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He was one of the most important hires by Robert Saleh and it worked out very well.
Talking about Jets offensive line coach and running game coordinator John Benton.
Honestly, it was surprising that Kyle Shanahan let him get out of San Francisco, where he was offensive line coach from 2017-20.
Benton did a heck of a job during his first year as Jets line coach.
Just think about all the big runs by Michael Carter, or the improved play of center Connor McGovern and left tackle George Fant, or the development of rookie guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.
If there was such an award as “Jets Assistant Coach of the Year” Benton deserved it.
Yes, Zach Wilson was sacked nine times in the season finale in Buffalo, but keep in mind McGovern and Fant were out, and Wilson sometimes holds the ball too long.
Some people are quick to say the Jets need a lot of offensive line help to protect Zach Wilson, but that narrative is overrated.
First of all, both McGovern and Fant will be back next year, as will Vera-Tucker, and perhaps they move Mekhi Becton to right tackle, a better position for a man his size. We will see who the right guard will be, but let’s not forget they had three guys on their practice squad last year they were developing – Dru Samia, Isaiah Williams and Ross Pierschbacher, who they like. Maybe one of them grabs the job.
Hey, the Jets could pick a lineman in the first few rounds, but with all their needs on defense, not sure it’s a great idea with the 4th or 1oth pick in the first round.
But whatever they do in terms of player personnel move on their offensive line, those players are in good hands with Benton developing them.
Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur knows he was fortunate that they were able to get Benton on their staff after Robert Saleh was hired as head coach in 2021.
“(Getting) John Benton was big,” LaFleur said in an exclusive interview with the Jets website. “He has done it for so long in this league, he’s done it successfully at so many different stops. So for us to be able to get him here was an absolutely huge hire, not only for myself as a first-time play-caller, first-time coordinator, but for the players, to have a guy with that much knowledge and for a guy who has been able to develop players to a high level.”
And for the sage Benton to get to work with so many offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl, will help the Jets in the draft. Let’s say an offensive tackle like Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning or Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann slips to the top of the second round, based on the Jets coaching them in Mobile, and Benton checking them out all week, Joe Douglas will know whether to pull the trigger on one of those guys.
Or two other guys the Jets coached, who could be considered after the first round, Boston College’s guard/center Zion Johnson or Tennessee-Chattanooga’s Cole Strange.
They will lean on Benton a great deal in the evaluation of these players.
Just like they lean on him to coach the guys already in the building.
This was a really good hire by Saleh.
February 9, 2022
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