Tag: Shawn Jefferson

Jets coaches, Sam Darnold impressed with rookie WR Denzel Mims

Despite a lack of offseason activities, Denzel Mims is already impressing Jets coaches and Sam Darnold with his ability and work ethic.

Denzel Mims has made an impression on Jets coaches and Sam Darnold alike, however, they understand the limitations that come with a rookie who didn’t get a normal offseason or a minicamp.

“It’s always tough for rookies coming in, especially at that position,” Adam Gase said of Mims on Wednesday. “It’s a lot of moving parts, especially not having a spring and just recently being on the field… I can tell he likes being on the field, he likes being able to do it physically, instead of just sitting in front of a playbook.”

Gase admitted that there’s definitely a challenge for receivers transitioning from college to the pros. Especially for Mims, who has plenty of room to grow as a route runner. Still, Mims’ contested catch ability, blended with his ball skills, catch radius and speed, make him the perfect candidate to develop into a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.

“He’s a very big dude, big receiver, very fast as well and explosive,” Darnold said. “He can get in and out of cuts. Whenever you have a big dude who can get in and out of cuts and he’s fast like that, it’s rare.”

Although Mims fell into the Jets’ lap in the second round of April’s draft, he was still among one of the top wide receivers in the country during his time at Baylor. Mims finished in the top five among FBS wideouts in receiving yards, catches of at least 15 yards and touchdowns from 2017-19, according to Michael Nania.

While those results at the next level aren’t going to come right away for the rookie receiver, he’s already shown Jets wide receiver coach Shawn Jefferson what he’s capable of during the team’s virtual meetings.

“As we started the virtual meetings, I started giving them tests and all the tests were based on a point system, so it was competitive among the group,” Jefferson told the team website. “I learned he’s a very competitive guy. He picks up things quite well and his self-awareness is intact. Every time I give a test on a certain thing and he didn’t get it, he’s like, ‘Coach, let’s run that test back.’ He wants to take it over again and run it back. That tells me he’s going to work hard and if he doesn’t get it, he’s going to put the time in to get it. I’m certainly glad to have him. He adds another dimension to our offense as well.”

Penciled in as the team’s No. 2 wide receiver, Mims’ rookie campaign likely won’t come without growing pains. Still, he should be able to come in and have a major impact on New York’s offense considering his work ethic and competitiveness.

What if a Jets coach contracts COVID-19? There’s a depth chart for that

Adam Gase has a plan if one of his coaches – or he – tests positive for COVID-19.

When the Jets held a Q&A session with their players this offseason about how the coronavirus pandemic would affect the team and the season, Adam Gase said one of the questions posed to him was how he would deal with a coach contracting COVID-19. 

It’s easy for Gase to replace a player who tests positive for COVID-19. The Jets can sign someone off the practice squad or in free agency. But you can’t just hire a new coordinator or position coach.

Fortunately, Gase had an answer for his team, and it’s similar to how an NFL roster is run.

“That’s something that we actually started talking about in April,” Gase said this week. “I’ve looked at it as we almost have a depth chart for myself, the coordinator spots. We talked about position coaches, kind of where that would go. So, a depth chart was really created.”

Not only does Gase have a succession plan if a coach is recovering from COVID-19, but he’s also asked his staff to learn about other jobs on the team in order to ensure anyone can coach any position. Gase pointed to special teams specifically as an area coaches need to learn more about because of how few of them work in that facet of the game. 

“I think the biggest concern at the time when we first start talking about [this] was special teams and making sure that guys in the meeting room [are] learning what [special teams coach Brant] Boyer’s teaching and helping out in that aspect,” Gase said. “Because normally you’ve got your two special teams guys and everybody else is worried about their own deal.”

Other teams have looked into this coaching depth chart idea as well, including the Giants and the Eagles. Giants head coach Joe Judge said he spent the spring evaluating his coaches to build a plan, while the Eagles actually had to enact a succession plan when head coach Doug Pederson tested positive for the virus. Philadelphia promoted assistant/running backs Duce Staley to acting head coach while Pederson works remotely. 

So who would take over for Gase should he test positive? It could be any number of coaches, but if you follow the Eagles’ model, inside linebackers coach Frank Bush and wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson are both listed as assistant head coaches and could take on the mantle. That would allow Dowell Loggains and Gregg Williams to continue their duties as offensive and defensive coordinator, respectively. Loggains and Williams would also be prime candidates, especially since Williams has head coaching experience. Another dark horse option would be defensive assistant/outside linebackers coach Joe Vitt, who is Gase’s father-in-law.

What it really boils down to, Gase said, is communication between every coach in the organization. That, and the “next man up mentality” that the Jets learned first-hand from a player perspective in 2019. 

“We all have to be on the same page,” Gase said. “Guys have to understand, you don’t know, you might be the next play-caller, whether it be offense, defense or special teams, so everybody’s got to prepare like that.”

Vyncint Smith has only been with Jets for a year, but that’s more than his competition can say

Vyncint Smith has only been with the Jets for a year, but that’s more than his competition at outside wide receiver can say.

Vyncint Smith is predicting “a big year” for himself in 2020, and his experience with Gang Green may just help him make that proclamation come true.

Smith has only been with the Jets since the end of last September. However, his 13 games with the team are more than any other outside receiver on New York’s active roster. Free agent acquisition Breshad Perriman and rookie Denzel Mims figure to start on the outside, but Smith has a leg up on the depth chart when it comes to locking down the WR4 spot behind them and slot man Jamison Crowder. With more familiarity in Adam Gase’s offense, Smith naturally has an edge over the likes of Josh Doctson, Jeff Smith, Josh Malone, Jehu Chesson, George Campbell and Lawrence Cager as they all prepare for training camp.

With no spring practices and a shortened training camp, the Jets have made do with the available resources. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson has tried to liven up virtual meetings with his position group by creating games of Jeopardy and Kahoot. While that will certainly help the Jets wideouts learn the offense, it’s not the same as catching passes from Sam Darnold.

That’s where Smith’s experience comes into play. Like Perriman, Smith is a fast runner with a similar skillset to free agent departure Robby Anderson. Gase has already envisioned Perriman being an “explosive” fit in his offense. Smith could be too if New York gives him more looks in 2020.

During his short time with the Texans, Smith earned a reputation as a speedster, backing up his 4.38 40-yard dash time. Smith has also already given the Jets coaching staff a glimpse of what he can do with the ball in his hands. During a 31-6 loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles in October 2019, Smith scored a 19-yard touchdown on a designed run. His top speed reached 22.01 miles per hour.

Fortunately for the third-year wide receiver out of Limestone College, Smith has already built a rapport with Darnold. In 2019, after being signed off the Texans practice squad, Smith caught 17 passes for 225 yards. Only 60 percent of the Jets’ offense is returning, with Smith being among those who have a familiarity with Gase’s offense. While that short experience wouldn’t hold much weight in an open competition, all bets are off with how little preparation time the Jets may get between facilities officially opening and the first game of the 2020 season.

Those 13 games that separate Smith from the other outside receivers could pay dividends for him and New York. If nothing else, it gives him a clear advantage when the training camp battles begin.

Jets coach had mixed emotions when son was drafted by Rams

Shawn Jefferson was both happy and sad when his son, Van, got drafted by the Los Angeles Rams.

Jets wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson didn’t know what to feel when his son, Van, got picked in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Van Jefferson, a wide receiver, was selected with the 57th pick by the Los Angeles Rams, two spots ahead of the 59th overall pick held by the Jets. The Jets wound up with a different wideout, Denzel Mims. While Shawn was disappointed that he didn’t get the opportunity to coach his son in the pros, he was glad that Van was given a chance to play in the NFL.

“My son was like, ‘Hey, dad, I hope I can become a Jet. I would love to play for you,'” the older Jefferson told ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “He was excited. He really wanted to come and play for the Jets. As it started ticking down … we got a phone call and I was like, ‘Oh, man!’ At the same time, I was just sad. But at one point, I was elated and happy for him because he put in all the hard work. His childhood dream came to fruition.”

Van spent the first three years of his college football career at Ole Miss before transferring to Florida. At Ole Miss, Jefferson totaled 999 receiving yards and four touchdowns. When Van arrived at Florida in 2018 he took off, recording 1,160 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns over two seasons.

Van Jefferson, son of Jets coach, picked by Rams

Shawn Jefferson’s son, Van was picked by the LA Rams in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The son of Jets wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson has followed him to NFL.

Florida wide receiver Van Jefferson was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 57th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on Friday night. Jefferson is one of the oldest players in this year’s draft at 24 years old.

He could’ve been a potential first-round pick had it not been for a right foot fracture that caused him to miss the NFL combine. However, he’s an elite route runner and has great hands. Jefferson doesn’t have top-flight speed, but he should be able to make an impact with the Rams as their No. 3 wide receiver.

Jefferson recorded his best season at the University of Florida in 2019. He made 49 catches for 657 yards and six touchdowns. Overall at Florida, Jefferson had 175 catches for 2,159 yards and 16 touchdowns.

We’ll see if Jefferson can take what he learned from his father and apply it to the NFL with the Rams.

Ex-Jets WR Jerricho Cotchery being considered for spot on Steelers staff

Ex-Jets WR Jerricho Cotchery interviewed with the Steelers last week for their opening at receivers coach.

The Steelers are in the market for a wide receivers coach — and a former Jets is among their choices.

Bryan McClendon, the former offensive coordinator and wide receivers at the University of South Carolina is considered to be a favorite for the opening, but longtime Jets wideout Jerricho Cotchery is still in the mix, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Cotchery was an assistant wide receivers coach on Ron Rivera’s staff in Carolina following the commencement of his NFL career in 2015. Cotchery was not retained by new Carolina head coach Matt Rhule.

Originally drafted out of North Carolina State in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, Cotchery was one of the Jets’ better homegrown players during his stay in New York.

For his career, Cotchery had 524 receptions for 6,623 yards and 34 touchdowns. While he enjoyed a successful career in green and white, Cotchery fell out of favor, becoming the team’s third option at receiver once Rex Ryan and Co. acquired Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards via trade.

Cotchery finished the 2010 season with 41 catches for 433 yards with two touchdowns while playing in 14 games. He started five games, his lowest number since the 2005 season when he was a second-year player and fourth-string wideout.

Coming into the 2011 season, Cotchery asked for his release just a month before the start of the season. He signed a one-year deal in Pittsburgh and caught 79 receptions for 1,044 yards and 12 touchdowns in 43 games for the Steelers.

In Carolina, Cotchery caught 87 passes for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns and played in Super Bowl 50.

6 more players the Jets should target at the Senior Bowl

Florida’s Van Jefferson and Michigan’s Josh Uche are among prospects at the Senior Bowl that the Jets should prioritize come April.

While this Senior Bowl class isn’t the deepest one in recent memory, that still doesn’t mean that there aren’t players worth targeting in Mobile.

We already highlighted six players that the Jets should keep an eye on down in Alabama. Well, now we are highlighting six more.

Certain players have been flashing this week and evaluators believe that several Senior Bowl participants have improved their draft stock with their performance in practice this. Let’s take a look at a few more names the Jets will want to consider with game day here.

WR Van Jefferson – Florida

(Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports)

This one seems like a no brainer, as Van Jefferson is the son of Jets wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson.

The former Florida Gator was named one of the South Squad offensive practice players of the week, as voted on by the position group they competed against in practice.

In all three days of practice, Jefferson consistently stood out in one-on-one drills. He showed his ability to create separation with his flexibility as a receiver. His route running ability has opened some eyes, too.

Being the son of a 13-year NFL receiver seems to be paying off for Jefferson.

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Report: Eagles considering Jets assistant Hines Ward for WR coach

The Eagles are interested in Jets offensive assistant Hines Ward for their wide receivers coaching job.

After one year as a Jets offensive assistant, Hines Ward could be looking at a promotion with another team.

According to The Philadephia Inquierer, Ward is being considered for the Eagles’ vacant wide receivers coaching job, as is fellow former receiver and Ravens assistant Bobby Engram. Additionally, Ward has had dialogue with Eagles running back coach Duce Staley about the job.

Since Ward is not a primary assistant, the Eagles don’t have to request permission from the Jets to interview him. However, up until this point, Ward has not had a formal interview with the Eagles.

The Jets hired Ward as a coaching intern for training camp last season and then he was hired full-time as an offensive assistant. He spent most of the season working with wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson.

Jets wide receivers spoke highly of Ward last season for what he was able to teach players about the position. He’s clearly moving through the ranks quickly after just starting out as an intern a year ago.

Ward had a 14-year career in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and recorded 1,000 catches for 12,083 yards and 85 touchdowns.

The Jets can’t give Ward a promotion as a wide receivers coach with Jefferson blocking him, so you can’t blame him if he chooses to leave for another job.