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Future Hall-of-Fame left tackle Tyron Smith’s first game in green perhaps wasn’t up to his usual standards.
Bill Parcells felt offensive line linemen needed to play some in the preseason because they need some “sparring.”
And you could see a little rust in the opener.
On the Jets’ fourth offensive play, the first play of the second series, defensive end Leonard Floyd beat Smith, and was bearing down on Aaron Rodgers, and the QB flipped to running back Breece Hall who fumbled.
In the early second quarter, Rodgers was sacked by Floyd, but the sack was created by Bosa who beat Smith (and also was called for holding, but the penalty was declined).
In the middle of the second quarter, Rodgers had to throw it away after getting out of the pocket after Bosa pushed back Smith to destroy the pocket. Smith who was called for an illegal formation on the play (declined).
The Jets can only hope this was just rust, and not a decline in his play. Not saying it’s a decline in his play, but after 13 NFL seasons and a lot of injuries, it can happen. We will find out moving forward. But even if Smith, who turns 34 in December, isn’t exactly the same player as his vintage Dallas form, to get cliche, 80 percent of this guy, is still better than most tackles.
But there is no doubt offensive tackles need some game work in the preseason to get ready, but considering his injury history, it’s understandable not playing him in an exhibition game, but not playing certainly hurt his readiness . . .
After the game in San Francisco, Ira Axselrad was in the press conference room watching head coach Robert Saleh’s press conference.
He might have attended one of these before, but I never saw him.
Axselrad is the most powerful man in the Jets organization aside from Woody Johnson.
He is Johnson’s right-hand man. A brilliant lawyer and investor, Axselrad runs The Johnson Company, which manages the family’s money.
He has been involved in a lot of major decisions by the organization in recent years.
So seeing him observing Saleh’s presser was kind of interesting.
Hey, it might not mean anything, but it’s no secret Saleh is perhaps on the hot seat this year, and Axselrad is part of the brain trust that will likely decide his future.
“They all know they are getting fired if they don’t make the playoffs this year,” said Ian O’Connor on FSI promoting his new Rodgers book.
So to Axselrad attentively watching and listening to Saleh’s press conference performance after the Jets’ loss in San Francisco is worth noting.
You’d have to figure that the Jets’ higher-ups were a little troubled by the team’s defensive performance in the opener, giving up 147 yards rushing to backup tailback Jordan Mason, along with too many mental breakdowns in pass coverage, especially dealing with bunch formations.
This defense was hyped as one of the league’s best entering the season (clearly by people who don’t value run defense, a big problem last year).
What really hurts Saleh related to the defensive performance is that it is his wheelhouse.
No owner likes to see his team struggle, but when they look bad on the side of the ball the head coach made his bones, it stings even more . . .
One thing that could help the Jets’ run defense improve is giving linebacker Chazz Surratt more playing time. He’s a true ballhawk who is terrific at working through the trash to get to the ball carrier.
September 11, 2024
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