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Florham Park – There was a situation today where center Josh Myers snapped to Justin Fields before he was ready, leading to a messed-up play. A little miscommunication here, and that is what camp is for, to work out kinks like this.
Myers was at center because Joe Tippmann was at left guard with John Simpson out with a back issue.
However, some might argue that this configuration should be part of the discussion – Myers at center and Tippmann at right guard.
First of all, this gives the Jets more size up front, and secondly, it takes the shotgun snapping pressure off Tippmann, something he struggled with last year.
Myers was the Green Bay Packers’ starting center for the last four seasons, and Tippmann could be a heck of a pulling right guard.
Not trying to bench Simpson or anything. He’s a solid player. Just saying the concept of putting Myers at center and Tippmann at right guard is something that can’t be ruled out . . .
WR Arian Smith had a couple of big plays in the passing game today, one on a mid-range corner route on the left side of the end zone. He seemed to pull away from CB Azareye’h Thomas and then beat Sauce Gardner on a go-route down the right sideline.
While the second one was a really nice throw to the speedy Smith, it should be pointed out that Tony Adams blitzed on this play, got to Fields, but the safety pulled up (because you can’t touch the QB), and after Adams pulled up, then Fields threw the deep pass. So this play might not have happened in a real game.
But nonetheless, it was a nice throw, and even Gardner, who ran 4.41 coming out, had a hard time keeping up with Smith, who has world-class speed.
There were some concerns with Smith’s hands coming out of Georgia, but that has not been an issue at all in camp . . .
There was another big pass play in camp today where you have to wonder if it would have happened in a real game.
Quincy Williams blitzed, but pulled up before hitting the QB, and after the linebacker pumped the brakes, Fields hit wide receiver Allen Lazard on a crossing route for a nice gain
Another play that might have ended in a real game, but continued, and benefited the defense, was when LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball blitzed, got to Tyrod Taylor, and the QB rolled left and threw a pick in the end zone to CB Quan’tez Stiggers.
I credit Taylor for still throwing this ball. Every pass in practice is a chance for offensive and defensive players to work on their ball skills. QB scrambles in camp are a wasted rep for a receiver or defender.
This was a very nice pick by Stiggers, a good rep for him, something that would not have happened if Taylor just kept running.
So this was a practice play where a pick wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but a quality rep, confidence booster, for a young, developing cornerback . . .
With the caveats on the completions to Smith on the deep pass and the crossing route to Lazard, to me, Fields’ best pass today was a deep out to WR Josh Reynolds on the left side between two defenders.
No blitzer pulling up on his play – just a terrific pass . . .
Reynolds looks like an excellent signing for the Jets. He runs good routes, has very consistent hands, and knows the system well from his time in Detroit with Tanner Engstrand . . .
Aaron Glenn was asked today about linebacker Jamien Sherwood, and one of the things he said was, “He’s damn good in coverage. He’s a former safety, so he understands that aspect of the game.”
Look, I understand a head coach pumping up his players to the media, but I can’t get to “damn good in coverage” yet with this player.
In 17 games last year, as a starting linebacker, he had three PDs and no picks. For a former college safety now playing linebacker, you need to get your hands on more footballs in coverage than that.
Look, he’s a terrific player who got a nice new contract this offseason, but the Jets do need to see a little more in coverage from him this season.
August 1, 2025
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