MOBILE, Ala. — Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd needed no introduction to Jets coach Rex Ryan this week at the Senior Bowl. The two have gotten to know each other over the last year after Ryan’s youngest son, Seth, enrolled at Clemson and walked on to the football team as a wide receiver.
Boyd said he spent about an hour Tuesday night talking to Ryan and the Jets here. If the Jets decide to stick with Geno Smith as their starting quarterback, they may opt to draft a quarterback like Boyd in the middle to late rounds as a backup to develop. That would be OK with Boyd.
“I would love playing for Rex,” Boyd said. “That’s one of my favorite coaches. He’s very charismatic, a little sarcastic sometimes, but I love it. We’ve got a good relationship. I’ve been a fan of him. He’s been a fan of me for the past few years. Who knows what could happen in that situation? You’ve got to keep on pressing and grinding.”
Ryan watched the Clemson season closely this year, so he knows what Boyd is capable of. Boyd threw for 3,851 yards, 34 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2013 and guided the Tigers to an 11-2 season that ended with an Orange Bowl victory over Ohio State. Boyd completed 31 of 40 passes for 378 yards and five touchdowns along with 127 rushing yards and a touchdown in that 40-35 win. Ryan was in the crowd that night in South Florida.
The knock on the 6-foot-1 Boyd is his height and whether he can operate a pro-style offense after playing in a spread at Clemson. He has been erratic this week in Senior Bowl practices and some coaches are wondering if his big numbers are a product of the Clemson system and playing with talented wide receivers such as Sammy Watkins, the projected top receiver in this draft.
“The one thing about all the receivers that they have in common is, obviously, I threw them the football,” Boyd said. “It’s not like they were throwing the ball to themselves. Over time those things develop in relationships. You develop consistency. You develop an identity with those guys on the field. It’s more than just go out on the field and throw the ball up.”
The Jets face an interesting decision at quarterback after Smith had an up-and-down rookie year. The Jets could opt to bring in competition. But that would mean going the free-agent route or using a high draft pick on a quarterback, something they may not want to do with as many needs as they have.
They might end up sticking with Smith and drafting someone such as Boyd to develop and to compete with Matt Simms for the backup job.
Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is another quarterback who has gotten attention this week and could be a developmental pick in the later rounds. He said he also met with the Jets on Tuesday night.
As for Boyd, he knows the right things to say if Rex Ryan ends up as his boss. Asked by a New York reporter about the ability of Seth Ryan, a 5-11, 160-pound walk-on, to replace Watkins next year, Boyd smiled.
“Seth catches everything around him,” Boyd said. “He doesn’t drop a pass.”
Right answer.