Joe Tiller coached Dustin Keller at Purdue and didn't run away from the "doesn't block" question. He embraced it, with humor.
"Yes, it's true his first couple years, he wouldn't block Molly Putz," Tiller said in a phone interview earlier today. "He was allergic to blocking, but he improved as he got older."
And there was this: "Freshman and sophomore years, his idea of a block was something found around the street corner."
But Tiller also pointed out several times that was in the past.
"I think he’s a little underrated as a blocker," he said.
Tiller said Keller's overall development, blocking included, had been impressive to watch. Keller came to Purdue having been a wide receiver, known as much for his ability in the high jump - an event in which he was an Indiana high school state champion - as anything else.
"His YAC (yards after catch) stuff changed," Tiller said. "As a senior, he was a real handful for anybody. His junior year, he was a real challenge as a receiver, but not necessarily dangerous after he caught the ball. He can do things not just athletically but as football player, too. I’ve seen him hurdle guys; he just has good football speed and football sense."
The Jets rookie minicamp is this weekend.