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It would have been good for Sauce Gardner if Giants star receiver Malik Nabors were available for today’s practice. Nabors is out with a toe injury.
These would have been awesome reps for Gardner against a very unique talent.
Throughout camp, we have seen signs that the fourth-year corner has already benefited from having Aaron Glenn as his head coach. While it remains to be seen what kind of head coach Glenn will be, there is no questioning his acumen at developing defensive backs. The combination of Glenn and cornerback coach Dre Ble, two excellent ballhawks during their NFL playing careers, has already impacted Gardner in a positive way.
However, one thing Gardner still needs to work on is his grabby nature.
In the Jets’ first 2025 preseason game, a 30-10 win over Green Bay, he got called for holding speedy Packers rookie Mathew Golden on the second series, and he might have dodged a bullet on the first series on a third-down PD on Romeo Doubs. He might have been a little grabby on that one, but he was not called.
Look, it’s really hard to play corner in the NFL with all the strict rules that favor the receivers, but it’s well documented Gardner needs to cut down on penalties, having been flagged 10 times last season . . .
Speaking of the secondary, Giants QB Russell Wilson threw two pretty easy touchdown passes back-to-back in a red zone drill against the Jets’ secondary, first to tight end Theo Johnson and then to wide receiver Darius Slayton.
These plays didn’t pass the eye test.
They were too easy against an Aaron Glenn secondary.
I am very careful not to anoint blame for blown coverages without having access to the playbook or knowing the play call.
All I can tell you is that Tony Adams was in the area on both catches.
I have no idea if either was his fault. Just saying he was in the vicinity of both.
He is a player who was benched last year by the owner after the Arizona game.
Not saying Woody Johnson should be involved in benching players, but the former head coach and interim coach didn’t like to do that.
Some would make the argument that Adams is best served as a third safety and a core special teams player.
Some would argue he’s starting material.
We will see where the new regime goes with this one.
Once again – I have no idea if either player was his fault, but in both cases, he was close to the scene of the crime . . .
There were two plays today that summed up Michael Clemons’ game in a nutshell.
The Giants’ Devin Singletary had a nice run off left tackle. On the play, Clemons took a step towards an inside gap, and when the running cut it outside, the defensive end was overcommitted to the inside, and the running back easily took the corner.
In the same practice, Clemons had a terrific run stop right on the line. Didn’t catch the number of the running back (and there are no replays in practice), but it was a nice stop for no gain or a yard.
The point here is simple. Clemons doesn’t have the requisite speed to consistently prevent runners from taking the edge on him. This isn’t his fault. While he’s tough as boot leather and has a great motor, he wasn’t blessed with great speed or flexibility. It is what it is.
But when you run into his wheelhouse, like on the second play, he’s a very good run defender.
That is why I think he would be better served at defensive tackle, but what do I know? . . .
As you might know by now, Jets rookie QB Brady Cook left practice today with a right foot or ankle injury.
Aaron Glenn said he was stepped on.
Saw the doctors and trainers doing a lot of work on him under a medical tent, and could not tell if they were focused on his right foot or ankle. It was far away and I was looking through binoculars, but they were certainly working down by his right foot or ankle.
So all of a sudden, the Jets are painfully thin at QB and will need to sign somebody, with both Tyrod Taylor (knee) and Cook out. Not sure how long Cook will be out, but considering he needed to be driven off on a golf cart to get inside the trainer’s room, you’d have to assume he will likely be out for a little bit . . .
Jets rookie Arian Smith has been a fixture at the JUGS Machine (pictured above) every day after practice.
August 12, 2025
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