Tyron Smith has already made an impression in his short time with the Jets.
The eight-time Pro Bowl tackle is a perfect fit for the role, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 320 pounds.
He also impressed his new coaches and teammates on the practice field, in the locker room and in the weight room.
“Not to take anybody down, but I’ve seen him in the weight room bench pressing over 400 pounds and it felt like I was doing 135,” coach Robert Saleh said. “He’s a great guy, great personality and it’s definitely great to have him around.”
“As a coach, you always want to protect your guys. It’s easier to tell them to wait than to panic and wait. He’s definitely one of those guys we recognize we have to back off on.”
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been watching Smith in the locker room this spring as he works with young players like first-round draft pick Olu Fashanu.
“It’s great having him next to me in the locker room,” Rodgers said. “I’ve been a fan of his for a long time. He’s a Hall of Fame player, he’s just an exemplary player. He’s a big, strong guy, and he’s not a fat guy.”
Smith was a key addition to the Jets this offseason.
The longtime Cowboys star is now tasked with protecting Rodgers’ blind spot and keeping him safe.
Smith, 33, has himself struggled with injuries and has not played a full season since 2015.
But he said he felt good, and the Cowboys scheduled him to play 13 games last season.
The Jets are likely to take similar measures by limiting the number of times Smith practices.
The Jets’ offensive line was a weakness last year, as injuries ravaged an already shaky team.
General manager Joe Douglas acquired Smith, tackle Morgan Moses and guard John Simpson in March to bolster the line.
Smith said he feels the offense is now capable of achieving big things.
“As long as we’re all on the same page, I think we can be a dominant offensive force,” Smith said. “I think we’re getting close to that point. We just have to stay together.”
While Smith is a valuable presence on the field, he also has great value off it.
They drafted Fashanu with the 11th overall pick with the idea that he wouldn’t need to play right away and could learn from Smith.
“It’s a great relationship,” Smith said recently about his relationship with Fashanu. “He doesn’t shy away from any questions. He’s willing to work on it. Even today after practice we were working on our technique and trying to fine-tune different things because you never know what’s going to happen. In this league, there’s always the next guy in line. Everybody’s got to be ready.”
Saleh said Smith’s leadership is already being demonstrated.
“He’s got great leadership,” Saleh said, “and I know Orr is soaking up all the information he’s getting from him, which is great. I think the tackles and all the offensive linemen are gravitating towards him.”
Smith said he likes to lead by example, but also enjoys giving tips to younger players.
But he’s not a very vocal player, and was a bit shy during his press conference this spring.
“I’ve never been a very passionate type of person,” Smith said. “I try to stay as neutral as possible. I always lead by example. It feels weird being in front of you all right now at a press conference talking because I’m not a very vocal person. I always lead by example.”
The offensive line has been a bit shaky this spring with Moses and Aliyah Vera-Tucker returning from surgery.
Neither has been on the field, so it will be crucial for the starting offensive line to spend time together in training camp to build cohesion.
“I think once training camp starts, no matter what, we’re going to see the benefits,” Smith said. “They’ve both been practicing a lot. They haven’t missed a game. They know the playbook and they haven’t missed a beat.”
