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These plays could be a harbinger of good things to come in . . .
The Jets’ pass defense was somewhat inconsistent last year.
It’s an area they need to be must better in 2022-23 if they are going to have a successful season.
And there was a stretch at practice today which could make one think things are going to be a lot better this year.
First Kwon Alexander had a near pick on a mid-range pass on the left side. He read Joe Flacco’s eyes, and back peddled to the area of the throw, and nearly picked it off.
It was the kind of linebacking pass coverage the Jets need more of.
Then cornerback Bryce Hall had a terrific PD way down the left side on a pass to Garrett Wilson.
Then Jordan Whitehead jumped a crossing route (not sure of the receiver) and picked off Flacco.
This trio of plays, in a short stretch of practice, should make the Jets’ brass ecstatic.
First you had a big-time play by a coverage linebacker just added, then you had Hall, who has had a really good camp, making a great play down field, and then Whitehead, a prized free agent addition, with a tremendous play, jumping that crossing route.
Not to cast aspersions on some of the players on last year’s defense who played hard, but you just didn’t see a lot of plays like this last year.
Alexander is the kind of coverage linebacker who should help the Jets a great deal this year, same with Whitehead at safety.
Hall, one of the few bright spots on the Jets defense last year, looks like he’s ready to take a big step this year, whether he’s the #3 cornerback, or maybe the outside corner on passing downs, with D.J. Reed move into the slot.
These three plays should give Jets fans a lot of hope. Three big time plays in pass defense in a very short period of time . . .
Mike White looked really good out there today, including three nice connections on crossing routes to Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore and Lawrence Cager.
White gives the Jets a very good insurance policy behind Flacco . . .
New Jets lineman, center/guard Chris Glaser, had a pancake block on DT Jonathan Marshall, on a run to the right side.
Joe Douglas knows how to spot O-Line talent, even with long shots . . .
Jets defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton was raving about DT Tanzel Smart during a press conference on Wednesday.
And the former Tulane star continues to flash in camp.
He shot into the backfield today to “stop” Michael Carter for a loss.
The only reason “stop” is in parenthesis is because they don’t tackle, but the way Smart beat a block and shot into the backfield to disrupt the play was impressive.
Smart is a very hard worker who is often one of the last guys off the practice field . . .
It’s going to be interesting to see what Carl Lawson will do in games coming off the achilles injury, in real football. Because he continues to beat Jets’ offensive tackles off the ball and to make disruptive plays in the backfield on a regular basis. He certainly looks like his old Cincinnati self in practice . . .
I just don’t get this narrative.
While it stinks for Zach Wilson that he got hurt. You don’t like to see any player get hurt, but this idea that they are in trouble at the QB position without him is a perplexing narrative.
While Wilson has a big upside, and rare arm talent, there obviously more to the position than that, and this week in practice, it just seemed like with the three quarterbacks practicing, the team’s passing offense was perhaps a tad more productive.
It was a really productive week for Jets receivers.
And very little QB scrambling, which some coaches over the years, considered wasted reps, for the offense and defense, in training camp practices.
Once again, Wilson has a lot of potential, but this idea that they are in trouble without him, at this stage of his development, is a narrative that might not be on target.
August 18, 2022
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