Depth Chart
Edition #1213: The Jets released their first 'unofficial' official depth chart.
Good morning 🇨ðŸ‡â˜•
With the Jets having a rest day yesterday i was going to skip today's newsletter. But late last night the Jets released their first first depth chart which is labelled as unofficial…but considering it comes from the team it's about as official as you get in early August.
How much should you read into the depth chart? Not a lot in my humble opinion. But we may as well take a look at it anyway.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Geno Smith
RB - Breece Hall
FB - Andrew Beck
WR - Garrett Wilson, AD Mitchell
TE - Mason Taylor, Jeremy Ruckert
LT - Olu Fashanu
LG - Dylan Parham
C - Josh Myers
RG - Joe Tippmann
RT - Armand Membou
No real surprises in the first team lineup and I'm not expecting a lot to change.
The only position where I see some change is in that TE room with Kenyon Sadiq. But with the rookie sidelined for a few weeks, there's a possibility that Ruckert or even Jelani Woods makes that jump ahead to start the season.
I actually think that starting offense has a ton of potential if put in the right positions. I trust Frank Reich to do that.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Cade Klubnik
RB - Braelon Allen
WR - Omar Cooper Jr, Isaiah Williams
TE - Kenyon Sadiq, Jelani Woods
LT - Max Mitchell
LG - Anez Cooper
C - Xavier Newman
RG - Marquis Hayes
RT - Chukwuma Okorafor
Couple of notable inclusions here starting with the QB. As expected Klubnik is listed ahead of Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook for the QB2 position. Unless the Jets sign a veteran QB, I really can't see that changing. Klubnik has made too many throws and the coaching likes him too much.
There was some talk about Isaiah Davis leaping Allen on the depth chart to be RB2 but early indications are that Breece will be the feature back as expected and Allen will be a power back. How much work Davis gets will depend in my opinion on how much work Breece Hall gets on 3rd down. I think he could be in for a career high in receptions which will limit Davis’s potential touches.
Otherwise it's as expected with Isaiah Williams beating out Arian Smith and Tim Patrick for that WR4 position.
If you don’t see the players name above that's because they're listed on either the 3rd team (Smith, Patrick, Zappe, Cook) or 4th team (Pritchett, Skinner). Nwangwu is listed as 4th team RB, but he's listed as the starting Kick Returner, so he's obviously safe.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
EDGE - Kingsley Enagbare
EDGE - Will McDonald
DT - Harrison Phillips,
DT - Jowon Briggs
DT - David Onyemata.
LB - Jamien Sherwood, Demario Davis
NB - Jarvis Brownlee Jr
CB - Brandon Stephens
CB - Azareye’h Thomas/Nahshon Wright
S - Minkah Fitzpatrick
S - Andre Cisco/Dane Belton/Malachi Moore
Jets are cheating a little bit here but also confirming the position battles currently taking place at camp.
First it's important to state that David Bailey is a starter on this team. But there will be so much rotation on that line it really doesn't matter where he's listed.
Thomas and Wright are both listed as the CB2 on this first depth chart but by all accounts it's Thomas's job to lose. Wright will get plenty of opportunities but Thomas is having a good camp.
Then at the safety position it's anyone's guess. Fitzpatrick is the definite starter but who plays alongside him is a huge question mark, which is why all three players are listed as S2.
We need to remember that Ossai will in the main rotation but as he's on PUP he's listed on 4th team, alongside T’Vondre Sweat. Ponds however is listed below.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Edge - David Bailey
Edge - Braiden McGregor
DT - Payton Page
DT - Mazi Smith
DT - Darrell Jackson Jr
LB - Marcelino McCrary- Ball
LB - Kiko Mauigoa
NB - D’Angelo Ponds
CB - Qwan’tez Stiggers
CB - Samuel Womack III
S - Andre Cisco, Dane Belton, Malachi Mopre
S - Jarius Monroe
Unfortunately for VJ Payne he picked up an injury at the worst time, which is why Monroe has leapfrogged him into the second team.
Right now the Jets have Marcelino and Kiko as the reserve LBs but amongst that group Mykal Walker has made the most plays in camp, he'd be a difficult cut.
Other than that it's as expected and a lot of the listing is based on seniority. It's also hard to really judge because once Ossai is back that pushes McGregor down and when Sweat returns that's the writing on the wall for Smith.
Some other guys not listed. Nathan Voorhis is behind McGregor on third team and Dean Clark is 4th team.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Jason Sanders/Cade York
P - Austin McNamara
H - Austin McNamara
PR - Isaiah Williams
KR - Kene Nwangwu
LS - Thomas Hennessy
The only thing left to be decided is the kicker and the Jets aren't tipping their hand just yet. Based on reports I have Jason Sanders just ahead but both have had excellent practices and both have had concerning sessions. Inconsistency is a killer for a kicker. I'm still thinking the Jets opening day kicker is on another roster
NEWS AND NOTES 📰
Quinnen Williams got himself paid. Three years $105.9 million, $101 million guaranteed with $63.35M due at signing. That's a lot of money for a team who wouldn't pay Micah Parsons.
The biggest and most important word on the depth chart is UNOFFICIAL.
By Saturday morning after two days of scrimmaging with Tampa and playing an exhibition game against them Friday, there could be changes in that depth chart.
Unfortunately injuries and performance or lack of performance will come into play.
One player who has been having an excellent camp but hardly getting mentioned is Jelani Woods.
If the Jets carry 4 tight ends, could Beck be jettisoned.
Do we actually know how Reich values the fullback position in his offense. The fact that Kene Nwangwu could assume the fullback role is another negative against Beck.
Supposedly Reich schemed his offense in a way to get Johnathon Taylor maximum opportunities both in the running and passing game. Barring injury, Breece could have a career year.
Surprisingly that Cisco, Moore and Belton are all listed as a starter along side Minkah.
According to press reports from practice sessions Belton has stood out the most. In fact Belton had the best season of his 4 year career last season 120 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 2 sacks and 1 interception. It appears he has performed better every year.
Klubnik should be number 2, the Jets have film on Cook and Zappe.
They definitely want him to get as many snaps as possible.
His performance might be the determining factor if a veteran needs to be brought in.
Any over/ under on fights in these scrimmages with Tampa.
Great point David made about Q’s contract and Parsons.
Degenerate gamblers love the high of winning more than the money involved.
Jerrah Jones just loves to make the big deal, loves the spotlight shining on him. Whether it is ego driven or vodka driven doesn’t matter, could be a combination.
There were some comments on X that Q was overpaid, good for him.
Jerrah probably thinks he pulled fast ones on the Packers with Parsons and the Jets with Q.
Maybe Mougey should have waited for Jerrah to have his 5th vodka, maybe he could have gotten more than a 1st round, a 2nd round and Mazie Smith, who by the way is buried on the unofficial depth chart.
I just got a notification that Quantez Stiggers was taken off the field by ambulance after an injury at the joint practice today. Definitely NOT what you want to hear. It said AG will have word on the injury later. Stiggers isn't even close to being a starter at CB but has been a valuable ST contributor. I hope it isn't something serious or career ending. It also said that David Bailey performed very well in one-on-one drills against Luke Goddeke, the Bucs RT. It also got chippy at one point and hands were flying, lol