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Have to admit . . .
I had no idea what a tremendous route-runner Corey Davis is.
Knew he was a very good receiver, but what a craftsman he is as a route-runner. He is great at setting up defensive backs.
That skill was on full display in the Jets’ first series in their preseason win over Green Bay. On third-and-eight, Davis ran a virtuoso route, cutting away from Packers cornerback Eric Stokes, from the left sideline to the middle, for a 24-yard gain.
Now it’s true that the Packers were playing backups against the Jets’ starters, but it should be pointed out that Stokes was Green Bay’s 2021 first-round pick, and one the best corners in the draft.
Davis’ amazing route-running ability has been display all training camp, with him constantly cutting away from Jets defensive backs, creating big throwing windows for Zach Wilson . . .
While preseason games are boring, they are very helpful in player evaluations, especially for guys vying for spots at the end on the roster and on the practice squad.
With that being said, what CB Elijah Campbell did in the fourth quarter of the Jets-Packers game is significant, with not one, but two tackles covering punts.
That is what you need to do. He’s not getting a ton of reps, so when you get your chances, you need to take advantage of them, and Campbell did just that.
This will help his case.
Campbell has certainly paid his dues. The Northern Iowa product, not only played in the Alliance of American Football, but the XFL, two defunct football leagues.
Not sure what is going on with Justin Hardee, the Pro Bowl special teams player the Jets signed in the off-season to help their kick and punt coverage, but he hasn’t practice in a while due to a hip injury.
But if Hardee is out for any significant amount of time, Campbell is showing that he could possible help . . .
We have opined on this website, that perhaps Tyler Kroft is best served as a #2 or #3 tight end due to inconsistent hands in camp, but he certainly made a strong statement in Green Bay for the starting job, with two touchdown catches from Wilson.
So give credit where credit is do.
Kroft is a player with a nice size-speed ratio, at 6-5 1/2, 252 pounds with 4.67 speed, and has flashed in the league, during stints with Cincinnati and Buffalo.
The big issue with him over the years has been staying healthy.
If he can, he will help the Jets. He’s definitely developed quick chemistry with Wilson. I might have been too hard on him about a couple of practice drops . . .
With the announcement from Robert Saleh that linebacker Jarrad Davis (ankle) will be out at least until the bye-week, the coach said that Jamien Sherwood would replace him.
With that being said, they better start getting better defensive line play, with D-Linemen drawing more double teams, because now with two converted safeties (Sherwood and Hamash Nasrildeen) starting at outside linebacker, and a slimmed down C.J. Mosley at ILB, what we have been seeing in practice and preseason games, is offensive linemen getting to the second level and mauling some of these guys. While it’s fine to have smaller linebackers with good range which can help you in coverage, you need to protect them better, because since they are smaller, they don’t have the body armor of 3-4 linebackers to stack-and-shed lineman as effectively.
August 23, 2021
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