5 Players who impressed in week one
Edition #189
Good morning!
We wait all spring/summer for camp to start and just like that we’re already into week two and starting to think about roster cutdowns. It’s probably worth noting when the roster cutdowns need to be made. According to an NFL memo that was sent back in May here are the deadlines:
Tuesday, August 16th - from 90 players to 85.
Tuesday, August 23rd - from 85 players to 80.
Tuesday, August 30th - from 80 players to 53.
Teams will then have until 12 PM ET on Wednesday, 31st of August to make any waiver claims. The NFL will notify all teams by 1 PM of any claims and then teams will have until 2 PM to make any cuts to get their roster to the 53 limit. Once that’s happened, teams can then start signing players to their practice squad, with a maximum number of players set at 16 again this season.
Now that’s out the way, let’s get to a bit of news and some notes.
According to Josina Anderson, “I’m told relevant parties have already been notified that Sue Robinson is currently expected to inform them of the decision in the Deshaun Watson proceeding by some time Monday, per league sources”. This is notable for the Jets because we’re set to play the Browns in week two, whatever you think of Watson as a person the Browns are a significantly better team with him on the field. The expectation is he’ll be suspended to start the season but you never know when it comes to sport.
Laken Tomlinson has been speaking about his main goal since arriving - "It has been great man," he said Friday. "The main thing I've been trying to work on since Day 1 is building that chemistry." - The Jet’s offensive line has been in a constant state of flux over the last few years and in some ways, it’ll be the same this year. Laken Tomlinson is new, AVT is switching positions and Becton is coming off a serious injury. I still insist this line has top 10, even top 5 potential…but it will take time.
Today will mark the first practice where pads come on and it’s a day that most players look forward to. "I haven't hit anybody since November 2021, so I'm definitely looking forward to it," Jermaine Johnson said. "One hundred percent.". Evaluating practices is difficult at the best of times, but even more so when it’s being conducted in shorts and t-shirts. Sauce Gardner said: "I actually can't wait to get pads on. I think it's easier when you have pads on. It's like when you're out here in shorts and shirts, you're chasing the receivers because they just try to run away from you and stuff like that. It's like a cat-and-mouse game, but when the pads come on it's a different ballgame. I like the physicality of the game, I like everything that comes with it, so I'm looking forward to Monday."
I’m always reluctant to read too much into practice, historically we’ve had some pre-season superstars that never really worked out, Brett Ratliff in 2008 instantly comes to mind.
Today the pads will come on, the intensity will rise and tempers will flare…it happens every year. When the pads come on there’s one thing I look for above all else, no injuries. That to me is the most important factor throughout camp, but especially in the first week of padded practice.
One position group has struggled through the first week and that’s the offensive line. Playing offensive line without pads is difficult, you don’t get your hand placement and it’s tough to play with a certain level of physicality needed. Basically…don’t worry. If by the end of week two we’re still hearing reports of Zach running for his life, then you can start to be concerned.
So after telling you not to read too much into the first week of practice, here are fives players who have stood out so far.
D.J Reed - Cornerback
One of the more underrated free-agent additions in football, Reed is already showing why the Jets were so adamant about adding him this off-season.
Reed signed a 3-year $33 million contract with $18 million guaranteed (no guarantees in the third year). So far he’s picked off two passes including jumping a Zach Wilson pass on Saturday and returning it 100 yards for a pick-six. "D.J. is pretty good," HC Robert Saleh said. "I have to see it again because I was on the far side. I just know he jumped it, but it's no surprise. If D.J. sees things a couple of times, he's going to find a way to take it."
Reed has had four interceptions over the last two years and the Jets will be looking for more of that in 2022. Not being able to force turnovers was an issue for NY last year and the defense rarely gave Zach Wilson a positive field position, Reed has been brought in to try and help change that. So far in camp, the early signs are good.
Garrett Wilson - Wide Receiver
It hasn’t been a perfect week of practice for Wilson, but that’s more because he’s a perfectionist. He made an outstanding diving catch over the middle that most rookies would have dined out on, but when he failed to bring down a high pass from Zach Wilson that he climbed the ladder for, his frustration was obvious. “I hold myself to a really high standard,” Wilson said. “I like to think of myself as (capable of) making those plays. So no one is more upset with me than me after putting a ball like that on the ground. I feel like I am close, but I should be there now, I should be making those plays now. And until I am, I’m not going to be happy with myself.”
Wilson has shown all the ability that made him a top-10 pick in the draft, coach Saleh has spoken about his wiggle in and out of breaks and his body control is as advertised. Wilson may have been disappointed he didn’t bring that catch down, but in the same breath, Zach needs to improve that accuracy. Zach’s had an up and down week (mostly up) and his receivers will bail him out on occasions but it’s that consistency that’s still missing. After he had a couple of loose throws and the pick six, he threaded the needled on back-to-back touchdowns according to reports, love that bouncebackability.
Breece Hall - Running Back
It’s hard to evaluate running backs with the lack of physicality without pads, but it’s becoming clear that Breece Hall is the real deal.
I’ve spoken to several people who were there on Saturday and others who have been there most of the week and all of them have come away impressed with Breece.
He has the physicality, burst, and speed to threaten defenses on every single snap. I know Robby Sabo who I work with at Jets X-Factor has been impressed with what he’s seen so far:
Seeing the snap breakdown between Micheal Carter and Breece Hall will be interesting this season, and I think it’s important we don’t forget how good Carter looked last season, but right now it looks as though Breece will be getting a 60-70% snap share.
"Breece Hall has great patience as a runner. He's explosive once he hits that second level. He's been doing a nice job."- Robert Saleh
Sauce Gardner - Cornerback
How nice is it to have our third rookie on this list? Saleh said that he would need to earn that starting spot and that place on the first team, by the end of the week he’s already rotating in with the ones and the expectation is he’ll be running exclusively with the ones within the next week or two.
Gardner has been as advertised, D.J Reed has said as much “He’s everything that the media is saying he is, he’s a lockdown cornerback” - He’s looked good in team drills, but he’s looked outstanding in some one v one drills. Garrett Wilson has been impressed by what he’s seen so far "He's really a dog... going up against Sauce, you gotta really have a plan".
Sauce is a physical corner, so while his quick twitch and mirroring impressed in week one, the expectation is his game will go to another level this week with pads on. He’s also been meeting with Zach Wilson after every practice to compare notes, getting tips from the QB and giving tips on what he saw from the signal caller.
Best of the rest
For the 5th and final spot on this list, I want to just highlight a number of players who have impressed over the course of the first week.
Receivers - Moore is obviously the pick, but Irvin Charles, Denzel Mims and Rashard Davis have all made a really good impression, as has Abram who had an outstanding sideline catch on a Mike White throw. Corey Davis has made multiple diving catches, that’s huge for the Jets.
Johnson - Jermaine only just missed out on the list, with the pads coming on this week he’ll likely be in there next Monday. He’s had multiple sacks so far through camp
Pass Rush - It’s not just Johnson, Bryce Huff has been the sack king so far and Vinny Curry is making some plays. Jacob Martin who’s often the forgotten man in terms of free agent additions looks the speed rusher we thought he was.
Interior - Quinnen Williams and Solomon Thomas have both made plays in week one.
Zach Wilson - I’m going to put Zach in here because he’s made multiple big throws and shown the ability to thread the needle. His consistency isn’t there, and he’s been picked off a couple of times in bad situations, but everyone is commenting about his confidence which is huge after the rookie season he had.
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening around the league.
San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel signs three-year, $73.5 million contract extension
Reuben Foster had a workout with the Seattle Seahawks yesterday. Legal and injury issues have derailed his career.
Jaguars head coach Doug Peterson confirmed that former Jet Foley Fatukasi is dealing with a calf issue at the moment.
Dallas Cowboys named most valuable sports franchise at $7.64 billion
Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are splitting reps evenly at Carolina’s camp, both have impressed in spots over the first week and they’ll continue splitting reps.
Great to hear that our draft wa not just good on paper and that are rooks are as advertised.
Reading about Solomon Thomas was a pleasant surprise. Nice to read good news about the interior DL.