LONDON -- A look at what’s going on around the New York Jets (our early version of Sunday notes):

1. Smitty to the rescue: The Jets drafted Devin Smith with the 37th overall pick because they believe he can be an all-round receiver, not just a deep threat. They need it to happen sooner than later because, on an offense filled with veteran skill-position players, the dynamic Smith is the X Factor. He has what they need -- explosiveness. The quicker he demonstrates it, the better chance they have of becoming more than just a grind-it-out, workmanlike offense.

Smith wasn't given much of a chance to show his full skill set last week in his NFL debut. Yes, he was targeted nine times, but the average target distance in air yards was 22.6 -- pretty much a replay of his Ohio State days. That won't work, not with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback. Fitzpatrick can do a lot of nice things, but throwing the deep ball isn't one of them. He has attempted 19 passes of at least 20 yards (second-most in the league), but the aggressive mentality has resulted in a league-high three interceptions and only two completions, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Smith is playing catch-up because he missed nearly two months with fractured ribs, so this is his training camp, essentially. You can't expect overnight success, but he needs to grow into a prominent role to give the offense more versatility. Don't be surprised if his breakout game happens Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Their No. 2 cornerback is Brice McCain, who was awful last week. He will be targeted -- a lot.

2. No need to panic, but ... : New general manager Mike Maccagnan filled a lot of needs in the offseason, but he failed to acquire a change-of-pace running back -- and it’s starting to show up. He re-signed Bilal Powell and added Zac Stacy and Stevan Ridley to the stable, joining Chris Ivory. They have similar skill sets. As Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said, "The running backs are straight, downhill guys." In fact, only 14 of their 72 designed rushes have gone outside the tackles, per ESPN Stats. The once-vaunted running game is off to a sluggish start, and this is one of the reasons why.

3. At home in London: Not many NFL executives can travel to Great Britain and say, "This is where it all started." Maccagnan can. His first front-office position came in 1991 when he was the director of player personnel for the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football. It was a memorable year, as London won the inaugural World Bowl.

4. The Buddy Bowl: Sunday’s game will be a special reunion for linebacker Erin Henderson, whose close friend and former Minnesota Vikings teammate Greg Jennings will be playing for the Dolphins. Jennings was a pillar of strength for Henderson last year. Henderson was in alcohol rehab after an arrest, trying to get his life together and wondering if he’d ever play again. Jennings visited him in rehab and attended therapy sessions. They did a lot of praying together.

"He was a big help for me in a rough time -- a real rough patch in my life," Henderson told me. "He was there for me, a shoulder I could lean on. The fact that he didn’t have to be there made it that much more special for me. He took time out of his schedule and away from his family to show he cared about me and my well being."

That's a cool story.

5. Plugging a leak: It’s too early to draw any definitive conclusions, but has anybody noticed the Jets aren’t getting torched by tight ends? This was a major issue last season, as they allowed a league-high 14 touchdowns to tight ends. They also were the only team not to intercept a pass on a tight-end target. After three games, they have allowed only five catches and no touchdowns. Granted, they haven’t faced any Pro Bowlers -- Rob Gronkowski is looming in three weeks -- but let’s give credit where it’s due. Some of it goes to Calvin Pryor, who believes his pass coverage has improved because he’s getting more chances to play his natural position, strong safety.

"It has a lot to do with me being down in the box," he told me. "Whatever you saw last year is going to be totally different than what you see this year."

Pryor and fellow safety Marcus Gilchrist have one interception apiece, but they came on passes to wide receivers.

6. The Miami Jets: Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum isn’t the only ex-Jets executive working for the Miami Dolphins. Their front office also includes former Jets president Matt Higgins (vice chairman) and ex-cap specialist Dawn Aponte (executive vice president/football administration). Wait, there's another.

A few months ago, Tannenbaum hired his former boss, Terry Bradway, as Miami’s college scout for the Northeast region. Bradway spent 14 years with the Jets, first as the GM and later as a top scout. His run came to an abrupt end last January, when he was fired by new GM Mike Maccagnan. He was on the job for, oh, about a minute before he sent Bradway packing. It was the start of a front office/scouting overhaul by Maccagnan.

7. Unbreakable (well, almost): Willie Colon is one tough dude. He twisted his right knee on the first play of last week’s game -- his non-surgically repaired knee -- but he stayed in the game, fighting through the pain. At the end of the first half, it became too much. He didn’t have enough strength in his knee to plant his leg on a bull rush by Philadelphia linebacker Vinny Curry. Colon got pushed backward into Fitzpatrick, bear-hugging Curry in an attempt to protect his quarterback. That’s when he knew it was time to get out. Colon (sprained MCL) is expected to miss two to three weeks. They will miss his nastiness Sunday against Suh.

8. Money ball: Two of the most expensive free agents from last offseason are playing in this game -- Suh (six years, $114 million) and Darrelle Revis (five years, $70 million). They will make a combined $42.5 million in 2015. Consider: The entire Miami Marlins baseball team has a $62.2 million payroll. Wow.

9. Shopping for Martellus? I received a couple of questions on Twitter about the possibility of trading for Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett. The rebuilding Bears are having a fire sale and the Jets are hurting at tight end, but I don't see it happening. Bennett isn't cheap ($4.9 million this year, $5.1 million next year) and the tight-end position doesn't have a prominent role in Chan Gailey's offense. It's wishful thinking.

10. Film critic: Calvin Pace couldn't sleep on the six-hour flight to London, so he watched a movie, "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2." He wasn't impressed.

"My kids rave about that movie, so I was like, 'Let me check it out,'" he said. "It wasn’t bad, you know what I’m saying? The first one was better, though."