Content available exclusively for subscribers
There are always positives and negatives to every play in a football practice.
Obviously because it’s the same team, and if an offensive guy wins a battle, a defensive guy is losing, and vice-versa.
And to me, watching closely today, there were a ton of completed passes. And there were plenty of completions the first two days of camp. That is great for the Jets’ quarterbacks and receivers, but very bad for the Jets’ pass defense, which was bad last year, and hasn’t looked much better in camp.
I think rookie Jamal Adams is going to be fine, but he needs more help. The Jets will probably start rookie safety Marcus Maye next to him. I have to be honest, I haven’t noticed him that much out there. I don’t mean that in a good or bad way. I will have to get back to you on him. I don’t have a take yet.
But what I’m really talking about today, in terms of more help for Adams, is the cornerback position.
I’m going to be totally honest about this – if Morris Claiborne gets hurt, the Jets are in a heap on trouble. He’s look like the real deal – a legit #1 cornerback.
Most of the other Jets corners are struggling in this camp. Buster Skrine looks like he’s having confidence issues right now. Secondary coach Dennard Wilson lit into him after giving up a big gain over the middle. Justin Burris isn’t having a good camp either. As I’ve written before, he has some hip stiffness, so it hurts his ability to transition with receivers when they cut away from. I think he’s a better fit at safety. Darryl Roberts has also been getting some starting reps, but based on my observations of him last season, in the spring, and so far in training camp, he’s a sub-package cornerback, not a starter. Why? Too inconsistent. He will make some good plays because he’s fast and tough, but he has inconsistent eyes, which leads to some bad plays. He’s very up-and-down.
I think all three of these guys could have a role for the Jets, but none of them look like starting cornerbacks to me, based on what I’m seeing. I’m just keeping it real, man.
The second-best cornerback out here has been Marcus Williams, who has made some nice plays on the ball. The problem with starting him is while he probably has the best instincts of any cornerback on the Jets, and is usually in the right place, he has 4.6 speed, and if he has to hold up too long on an island, he sometimes gets exposed from a speed standpoint.
Another problem hurting the Jets secondary is the team still isn’t getting much of an edge rush. Their defensive line is terrific, and will get an occasional pressure or sack, but in the 3-4, you need dynamic edge-rushers, and you rarely see Jets outside linebacker getting to the quarterback in this camp. Kevin Greene is an excellent OLB coach, but he can make guys into the player he was just with his coaching. They need the tools – like loose hips, short-area burst, good bend, terrific first step quickness, and the Jets just don’t have somebody with all those characteristics right now.
August 1, 2017
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Thursday (Jets are off on Wednesday).