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Isaiah Williams is an interesting signing.
The 28-year-old journeyman offensive lineman, who has not only bounced around the NFL, but played in two defunct football leagues (AAF and XFL), is not raw at all, after all the different teams he’s been with, and all the different pro coaching he got on those teams.
And plus, he was with the 49ers last year, so he knows the Jets’ offensive system, and has worked with Jets line coach John Becton, who came from the 49ers. He also worked in a 49ers-type system in Washington under the great line coach Bill Callahan.
Looking at Williams’ size – 6-3, 306 – most assumed the Jets would play him at guard, but they seem to like him at tackle, his college position at Akron. Remember, the Jets system asks the linemen to block on a lot on the move, so often the linemen aren’t as big as other teams.
Not putting him in Canton, just saying he’s not a raw player, he knows the system, and can certainly fill-in if needed, and not fall on his face . . .
The Jets’ linebacker pass coverage was a little substandard against the Eagles in practice.
C.J. Mosley’s still is a work-in-progress in the new system. Even though he’s 29, and a season veteran, he’s never played in a system like this in the NFL, and we saw a few rough plays in coverage vs. Philadelphia in practice, like when running back Miles Saunders cut away from him, in a red zone drill, to the right side, for an easy TD.
Yes, Mosley lost weight to play in this system, but remember, he’s still 29, had a bad sports hernia in 2019 (last time we saw him play), and you just wonder if he’s lost a step in coverage, even with the weight loss, due to his age, and wear-and-tear.
I would cut him slack now and see what happens in the real games, but this is something to keep an eye on . . .
After watching nickel back Javelin Guidry all spring and summer, he definitely has improved from last year. He’s reading his keys better . . .
A huge challenge for the Jets’ defense in their practices against the Eagles was dealing with QB Jalen Hurts on all the read-option plays Philly runs.
The Jets’ defenders were biting on a lot of the chicanery.
This was a good learning experience for the Jets’ defenders in dealing with this tricky offense moving forward, where it’s hard to tell if the running back has the ball, or the QB is keeping it to run or pass . . .
It’s really hard to find high quality pass rushers, whether it’s in free agency or the draft. In fact, myriad pass rushers who were picked high in the draft turn out to be busts. And with the Jets now without Carl Lawson (achilles) and Vinny Curry (blood disorder) for the season, Robert Saleh was asked if they were going to get another pass rusher.
“It’s always easy, right Connor? To play the fictional game of let’s go get somebody, but the reality is there’s very far and few in between in terms of just what’s available,” Saleh said.
Do any of us really think they are going to find a great pass rusher this time of year, like another team is going to let that kind of guy out of the building by cutting or trading him?
Perhaps the Jets will claim or trade for a pass rusher, but if you think that guy is going to be the panacea for their edge-rush, that is probably a pollyanna viewpoint.
August 26, 2021
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