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Florham Park – Okay, it’s almost show time . . .
So now after seeing the Jets all spring and summer, what can we make of this team entering Week One of the season?
I do think the football culture is improved.
And a perfect example of that is Quinnen Williams not starting.
He will play a lot, but he’s not starting. It doesn’t matter that he was the third pick overall, he’s not starting yet. The Jets have thrown away the anointing oil that was aplenty with the last two football regimes. Williams is a heck of a prospect, but he still has some work to do. It’s not written anywhere that a rookie should start immediately just because he was picked in the first round. It’s certainly not something that is written in New England.
The Jets’ defensive culture clearly has improved with Gregg Williams. The Jets’ defense was lacking the last couple of years, lacking discipline, accountability and so forth. Look, the proof will be in the pudding when the games start, but I’m telling you, Gregg Williams has transformed the attitude and mindset of the Jets’ defense. We aren’t allowed to watch Jets practice during the season after the first 20 minutes, but you go outside in the parking lot by the press room to go to your car, and you can still hear him yelling on the distant field the Jets are practicing on.
Speaking of the defense, I think the Jets’ run defense will be much better than last year with C.J. Mosley replacing Darron Lee, and them taking a step back with Nathan Shepherd and developing him the right way, taking their time and letting him be a backup.
The pass rush should be improved. Gregg Williams said today that the pass rushers are better than people think, and I agree. I don’t think it’s great, but I do think it’s better than people think with guys like with Harvey Langi, Frankie Luvu, Bronson Kaufausi and Tarell Basham, who all flashed this summer. They are all athletic and have great motors.
The safeties should be fine, but the cornerback situation is still a concern. Huge upgrade at nickel with Brian Poole, but will Trumaine Johnson bounce back from a mercurial first season in green, and can Darryl Roberts handle the #2 job. Both remain to be seen.
On offense, I think the line can be good in time, but remember, the three interior players have never played in a game together, and didn’t practice a lot this summer since Kalil was brought along slow after signing late, and guards Brian Winters (shoulder) and Kelechi Osemele (pec) missed a lot of time late in camp with injuries.
Who knows what to expect from Le’Veon Bell. We haven’t seen him play tackle football since the 2017 season. I’m not saying he will struggle. He could be great. We have no idea.
As for the passing game, Sam Darnold should benefit a great deal from two additions – Bell and slot receiver Jamison Crowder, who can both get him quick, easy throws. Crowder has amazing short area quickness to cut away from defensive backs in a heartbeat, and obviously the Jets will throw a ton of short passes to Bell and let him do his thing.
Special teams are hard to comment on right now with a new kicker and punt returner who just arrived. We shall see.
I’m not going to make any kind of record prediction, but I do think the Jets will win their share of games. As I’ve said before, the three play-callers Gase (offense), Williams (defense) and Brant Boyer (special teams) will rarely get out-coached. This is a heck of strategic trio.
September 6, 2019
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