How will the Jets use Zaire Barnes?

Edition #408

Good morning! ☕

Last year the Jets opened their training camp on the 27th of July. Although the dates have not been released for 2023, Robert Saleh indicated that they would report a week earlier than other teams due to the August 3rd Hall of Fame against the Browns. This means we’ve got over a month until we see the team back on the training field.

What that does is give us some time to focus on some other topics that we haven’t had a chance to get to yet, today’s for example. I think I can probably count on one hand how many times I’ve mentioned Zaire Barnes's name in this newsletter. The 6th-round pick out of Western Michigan doesn’t often get talked about, but if the Jets are unable to re-sign Kwon Alexander for whatever reason, he may be called upon in 2023.

We’re going to dive into that subject today.

With all the players being away, the quick throws section will probably look a little light over the next month. But it’ll be back up to full speed and bursting at the seams as soon the season approaches.

🙌 PFF released its 2023 All-Breakout Team and they selected Micheal Clemons, which may be surprising to some, but probably not to Jets fans: “As a rookie fourth-rounder in 2022, Clemons didn’t start a single game but was effective when he did appear on the field. While not a finished product as a pass-rusher, as his 58.6 pass-rush grade can attest to, Clemons was very stout as a run defender, putting up an 86.4 run-defense grade and an 81.5 tackling grade. If Clemons can add some more pass-rush moves to his repertoire, he could form a dangerous edge trio alongside Jermaine Johnson II and Carl Lawson.”

✂️ The Patriots released James Robinson last night according to Field Yates, a player who the Jets traded a conditional 6th-round pick for. New England had signed Robinson to a two-year deal, but it didn’t include any guaranteed money, unfortunately for him, he didn’t even make it to camp. You have to wonder if he’s ever fully recovered from that Achilles tendon tear he suffered in December 2021.

🙏 RIP to Jim Turner, who died at the age of 82 yesterday. Kicked three field goals and an extra point in Super Bowl III. Played with the Jets between 1964-1970 and was a 2x Pro Bowler in 1968 & 1969. Following the 1970 season he was traded to the Broncos for kicker Bobby Howfield, and went on to kick 9 more seasons in Denver.

🙌 Will McDonald took time to spread some cheer to the Children at Atlantic Health’s Goryeb Children’s Hospital. Never underestimate how five minutes of your time can make a world of difference to someone else.

If there’s one position group on the Jets that I’m worried about, it’s the linebackers.

For as long as I can remember, we’ve struggled to defend tight ends. That’s partly on the safety unit and partly on the linebackers.

Last year tight ends caught 94 passes for 1039 yards and 4 touchdowns. For comparison, the Bills gave up 707 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Patriots only gave up 686 yards, but they did allow 11 touchdowns. So the Jets were more a bend but not break unit over the middle of the field. Ideally, they wouldn’t bend at all.

The Jets played a lot of nickel defence last year with just 2 linebackers on the field in Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosley, but Kwon Alexander still saw over 550 snaps of action.

If the Jets don’t manage to re-sign Alexander for whatever reason, who will man the weakside linebacker position?