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During his press conference today, Jets special teams coordinator Chris Banjo was asked several questions about the kicking competition in practice this week between Blake Grupe and Jason Sanders
He was asked what would determine the winner, and he said it would be the guy who showed the most “confidence and consistency.”
Someone asked him what if both guys do, and he said, “We will see.”
You could argue these kicking competitions that NFL teams have are far from an exact science.
Guys kicking at practice against their own teammates at their training facility isn’t the same thing as kicking in a stadium on game day against an opponent.
And in a kicking competition, in a perfect world, shouldn’t it be held at your home stadium, where the winds might be different than at your training complex?
Granted, the Jets are playing on the road this week, but still, if you are picking a kicker, don’t you want to see how he will deal with the winds of your home stadium?
It seemed like the Jets had decided on their kicker at the end of camp when they picked Sanders over Cade York.
But then they claimed Grupe on waivers from the Colts.
Was this because they thought Grupe was better, or because Sanders missed a field goal and an extra point in the Jets’ final preseason game against the Giants? You could argue the field goal miss should not have been held against him since it was 54 yards. Teams generally don’t sour on a kicker for missing from 54 yards. So maybe it was the extra point, or they really liked Grupe and wanted the chance to grab him on waivers.
But you know what would be great: if NFL teams stressed competition to his degree at all positions, at all times – have open competition at all positions to this degree, whether it’s at inside linebacker, backup QB, kicker, wherever . . .
Coaches always rave about opponents before a game. It’s what they do.
When the late great Lou Holtz was at Notre Dame, he could be playing UTEP, and he would talk about them like they were the ’85 Bears.
One time, before a Jets-Patriots game, during New England’s dynasty with Tom Brady, Bill Belichick was doing a conference call with the New York media a few days before a game. He was so effusive in his praise that New York Post writer Mark Cannizzaro, who knew Belichick well from his time as Giants DC, said to the legendary coach at the end of his long opening statement praising the Jets, “Bill, why even bother showing up?”
It was hilarious.
All week out of Florham Park, you have been hearing over-the-top praise for Titans QB Cam Ward, who the Jets face on Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Once again, this is expected.
Jets DC Brian Duker said today, “He’s obviously a good player. Number one overall pick for a reason. You can see the guy processes really well. He’s got a strong arm, accurate arm. He does a good job in the drop-back game.”
What I’m about to do is not a criticism of Duker, but more a critical analysis of the QB the Jets will face on Sunday.
No, he’s not a good NFL player, at least not yet.
No, he doesn’t process that well.
And he was picked #1 because most NFL teams desperately need QBs and are really bad at scouting them. In retrospect, not only should he not have gone first overall, but he probably should not have been picked in the first round.
No, he is not accurate. Last year, he completed just 59.8 percent of his passes, and issues with his lower-body mechanics hurt his accuracy.
Once again, I’m not criticizing Duker. He did what he had to do in a press conference when talking about an opponent.
I’m just trying to keep it real, folks.
However, with all this being said, Ward could certainly lead the Titans to a win over the Jets on Sunday.
Week One is the hardest game to game-plan for on defense because the opposing offense is going to throw a lot of unscouted looks at you that are not on their film.
And Titans OC Brian Daboll is a very good play-caller, so he expect a lot of gadgetry on Sunday; expect a lot of eye candy to make it easier on Ward.
But no, Ward is not a good NFL QB right now . . .
Pictured above on an old cover of Jets Confidential Magazine is Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, who the Titans surprisingly didn’t pick in the first round with the fourth pick, instead going for his college teammate, WR Carnell Tate. Strange pick for a team with a defensive-minded head coach (though he might not have made the pick).
Teams think that picking receivers will make their QB better. Perhaps a little, but not much. It can’t help them read defenses better, go through their progressions better, or manipulate DBs with their eyes. Doesn’t work that way.
September 10, 2026
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