Content available exclusively for subscribers
Florham Park – Just $7.95 a month for the good stuff from Florham . . .
It’s funny, the day the Jets signed former Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil, Jon Harrison might have had his best block of training camp, locking up Leonard Williams and Le’Veon Bell ran behind him for a big gain up the middle.
Harrison is a good center, but when you have a chance to land a multi-Pro Bowler, and you have the cap space, why not go for it?
When healthy, Kalil is a heck of a football player.
The Jets needed another center. Jon Toth is undersized and can get pushed around and Jordan Morgan, a guard by trade, was having snapping issues.
So if/when Kalil becomes the starting center, Harrison would revert back to his old role as the backup center and interior swing player . . .
When talking about the Jets’ inside linebacker position, don’t leave James Burgess out of the conversation.
Gregg Williams likes him from their days in Cleveland together. He’s a savvy veteran and he knows the system.
I remember when Burgess signed him in the spring, Williams came over to greet him and hugged at practice . . .
Speaking of reserve inside linebackers, the Jets are lucky to have Neville Hewitt. He is a terrific insurance policy behind C.J. Mosley and Avery Williamson. He’s had a good camp consistently making plays when his named is called. Today he had a nice run stop on the line on Eli McGuire . . .
I just don’t understand all the people who express concerns about the Jets’ left tackle spot. Honestly, I think Kelvin Beachum is very good – not Orlando Pace – but very good.
Early in the team part of practice (full offense vs. full defense), on a bubble screen to Robby Anderson, Beachum did a nice job pulling to the second level and taking out CB Trumaine Johnson clearing the way for a nice gain by the wide receiver . . .
Here is another example of why QB practice stats in the spring and summer are foolish.
Today, the Jets’ offense was working on screen passes.
But while they are important, they are generally pretty easy throws, so who cares about Sam Darnold’s completions stats in a practice loaded with these kind of easy throws?
Man are QB practice stats foolish . . .
Rookie free agent safety Santos Ramirez is a long shot, but the Arkansas-product certain has garnered some attention for how he throws his body around in practice. He’s an unflinching hitter . . .
WR Deontay Burnett had another strong practice.
In a red-zone one-on-one drill (DBs vs. WRs), he had a great catch over CB Arthur Maulet, and they both landed hard on the ground, and Maulet was injured on the play. He tried to walk it off, but was hobbling.
Burnett also caught a deep out from Sam Darnold for a long gain on the right sideline.
Burnett is making himself very hard to cut. He just keeps making plays . . .
One other thing on that deep out from Darnold to Burnett. It was caught between Trumaine Johnson and Brian Poole.
He was wide open.
Johnson and Poole are two players who can help the Jets a lot if used right (both have good coverage instincts), but the problem is when they are the only two guys covering one side of the field, the Jets’ coverage range is limited because neither is a burner, and you saw that issue on this play . . .
Bilal Powell had a draw up the middle during the team part of practice and looked like he was shot out of cannon going for a nice gain up the middle.
Powell just turned 30, but he has still has a really nice burst. Perhaps being a rotational back over the years has allowed him to keep the tread on his tires compared to a featured back . . .
One former player in the national media at practice said the Jets’ defense is playing with a lot more “juice” this year under Gregg Williams.
Williams was yelling up a storm today. His fire and enthusiasm has a great trickle down impact on his players . . .
August 1, 2019
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Friday.