Tag: Adam Gase

Jamal Adams predicts he’ll break defensive back sack record

Jets safety Jamal Adams believes he will break the NFL single-season sack record that’s currently held by former Cardinals S Adrian Wilson.

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Jamal Adams has always been a big believer in himself.

The safety always carries a chip on his shoulder and oozes confidence, so it’s no surprise that he said he will break the NFL single-season sack record for defensive backs.

“If you’re asking, am I going to beat the record? Yes, I will beat the record,” he told reporters after practice on Wednesday. “That’s something I will get.”

The Jets’ third-year safety is three sacks away from holding the NFL single-season record for most sacks by a defensive back. Two weeks ago, the feat didn’t seem possible. Now, he’s ready to blitz himself into the NFL record book.

The NFL record for most sacks by a defensive back in a single season is eight, set by former Cardinals S Adrian Wilson in 2005. Adams has six sacks with six games left to play.

Adams entered the Giants game two weeks ago as a disruptive force, but he only had one sack to his name. After two breathtaking performances, one earning him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week, Adams is now five sacks richer.

He tallied three sacks in Week 11 after finishing Week 10 with nine tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery touchdown.

Gregg Williams has finally found the best use for Adams, deploying him as an edge rusher. Adams loves to blitz and he just might be the best pass-rusher on the team.

His infectious energy and ability to get after the quarterback is rubbing off on the rest of the team and has helped lead the Jets defense to two dominating performances over two NFC East foes.

“To me, it starts with the energy and the attitude,” Adam Gase said of Adams’ performances. “I mean, you feel him the whole game — the sideline, the field, he’s bringing everything he has. He’s just laying it all out there. Some of the plays he’s making, it’s very impressive to watch him play.”

Adam Gase’s Kelvin Beachum comments exemplify what he values

Adam Gase might be known as an offensive mind looking to light up the scoreboard, but he’s also a guy who values heart and determination.

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Adam Gase doesn’t come across as an old-school coach who places an emphasis on physical play and grit. Given some of the offenses he has orchestrated over the years, it’s easy to understand why that’s a thought.

In Denver, Gase oversaw an offensive attack that broke records through the air. With Peyton Manning spreading the ball around to the likes of Demaryius and Julius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and C.J. Anderson out of the backfield, not much thought was given to a bruising rushing attack or the Broncos’ play in the trenches.

Don’t be fooled by Gase’s past offenses, though. As it turns out, heart and determination are what open his eyes more than anything else.

Jets left tackle Kelvin Beachum has been banged up all season. He has injured his ankle multiple times and has been forced to miss a couple of games. Considering what Beachum has endured this season and how long he has been in the league, he would have every right to worry about his body before the team. Playing in the trenches for nearly a decade is grueling and takes a heavy toll.

Instead, the veteran has battled the pain and done everything in his power to stay on the field.

“My respect level for him is extremely high for what he’s endured,” Gase said on Wednesday. “He refuses to be held out of practice. He’s stepped up big time for them.”

Beachum isn’t the only Jet who has earned Gase’s respect with his perseverance this season. Before landing on season-ending injured reserve, Brian Winters played through shoulder and knee injuries. With the severity of both injuries, Winters could have elected to get surgery and nobody would’ve batted an eye. That was never an option for the veteran guard, though. He’d rather be dragged off the field kicking and screaming than give in to an injury.

“He’s putting duct tape all over his body right now,” Gase said in October. “But he’s fighting through it. He’s giving us everything he’s got.”

Compare how glowingly Gase speaks of Beachum and Winters to the coach’s comments on Kelechi Osemele before he was released. The Osemele situation, combined with Gase’s words regarding Beachum and Winters leaving everything they have on the field, have provided clarity into what Gase really looks for in his players.

He’ll forever be known as an offensive mind looking to light up the scoreboard, but don’t undersell Gase’s affinity for grit. Quarterbacks lead the charge, but sometimes, it is the men in the trenches that form the pulse of a team.

It is now abundantly clear that Gase is well aware of that.

Targeting Ryan Griffin among 4 keys to Jets offense vs. Raiders

Sam Darnold needs to look for tight end Ryan Griffin early and often against one of the worst pass defenses in the league.

The Jets have an opportunity to win their third consecutive game with a match against the Oakland Raiders this week, which would be the first three-game winning streak for them since Oct. 8, 2017. Their opponent is coming off three consecutive wins itself but features a highly susceptible defense that has given up the 14th-most yards per game (368.1) and the 12th-most points per game (25.0).

Sam Darnold is rolling the past three weeks with a 65.66 completion percentage and 261 yards per game with six touchdowns and only two interceptions. He gets another easy passing defense this week and should find ways to get the Jets down the field and into scoring position much like he’s done in back-to-back wins.

Here are four keys to the Jets offense in Week 12.

(Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

Lean on Sam Darnold’s arm

Darnold has been on a hot streak lately against some of the worst secondaries in the league. He gets another cupcake matchup in Week 12 against the Raiders’ 26th-ranked pass defense. Oakland allows quarterbacks to throw for 262.2 yards per game with a 102.8 rating and also allows a touchdown on seven percent of passing attempts (31st ahead of only the Dolphins). Darnold should have a field day against the secondary even after Oakland held Ryan Finley and the Bengals to only 115 yards this past week.

Besides the Cincinnati game, the Raiders haven’t been getting much pressure on quarterbacks, which should help Darnold’s ability to find his receivers. They rank 28th in quarterback hits with 45 and have only 25 sacks on the year. The Jets will need Darnold to build on his career-high four-touchdown performance against the Redskins this week against another lowly pass defense.

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Adam Gase unsure if C.J. Mosley will return

Jets head coach Adam Gase is not sure if C.J. Mosley will play again this season.

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Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley might not be back on the football field until 2020.

Adam Gase spoke to the media on Wednesday and was asked what Mosley’s status is for the rest of the season. Gase said he doesn’t really have an answer to that and that Mosley is going through the process of his rehab. The initial diagnosis was that Mosley would be out at least six weeks, but groin injuries are tricky. He suffered this injury back in Week 1 and tried coming back in Week 7, but ultimately re-injured his groin.

In other injury news, both Chuma Edoga (ankle/knee) and Darryl Roberts (calf) did not practice on Wednesday. Kelvin Beachum (ankle) was limited.

Jets should stick with committee approach at running back

Le’Veon Bell, Ty Montgomery and Bilal Powell combined for a season-high 115 yards on 33 carries in the Jets’ 34-17 win on Sunday.

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The Jets’ ground game soared on Sunday afternoon, thanks in large part to Le’Veon Bell spending more time on the sideline.

Adam Gase’s committee approach at running back took 11 weeks to get off the ground, but the strategy worked well at Washington. With injuries to the offensive line and the Redskins possessing a weak run defense, New York ran for over 100 yards for the first time all season in the 34-17 win.

Bell played 39 of 71 snaps, finishing with 20 touches for 92 total yards and a score. Bilal Powell and Ty Montgomery played 16 and 15 snaps, respectively. The two combined for nine carries for 53 yards. As a team, the Jets set season highs in rushing yards (115) and carries (33).

The Jets have been forced to overwork Bell because New York’s pass protection has been poor and he is the best pass-blocking back on the team. However, with Jonotthan Harrison and Tom Compton doing a good job of filling in on the offensive line Sunday, the Jets were able to deploy veterans Powell and Montgomery in the backfield.

This allowed Bell to get some rest in hopes of keeping him fresh. This is his first full season back after sitting out the entire 2018 season, and he is also dealing with some injuries to his knee and ribs.

“We’re trying to keep him as fresh as possible throughout the game but at the same time give him his touches,” Gase said. “I feel like he’s had a lot of touches this entire year. We’re trying to make sure we keep him rolling throughout the rest of the season. We still got a lot of football left.”

As for Bell and Montgomery, neither has seen much action this season. That changed on Sunday, though, and their involvement worked out well for Gang Green.

“I just think all those guys, they deserve to play,” Gase said. “They practice hard every day. We’re trying to mix in some of the runs that we’re doing. There’s certain things those guys do really well.”

Whether or not the Jets will stick to their committee approach remains to be seen — success against Washington’s run defense isn’t much of an accomplishment — but another try is certainly worth exploring. The Jets are more dynamic when they use multiple backs, and Bell being banged up only gives Gase more incentive to mix things up.

Adam Gase mum when asked why Ryan Kalil landed on injured reserve

Adam Gase doesn’t say much when asked why Ryan Kalil was placed on injured reserve.

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It was originally thought that Ryan Kalil would be back this season. Then the team placed him on injured reserve.

Kalil was placed on IR with a knee injury ahead of the Jets’ game with the Redskins on Sunday. However, on Friday, Adam Gase sounded pretty confident that Kalil would return this season and ensured reporters that he didn’t suffer any setbacks.

When asked about the change of plans and IR decision on Monday, Gase didn’t have much to say.

“That was just a decision that was made,” he said. “I don’t really have any further details on that.”

It seems like the Jets had seen enough of Kalil. He clearly wasn’t what the Jets expected when they signed him back in July. With a late start in training camp and him missing every preseason game, Kalil was never able to gel with his fellow linemen.

All in all, the Jets paid him $6.7 million for seven games.

As for his replacement, Jonotthan Harrison has slid back into the starting role quite nicely. The offensive line play has picked up over the last couple games and Gase is liking what he sees from Harrison.

“Jonotthan’s done well the last couple of games,” Gase said. “Really it’s just picking up where he left off. His knowledge of the offense is greater than what it was when we first started in the spring. He’s done a good job of playing fast and his communication has been outstanding.”

For Harrison, this is his chance to prove that he can be the starting center going forward. He’s under contract for one more season but has no guaranteed money left. Joe Douglas has already tried to move on from him once by bringing in Kalil, so it will interesting to see what Douglas will do with Harrison in the offseason.

Meeting between Adam Gase, Sam Darnold serving as a turning point for Jets offense

The Jets offense is finally in sync after Sam Darnold’s meeting of the minds with Adam Gase in Week 8.

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It’s imperative that players and coaches are always on the same page in the NFL. One little difference in philosophy or opinion could be the direct result of a unit falling into a tailspin instead of trending in the right direction.

It took two months to accomplish at One Jets Drive, but it looks like the quarterback and head coach are finally in cohesion regarding the direction of the offense.

Following New York’s 29-15 loss to the Jaguars in Week 8, Sam Darnold had a conversation with Adam Gase to discuss the pros and cons of Gase’s offensive scheme. The discussion could’ve gone nowhere if Gase remained stubborn in his ways, a personality trait that contributed to his downfall with the Dolphins. Instead, the first-year Jets coach listened to his quarterback and absorbed his input.

The end result? A potential turning point in the direction of the offense and Darnold’s development.

There’s no sense in running an offense in which the quarterback is uncomfortable with its inner workings. Throughout the first half of the season, Gase did most of the talking and Darnold did the majority of the listening regarding New York’s offensive gameplans. While this painted a clear picture of what Gase expected out of him, the USC product’s input was limited until two months into the season. At that point, he felt comfortable enough to dish out his thoughts on the Jets’ offense.

Since the conversation in Gase’s office took place, the Jets have gone 2-1 and now sit at 3-7. It’s not an ideal record, but a welcomed one considering how bad the team looked in losses to the Patriots and Jaguars. Darnold also looks more like the quarterback who ended 2018 on a hot streak, passing for 783 yards, six touchdowns and only two interceptions in New York’s last three games.

“I think the whole offense is really getting a feel for the offense,” Darnold said. “I think, just getting in that rhythm and being able to understand exactly what’s going on out there really allows us to play a lot faster.”

It’s no surprise that the Jets are suddenly in a rhythm offensively after Darnold’s meeting with Gase. It has taken longer than many expected, but New York’s offense is finally showing promise. That can be attributed to Darnold voicing his opinion and getting a better understanding of the operation.

With Gase set to return in 2020 and now on the same page with his franchise quarterback, the Jets offense should only get better from here. New York’s competition hasn’t been stiff the past couple of weeks, but don’t be surprised if Gang Green’s efficiency on offense becomes a regular occurrence for the rest of the regular season and beyond.

Jets injury report: Kelvin Beachum injures ankle again

Jets offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum re-injured his ankle on Sunday against the Redskins.

The Jets offensive line took a couple of hits at both tackle positions this week.

Adam Gase spoke to the media on Monday and said that offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum hurt his ankle again after suffering an injury a few weeks ago. However, Gase said it’s different from his last injury and there’s a chance Beachum can practice this week in preparation for the Raiders.

As for Chuma Edoga, he had an MRI on what is being described as a knee/ankle injury. Gase is optimistic about him playing on Sunday as well.

Other than that, the Jets came out injury-free from Sunday’s win over the Redskins.

Jamal Adams proving why Jets need to keep him

The Jets can lock up Jamal Adams as early as this summer and they should seriously consider it after his second consecutive three-sack game.

Remember the idea of trading Jamal Adams after the season? Scrap it. The Jets will and should pay Adams for what he is: the best safety in the NFL.

Adams proved to the Jets for the second-straight game how much of a game-changer he can be on defense. Adams followed up his two-sack, nine-tackle performance that included a fumble recovery touchdown in Week 10 with a three-sack outing against the Redskins on Sunday. He leads the Jets in almost every defensive statistic and looks like a reinvigorated man on a mission after trade rumors upset him after the deadline. 

“I understand my worth. I know what I can bring to a team. And I’m so excited to be a part of this Jets organization,” Adams said after the game. “I’m the best doing it. That’s all that matters.”

Players of Adams’ caliber don’t come around often. When they do, teams generally try and keep them around for as long as possible. Though Adams appeared to be on his way out of New York after a tumultuous trade deadline week — he refused to talk to Adam Gase or Joe Douglas and made ambiguous statements about his future with the franchise — the safety knows he’s due for a big paycheck as early as this offseason. Every week he puts up games like his past two, his price only goes up – either on the trade block or in the negotiating room.

Douglas rightly asked for the moon when discussing trades for Adams at the deadline, and now it looks like two early-round picks might not even be enough to acquire Adams’ services. The safety is a game-wrecker and is on pace to break the NFL sack record for a defensive back set by Cardinals’ safety Adrian Wilson in 2011. Adams has a team-high six sacks through 10 games and only needs two more to tie Wilson’s total and three to top it.

Credit to defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who has unlocked Adams’ pass-rushing ability. Adams is blitzing more from the edge than he’s ever done in his career and he’s getting consistent pressure on quarterbacks. He has nine quarterback hits to go along with his six sacks. Adams is enjoying the blitz packages and his role as the versatile safety in Williams’ scheme. 

“The picks aren’t coming my way,” Adams said, pointing out his lone interception compared to his six sacks, “so I thought I’d do something different.”

Teams build identities off players like Adams. His swagger and skill blend seamless for what the Jets want to cultivate as they continue in the Gase-Douglas era. Adams provides the figurehead on defense next to Darnold on offense and to take that away for a couple of draft picks is a useless long-term play that detracts from any promising future the team may have.

But it will cost the Jets to keep Adams. A lot. Landon Collins and Kevin Byard each signed a contract this past offseason that pays them $14 million and $14.1 million a year, respectively. Those will be the starting point for Adams. 

He’s worth it.

You take away Adams and the Jets have no star on defense. No leader. No one who can terrorize quarterbacks and wide receivers alike. He is the heart and soul of the Jets defense and he’ll command a salary that recognizes that.

Christopher Johnson knows this. That’s why he told Adams he wants him to be a Jet for life. Douglas knows this even though he fielded trade calls for him less than a month ago. Gase definitely knows this and acknowledged Adams’ game-changing ability after the Redskins game.

“You feel him the whole game on the sideline [and] on the field,” Gase said. “He’s bringing everything he has. He’s just laying it all out there… It’s very impressive to watch him play. It’s as consistent as you can get, too. He’s making unbelievable plays week after week.”

The Jets don’t have many stars on their team. Darnold is still a work in progress, Quinnen Williams is young and who knows how long Le’Veon Bell and Robby Anderson will remain on the roster. Adams is the closest thing the Jets have to a face of the franchise, and they need to keep him around as long as possible.

Sam Darnold is Jets Wire’s Player of the Game vs. Redskins

Sam Darnold led the way for the Jets as they got their third win of the season with a 34-17 win over the Washington Redskins.

Sam Darnold led the way for the Jets in their third win of the season Sunday,  a 34-17 road victory over the Washington Redskins.

Darnold had his best game of the season, setting a career-high in touchdown passes with four. For his performance, Darnold is Jets Wire’s Player of the Game for Week 11 of the regular season.

Going along with Darnold’s four touchdown passes, he was 19-30 for 293 yards. Other than one forced interception, Darnold played solid football. He was making magic out of the pocket with off-schedule plays and looked comfortable when in standing tall.

Darnold also did a good job of spreading the love with the football. Seven different Jets receivers had at least one reception in the game. That shows that Darnold is going through his reads and not staring down one receiver.

Darnold has enjoyed great chemistry with tight end Ryan Griffin. Darnold made him look like the second coming of Rob Gronkowski, as he had five catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. Overall, Jets tight ends had six catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

The only concern with Darnold is that he’s still trying to make plays when nothing is there, resulting in turnovers. Darnold’s interception came on a double screen in which neither option was open and he tried to force the ball in. He has to do a better job of getting rid of the football and not putting it up for grabs.

But other than that, the last two games have been strong for Darnold and he seems to be getting back on track. All the Jets can hope for is that he continues to develop in Adam Gase’s system and cuts down on the turnovers.