a No. 3 wide receiver. Miami still needs a competent one, but Smith can pick up some of the targets that would go to a No. 3. Keep in mind that Miami threw a league-low 52 passes to tight ends last season. Twenty two individual tight ends had more targets than that.
Here’s another other area where Smith really helps: He led all NFL tight ends in average YAC (yards after catch) per reception over the past three seasons, including 7.3 last season. Conversely, Miami’s tight ends averaged 3.0 in YAC last season, which was worst in the league. Former Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera, appearing as an analyst on ESPN, explained how helpful it is to have a player like that on a team with speedy Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on the outside: “When you try to stop that deep threat, there’s a big opening underneath. If you get a tight end that can catch and run, that’s big threat for your offense.”
Smith can do a lot of damage in general, but particularly when teams play the two high-safety looks that slowed the Dolphins’ offense at times last season. Among players with more than 22 catches last season, Smith and 49ers Pro Bowler George Kittle led the NFL in YAC average at 7.3 per catch. Overall, Smith was eighth in yards-after-catch among tight ends with 366.
The Dolphins already have two of the league’s fastest receivers (Hill and Waddle) and two of the fastest running backs (Raheem Mostert and DeVon Achane). And now, based on play speed, they have one of the league’s faster tight ends. Per Next Gen Stats, Smith has also reached at least 20 miles per hour on five separate occasions since 2018, tied for the most among tight ends over that span. In 2023, Smith reached a top speed of 21.15 mph, the third-fastest speed by any tight end in the NGS era.
Since 2018, Smith and Evan Engram are tied for the most 20-plus mile per hour touches among tight ends, with five apiece. Darren Waller and George Kittle are next on the list with three.
Smith has proven to be effective on screens and in the red zone. In the red zone, he has been thrown 38 passes during the past four seasons and caught 23 of them, with 10 touchdowns. Because the Chase Claypool trade didn’t work out, Miami lacked a legitimate red zone threat with size last season. Smith, at 6-3, should solve that problem. On screens, Smith finished the season with the third-most YAC over expected on screens (+71), behind only Rachaad White and Deebo Samuel, per NextGen Stats. Keep in mind that the Dolphins threw 42 screens to wide receivers last season, tied for most in the NFL, but just one to tight ends. Last season, Smith caught 11 screens for 136 yards (12.4 per reception) and two touchdowns.
Smith had his most success working with Arthur Smith, both as Tennessee’s tight ends coach and offensive coordinator (for four years) and last year, as Falcons coach, when Jonnu Smith set career highs in receptions (50) and receiving yards (582).
In between were two underwhelming seasons in New England, where he caught 55 passes for 539 yards combined in 2021 and 2022 and where he was hurt by mediocre quarterback play and offensive coaching, among other things. “Jonnu is somebody that’s made plays in big-time games, and he’s been good,” Arthur Smith said. “He’s a great catch-and-run player. He’s hard to tackle. You can call him a tight end but he [can] be a [pseudo] running back or a receiver.” In his career, Smith has rushed 17 times for 127 yards – 7.5 per carry.
Overall last season, PFF rated Smith 38th and Smythe 56th among 72 qualifying tight ends. ▪ Smith caught 50 of 70 targets last season, but only seven tight ends had more drops than Smith’s five last season. He fumbled once. ▪ Of his 50 catches, 26 went for first downs. ▪ Only five tight ends had more penalties than Smith’s five last season. His 653 snaps were 25th most among tight ends; Smythe was 11th with 839 snaps. ▪ Falcons quarterbacks had a 100 passer rating when targeting Smith; it wasn’t higher because of the drops, but more so, the erratic play of quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. Smythe was at 101.7.
Smith played 51 and 49 percent of the Patriots’ offensive snaps in his two seasons there and 58 percent in Atlanta last season. As perspective, Smythe played 76 percent of Miami’s offensive snaps last season, up from 58 percent in 2022, when he was paired with Gesicki. ▪ Smith will become the first FIU player to appear in a regular season game for the Dolphins.<<
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article286392305.html#storylink=cpy
>>Smith’s addition will make the Dolphins’ passing game more dangerous in 12 personnel (which features one running back, two receivers, two tight ends at the same time) and likely compel them to use that package more often. Last season, the Dolphins used two tight-end sets on just 98 plays, per TruMedia. Only the Rams ran fewer plays out of 12 personnel (58). The Dolphins passed on 31 of those plays and those passing plays averaged just 6.6 yards per attempt, which tied for 23rd in the league.
The Dolphins’ two-tight end sets (usually Durham Smythe and Julian Hill) had success running the ball, averaging 6.4 yards per carry in 12 personnel, which was best in the NFL.
Because Miami ran so well out of 12 personnel last season, Miami’s 6.3 average yards per play out of 12 personnel tied with Tennessee for second best, behind only the 49ers’ 6.7 average per play. With a serviceable receiver in Smythe (35 catches in 43 catches for career-high 366 yards last season) and a very good one in Smith, there will be more motivation to use 12 personnel and less predictability when Miami uses it because neither player is deficient as a blocker or receiver. Smith pass blocked only 44 times for Atlanta last season, and he allowed no sacks and just three pressures, which is excellent. PFF rated him the 14th best pass blocking tight end among 74. PFF rated Smith and Julian Hill as below-average run blockers. But Hill had some very good moments as a run blocker last season, and Smith is very competent in that area. Per 3YardsPerCarry’s Chris Kouffman, Miami averaged just 2.1 yards per run and 5.1 yards per pass out of 12 personnel in 2022, when Mike Gesicki and Smythe were the primary tandem.
The difference now is that Smith is considered a better blocker than Gesicki and can line up in-line far more often (and more successfully) than Gesicki, creating a new wrinkle for defenses. Smith’s addition also lessens the need to pay significant money for a No. 3 wide receiver. Miami still needs a competent one, but Smith can pick up some of the targets that would go to a No. 3. Keep in mind that Miami threw a league-low 52 passes to tight ends last season. Twenty two individual tight ends had more targets than that.
Here’s another other area where Smith really helps: He led all NFL tight ends in average YAC (yards after catch) per reception over the past three seasons, including 7.3 last season. Conversely, Miami’s tight ends averaged 3.0 in YAC last season, which was worst in the league. Former Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera, appearing as an analyst on ESPN, explained how helpful it is to have a player like that on a team with speedy Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on the outside: “When you try to stop that deep threat, there’s a big opening underneath. If you get a tight end that can catch and run, that’s big threat for your offense.”
Smith can do a lot of damage in general, but particularly when teams play the two high-safety looks that slowed the Dolphins’ offense at times last season. Among players with more than 22 catches last season, Smith and 49ers Pro Bowler George Kittle led the NFL in YAC average at 7.3 per catch. Overall, Smith was eighth in yards-after-catch among tight ends with 366.
The Dolphins already have two of the league’s fastest receivers (Hill and Waddle) and two of the fastest running backs (Raheem Mostert and DeVon Achane). And now, based on play speed, they have one of the league’s faster tight ends. Per Next Gen Stats, Smith has also reached at least 20 miles per hour on five separate occasions since 2018, tied for the most among tight ends over that span. In 2023, Smith reached a top speed of 21.15 mph, the third-fastest speed by any tight end in the NGS era.
Since 2018, Smith and Evan Engram are tied for the most 20-plus mile per hour touches among tight ends, with five apiece. Darren Waller and George Kittle are next on the list with three.
Smith has proven to be effective on screens and in the red zone. In the red zone, he has been thrown 38 passes during the past four seasons and caught 23 of them, with 10 touchdowns. Because the Chase Claypool trade didn’t work out, Miami lacked a legitimate red zone threat with size last season. Smith, at 6-3, should solve that problem. On screens, Smith finished the season with the third-most YAC over expected on screens (+71), behind only Rachaad White and Deebo Samuel, per NextGen Stats. Keep in mind that the Dolphins threw 42 screens to wide receivers last season, tied for most in the NFL, but just one to tight ends. Last season, Smith caught 11 screens for 136 yards (12.4 per reception) and two touchdowns.
Smith had his most success working with Arthur Smith, both as Tennessee’s tight ends coach and offensive coordinator (for four years) and last year, as Falcons coach, when Jonnu Smith set career highs in receptions (50) and receiving yards (582).
In between were two underwhelming seasons in New England, where he caught 55 passes for 539 yards combined in 2021 and 2022 and where he was hurt by mediocre quarterback play and offensive coaching, among other things. “Jonnu is somebody that’s made plays in big-time games, and he’s been good,” Arthur Smith said. “He’s a great catch-and-run player. He’s hard to tackle. You can call him a tight end but he [can] be a [pseudo] running back or a receiver.” In his career, Smith has rushed 17 times for 127 yards – 7.5 per carry.
Overall last season, PFF rated Smith 38th and Smythe 56th among 72 qualifying tight ends. ▪ Smith caught 50 of 70 targets last season, but only seven tight ends had more drops than Smith’s five last season. He fumbled once. ▪ Of his 50 catches, 26 went for first downs. ▪ Only five tight ends had more penalties than Smith’s five last season. His 653 snaps were 25th most among tight ends; Smythe was 11th with 839 snaps. ▪ Falcons quarterbacks had a 100 passer rating when targeting Smith; it wasn’t higher because of the drops, but more so, the erratic play of quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. Smythe was at 101.7.
Smith played 51 and 49 percent of the Patriots’ offensive snaps in his two seasons there and 58 percent in Atlanta last season. As perspective, Smythe played 76 percent of Miami’s offensive snaps last season, up from 58 percent in 2022, when he was paired with Gesicki. ▪ Smith will become the first FIU player to appear in a regular season game for the Dolphins.<<
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article286392305.html#storylink=cpy
rockaction
Footballguy
^ Thanks for that. The Herald is behind a paywall, I think.
