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For the first time, I didn’t do a training camp preview issue in July.
I had an epiphany.
What am I previewing?
95 of the personnel decisions by NFL teams are made before camp starts.
Aside from perhaps tight end Lawrence Cager and safety Tony Adams making the roster, what surprises were there?
And this isn’t a criticism of the Jets. It is what it is with NFL teams. Barring injuries, most of the roster is set entering camp.
Honestly, the way things are set up, some long shots really aren’t allowed to beat out draft picks and guys with lucrative guarantees in their contracts.
Will give you two examples:
I like offensive tackle Max Mitchell as a prospect. What I’m about to write isn’t a shot at him at all, and I’m not saying they should have released him. No way.
But Grant Hermanns, who was on the practice squad last year, really wasn’t allowed to beat out Mitchell.
No matter what took place on the field, Hermanns wasn’t going to beat out Mitchell for the fourth offensive tackle spot.
The third offensive tackle, the backup swing tackle, is Conor McDermott, who hurt his ankle in the Green and White scrimmage, but should be ready for the season.
Here is another example.
Backup swingman Dan Feeney got a one-year deal for $3 million with all the money guaranteed.
There is no way Nate Hergig or Ross Pierchbacher were going to beat him out.
Not a shot at Feeney at all. He’s a solid player. I’m just trying to make a point about how most decisions entering camp are fait accompli, barring injuries . . .
Let’s turn to the backup safety situation.
Undrafted free agent rookie Tony Adams made the team (for now at least). He really impressed this summer. He’s smart and a big hitter.
But why did Ashtyn Davis make it over Will Parks, who is on the practice squad?
This might have been confirmation bias.
Robert Saleh said Davis made it based on his body of work from OTAs through the summer.
That’s fine, but what about his body of work in games last season?
The Jets’ safety play was inconsistent last year, and Davis, who is a good guy and hard worker, often seemed a tick late reacting. He was too often a see-and-go reactor.
It’s funny, Parks and Jason Pinnock were running head of Davis in practices, but Davis made it over both of them . . .
Nathan Shepherd is another good guy who works hard, but it was surprising the Jets re-signed him after last year. There were numerous big runs at him last year (and the year before). He’s on the ground too much, and is often manhandled by one blocker.
Saleh loves Shepherd’s motor and toughness, and called him a “king of strain.”
Motor and toughness are important, but so is staying off the ground and not getting engulfed by single blockers too often.
If you buy into this “king of strain” thing too much, and not the results, you could fall into a trap. Of course effort is important, but instincts and play-making are even more important.
Tuesday, August 30.
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