Tag: Jets training camp

After a more ‘normal camp,’ New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh sees a like-minded group

Robert Saleh has a sense of normalcy around this training camp for the Jets.

The distractions surrounding the New York Jets a season ago has now given way to a team that head coach Robert Saleh believes is focused.

Given the buzz around the arrival of Aaron Rodgers a season ago, this has been a relatively calm training camp and preseason for the Jets, all things considered.

For Saleh, ahead of the final game of preseason on Saturday, this camp has seen the team come together. Given all the buzz around Rodgers (will he play in preseason? Won’t he play? Pyramids?) and Haason Reddick’s holdout, this has been a relatively calm situation for the Jets.

In many ways, it is a stark contrast from a season ago.

“It’s felt like a normal camp. Last year wasn’t normal,” Saleh told reporters on Thursday.

“I’ve really appreciated the way our guys have about their business. I’ve said it before, I love the way our o-line’s coming together, and I’m not just talking about their play style, I’m just talking about they actually like being around each other. I’ve always said it with the defense, the defense likes being around each other. The offense, you see certain position groups, I think they’re actually starting to enjoy being around one another because there’s a lot of like minds, and I’ve liked the way they’ve come together, the way they root for one and other, the way they play for one and other, the way they communicate with one and other, it’s turning into a pretty cool group.”

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The Jets play the Giants on Saturday at MetLife Stadium. They open the NFL regular season in Week 1 at the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.

Jets star wide receiver Garrett Wilson has taken things up a notch this offseason

Garrett Wilson continues to impress the New York Jets with his development.

Garrett Wilson continues to find another level, the New York Jets wide receiver looking to build on what has been an impressive first two seasons in the NFL.

In 2022, Wilson was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. Last year, he had 95 catches for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns. He was a first round pick of the Jets in the 2022 NFL draft out of Ohio State, taken No. 10 overall.

It was a very strong output from Wilson, especially considering the dire state of the Jets quarterback situation last year.

Truth be told, Wilson should have been named to the Pro Bowl all things considered. The Jets had the third-worst passing offense in the NFL a season ago.

“He’s always been an ultimate competitor, but he’s really been working on the fine details of his route running, getting to where the quarterback needs him to be and understanding that sometimes you don’t always have to absolutely destroy your guy at the line of scrimmage,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Thursday.

“Sometimes it’s just running a route as fast as you can to get into a spot as quickly as you can so the quarterback can deliver a ball. He’s starting to understand all of that. Because of it, I think he’s realizing his game. He’s so darn good and so twitchy and so fast that he doesn’t have to do a lot, to gain the separation that he needs to get open.”

The Jets threw for just 171.7 yards per game last season. They were the second-worst total offense in the league.

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Former New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini rips into Aaron Rodgers – ‘He doesn’t care’

Eric Mangini didn’t hold back in his opinion on Aaron Rodgers.

Eric Mangini isn’t a big fan of Aaron Rodgers sitting in preseason or the message that it sends to his teammates on the New York Jets.

In a discussion this on the FS1 show ‘First Things,’ Mangini joined a panel discussion that included former NFL star Greg Jennings. Mangini coached the Jets from 2006-08.

The discussion topic, on whether Rodgers should play in preseason, turned to last week’s joint practice with the Washington Commanders. Rodgers didn’t play in that practice, with head coach Robert Saleh saying that his start quarterback was held back due to heavy rain.

Rodgers, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1 last year, did not play in the preseason opener on Saturday either.

Jennings said that he thinks Rodgers should play in preseason, not just for his own sharpness but to benefit the rest of the offense with getting some snaps that have meaning. Mangini built on that point from Jennings, saying that “The thing that you’re talking about is the greater good.”

Then, things escalated quickly.

“And he doesn’t care. He doesn’t care. He doesn’t care about the other 10 guys,” Mangini said.

“He cares about himself. And with Tom Brady, Tom was coachable, Tom wanted to be coached, and even though Tom was the greatest at that position, he was open to ideas that could make him better. But for Aaron, he’s just going to do whatever he wants to do, whatever is best for him – you other 10 guys, it’s not good for you, not good for the coaching staff, not good for anybody else. It doesn’t matter, because it’s just about him.”

Rodgers on Tuesday said he was uncertain on if he would participate in this weekend’s preseason game at the Carolina Panthers.

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He did say he was making progress in his recovery.

Where is Aaron Rodgers in his comeback? Jets quarterback said he is at ’98 percent’

Aaron Rodgers gives an update on his injury and recovery.

Aaron Rodgers said he is progressing in training camp with the New York Jets. This, as the future Hall of Fame quarterback continues his recovery from a season-ending injury suffered last year.

In his Jets debut last year, Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury four offensive snaps into Week 1.

The health of Rodgers is paramount to the direction of the Jets this year. If the Jets can improve and be a viable offense, then there is every reason to believe that they are not only a playoff team but also can challenge to be the top team in the AFC East.

In speaking with the media on Tuesday, Rodgers talked about where he is in the recovery process. The injury isn’t something that Rodgers said is in the back of his mind.

“I only think about it after a play like that and I think, ‘Oh, okay, put that one in the bank there.’ Now I’m 98 percent, something like that,” Rodgers told reporters.

Rodgers did say that he is feeling better and improving as he is showing more of his old self on the practice field. He is a four-time MVP winner.

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“I mean, I feel like I have an extra gear that I haven’t shown yet,” Rodgers said.

“I’m not sure how much of an extra gear that is, but in my mind, maybe that’s just pushing me. I got maybe a little bit more I can give, but like being able to move into pocket and still make throws and extend a play and it’s something I’d love to be able to do. It could be an extra little bonus for the offense but plays like today make me feel like I’m ready to go.”

Turning breakups into interceptions…practice isn’t necessarily perfect for Jets All-Pro Sauce Gardner

New York Jets All-Pro Sauce Gardner doesn’t get many shots at interceptions in practice.

With the challenge to up his interceptions this season, New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner faces a very unique challenge in actually practicing turnovers.

The reason for the issue? Gardner faces a quarterback every day in Jets training camp in Aaron Rodgers who simply doesn’t throw many interceptions.

It makes it a challenge for Gardner to practice catching the ball and creating turnovers if the ball being thrown at him isn’t catchable. Early in training camp, Jets head coach Robert Saleh said he wants to see Gardner turn some of his plays from last year into turnovers this season.

In his first two seasons in the NFL, Gardner has had 32 passes defended but just two interceptions. a surprisingly low number for such a highly-regarded defensive back. Both of those interceptions came his rookie season.

Asked by reporters on Thursday about the challenge from Saleh to increase his interception total, the two-time All-Pro said that “I feel like I could have had three, four…three (to) four easily” last season. Playing in man coverage means that his back is often turned to the quarterback so he doesn’t always see the quarterback’s release.

“I ain’t saying that as an excuse (but) it ain’t as easy as everybody thinks. It’s not like we’re just playing catch out there. It don’t make it no easier going  against Aaron in practice. I’m not getting those easy opportunities to pick him off in practice,” Gardner told reporters.

“I got to do extra work outside of that. Aaron’s not going to give me no 50-50 balls.”

In other words, practice isn’t the perfect place for Gardner to get live reps at interceptable balls.

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This is very much a season of expectations for the Jets. After what happened last year with the loss of quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the first week of the season, Gardner said that there is a sense of focus within this group.

“We all know what we can do as a team, all of us as a collective group, a collective unit – coaches included,” Gardner said.

“We know what we can do, man. It’s a matter of taking it one day at a time. Taking the classroom to the meeting room to the field and applying that to the field and just executing.”

What does Robert Saleh think of Aaron Rodgers so far in Jets training camp?

Robert Saleh talks about how Aaron Rodgers has looked so far in training camp.

So far so good from Aaron Rodgers. That is the message from New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh when it comes to his star quarterback.

Rodgers, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury just four plays into his Jets career last year, is very much the straw that stores the drink this year for Gang Green. If Rodgers is healthy, there is every reason to believe that the Jets are a team that can not only make the playoffs but make a run to the Super Bowl.

A healthy Rodgers could mean a divisional title for the Jets. It isn’t farfetched, given that the Jets were a respectable 7-10 last year with Rodgers having missed 99.9 percent of the team’s snaps.

“I think he’s in a great space, you know, he’s in a great space mentally,” Saleh told reporters on Thursday.

“I keep telling people, his arm looks like he’s 30, so he’s chomping at it. He’s ready to roll, and he looks really good.”

As for Rodgers’ workload in preseason, that remains to be seen.

There was some speculation that Rodgers, given his injury last year, would not play in preseason. On Thursday, Saleh said there is a possibility that he could play, possibly in the final game of preseason against the New York Giants.

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Saleh cautions that on the topic of playing in the preseason, he has had “preliminary discussions” with Rodgers but nothing is settled.

“Either way, like I said, we haven’t had final decisions yet at all with regards to the third game,” Saleh said.

“You guys know me, the third game is usually when we like to play our guys and depending on how today went, how Saturday goes, and then next weeks work with the Panthers, and the following week with the
Giants, I’ll make that decision.”

A revamped offensive line for the New York Jets can be ‘a really good group’

Robert Saleh sees potential in the offensive line.

Arguably one of the weakest points of the New York Jets two-deep over the past decade has been the offensive line. It’s not a stretch to say that consistently, the Jets offensive line has been inconsistent.

That may not be true this upcoming season, with the Jets aggressively upgrading their line in free agency and the NFL draft over the past two years.

Specifically this offseason, the Jets brought back Morgan Moses, who was with the team in 2021 and then spent the last two years with the Baltimore Ravens.

Then they signed All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith and drafted Olu Fashanu.

It has head coach Robert Saleh thinking that the upgrades have positioned the offensive line to be improved.

“It’s got a chance to be a really good group. I’ll even talk about the second-half of the season last year, that group and the amount of reps and playing time that they all got, and how much better they got over the course of the year,” Saleh told reporters.

“Remember, we played the two best run defenses in football a year ago to finish the season and rushed for a lot of yards. So, all the experience that they got, we feel really good about not only the front five, but the next six or seven guys, eight guys even.”

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The Jets finished last year ranked second-worst in total offense. The hope is that a rebuilt offensive line can keep quarterback Aaron Rodgers healthy and the offense viable.

Morgan Moses makes his return for the New York Jets

Morgan Moses returns to the field for the New York Jets.

The return of Morgan Moses is big for the New York Jets, giving their revamped offensive line a chance at some very important training camp reps.

Moses had offseason shoulder surgery and Friday marked his return to participating in drills. The Jets now have their starting five offensive linemen on the field together for the first time all offseason.

For the Jets, getting the 33-year-old Moses integrated into the group is a very important development.

Being able to get into a groove is important for the line, especially after future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury last year. Keeping Rodgers upright and healthy will determine just how far this talented team can go.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh was asked on Friday by reporters about the importance of his starting offensive line playing together.

“It’s always beneficial, but at the same time, the League is chaotic, right? So, the odds of us playing with the same five all season are slim to none,” Saleh told reporters on Friday.

“So, it’s good for them to work with one another and different combinations, but as long as we maintain our communication. To answer your question – to get our Week 1 group out there as quick as possible so they can gel that can definitely be beneficial.”

As for Moses in particular, Saleh was pleased to have his veteran offensive lineman on the field again.

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“It’s been a long road for him trying to get back from that peck, but excited to get him back, excited to get him in pads,” Saleh said.

“Still going to be scheduled. It’s going to be a little sporadic moving forward, but it’s good to get in those reps.”

Sauce Gardner is a coverage nightmare for NFL QB’s | New York Jets

New York Jets DB Sauce Gardner didn’t produce an interception last season but that’s because opposing QB’s know not to throw his way.

Last season the New York Jets ranked No. 1 in pass yards allowed per game. Perhaps defensive back Sauce Gardner deserves some credit for his dominance.

Sure, Gardner didn’t produce an interception in 2023, but that’s because his 12 pass deflections were enough to convince opposing quarterbacks not to throw his way.

To make things more exclamatory, two of the NFL’s  top 5 leaders in pass yards last season play for teams in the same AFC East division as Gardner.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen combined for 8,900 plus pass yards last season yet neither of them had a game where they threw for 300 yards versus the Jets.

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Gardner is a humble assassin, standing six-foot three-inches with a wingspan of 79 inches. With a 40-yard dash time of 4.41 seconds, his combination of size and speed makes it nearly impossible to sneak passes underneath against him.

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Gardner is physical at the line of scrimmage, inhibiting opposing wide receivers from getting a clean release. His ability to jam wide receivers is crucial, especially when trying to contain speedsters like wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers.

There isn’t a quarterback in the NFL who finds comfort throwing the football in Gardner’s proximity. The Jets’ defense relies heavily on Gardner’s ability to play man coverage.

Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett says offense has been ‘inconsistent’ in training camp

Nathaniel Hackett talks about the New York Jets offense.

New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has seen some good things from his unit so far in training camp. But Hackett said that overall, his offense has been inconsistent.

Hackett enters into his second season as offensive coordinator of the Jets. He certainly has a unique challenge with the offense.

Given that future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers played just four snaps before being lost last season to an Achilles injury, there are issues to be dealt with here. Re-integrating Rodgers into the offense and getting several new starters all on the same page is going to be a tall mountain for the Jets to climb over the next month.

Asked on Tuesday about what he has seen from the offense, Hackett was very up-front in his assessment.

“For us as coaches: inconsistent,” Hackett told reporters on Tuesday.

“I think there’s been some good, some bad, some things we have to work through.”

Pressed on specifics, Hackett painted with a broad brush while singling out the acclimation process to Rodgers and quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Learning the cadence of each quarterback, Hackett said, is important. He also added “There are a lot of new players here so they’re kind of working their way into it. Kind of getting those guys up to speed.”

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The Jets are aided by having this be Hackett’s second season as offensive coordinator. It allows some integration within the roster as there is a baseline of familiarity with the offense already in place.

“Well, I think year 2 is a lot different than year one because the system has already been implemented so the guys in the room can help the new guys – they can all work together,” Hackett said.

“So you can kind of push the envelope a little bit more, go a little bit harder, experiment with some new things. Allows you to have a little more fun.”