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I’m sorry for being a broken record every spring and summer, but I find QB practice stats by the media at OTA and mini-camp practices absurd.
This time of year is for teaching, installation and experimenting, not QB stats, which are often devoid of context.
For instance, we don’t even know if young receivers are running the right routes, so there might be an incompletion attached to the QB, but it was not his fault.
Additionally, another reason media QB stats can be counterproductive this time of year is that quarterbacks should use this time to experiment with receivers, such as on fade routes and anticipatory throws.
But one thing to consider about whatever Justin Fields’ stats were today, he was checking down quite a bit.
In seven-on-seven and team drills, he took a lot of stuff underneath, the stuff that defenses will often give you.
So if his media practice stats were good, that is something you need to consider – how many checkdowns were there?
I think after being considered turnover-prone in Chicago, he’s being super careful with the ball. You saw that in his six starts in Pittsburgh last year.
But just like I don’t like media QB stats in the spring and summer, I’m not a huge fan of QBs checking down or scrambling a lot in practice, because it doesn’t give quality reps to receivers and defensive backs, allowing them more chances to make plays on intermediate and deep passes.
But for goodness’ sake, can we stop the QB media stats in spring practices? Jeez . . .
With all the attention on Jets rookie tight end Mason Taylor (who is still unsigned), free agent tight end addition Stone Smartt has kind of gone under the radar in the spring, but could be a factor in the passing game.
A former college receiver at Old Dominion, he entered the league as a UDFA with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022, and was moved to tight end, and did a nice job of growing into his new position over the last three years. The Jets are getting him at a good time. He’s now comfortable in his tight end skin.
He’s listed at 226 pounds, which is clearly not big enough to be an NFL tight end, but there is no way that weight is accurate. That was his college weight. Looking at him today, I’d say he’s 20 pounds heavier than that now . . .
While they stress the importance of not taking people to the ground, imploring players to stay off the ground, sometimes it’s hard to avoid, based on the power and brute strength of some players.
There was a nice run by Isaiah Davis up the middle, and guard Kohl Levao sent defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis to the ground, opening the hole.
The 6-5, 350-pound Levao is an absolute powerhouse. The native of Pago Pago, American Samoa is a player to keep an eye on in camp. He’s a true roadgrader who consistently gets a lot of push in the run game . . .
On May 16, the Jets signed defensive tackle Michael Fletcher. I don’t know much about him as a player, but one thing we do know is he is tall (6-6), and today that height came in handy with him blocking two passes at the line . . .
After missing last season with an injury, linebacker Zaire Barnes is back to 100 percent, and he showed his terrific instincts today, working through the traffic to stop a runner (didn’t catch the number) on a pitch right for a loss . . .
WR Malachi Corley seems to be rehabbing something. It doesn’t seem serious, but he was not practicing today . . .
May 29, 2025
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