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In the middle of Aaron Glenn’s press conference after Tuesday’s OTA practice, he was asked by WPIX sports reporter Kate Rooney: “How would you assess what you’ve seen from Justin Fields so far?”
Glenn responded: “I think I answer this question every time I come up here.”
Rooney replied: “This is my first time here.”
Rooney had been covering the Knicks’ playoff run over the last month and had not been at any of the Jets’ spring practices open to the media.
Glenn might need to get used to questions about Fields every time he takes to the podium to address the media.
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He went on to say he was joking, and then provided a long answer about Fields.
“There’s things about that player I think every coach wants those players to have,” Glenn said. “And he has this quiet confidence about himself. He leads by the way that he wants to lead. His influence with the guys out there, I think you guys can see it. He can galvanize a group of men.”
I have not seen it. The media’s vantage point is too far away to pick up on that. That isn’t a complaint about the media’s vantage point. I am happy anytime they let us in to watch practice. I’m just being honest that when Aaron says, “You guys can see it,” I’m just saying “I can’t.”
We are on an elevated patio looking over the fields and the action is often somewhat far away.
Not a complaint. Not at all, just saying I have not seen Fields’ interactions with teammates up close yet, so I really can’t comment on that.
Glenn continued: “Obviously, he’s a talented player and I’m happy that I have him as my quarterback, I really am, because I think the sky’s the limit for this player. I really do.”
Glenn truly believes in the player. There is no questioning his raw talent – world-class speed, howitzer arm to go along with great size. This isn’t a little guy running around there – this is a big man.
As for the “sky’s the limit for this player,” some in Chicago and Pittsburgh might have a different perspective on that. Those were his first two stops in the NFL, and the results were somewhat pedestrian.
But the lightbulb may come on with the Jets, much like it did last year for Sam Darnold in Minnesota. We shall see.
But it’s not just going to come on because of Glenn and Darren Mougey’s strong belief in the player. You can’t will a player to be better than he is.
It’s going to have to come from the player taking the next step at reading defenses, going through his progressions, processing faster and throwing with more anticipation.
“I’m not going to go out there and say that he’s the next Joe Namath or anything like that, but I will tell you what, he’s going to be a good player for us, and I’m excited with what he’s going to do for us this season,” Glenn said.
The best chance of success for Fields with the Jets will be using him in a formula like Washington used with Jayden Daniels last year, with that QB rushing 148 times last season. The Jets need to run Fields a ton and use a lot of RPOs and bootlegs like Washington did with Daniels.
That’s the ticket.
June 5, 2025
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