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A few thoughts from the Jets’ scrimmage . . .
Well first of all, it really wasn’t a scrimmage. It was a glorified practice. They did all the individual work and then had the team part of practice (11-on-11), but there was no tackling. It was basically like most other training camp practices . . .
Marcus Maye (shoulder) was finally able to practice full.
Early in the team part of practice, tight end Chris Herndon lined up wide left and Maye was on him.
This assignment is illustrative of what Maye can bring to the Jets’ pass defense. He is a very mobile safety who can run with fast tight ends like Herndon and many wide receivers.
So getting him back is huge for the Jets’ secondary, which clearly has some question marks at cornerback right now. Maye can handle some assignments that would often go to corners . . .
As you all know, I’ve never been a proponent of quarterback stats in spring and summer practices, especially since you can’t sack (or touch) the quarterback, and a lot of plays go on beyond how long they would in a games.
And there was an example in this practice of why practice QB stats are foolish.
Wide receiver Josh Bellamy was running a shallow cross. He caught the ball after bobbling in. While he was bobbling it, linebacker James Burgess in a position to absolutely light up the receiver – standing right in front of him in a zone, but he pulled up because he didn’t want to injure his teammate. Bellamy caught the pass, but if this was a game, Burgess likely would have leveled him as he juggled the ball, likely making it an incompletion.
This isn’t real football. Spare me with the stats.
And by the way, Burgess was in great position on this play. He has very strong instincts. He is going to help the Jets fill the Avery Williamson void . . .
Center Ryan Kalil had a snap over the head of Sam Darnold. Big deal. Who cares? The guy hadn’t had a full football practice (or game) since the end of last season with the Carolina Panthers.
He will work it out. He’s a Pro Bowl player. Did anybody expect his first practice, with a new team, in a new offense, to go perfectly?
But I will tell you this, even with Kalil still getting comfortable, you could see how skillful he is, like when he opened up a big hole up the middle blocking Leonard Williams on a Le’Veon Bell touchdown run. Kalil’s technique is superb . . .
Rookie free agent defensive lineman Kyle Phillips continues to impress. He had an impressive play in this practice where he shed an offensive lineman and stopped a runner on the line.
This guy is way better than I thought he was. What happens sometimes with prospects from college programs that are struggling is they get devalued. Phillips played at Tennessee, a program that’s lost its luster. This isn’t Peyton Manning’s Tennessee.
So if you are talented defensive lineman on a team like this, without a lot of other talent, you are getting extra attention from opposing blockers, so Phillips numbers weren’t gaudy for the Volunteers.
But you now with Phillips in a situation where he is always facing single blocks, he is flashing. He was a focal point of opponents at Tennessee. He isn’t with the Jets, and he’s constantly beating single blocks.
He plays with a great motor, has a good bull rush, and is spending a lot of time in offensive backfields in practice and the Jets’ first two preseason games.
I think this guy is a nice find for the Jets . . .
Tight end Daniel Brown had a strong “scrimmage.” He’s really going to come in handy for the Jets during Chris Herndon’s four-game suspension.
August 19, 2019
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