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New Jersey – This is always an exciting time for players, coaches, personnel guys and fans in the NFL. After a long off-season, and two weeks of training camp, it’s time for some real football . . .
A few things I will be looking at closely in the Jets-Jaguars game on Thursday night . . .
I’m interested to see how the Jets re-worked offensive line fairs against a Jacksonville team loaded with talented pass rushers, including 2015 first-round pick Dante Fowler.
I know there is a lot of concern about this line in the Jets Nation, but I think they are going to be okay.
The Jets new left tackle, Ryan Clady, has been superb in training camp. I know there was some concern that after two knee injuries and a Lis Franc foot ailment, he might have lost something, but based on the first two weeks of camp, I don’t think so. He still have the feet of a dancing bear and the overall athleticism of a much smaller athlete.
As for the right side, starter Breno Giacomini is out, but the platoon of Brent Qvale and Ben Ijalana has been holding down the fort over there, and have both look solid.
If Giacomini can’t come return from his back injury at the beginning of the season, and he stays on the PUP list, I think the Jets will be fine. Check out Qvale and Ijalana tomorrow night. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Forget about evaluating what Christian Hackenberg does in this game. First of all, I’m not even sure he’s going to play. He’s fourth on the depth chart. This is a redshirt year for Hackenberg. What he does this summer is irrelevant.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is going to be the starter, and has had a good camp. What he does in his brief stint in the first quarterback is immaterial.
The big thing to watch at quarterback is what Geno Smith and Bryce Petty do.
Petty has taken a huge step from Year One to Year Two. Look, I’m not putting him in Canton, I’m just saying he’s clearly improved from his rookie year. He’s very smart and a tireless worker, and all this labor has paid dues. But while he’s done some good things in practice, the Jets need to see him in real game action to truly discern if he has taken a big step. Remember, in NFL practices, you can’t touch the quarterback. That is why they wear red jerseys. So let’s see what he does with a really good pass rush swarming around him.
Smith also needs a good preseason, especially if Petty surges.
How will the Jets young receivers do in this game with the bright lights on? Jalin Marshall, Charone Peake and Robbie Marshall have all looked good in camp. Let’s see what they do in game action.
It will be interesting to see what the Jets’ outside linebackers do in this game – Lorenzo Mauldin, Jordan Jenkins, Freddie Bishop and company. These jobs are still up for grabs. The pass rushing in camp has been underwhelming. Some guys need to step up.
August 10, 2016
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