FLORHAM PARK – Head coach Aaron Glenn knows. He bleeds for the Jets no different than their fan base. The playoff drought? The years of dysfunction and ineptitude? The hapless feeling once each game begins? None of it is lost on him.
He embraces it. He wants everyone to do the same.
“Don’t let go of the rope,” Glenn said after the Jets finished their first week of training camp on Saturday. “For all of you guys: Don’t let go of the rope. Hold on tight. Be patient. Give the guys time. We’ll be just fine.”
So far, Glenn has everyone buying in.
Here’s the report from Jets camp.
The quarterbacks
The Jets avoided quite the scare early this week when quarterback Justin Fields rode the cart back to the locker room. Anytime a player cannot get back to the locker room under his own power, it’s troubling. Nerves are warranted. All is OK, though. Fields dislocated a toe (non big toe). He was back at practice (team stretch) the next day. He did individuals and 7-on-7s on Saturday. He’s trending toward returning fully next week.
Tyrod Taylor stepped in in his place. He throws such a pretty pass. There was one down the seam to Garrett Wilson (past Sauce Gardner) on Friday, and another to Josh Reynolds on Saturday (also on Gardner). I know what’s about to happen: A full-blown freakout that receivers beat Gardner twice. That wasn’t the case at all. Gardner had tremendous coverage. It took elite-level throws from Taylor to get it there. He’s capable of that. It’s among the reasons the Jets, as Glenn said, have complete and total confidence in him if he has to play this year.
There isn’t much else to say on Fields because he didn’t practice much pre-injury. The 7-on-7 drill he took part in on Saturday was a thing of beauty, though. He completed all six of his passes including beauties to Tyler Johnson (deep down seam, past Tony Adams) and Arian Smith (sideline route).
Run the ball
This will be the focus in 2025. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if the Jets lead the league in rushing attempts. The most promising development thus far, though, is how the line is holding up in run blocking. The Jets haven’t put the pads on. This puts the defense at an advantage. There have been gaping holes from the backs to run through a couple times each practice. Two, specifically in the red zone on Friday, resulted in Breece Hall touchdowns.
Devil’s advocate: The interior of the Jets defense needs to step up. A warranted counter. There are some concerns at the defensive tackle spot next to Quinnen Williams, but it’s still very promising from an offensive perspective.
There really aren’t that many major starting positional battles this summer. The biggest is at center with Joe Tippmann and Josh Myers. Myers might have the slight edge at the moment, but they go back-and-forth each day. It’s important to remember this coaching staff has zero ties to players drafted by Joe Douglas. Myers spoke this week and said the Jets told him the spot was up for grabs – that’s among the reasons he signed here.
It will be curious to see how long the battle drags on before the Jets commit to one. You’d assume they’d like to have their starting five linemen locked in so they can truly start to build chemistry. The other four spots are set.
The back keeps turning heads
Maybe the most impressive offensive player in camp so far has been Braelon Allen, the second-year back. You already know about his size and physicality (6-foot-1, 235 pounds). He showed pretty absurd speed and improved pass catching, route running, too. He made a little catch on a swing pass on Saturday, then raced up the right sideline. He outran most of the defense on his way for a 50-plus gain.
Allen’s also run the ball well. No, there aren’t any pads or full contact, but you can see his patience as he finds the hole, then bursts through it. He also does not shy away from any contact. That’s the exact mindset and mentality Glenn wants in a back. It’s about the dirty, ugly yards as much as it is the big gainers. Allen has no problem lowering his shoulder and getting three or four, knowing the punishment he delivers there will turn them into chunk plays come the third and fourth quarter.
Many believe Hall will be the Jets bell cow. That might not be the case. The Lions used equal healthy helpings of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. It sure looks like offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand hopes to do the same with the Jets. Don’t sleep on Isaiah Davis either, though. He’s also having a nice summer. It could be a 40-40-20 split.
He’s even better
Will McDonald exploded last year after a disappointing rookie season, registering 10.5 sacks. Glenn said he showed up to camp this summer bigger. The hope is the added weight will allow him to be a bit more well-rounded, improving his ability to set an edge and bull rush.
There are two or three times each day where McDonald is tapping the quarterback on the shoulder for a would-be sack. Most of those are when he uses his speed. Saturday, he had a play where he, quite literally, ran through and over rookie Armand Membou. It was ridiculous. De-cleated him. If McDonald can get to the point where he sets offensive linemen up for his speed, then bull rushes over them when they’re off balance, he might finish this season with Pro Bowl and all-pro honors.
McDonald’s success shouldn’t sound any Membou alarms. The first-round pick is actually having an impressive summer. McDonald is just an animal to deal with. Trust me: I’ve seen what it looks like when a rusher beats a lineman over and over and over again (Carl Lawson, Mekhi Becton). This is not that. Membou has had plenty of wins himself versus McDonald. The rookie will be fine.
This will be fun
The Jets ran a variation of the Oklahoma Drill at practice on Saturday. A ball carrier (receiver, running back) lined up on one side. A defender (corner, safety, linebacker) on the other. On the whistle, the ball carrier’s job is to get around the defender. The defender’s job is to wrap up and square up the ball carrier.
The Jets struggled mightily a year ago with missed tackles. This is Glenn’s way to fix that. It adds to the competition at camp, too. The guys get really, really into it. The highlights Saturday included two Gardner stops on Wilson, Quincy Williams stuffing Hall, and Allen getting past Jamien Sherwood.
The offense is at a disadvantage here because there isn’t tackling. Squaring up and wrapping is not the same as bringing a player to the ground. That’s going to change soon. Glenn said the Jets will run the same drill and tackle to the ground once the pads come on.
Who are the pass catchers?
Wilson will be the focal point of the passing attack. That’s obvious. There’s a competition for the second share of the targets. Reynolds and Johnson made some plays that first week. Rookie tight end Mason Taylor, too. Those are likely the favorites at the moment.
Two guys who haven’t stood out at all: Allen Lazard and Malachi Corley. Corley might be a roster long shot at this point, unless he turns his summer around. Lazard could find himself on the outside, too, considering he brings virtually no value on special teams. Dymere Miller and Jamaal Pritchett have each made far more plays than the other two.
Most NFL teams will keep five or six receivers. Wilson, Reynolds, Johnson and Xavier Gipson look like locks. That would make Lazard fifth. You need your fifth wideout to also contribute on special teams. Lazard does not do that.
Quick hits and tidbits
- Jets practice on Friday ended with a two-minute, drive-the-field drill. Starters versus starters. Taylor got the Jets deep inside the red zone before throwing an interception to Andre Cisco. The safety, whom the Jets signed away from the Jaguars, has flashed this summer with impact plays.
- Cornerback Brandon Stephens struggled a bit during organized team activities and minicamp. He’s been much better early in training camp. You see why Glenn wanted him: He’s sticky and lanky. The ball skills need some work, though. He loses it in the air despite being on his guy.
- Rookie wideout Arian Smith is fast. There’s no denying that. The Jets seem to be giving him an opportunity to carve out a role for himself on offense. This doesn’t appear to be a situation where they’ll sit him on the shelf for a year. They’d like to have him out there on Sundays.
- Jay Tufele might be carving out a role for himself as a run stuffer. He made a few nice plays this week in the backfield. The Jets don’t really have a guy quite like him on the team. Glenn would love to let his pass rushers lose and blitz to disrupt the quarterback. You can’t do that if you’re constantly in second- or third-and-short.
- Rookie tight end Mason Taylor made a diving touchdown grab on Friday in 7-on-7 drills from Tyrod Taylor. Don’t sleep on Jeremy Ruckert, though. He’s also flashed this summer. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Jets use a ton of two tight end sets this season.
- Undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook is a roller coaster. He received a bit of a promotion with the Fields injury, working with the second unit on Saturday. He’ll make some absurd throws, then come back with some bad interceptions. You can see talent, though, which is what Engstrand wants to develop.
The Jets have Sunday off. They will return to practice, in pads, on Monday.
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