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The Jets have refs back at practice to call penalties after not having them last year. For some reason, Robert Saleh did away with them last year, if it was indeed his decision.
One penalty call today was on new Jets cornerback Brandon Stephens for pass interference . . .
With all the staff changes at 1 Jets Drive due to the buyouts and new football regime taking over, I did notice today they retained the athletic trainer from the former staff – Dave Zufellato. Saw him today talking to Jets GM Darren Mougey on the sideline . . .
Seeing defensive tackle Jay Tufele for the first time this off-season, he looks like a guy who will help the Jets’ run defense. The former Cincinnati Bengals is built like a fire plug. He’s listed at 6-3, but he’s actually 6-2 (based on his combine measurements), and he is thick from neck to toes. The 305-pounder is hard to move with his power and thickness. There is no doubt the two-time USC Defensive MVP will help the Jets’ run defense . . .
Speaking of new defensive tackles, watching Byron Cowart today, it’s still amazing to consider that this player was #1 high school prospect in the entire country, regardless of position, coming out of Seffner, Florida in 2015. That is heady stuff.
He is now on his seventh NFL team – teams continue to give him chances because of his natural gifts.
While he’s never going to be the star people thought he might become coming out of high school, he’s a solid player.
He’s another guy who could help the Jets’ interior run defense . . .
Jets rookie right tackle Armand Membou had some issues blocking edge-rusher Will McDonald on a couple of plays today, and that is fine.
That is what the spring is for.
This will be great for the maturation process of the uniquely talented Membou, going against the twitchy McDonald. The 21-year-old RT will learn and adjust moving forward. This was one of his first NFL practices . . .
I’m not going to get into depth chart stuff and who is starting, but just making an observation about offensive line depth.
With Josh Myers, Xavier Newman and Chukwuma Okorafor, the Jets should have some good depth. Myers and Newman can play all three interior positions and Okorafor is a backup swing tackle, who started for 3.5 years for the Steelers at right tackle.
We will see what Max Mitchell and Carter Warren can do moving forward after being a little up and down in their first few seasons. Maybe they will take the next step under a new staff.
So it looks like the Jets could have some good offensive line depth this year . . .
Speaking of offensive line, it looks like Jets left tackle Olu Fashanu is fully healed from the plantar fasciitis (foot) injury he suffered in Week 16 last season.
He looked like a full go today in practice . . .
Garrett Wilson and Quinnen Williams had press conferences today and I had the same takeaway from each press briefing – they are taking a wait-and-see approach regarding the Jets’ latest attempt at a fresh start.
Don’t get the wrong idea, neither said anything controversial or disrespectful, but with all the myriad questions they were bombarded with today about yet another cultural renaissance, it’s just too early for them to offer effusive praise for the latest reboot.
And can you blame them for hesitating a little before going gaga about the new regime so early on?
They are both probably a little jaded about what they have been through in green.
Also, with Wilson, he’s trying to land a new megacontract, so he was being careful with every word, not wanting a mistake that could hurt the negotiations. Usually a pretty glib talker in his press conferences, Wilson seemed very measured and careful today.
Sitting through the press conferences today, with Williams, Wilson, safety Andre Cisco and guard John Simpson, and all the questions about the new culture, I’m not going to lie, what was going through my head after covering the team for three decades, I’m thinking – “I’ve seen this play before.”
Look, maybe hiring Glenn will be ticket to finally turning around the, and do think they will improve on defense, and be more disciplined overall with this no-nonsense coach, but I’m definitely taking a wait and see approach about the cultural reboot.
The proof will be in the pudding in the fall.
I’ve been down this road many times.
May 21, 2025
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