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A heaping helping of Sunday training camp stuff . . .
In today’s practice, nickel back Brian Poole had two big hits on slot receiver Jamison Crowder.
First in a red-zone drill, Poole rocked Crowder after a catch. And then later in practice, Poole rocked Crowder again after a wide open catch on the short right side.
Crowder is an incredibly important part of the Jets plans for 2019. He’s not a big player at 5-8 (his combine height) and around 177 pounds. And he’s been a little injury-prone in the past.
The Jets don’t need the hard-hitting Poole rocking him in practice, especially since they aren’t tackling out there (these hits are standing up).
And keep in mind, on both plays, Crowder caught passes, so you have to wonder if part of the extra-umph on the hits was frustration. Poole is having some issues at times covering Crowder.
I think Poole is a terrific player and a key signing for the Jets, upgrading a position that was a huge problem for them the last few years. Adding this guy was an underrated off-season move for the Jets.
But these two hits weren’t good for the Jets, and need to be avoided as the summer progresses.
The Jets need Crowder badly. Darnold and Crowder have already developed a nice chemistry and Sam clearly likes throwing to the Duke-product . . .
Deontay Burnett isn’t the biggest receivers (6-0, 186) and not the fastest, but that guy consistently gets open and catches the ball. He is a terrific route-runner.
He is one of those guys you just throw out the height, weight and speed and just watch him play . . .
Second-year defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd, who was rushed into the starting lineup prematurely by the former regime, had a terrific run stop for a loss today on Eli McGuire . . .
Trumaine Johnson is excellent covering fades in the end zone with his great length and technique. In a 7-on-7 drill, he had a terrific PD on a fade from Darnold to Robby Anderson.
My position on Johnson has always been the same. He is a very good CB who has terrific technique and ball skills, but with his 4.6-4.7 speed, if you don’t get a pass rush, he can be stressed by speed. So if Gregg Williams delivers the kind of pressure on the QB his schemes has delivered consistently over the years, Johnson could have a terrific season . . .
I think a guy who is a big part of the Jets’ plan who isn’t discussed a lot is linebacker Harvey Langi. He is getting a lot of prime-time reps on defense. He is really athletic and plays with a lot of spirit, often yelling loudly after making plays, like after a nice run stop for a loss today. The Tongan-American is 6-2, 250 pounds and carries it very well. He ran 4.62 before the 2018 draft. He’s versatile and Gregg Williams likes to move him around a lot. Remember, he was given a big bonus as an undrafted free agent by New England in 2017, made the team, and then was seriously injured in a car accident. He’s fine now, and looks like a player who has an excellent chance making the Jets . . .
While he has left tackle potential, the Jets are mainly playing rookie Chuma Edoga at right tackle with the second team. Eric Smith is getting the second-team reps at left tackle. Smith, who joined the Jets late last season off New England’s practice squad, played for Gase in Miami . . .
July 28, 2019
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