Tag: Jets Offensive Line

Group chats, memes & Call of Duty: Jets O-line finding different ways to bond

The Jets offensive line has been using modern ways to bond outside of practice as they attempt to navigate a summer without a preseason.

While a normal offseason would usually require a lot of face time for a completely revamped offensive line, the Jets have used different methods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the restrictions on in-person interactions prior to training camp, newcomer Connor McGovern feels the unity on the offensive line is the best he’s ever been a part of since he entered the league in 2016. And they just met in face to face two weeks ago.

“To be honest with you, I don’t know if it’s the group of guys that Joe Douglas brought together or the pandemic or what have you,” McGovern said Friday. “But this is one of the closer groups as a whole I’ve been around.”

For a more intimate connection, members of the Jets offensive line have a group chat in which they often send each other memes. Call of Duty is another tool the group uses for bonding. 

While this isn’t the same as gelling during the preseason, Gang Green doesn’t have that luxury. The offensive line is going to have to find unique ways, besides practice, to form relationships with one another while getting the offense down to a tee.

“At the end of the day, football is football,” McGovern said when asked if everyone can come together quickly enough before Week 1.

The Jets dealt with similar issues in 2019, however, it had more so to do with Ryan Kalil joining the unit late in the summer. That won’t be the problem the Jets deal with this season, as everyone is getting accustomed to one another in their own right. Still, the lack of game reps prior to the regular season could be a concern. 

For veteran offensive lineman Greg Van Roten, while this is new territory, it’s just making sure that the unit is speaking the same language by the time the regular season rolls around.

“Thankfully, we are all veterans and we’ve all played football before, so it’s not our first time on the field,” Van Roten said via The Associated Press. “It’s just going to be our first time next to each other. So the biggest challenge when you have a new group like that is that we all speak football, but we might call things by different names. So we’ve just got to get on the same page with our communication if we want to be effective and hit the ground running fast.”

Le’Veon Bell in top-notch shape with training camp underway

Le’Veon Bell has very little body fat as he enters Jets training camp.

Physically, Le’Veon Bell couldn’t be more prepared for training camp than he is now.

Bell posted a tweet Saturday highlighting his body composition. It showed that Bell has 4 percent fat and 96 percent fat-free mass. For a player that stands at 6-foot-1and 225 pounds, that’s awfully impressive.

Bell has posted a lot of videos of him working out in order to get ready for the regular season. He recently posted a video of him boxing with his trainer during the middle of the night. Bell has also posted videos of him working out on the field as well.

The 28-year-old running back is determined to prove that he still has gas left in the tank after a disappointing first season with the Jets in 2019. Bell only ran for 789 yards on 245 carries last season after rushing for over 1,000 yards in his last two seasons in Pittsburgh.

Bell wasn’t helped out by his offensive line, though. The Jets had one of the worst offensive lines in football last season, one that failed to create open holes for the running back. The Jets offensive line has completely overhauled this offseason and will have five new starters.

Between that and a more efficient workload, Bell could have a chance to return to the running back he was while with the Steelers. If nothing else, he certainly looks like the same guy.

Jets’ starting offensive line will have 100% turnover in 2020

With Brian Winters bound for Buffalo, the New York Jets starting offensive line will be completely turned over from the season before.

By releasing Brian Winters on Sunday, the Jets committed to their starting lineup having a 100 percent turnover in 2020.

In 2019, New York’s Week 1 starting offensive line consisted of Kelvin Beachum and Kelechi Osemele on the left side, Ryan Kalil in the middle, and Winters and Brandon Shell filling out the right side.

Behind an offensive line that had little chemistry, the Jets offense sputtered. In Adam Gase’s first season as head coach, New York’s offensive unit ranked 31st in points per game, 32nd in yards per game and 32nd in yards per play.

The Jets averaged just 0.7 rushing yards before contact per attempt, which was dead last in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Also, New York allowed pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 27.5 percent of its dropbacks, which was the second-highest in the league.

This was a large part of why Sam Darnold had little to no time to make plays happen. Jets quarterbacks were sacked 52 times in 2019, which was the fourth-highest mark in the league.

Joe Douglas made it his pet project this offseason to rebuild the Jets offensive line. He spent all offseason plugging holes in the trenches to ensure that Darnold and the offense can experience heightened success in 2020 and beyond.

The Jets showed no interest in bringing back members of last year’s starting lineup. Beachum and Shell signed one-year pacts with the Cardinals and Seahawks, respectively. Osemele, who played just three games with Gang Green before he was released due to an injury dispute, signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs. Kalil is likely to choose retirement again after the Jets talked him out of it last year and got poor results.

Douglas’ first order of business was signing swing tackle George Fant to a three-year, $30 million contract. Right now, Fant is penciled in as the opening day starter at right tackle. Staying on the right side, Greg Van Roten signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal and will slide in at right guard in Winters’ absence.

Shaping things up in the middle, Douglas signed Connor McGovern to a three-year, $27 million deal. He will be New York’s starter at center. Alex Lewis, who did an admirable job filling in for Osemele, is now assured a starting spot at left guard with Winters gone. As for left tackle, it’s now stationed by Mekhi Becton, New York’s first-round pick out of Lousiville.

While the Jets offensive line will yet again need to work on its chemistry, a roster turnover was necessary considering how the offense plateaued behind such a lackluster unit in 2019.

Jets wide receivers ranked among worst in NFL by Pro Football Focus

Pro Football Focus has the Jets wide receivers ranked 31st in the NFL.

The Jets’ wide receivers have been nothing to write home about for years now. Ask Pro Football Focus, and that trend will continue in 2020.

New York made an effort to improve its wide receivers this offseason, but it didn’t bring in anyone that will scare an opposing defense. The Jets signed Breshad Perriman and Josh Doctson and drafted Denzel Mims out of Baylor. They return Jamison Crowder, Josh Malone, Braxton Berrios, Vyncint Smith and Jeff Smith. Their former No. 1 wide receiver, Robby Anderson, signed with the Panthers.

Pro Football Focus analyzed the Jets’ receivers and ranked them 31st in the league out of 32 teams. Despite the low rank, Pro Football Focus sees some potential if Perriman improves upon his strong finish in Tampa Bay last season and Mims meets his expectations.

“There are plenty of question marks on paper, but the potential is there with this receiving corps if Perriman continues to progress and Mims’ size/speed profile translates quickly,” Pro Football Focus’s Steve Palazzolo said of Gang Green’s wideouts.

If these wide receivers are going to succeed in 2020, it’s going to be based on two things: offensive line and quarterback play. The Jets’ new offensive line has to give Sam Darnold a chance to make the necessary throws. Last season’s unit didn’t do that, allowing Jets quarterbacks to be sacked 52 times.

Darnold, meanwhile, needs to make significant strides in 2020, regardless of those around him. The fact that the Jets have upgraded his supporting cast should certainly help, though.

The receivers have to do their part too, though. This isn’t the most recognizable group, but, as PFF noted, there is some potential. If nothing else, a handful of unknowns will get plenty of opportunities to make an impact in 2020.

Jets RB Le’Veon Bell promises ‘the best year of my career’ in 2020

Le’Veon Bell believes he’ll have his best year of his career in 2020.

Le’Veon Bell has assured Jets fans that his 2019 season will not define his tenure in New York.

Bell only rushed for 789 yards, three touchdowns and averaged 3.2 yards per carry in his first season with Gang Green. Now, as the 2020 season approaches, he is determined to rectify his numbers and even outperform his production with the Steelers.

“I’ll be so much better, I didn’t give nearly enough… I PROMISE YOU, long as I’m healthy, this will be the best year of my career… & it won’t even be close,” Bell said on Instagram.

Despite not having a strong offensive line in front of him or receiving consistent usage from his head coach, Bell is not making any excuses for his poor play last season. He simply blamed himself.

“Everybody talked about the offensive line and everybody talked about me not getting the ball, but, damn, Le’Veon, were you at your best?” Bell told ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “I can literally look at myself in the eye and say, ‘No. No, I wasn’t.'”

This upcoming season the Jets should have more pieces in place to help Bell. New York will have a completely revamped offensive line that could feature five new starters. The Jets also signed Frank Gore to be Bell’s backup. The Gore signing should take some of the pressure off Bell’s workload.

Ultimately, it’s going to be up to Bell to prove that he still has the legs to be a top running back in the league. The Jets paid him to be one last offseason when they signed him to a four-year, $52.5 million deal. In year one, the Jets didn’t get much for their investment.

If Bell lives up to his promise, that won’t be an issue in 2020.

Mekhi Becton confident Jets offensive line won’t have an issue with chemistry

Mekhi Becton believes the Jets offensive line will have good chemistry in 2020.

Despite not being able to practice in-person until training camp, Mekhi Becton is confident the Jets offensive line can click right away.

Becton, drafted 11th overall this past April, will be part of an offensive line that could feature five new starters compared to a season ago. Chemistry was an issue for the Jets in the trenches last year, so there’s some concern over that again entering 2020 with all the new faces and lack of time spent together.

Becton, however, doesn’ sound worried.

“We’re a bunch of goofy guys from what I can tell from just the vets talking, so I know when once I get comfortable and have a chance to talk to them I’m going to be goofy with them,” Becton told the Jets’ website. “I feel like we’re going to have a lot of good chemistry. We’re going to ball really good.”

It’s going to be a challenge for the Jets offensive line to build that strong chemistry, especially with all the time missed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Becton, however, feels what the Jets have learned in the virtual offseason program should be enough to have the offensive line in sync by the start of the regular season.

Becton is expected to be the lone rookie on the offensive line at left tackle. Connor McGovern is penciled in as the starting center while Alex Lewis, Greg Van Roten, Brian Winters and Josh Andrews will all battle for two guard spots. At right tackle, it will be a competition between Chuma Edoga and George Fant.

Becton and the rest of the offensive line are going to have a ton of pressure on them to keep Sam Darnold upright this season. So Becton better hope the chemistry is strong right from the start of training camp through the end of the season.

Rookie linemen Mekhi Becton, Cameron Clark growing close as season nears

Mekhi Becton and Cameron Clark have grown close with each other throughout the offseason.

Two of the Jets’ 2020 draft picks are getting along quite well.

Mekhi Becton, drafted 11th overall, and Cameron Clark, picked 129th overall, have formed a tight friendship as the two prepare to start their NFL careers in New York together. From hanging out to talking football, it sounds like chemistry won’t be an issue between the two rookie linemen.

“We’ve been really close,” Clark told the Jets’ website. “There were like four or five of us that were really close when we were training and me and Mekhi were two of those guys. We were always joking and playing around together. We worked hard. We knew when to work and we knew when to play, but we always got our work in. Both of us worked extremely hard and both of us care about football a lot. So that was one thing that we just hit it off, off the bat.”

The two offensive linemen got to know each other before the 2020 NFL Draft. They trained together in Texas during the offseason with their offensive line coach, Duane Manyweather. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, Becton is now home in Dallas training. Clark is in Charlotte.

Becton and Clark could be fixtures on the Jets’ offensive line for years to come. Becton is in line to nab the left tackle spot this season, while Clark is more of a project with a ton of potential.

They will be able to reunite at the end of July when training camp officially opens.

New Jets lineman believes Le’Veon Bell ‘will go down as one of the greats’

Connor McGovern calls Le’Veon Bell a special football player.

Connor McGovern is highly motivated to be blocking for Le’Veon Bell in 2020.

McGovern came over from Denver this offseason, signing a three-year deal worth $27 million with the Jets. One of the perks of coming to the Jets for McGovern is working with Bell. McGovern, talking to the Jets’ website, praised the running back for what he’s accomplished over his career and for being able to create extra yards when there aren’t many available.

“He’s a special player,” McGovern said. “He’s one of the greats and will go down as one of the greats, and I’m excited to have someone like that [in the backfield]. If you don’t make the perfect block, he’ll still make you look good and make something special happen. If you block for three yards and the play is supposed to get three yards, he’ll get seven or eight yards.”

Bell struggled in 2019, his first year with the Jets, but his reputation as a patient runner remains. Still, he only averaged 3.2 yards per carry last season and rushed for 789 yards. New York’s line was considerably worse than what Bell was accustomed to in Pittsburgh, but the back had a down year nonetheless.

With potentially five new starting offensive linemen this season, Bell has an opportunity to improve upon his stats from 2019. At the same time, the hope is that a few added weapons will mean that opposing defenses aren’t zeroing in on Bell every snap.

There is going to be a ton of pressure on Bell to get back to his old seld in 2020. However, McGovern and the rest of the offensive linemen are going to have to do their part in helping him bounce back this season.

Joe Namath believes Sam Darnold will step up in Year 3

Joe Namath has all the confidence in the world in Sam Darnold that he’ll improve in 2020.

Joe Namath is still banking on Sam Darnold.

Namath was on Mike Tirico’s NBCSN show “Lunch Talk Live” this week and was asked about Darnold’s growth as a quarterback. Namath realizes that Darnold has areas in which he needs to improve, but the Hall of Famer also recognizes that Darnold needs good players around him in order to be successful.

“Sam can play,” Namath told Tirico. “He’s growing, he’s going to improve, he’s going to get better, but like most things in life, it’s a team game. He’ll step up. I believe he’s going to get better, but he needs the teammates also, and they’re improving. Douglas has done a great job bringing in some new players.”

Namath is right in the sense that when Darnold is given time to make a play, he can make almost every single throw. Sometimes, Darnold tries to force things — that’s where the majority of his turnovers happen — but the quarterback hasn’t exactly had a strong supporting cast in his first two seasons. New York’s offensive line has been miserable since he entered the league, while the receiving corps hasn’t exactly been stocked with talent.

As Namath said, Douglas has brought in a bunch of new players that could support Darnold better. The offensive line could have five new starters this season. Meanwhile, Darnold’s weapons should be stronger with Chris Herndon coming back from injury and the additions of Breshad Perriman, Denzel Mims and Frank Gore.

The clock is ticking on Darnold as he enters Year 3. He’s been cut plenty of slack given the players around him, but the expectation is that he takes a massive leap in 2020.

Namtha believes he will, but that’s no guarantee.

The start of something new: Mekhi Becton explains why he wants to wear No. 77 with Jets

Jets rookie Mekhi Becton wanted to try something new in deciding to wear No. 77.

Jets rookie Mekhi Becton wants to start his NFL career with a brand new number.

Becton wore No. 73 at Louisville and No. 70 in high school. However, he doesn’t want to wear either of those numbers now that he’s a pro. Part of that has to do with No. 73 being retired for Jets Ring of Honor member Joe Klecko. As for No. 70, Becton didn’t feel very comfortable in it. So now he’s hoping to give No. 77 a shot.

“I wanted to try something new,” Becton told reporters Monday. “I didn’t feel right in 70, that’s my high school number. And then 73 is retired. So I feel like 77 is just a different journey, a new journey to start.”

Becton made the request to wear No. 77 but has yet to receive word if he’s secured it.

“I’ve talked to Joe Douglas about it. I told him that I wanted to wear 77,” Becton said. “I don’t know if I got it yet or not.”

Five Jets have worn No. 77, but the number hasn’t carried much weight. The most notable player to wear No. 77 for Gang Green was Kris Jenkins, who wore it for three seasons. Randy Thomas, Kenny Neil, Carl Barzilauskas and James Carpenter have also had No. 77.

Becton has a chance to make No. 77 a special number in Jets history. He was taken by the Jets with the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft and has a ton of upside.

At 6-foot-7, 364 pounds, Becton has all the physical assets to be an elite tackle. He just needs to improve upon his technique, both in the running and passing game. With some coaching and reps, that can be cleaned up.

Until then, Becton will have to wait it out until he gets his number choice approved by the Jets.