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After the second Jets-Giants joint practice, today in East Rutherford, WNBC’s Bruce Beck asked Aaron Glenn: “Does (Justin) Fields’ presence impress you? It’s not an arrogance, it’s like a confidence, even when he’s just walking out there.”
“I’m going to say this again, he is a very mature man, and for the 15th, 16th, or 17th time, I expect that out of him,” Glenn said. “So, nothing changes with that guy, I’m just telling you right now. He’s always going to be Steady Eddie, and nothing takes him too high, nothing takes him too low.”
If I were Glenn, I’d sign up for 15, 16 or 17 more questions like this. Why? They sure beat questions about progression scans or Garrett Wilson’s limited production in most practices, like today.
I’m serious. Let’s them keep asking this. It’s a narrative you should love as you and your staff continue the diligent work of improving Fields’ game in practice and trying to get him to play than his 14-30 lifetime NFL record.
If I were Fields’ coach, I’d sign up for “presence” and “confidence” questions every press conference. Sure beats other stuff you could ask about . . .
Defensive tackle Leonard Taylor continues to spend a lot of time in offensive backfields.
Today, he beats Giants left guard Jon Runyan for a QB pressure.
Taylor had two big plays against the Packers in Saturday’s preseason game. He had a QB pressure, forcing Malik Willis into the hands of LB Jamin Davis for a sack, and then on the next series, he sacked Willis in the end zone, the QB fumbed, and it was recovered by DT Jay Tufele for a touchdown.
On these two plays in Green Bay, he beat Sean Rhyan on both plays, an interior lineman started 17 games for the Packers last year. And Runyan is a Giants starter.
The point is simple – this isn’t just Taylor beating backups in the summer, which is often the case for young defensive linemen, who are not on the first team . . .
While the Fields-Wilson combo wasn’t the prolific today, there were a couple of passes today where all the attention paid to Wilson created easy throws to WR Brandon Smith on crossing routes underneath.
On both plays, Wilson ran deep routes down the right side, helping clear out space for the shallow crossing route Smith ran.
Smith continues to have a strong camp, and if he continues doing what he’s doing he will likely make the team . . .
Early in practice, the Jets had three receivers lined up right, and somebody jumped, so they replaced them with three other receivers. Aaron Glenn isn’t messing around . . .
One of the reasons I don’t like QB practice stats in minicamp or training camp is because sometimes hard to discern whose fault an incompletion was.
Example was in the Jet-Giants practice, when QB Adrian Martinez threw an out route to WR Quintin Skinner. The only problem was Skinner was running a seam route.
Whose fault was this? I have no idea, and this is one of many reasons why training camp QB stats are foolish.
This is the time of year to work out the kinks on plays like this, not grade players . . .
Look, we are “talking about practice” to quote Allen Iverson, but as I mentioned before, the connection between Fields and Wilson in camp hasn’t been prolific.
The most successful connection between the two today in the scrimmage pat of practice was probably a cross over the short middle, similar to the three completions on the Jets scoring drive in the first quarter in Green Bay – right front and center in the QB’s wheelhouse.
Look, it’s hard to see everything with so much going on, on different fields, in a joint practices, but I saw two deep outs from Fields to Wilson that were incomplete.
The idea that it’s awesome for Wilson that he’s reunited with his former Ohio State teammate is a narrative that has received way too much play.
Overrated.
College teammate, or no college teammate, not speaking for Garrett, but I’m sure he’d rather have more balls delivered on time and with more anticipation than have a teammate he can sing “Buckeye Battle Cry” with.
Look, the proof will be in the pudding once the real games start, but how on earth could Wilson be thrilled with what is going on in most of these practices?
He’s too often like the Maytag Repairman.
Look, I’m not trying to stir anything up. Just reporting what I’m seeing.
The Fields-Wilson connection needs a lot of work.
But hey, that is what training camp is for.
August 13, 2025
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