While Jets WR Denzel Mims brings a lot of positive attributes to the table, the second-round pick out of Baylor believes that the most well-rounded part of his game is his blocking.
The Jets are hoping Mims can be a go-to receiver for them as a rookie. He’s speedy — he ran a 4.38 40-yard dash — and has plus contested-catch ability. He recorded 66 catches for 1,020 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns in his final collegiate season. And yet, the pass-catcher feels that he’s at his best when he’s away from the football.
“I can say the strongest part of my game is really my blocking,” Mims said in an interview with Jets team reporters. “I am a guy that really loves to block and I take pride in that. You got to block for your running backs and your quarterback because if I want the ball and I want them to be able to trust me, I feel like I need to think the game when it comes to blocking first. Then, I will be able to catch the balls.”
Shout out to Denzel Mims for blocking his ass off at every opportunity. He might not get a lot of credit for it because we get distracted by everything else he does well, but trust me coaches notice this effort.
Gruden and Mayock would love this dude to be on their team. pic.twitter.com/A80WPlk4Kv
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) March 2, 2020
While the Jets anticipate Mims being a playmaker in the passing game, his willingness to stick out his nose in the run game should also be a big boost for New York.
Adam Gase plans to use more of an outside-zone run scheme in 2020 in hopes of properly utilizing Le’Veon Bell. Gase knows that Bell has the proper traits to be effective in this scheme, but the Jets didn’t have the correct personnel to run behind in 2019. With a revamped offensive line and a more than willing blocker in Mims, the change should add an additional element to a Jets offense that ranked 32nd in yards per play last season.
Early on, Mims already has a chance to make an immediate impact as a complement to both Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder. Still, it’s impressive that a rookie who has yet to step on an NFL field already knows that his blocking will open up the playbook for himself and those around him.