NY Jets Training Camp is off to an exciting start with new warmup routines tailored to each position group, fresh drills for the offensive line, and standout performances from key players like Aaron Rodgers and Sauce Gardner. KRL is covering the action for JetNation and here is a recap for the first day of practice.
General Notes
– Players in shirts & shorts
– The first practice of camp was short, lasting 1:45
– Change in the warmup routine, last year all players went through the same exercises together. This year the warmup period is tailored to the position you play, so if you’re a speed player (RB, WR, CB) you work on vertical speed over longer distances. If you’re a power player (DL, OL) you work on short area speed and horizontal movements. We’ll see if it prevents injuries.
– Lots of new drills incorporated by the OL coach (Keith Carter):
* Using more “live bodies” when going over technique/hand placement instead of only pads
* Having players work on their upper body posture by balancing wooden sticks on their shoulders
* Having players strengthen their hand punch by working with sandbags
– Morgan Moses was working on the side with trainers.
– The initial players auditioning for the returner job are Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley, Tarik Cohen and Brandon Codrington.
– A fairly even practice, as the offense started out hot early during 11 on 11 and 7 on 7 drills. The defense stiffened later during the red zone period.
Defense Notes
– Jamien Sherwood diagnosing and blowing up a screen pass to Xazavian Valladay as he got reps with the starters.
– The new DT Leki Fotu had a couple of “flashy” plays as he blew up Tarik Cohen for no gain. And he knocked down a Tyrod Taylor pass at the line of scrimmage.
– A couple of young CBs stood out during their reps. Jarrick Bernard-Converse with a nice read and pass breakup of a Taylor pass. And rookie Qwantez Stiggers had a “pick 6” off of a Andrew Peasley pass. Stiggers read where the QB was going with the ball, fell off his man, and picked off the pass.
– A couple of nice plays by Sauce Gardner during the red zone period. He almost had an INT on a pass to Gipson that was batted in the air. And he showed excellent technique on Garrett Wilson as he forced him to widen out his route on an attempted fade from Aaron Rodgers which fell incomplete.
Offense Notes
– Nice “chunk” runs by the RBs (Breece Hall, Braelon Allen & Isaiah Davis) during 11 on 11. Each going for 15+ yards.
– Noticeable lack of reps for Izzy Abanikanda out of the backfield. And the one rep that did stand out was a dropped screen from Peasley.
– With Rodgers back at QB there was an Allen Lazard sighting as he caught the first pass of practice for 20+ yards. He also caught a TD from Rodgers during red zone which led to the defense having to do pushups.
QB Notes
– Rodgers picked apart the defense in the early part of practice, with the ball rarely touching the ground. Particularly interesting was watching him use his cadence to force the defense to show what they were going to do on one play. Then exploiting a void in the defense with a wide open screen to Valladay for 15+ yards.
– Taylor had a noticeable play during red zone when he hit Irvin Charles on a post route for a TD. He also showed some of his BUF tendencies, when his first read isn’t there he looks to get out of the pocket immediately.
Standouts
– Aaron Rodgers
– Allen Lazard
– Sauce Gardner
– Keith Carter (OL Coach)
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