Dustin Keller, as he did on draft day, good-naturedly deflected questions about his perceived inability to block.
"It was something in college I wasn’t asked to do that much," Keller said a little while ago in the locker room between morning and afternoon practice sessions at the Jets rookie minicamp. "It's just something where some people may perceive me one way and if it's in a negative sense, I just have to go out there and prove those people wrong."
Keller didn’t say his critics were outright incorrect, more that they exaggerated a bit, such as one network that on draft day put up the graphic "won't block" when Keller’s name was announced. Keller's coach at Purdue, Joe Tiller, for his part, in an interview earlier this week called Keller, "underrated as a blocker."
"When you step up to the NFL, you have to improve on everything," Keller said. "My strength was running routes and getting open, but now I’m still going to have to improve upon that, just like I will with my blocking."
Keller, is on the practice field today with the Jets other five draft picks, the 10 undrafted free agents who have signed with the team and 34 tryout invitees. Joining that group are seven players already on the roster – WR David Ball, DB Etienne Boulay, OL Stanley Daniels, P Jeremy Kapinos, OL Clint Oldenburg, QB Brett Ratliff and OL Robert Turner, for a total of 57 players in the camp. The media heads out in about an hour for the 45-minute session of practice we're allowed to watch.
Comments (6)
Can someone please tell me his official numbers- height, weight, and 40 yard dash time. Have seen 6'-2" to 6'-4", 240lbs- 255lbs, and 40 time around 4.55 but been stated he has ran it as low as in the high 4.4's like 4.7-4.9!
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/dustin-keller?id=1074
He is considered 6'3", 242, 4.55 but like i said i have heard others say the above. so what is he really?
If people are saying you can't block or that you won't block, I'm pretty sure that's the definition of being underrated as a blocker. In fact, it might be closer to being unrated as a blocker.
I'm still not sure about the pick but the least of my concerns is his ability to block. Ever since the glory days of Mickey Shuler, Rocky Klever and the immortal Tom Coombs, the Jets have had no trouble finding tight ends that can block. Now, tight ends that can catch? That's another story.
Brad, we asked Keller that exact question about his height. He said, "6-2 3/8"" Weight is 248 and the official combine number I have for his 40 is 4.53.
Andy, you forgot Richard Caster.
Say what you will about Kyle Brady but that guy could block like a tank. Who among us didn't want the Jets to follow his lead on short yardage plays?
Kyle Brady could in fact block like a tank, but when he had to run routes it almost looked like he was moving backward, he was so slow. Never was much of a receiving threat. I think we could have something very special in Keller. I also still believe we need Chris Baker who has a lot to offer now that the line is improved and he will not be asked to block as much.